New Hands-down winner in the only-one-handgun contest

[44mag@ucnsb.net]

So, MY answer to the theoretical question is actually a 4.5" or 5" *medium*-framed revolver in .45 colt, not .454, (somthing like these: http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/FAPro...l=5014&return=Y , http://www.taurususa.com/products/p...tegory=Revolver ),

FirstFreedom,

I actually own both guns, except my 5 1/2 Ruger Redhawk is in .45 Colt and stainless, as well as a custom 4" in .45 Colt as well. I carry the .45 Colt Stainless Tracker in 4" for CCW, occasionally switching off for my 696 in .44 special. The only thing that I would point out is that the .45 Colt Tracker is not rated to handle the pressures produced by the .45 Win Mag. If it was, believe me, I would be shooting them. I love my .45 Colt Ruger Redhawk, having two of them, one that I had Bowen Customs recently cut down to 4" and one in 5 1/2". I find that the 4" is not any harder to conceal than my Model 29 .44mag. The conversion I pointed out for the .454 Super Redhawk can also be done for the Ruger Redhawk and the M25 Smith. The Taurus does not require any conversion, you just buy the moonclips from Taurus and you are ready to go. Good luck.

.44mag

 

[RustyRP]

But it makes me wonder, you mill the cylinders down to accept clips, then you DON'T use clips on the rimmed cartridges. So naturally I'm assuming that the .454 Casulls now sit a clip width's DEEPER in the cylinder. Which means the firing pin has to travel a clip width's FURTHER than it normally would. If not, what, does the front of the case hold the rim a clip's width AWAY from the newly milled surface? With all the fine tolerances on modern revolvers that is kosher?

the way the cylinders are machined - the center portion of the cylinder and the extractor (where the moonclip is) is removed, and there is an outer lip on the cylinder that is left alone for firing rimmed cartridges

now - a couple of things

45 acp's cannot be fired clipless - as they will dive deeply into the 45 colt sized cylinder

45 acp's cannot be fired with HALF moon clips - as the cylinder has the above mentioned outer lip for headspacing the 45 colts

and 45 AUTO RIM cannot be fired at all - because of the outer lip and the fact that the rim on the AR brass is significantly thicker than the 45 colt - cant even shut the cylinder

 

[RustyRP]

pics of moonclipped rounds in one of the converted cylinders

(of course these are 38's and not 45's)

www.pinnacle-guns.com

full size pics here http://www.pinnacle-guns.com/revolver_gallery.php