Revolver Questions

James 61

James 61

Joined
Jun 19, 2007
Messages
1,066
I'm doing some research into revolvers for my next firearms purchase. I have fired .38s and .357s so I know a little about them. I've recently been looking at something in .45 ACP and with a 2 inch barrel.

Anybody have any experience with one of these? Any comments and recommedations would be appreciated.
 
most 45 acp revolvers require the use of moon clips.

but i think ruger makes a model that does not, but i dont know if it comes in 2". and they also make a 9mm cylinder. the one i shot was a single action, with switchable .38 and 9mm bbls.

ive fired a .45 acp version also, i thought the moon clips were a pain, and the cylinders are larger than a comparable .38/.357.
 
Why not the .44 mag? Maybe even the .45 Colt, .454 Casull, or the .500.

Ruger has the Alaskan that can be had in .44 mag and .454 with a 2.5" barrel.
 
May I ask the reason you want a 2" barrel? Most generally, the powder is not completely burned in 2" so velocity will suffer some. That's one reason for the 'fiery' muzzle blast. I would really consider a 4" barrel as the minimum and as a added benefit, the extra 2" will help balance the pistol and the extra weight forward will also help with recoil. Plus, the 2 extra inches will give you a longer sight radius for better accuracy. Just my .02 worth. Later, Bob
 
You should look at thr Taurus Judge. It comes in a smaller model and you can shoot colt .45 or for the man stopper, load it with buck shot in .410. This is a sweet gun for car carry. It has a bigger frame but packs a nasty punch!!!
 
I'm a .45 Auto fan (1911) but there's no way you could get me to waste my $$$ on a .45 Auto chambered revolver unless there were a few thousand .45 AR cases that were included in the package. Moonies suck!

In regard to .45 out of a 2" bbl...just picture the trajectory of a full house, beer bladder pee in the wind with a BIG flash from the muzzle...lot of mess and whole loss of miss:p

If you're looking at a full size revolver like the S&W 625 (.45), go for a Ruger GP100 or S&W 686 in .357 instead. The .357 revolver is the most versatile revolver period!

Plus, .38spl is a lot cheaper than .45 for practice:thumbup:

Eveyone needs at least one revolver that shoots at least .38/.357;)
 
SNAFU said:
What no love for the .44 mag? :eek: ;) :D
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I have no problem with the .44 mag. I would love to get an 1894 and I also have a reliable source for a minty Anaconda.

I just don't have dies and components for .44...I'd rather focus ($$$) on what I already have and maintain those needs. Still, I may still take him up on the Colt someday;)
 
In regards to the .45ACP, I wouldn't get one unless it was because you already have a huge stock pile of ammo, reloading equipment or a bevy of 1911's, pistol and rifles in this caliber.

If it is just to get a revolver I would recomend a .357. This way you can shoot either .357 or .38 ammo.

I am not familiar with the .44 magnums but I can tell you that .45LC is pretty darn expensive and very hard to find jacketed ammo(indoor shooting ranges require this).
 
Since you are wanting a 2" barrel, I assume the revolver is for personal defense and concealed carry. The new Night Guard series in scandium alloy is available from S&W in 357 mag, 44 spl, 45 acp, and 44 magnum (ouch). These are very light weight. They are not cheap. I had a longer barrelled S&W in 45 acp with moon clips years ago. It shot well. My new NG in 44 spl is sweet shooting and carries light. It fires the less expensive Blazer 200 gr JHPs quite well.
SW396NG003.jpg
 
I have a .45 acp smith that has an action job and I have been useing the nylon full moon clips. Actually they are really good . They load easy not like the steel half clips. Out of an open speed loader holder they are fast on the reload also. The only reason I got it is that all my primary carry guns are 1911's. But for it's size even though the scandium titanium versions are light I would rather garry an officer's or commander sized 1911. I shoot the 1911's better than the N frame so size for size That is my preference. From your post you say you want a short barreled revolver so I would consider one of the 357/38 J frames they are easy to carry and are my choice for summer carry. I have one that weights practicaly nothing.

Here is a .45 acp Smith. You may ask about the white grips. They do not show thru with an untucked white t shirt and since they are hard they do not print like rubber either
Knives031.jpg
 
Sweet Air Lite. I have one in 38 spl. It's a sweet shooter, too. I must like J frames, I have 3 of them. A less expensive revolver is the Charter Arms Bulldog Pug in 44 spl. Some of them are gritty and aweful to shoot. Mine is "tolerable". They are less than half the price a S&W. I got mine before the S&W NG came out. It stays in the jeep. Not nearly as smooth as the Smith.
 
Thanks Horn dog I am digging those Night Guards and the 44 spl is the one I would get.
 
I also am a big fan of the 1911. I have a Kimber full size. I saw their new light short one. It's nice, and carries much flatter than a revolver. But as nice as the 1911 is, a revolver is stone cold reliable. If it misfires, just pull the trigger again. No safeties, decockers, slide releases or other stuff to remember. Just pull the trigger.
 
Buy the 329 Night Guard, and you can shoot specials in it with the added advantage of magnum power availability when needed.
 
Wicked Sharp said:
Buy the 329 Night Guard, and you can shoot specials in it with the added advantage of magnum power availability when needed.
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Unless he needs a gun for bear attacks, I'd stick with the 44 spl. A 44 magnum has plenty of recoil even in a Dirty Harry steel framed model 29. I bet it is brutal in that NG alloy frame. But you are right, he could shoot specials in it. If he is looking for a dual pupose model for backpacking in bear country and personal defense concealed carry, the 44 Magnum makes sense.
 
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One other comment about two inch barrels---because they are so short they don't provide adequate rifling spin to the bullet in that short travel for long range shooting. Hence, accuracy (beyond 50 yards or so) really suffers because the bullet at that range is rapidly losing the minimal spin imparted by the short barrel. Four inches, minimum, is best all around and the additional two inches isn't that much harder to hide for concealed carry.
 
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