Best DA revolver in 45 LC?

R

Radny97

New member
Lets just say I was in the market for a double action revolver in 45 long colt for $1000 or less. What's the best revolver out there in that price range, new or used?
 
The new Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt/.45 ACP.

An awesome gun, and a real manstopper with either cartridge, or a good bear stopper with max power .45 Colt +Ps.
 
What is the Revolver's mission?

Will you be running mainly factory-level loads (250gr. @ 850 f/s) through the revolver, or do you anticipate the use of more powerful loads on a regular basis? The S&W's action is likely more "tuneable" to give you best accuracy, but may not stand up to a steady diet of heavier loads. The Redhawk's action is less amenable to tuning, but is somewhat more robust, so regular use of more emphatic loads is unlikely to loosen it as rapidly or as much.

I'm not sure that the S&W can be made to shoot twice as accurately as the Redhawk. I'm pretty certain that the Redhawk will tolerate higher pressure loads twice as long (or more) as the S&W. All factors being equal, I'd probably go with the Redhawk, but I might regret the decision later.
 
Go with the RedHawK in 45 Colt/ACP. Durable and versatile. ACP for cheaper plinking/defense or 45 Colt for defense/ hunting. Trigger can be sweetened with a Wolffe 14# spring.
 
I would buy the Smith & Wesson and forget the heavy loads over 20k psi and bear hunter bullets. All of the 45 Colt remaining issues have been worked out in 44 Magnum. The nice trigger with separate spring is in the Super Redhawk, which is 44 Magnum only. The Redhawk 45 Colt, which I own, is a massive gun for just shooting SAAMI spec ammo. The trigger can't be tuned particularly when sharing the hammer spring. so I find the DA action long, heavy, and stagey. I shoot it exclusively single action but enjoy the swing out cylinder. I tried a step down in spring and it was mushy feeling. The 45 Colt is more in its element in single action guns.
 
Well I probably would like to take it into grizzly country occasional so +p capability would be nice. The grip on the new 45acp/45lc Redhawk looks really small to me with likely few aftermarket options. And I have very large hands so I like the largest grips possible on most guns. But I am worried about what's been said about the single spring trigger on the Redhawk. What other revolvers can handle 45lc +p loads?
 
Not many.

The Ruger Redhawk is about the only DA I know of that can handle them. The others are all single actions, which aren't bad.

Don't fool around, and just get the Redhawk. Ruger revolvers are built tougher than bull snot. A LOT toughter than bull snot, which actually isn't very tough at all. It's just snot.

If the grips are too small, I think the rubbers that come on the other new Redhawks will fit this gun. Keep in mind you will be able to shoot .45 ACPs which are much cheaper and there are some real nice defense loads in .45 ACP for defense against human beings, and when the time comes, you can load up the gun with the maximum power anti-Ursidae grizzle thumpin .45 Colt +P torpedoes. Mammoth stopping power with those.

Whatever you decide OP, make sure you go with the Ruger. :cool:
 
I love Rugers so that is what I lean towards but I wanted to make sure I was not leaving out other good options.
 
The Ruger Super Redhawk in 454 Casull will handle ANY 45 Colt loads. Available in 7.5", 5" or 2.5" (Alaskan). Grips interchangeable with GP100.

Andy
 
The Ruger Super Redhawk in 454 Casull will handle ANY 45 Colt loads. Available in 7.5", 5" or 2.5" (Alaskan). Grips interchangeable with GP100.

Andy
Click to expand...

Well the S&W Model 460 can also shoot .460 Magnum.

OP, maybe you should look into that. Will handle any and all .45 Colt and .454 Casull loads, plus .460 magnum loads.
 
The better bet, given the interest in 45 Colt "+p" carried for bear, would be the 4.25" Redhawk. The other guns in the big calibers have long barrels that are not that easy to carry and would be awkward in close quarters. I don't know about the 460 idea, because the X-frame Smith is just way more gun than a person of average build should be expected to handle.
 
Get one of the S&W guns, the action is much better and you won't need a sling to carry it. You can even hold up the Smith with 1 hand.
 
I second the Taurus 450 for carry. Its very light and easy to carry. Its thesame size as a smithand wesson model 10 but much lighter.

For +P I have a Ruger (Old Model) Vaquero.
 
After taking out my new Taurus Raging Judge Magnum to the range, it shoots 45LC+P like 38 spc target loads from a S&W 26. For that matter in 454 it's more pleasant than a S&W 29 in 44 mag due to weight and grips. Goes for around $800.
 
I'm in love with my 4" Ruger Redhawk. Carry it every day. The new ones with the .45 ACP moon clips look pretty cool, too.
 
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