Redhawk 45 Colt+45ACP?
- Thread starter pmglock
- Start date
Jim Watson
New member
Well, yes, or at least maybe, but...
It won't be cheap.
The .45ACP is already slightly smaller in diameter than .45 LC, so if you just cut the rear off the cylinder for clips, you would have a sloppy chamber and a long, long, jump to the cylinder throat. I bet Hamilton Bowen http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/Default.htm
could start with a smaller caliber Redhawk cylinder and rechamber it properly for .45ACP with clip clearance.
Then there are the clips. I do not know of a .45ACP clip for a Ruger. Tom Kilhoffer
http://www.moonclips.com/
makes them for Redhawk .44 Mag and .45 Colt, maybe one or the other would hold .45 ACP. Or could be modified to do so. Which is a very tedious job, I have done a few.
Or you could just check the catalogs and buy some .45 Colt Cowboy loads, they are light loads for target shooting.
It won't be cheap.
The .45ACP is already slightly smaller in diameter than .45 LC, so if you just cut the rear off the cylinder for clips, you would have a sloppy chamber and a long, long, jump to the cylinder throat. I bet Hamilton Bowen http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/Default.htm
could start with a smaller caliber Redhawk cylinder and rechamber it properly for .45ACP with clip clearance.
Then there are the clips. I do not know of a .45ACP clip for a Ruger. Tom Kilhoffer
http://www.moonclips.com/
makes them for Redhawk .44 Mag and .45 Colt, maybe one or the other would hold .45 ACP. Or could be modified to do so. Which is a very tedious job, I have done a few.
Or you could just check the catalogs and buy some .45 Colt Cowboy loads, they are light loads for target shooting.
Jim Watson
Thanks for the info. Sounds like it will be more trouble and expense than it would be worth. What I want is a good double action revolver you can use cheap 45ACP to plink with, good 45ACP hollowpoints for defense, and hot 45 Colt loads for hunting or bear defense. I don't have an interest in reloading nor the money for a new hobby. One of the Ruger Blackhawk convertibles would be great for plinking and hunting but I would hesitate to rely on it for defense against two or four legged beasts. Just have to keep looking.
Patrick
Thanks for the info. Sounds like it will be more trouble and expense than it would be worth. What I want is a good double action revolver you can use cheap 45ACP to plink with, good 45ACP hollowpoints for defense, and hot 45 Colt loads for hunting or bear defense. I don't have an interest in reloading nor the money for a new hobby. One of the Ruger Blackhawk convertibles would be great for plinking and hunting but I would hesitate to rely on it for defense against two or four legged beasts. Just have to keep looking.
Patrick
lonegunman
New member
I agree with WESHOOT2 (this time):
get one in 45 Colt.
You can use cowboy loads for plinking.
For defense, CCI/Blazer makes a 200g Gold Dot JHP, and Winchester makes 45 Colt Silvertips, both of which closely approximate ACP ballistics.
For Hunting, you can probably use as stiff a 45 Colt load as you can find.
It would be nice if you could use ACP in it, because it is cheaper, but I dont think you will ever be able to get a DA revolver that chambers both.
get one in 45 Colt.
You can use cowboy loads for plinking.
For defense, CCI/Blazer makes a 200g Gold Dot JHP, and Winchester makes 45 Colt Silvertips, both of which closely approximate ACP ballistics.
For Hunting, you can probably use as stiff a 45 Colt load as you can find.
It would be nice if you could use ACP in it, because it is cheaper, but I dont think you will ever be able to get a DA revolver that chambers both.
Well, there IS another way to approach this "problem"...get a Smith Model 625 in .45 ACP and fire .45 Super thru it, OR...send it to Clark Custom in Louisiana and have them rechamber it to .460 Rowland...I don't think there's five cents' worth of difference between "hot" .45 Colt loads and the .460 Rowland...and, with the Rowland conversion, you would retain the ability to shoot .45 ACP all with the SAME CYLINDER....mikey357
Desert Dog
New member
460 Rowland = .45 Colt , Ruger style?
Not in a million years... .460 may be hot, but, like Weshoot2 said, can it push a BEEG bullet with considerable velocity? Nah
Apples and oranges...
Notice my signature line...
YMMV,
Not in a million years... .460 may be hot, but, like Weshoot2 said, can it push a BEEG bullet with considerable velocity? Nah
Apples and oranges...
Notice my signature line...
YMMV,
Methinks youse guys are dismissing the .460 Rowland as being equivalent to the .45 Super...IT IS NOT!!!
Per Texas Ammunition Co., .45 Super...230 gr. @ 1100 fps--.45 Super "Express"--230 gr. @1200 fps...this is quoted as being fired thru a six-inch SA "V16", and is their "hunting" load...
Per Georgia Arms, .460 Rowland, 230gr. @ 1350 fps...barrel length not quoted, BUT...since the Rowland cartridge IS LONGER than the .45 ACP/.45 Super, WHY COULDN'T you handload longer, heavier bullets??? Works for me....mikey357
Per Texas Ammunition Co., .45 Super...230 gr. @ 1100 fps--.45 Super "Express"--230 gr. @1200 fps...this is quoted as being fired thru a six-inch SA "V16", and is their "hunting" load...
Per Georgia Arms, .460 Rowland, 230gr. @ 1350 fps...barrel length not quoted, BUT...since the Rowland cartridge IS LONGER than the .45 ACP/.45 Super, WHY COULDN'T you handload longer, heavier bullets??? Works for me....mikey357
.....HEY PATRICK ! ! !
IT WOULD BE CHECPER TO RELAOD and a HECK of alot of fun to scrape the conversion idea and start crankin' on a press. Handloading adds a whole new dimension to shooting as you get to buy a chrony and log down neat info to mental masturbate with.
The Redhawk can take 275 to 300 grainers at 1200 for enough poup for anything walking the lower 48. GET A Dillion 550 for Christmas ! dewey
IT WOULD BE CHECPER TO RELAOD and a HECK of alot of fun to scrape the conversion idea and start crankin' on a press. Handloading adds a whole new dimension to shooting as you get to buy a chrony and log down neat info to mental masturbate with.
The Redhawk can take 275 to 300 grainers at 1200 for enough poup for anything walking the lower 48. GET A Dillion 550 for Christmas ! dewey
BluRidgDav
New member
I know that this thread is almost 3 years old, but there seems to have been some "new" developments. I recently became interested in a .45 Colt / .45 ACP combo Redhawk due to: alot of .45 Auto ammo laying around, plus the desire to get a .45 Colt handgun to hunt with "heavy" hunting loads.
It seems that Wild West Guns up in Alaska makes a "Wolverine" revolver based on a Super RH that is converted to shoot .454 Casull, .45 Colt, and .45 ACP using full-moon clips. They credit "TK Custom" for the clip conversion part.
This same TK Custom company is in Illinois, and offers .45 Colt / .45 ACP full-moon conversions on Redhawks, Super RH's, S&W 625's, and Colt Annaconda's, plus alot of other guns & calibers.
It appears that once converted, these guns will REQUIRE the use of full-moon clips for ALL loading, even with the rimmed cartidges ???
Anybody else learned something NEW about .45 combo stuff this since 2001 ?
Thanx, Dave.
It seems that Wild West Guns up in Alaska makes a "Wolverine" revolver based on a Super RH that is converted to shoot .454 Casull, .45 Colt, and .45 ACP using full-moon clips. They credit "TK Custom" for the clip conversion part.
This same TK Custom company is in Illinois, and offers .45 Colt / .45 ACP full-moon conversions on Redhawks, Super RH's, S&W 625's, and Colt Annaconda's, plus alot of other guns & calibers.
It appears that once converted, these guns will REQUIRE the use of full-moon clips for ALL loading, even with the rimmed cartidges ???
Anybody else learned something NEW about .45 combo stuff this since 2001 ?
Thanx, Dave.
moonclips rock
The moonclip conversions are awesome - after using them, I'd like to have all my wheel guns converted. They are faster and easier to use than speedloaders, and at $25 -$35 for a package (usually 5 or 10 per pack) they are much cheaper than buying magazines for an autoloader, for example. Loaded moonclips can be carried in pockets, pouches, most speedloader holders, or in specially designed beltclips. I don't have any problem loading the larger calibers by hand, but some people need to use the special pliers that are available, especially for smaller calibers.
Once your cylinder has been converted, you do have to use moonclips, but you can switch out for a conventional cylinder at any time. The conversion isn't expensive, usually $80 or so.
A buddy of mine just had his Super Redhawk done with the 3-caliber conversion, and it's really sweet. I'm thinking about picking one up myself...
The moonclip conversions are awesome - after using them, I'd like to have all my wheel guns converted. They are faster and easier to use than speedloaders, and at $25 -$35 for a package (usually 5 or 10 per pack) they are much cheaper than buying magazines for an autoloader, for example. Loaded moonclips can be carried in pockets, pouches, most speedloader holders, or in specially designed beltclips. I don't have any problem loading the larger calibers by hand, but some people need to use the special pliers that are available, especially for smaller calibers.
Once your cylinder has been converted, you do have to use moonclips, but you can switch out for a conventional cylinder at any time. The conversion isn't expensive, usually $80 or so.
A buddy of mine just had his Super Redhawk done with the 3-caliber conversion, and it's really sweet. I'm thinking about picking one up myself...
Desert Dog
New member
I love my convertible. The ACP cylinder is my primary .45 Super platform.
I agree though for DA's, buy one of each. Unless you only want to play with one gun, then you need to get out more...
IMHO guns are like Lay's potato chips...
I agree though for DA's, buy one of each. Unless you only want to play with one gun, then you need to get out more...
IMHO guns are like Lay's potato chips...
BluRidgDav
New member
I don't understand the bias against dual caliber, double action, revolvers.
Yet, single action convertibles are OK.
Are there function problems, or is it just a "personal" thing?
The conversion costs about $80, a second gun costs $500+
I happen to have alot (1000+ rounds) of .45 ACP ammo left over from a previously owned pistol, and additional bulk .45 ACP ammo is cheaper than .45 Long Colt. This way I can practice more with my hunting gun, and still be capable of using heavy .45 Colt loads for hunting.
Why is this a bad idea?
Thanx, Dave.
Yet, single action convertibles are OK.
Are there function problems, or is it just a "personal" thing?
The conversion costs about $80, a second gun costs $500+
I happen to have alot (1000+ rounds) of .45 ACP ammo left over from a previously owned pistol, and additional bulk .45 ACP ammo is cheaper than .45 Long Colt. This way I can practice more with my hunting gun, and still be capable of using heavy .45 Colt loads for hunting.
Why is this a bad idea?
Thanx, Dave.
Desert Dog
New member
It is not a bad idea. In fact, financially, it is probably a very good idea.