Single-action revolver for defence?
- Thread starter scotjute
- Start date
Don't Forget....
...the trick used by a bunch of folks a long, long time ago - A S&W break open single action revolver - whether made by S&W or the Italians, loads a WHOLE lot faster, and is pretty cool looking, too. I do admire the feel of a Colt SAA, but those Russian Smiths just plain look classy.
The gunwriter Mike Venturino claimed that the single action revolver was actually faster for the first shot, than any autoloader.
...the trick used by a bunch of folks a long, long time ago - A S&W break open single action revolver - whether made by S&W or the Italians, loads a WHOLE lot faster, and is pretty cool looking, too. I do admire the feel of a Colt SAA, but those Russian Smiths just plain look classy.
The gunwriter Mike Venturino claimed that the single action revolver was actually faster for the first shot, than any autoloader.
The various breakopen .45LCs can only take "Cowboy ammo" power levels, such as a 230grain unjacketed at 700 - 800fps tops.
The various Cor-bon/Blazer/Pro-load/etc 200grain JHPs at 1,000 - 1,100fps defensive loads are considered too hot for the breakopens, especially in any quantity. S&W made their recent Schofield in the slightly shorter .45 so that those slightly more modern .45LCs wouldn't chamber. They WILL chamber in a Navy Arms Schofield but...I wouldn't.
If you were crazy enough to load .45LC+P "Ruger ONLY" monster loads in the Navy Arms breakopen, you'd probably blow it (and your hand) to Kingdom Come in one shot.
A Vaquero feels a lot better in the hand, and you don't have to worry about it blowing up. Shot to shot speed is higher, unless the breakopen happens to fit your hand perfectly.
I'll stick with a Ruger SA, personally.
The various Cor-bon/Blazer/Pro-load/etc 200grain JHPs at 1,000 - 1,100fps defensive loads are considered too hot for the breakopens, especially in any quantity. S&W made their recent Schofield in the slightly shorter .45 so that those slightly more modern .45LCs wouldn't chamber. They WILL chamber in a Navy Arms Schofield but...I wouldn't.
If you were crazy enough to load .45LC+P "Ruger ONLY" monster loads in the Navy Arms breakopen, you'd probably blow it (and your hand) to Kingdom Come in one shot.
A Vaquero feels a lot better in the hand, and you don't have to worry about it blowing up. Shot to shot speed is higher, unless the breakopen happens to fit your hand perfectly.
I'll stick with a Ruger SA, personally.
It cost about $100 dollars with shipping as I remember. It has two leather straps for a belt to go through these straps are secured at the top with screws. It is lined with and metal reinforced. It rides well at 3 o'clock or a more behind the hip carry. Here is the link to what it looks like.
http://www.blackhillsleather.com/bh_iwb.html
http://www.blackhillsleather.com/bh_iwb.html
Jim:
Agreed, ".45 Colt Magnum" loads in a break open would be a bad mistake. I was simply pointing out that they address the speed issue, and did so over a century ago.
Uberti does indeed sell a Schofield replica, and it is nominally chambered for the .45 Colt. I would take that to mean SAAMI spec loads. As I recall, that gives a 255 bullet at about 800 fps. A 255gr SWC at that speed should get most BG's undivided attention.
Agreed, ".45 Colt Magnum" loads in a break open would be a bad mistake. I was simply pointing out that they address the speed issue, and did so over a century ago.
Uberti does indeed sell a Schofield replica, and it is nominally chambered for the .45 Colt. I would take that to mean SAAMI spec loads. As I recall, that gives a 255 bullet at about 800 fps. A 255gr SWC at that speed should get most BG's undivided attention.
Tex_n_Cal: I agree, a 255 "Keith-style" doing 800fps doesn't qualify as "harmless". But I'd rather have one in .38Spl, rated for strong jacketed .38+P. With a 5.5" barrel, you'd get a 158 LSWC-HP moving at around 1,100fps with strong expansion, or the Cor-Bon 125 JHPs doing 1,200fps+. Set it up so it'll eat from either K or L six-shot speedloaders.
But that still doesn't solve the handling issues. Starting with a Ruger SA, I can swap grips/grip frames/hammers/triggers to "tune the feel" to whatever I need. Even bone stock, the Ruger feels better in the hand than the various breakopens...'leastways, in my hands.
But that still doesn't solve the handling issues. Starting with a Ruger SA, I can swap grips/grip frames/hammers/triggers to "tune the feel" to whatever I need. Even bone stock, the Ruger feels better in the hand than the various breakopens...'leastways, in my hands.
Oh, I don't know a 3.5" Uberti Schofield loaded
with the old standby 45 long colt load of 255 rnfp @ 855 fps (prob 800 out ot that 3.5" barrel) is really nothing to sneaze at. thats for sure. Surely its the equal of 45 auto ball ammo. Sounds like a good idea to me. I may have to buy one of these<VBG> (My current Schofield is a 7" er)
with the old standby 45 long colt load of 255 rnfp @ 855 fps (prob 800 out ot that 3.5" barrel) is really nothing to sneaze at. thats for sure. Surely its the equal of 45 auto ball ammo. Sounds like a good idea to me. I may have to buy one of these<VBG> (My current Schofield is a 7" er)