Who makes a good affordable .45 Colt?

[roverboy]

I wondered who makes the most affordable .45 Colt revolver?

[Rick Hodges]

If the original question was "good affordable"? = Ruger

[Tatume]

+1, you can't beat Ruger quality and price.

[BPShooter]

Ruger Blackhawk! Hard to Beat!

[Outpost75]

+1 on Ruger.

[00buck]

Ruger's are built like tanks.. and their customer service is great. Price is affordable too

[Bohica793]

I love my new Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt. I originally considered the Colt SAA clones but wanted to be able to shoot heavier loads than cowboy action. Ruger was the no-brainer choice hands down.

[35 Whelen]

Check armslist.com There's usually lots of Uberti's many in the $350 range.

35W

[Wayne Smith]

Uberti for a true copy of the Colt. Ruger for tough as nails shooter. Take your pick.

[white eagle]

ya lookin for a Ruger pm me

[53caddy]

Uberti or Ruger

[btroj]

Ruger. Is there any other answer? A real Colt isn't affordable by comparison and the clones aren't near what a Ruger can be for the same money.

[MrWolf]

I just shot my new Ruger Blackhawk convertible yesterday - loved it

[Chilmonty]

Ruger Blackhawk or Vaquero!

If you take care of them, they will only last about 200 years!!

[jonp]

What is your question? By "affordable" do you mean the cheapest? If not then do you mean over the long run? If it's the second the I'd get a Ruger BH like the rest of the guys on here have said. It will outlive you even if they perfect DNA Therapy and you live 100yrs more.

[dragon813gt]

Every 45 Colt revolver in the case at my LGS is a Ruger. And all are reasonably priced. So much so that I almost bought one :)

[Idaho Mule]

Smith & Wesson makes some pretty fine revolvers chambered for .45 Colt. JW

[shoot-n-lead]

Troll? ? ? ? ?

[9.3X62AL]

Troll? ? ? ? ?

Probably not--the S&Ws can be VERY nice 45 Colt sideiron, but are scarce as hell and not readily affordable.

Not like the consensus choices lined out above--Ruger or Uberti. I have one of the former, and had one of the latter in 45 Colt......and regret the sale of the Uberti greatly. It was a very nice revolver--nothing fancy, but capable of running OEM load levels (255 grainers @900-1000 FPS) forever and accurate enough to hunt deer with to 50 yards. The fixed sights looked right where the bullets landed, too. Another Uberti Cattleman bought a year ago (in 44-40 WCF) also has its fixed sights set right where 200 grainers hit at 25 yards--so either I'm one fortunate Pasta Colta buyer, or the company is doing things pretty well.

My Ruger example is a Bisley Blackhawk, and after I completed its construction (throats "backwards") the revolver is an utter delight. It is capable of handling Mastodon Flattener-level loads, but most of my shooting in this critter gets done with Lyman #454424 at 950-1000 FPS. This is a fair rendition of its black powder performance, and can be fired all day comfortably. These same loads in the smaller/lighter Uberti pushed back a bit more firmly, and 100 of those was a good session. Unique and Herco are my usual fuels in these loads.

[GLL]

This is the most accurate .45 Colt revolver I have ever shot ! When I bought it used it was very affordable. Unfortunately this Model 25-7 is now getting to be pretty expensive compared to a Ruger.

http://www.fototime.com/D6DBB36312AD6AD/orig.jpg

Jerry

[375supermag]

Hi...

I have several .45Colt revolvers and have no interest in trading/selling any of them. My BlackHawks and Vaqueros get shot more than my S&W 25, but it goes along on every range trip. The Smith is probably my favorite, but it was considerably more expensive than any of the Rugers, including a stainless SBH Hunter.

My next .45Colt will either be a stainless original Vaquero with a 7.5" barrel, a stainless BlackHawk with a 4-5/8" barrel or a blued Cimarron with a 5-1/2" barrel. Unless I find another good buy on a used blued Ruger, I am always in the market for a good used BlackHawk in .45Colt or .41Mag, for that matter.

[jonp]

I saw a Ruger BH Convertible with the 4 5/8 Barrel at the gunshow yesterday for $499 and almost came home with it but the wife would not leave me alone long enough for me to get it.
$500 for something that is designed to outlive you is a pretty good bargain in my eyes.

[9.3X62AL]

Good old Jerry, and his serial gun porn!

[MT Chambers]

All the inexpensive S/A revolvers, with the exception of the Blackhawk, shouldn't be used with certain heavy loads.....

[ACrowe25]

For what your two original needs were... Ruger first came to my mind brother. Have a few and never a complaint. Top quality and even better customer service. Whatever you get... Post pics!

[wrench man]

If you want to run it hot get the Ruger, if you want a great shooter get an Uberti.

[robertbank]

I have the flat top Blackhawk Stainless convertible. The gun won't take the top end loads but neither will my wrists. The gun needed the throats opened up and nothing else.

I have tailored my loads so the .45acp 200 gr impact about the same as my 260 gr loads in 45Colt. I do far more .45acp shooting than 45Colt due to my supply of .45acp cases. If you can afford it I recommend the convertible version in either the larger framed Blackhawk or the flat top.

I also have an Uberti and Beretta SAA and both are excellent although the Uberti just seems to be that much better.

My preference for range time are the SAA clones. They are lighter, carry easier and just feel a tad better than the Ruger. Something about bring back," yuesteryear and the Looooone Rangerrrrrr....get um up Scout":)

So I can't let go of my youth and the radio programs......

Take Care

Bob

[Char-Gar]

I have 4 sixguns in 45 Colt at the present time and have had a bunch more over the years. I will throw in with those who think Ruger is the best way to go. The best 45 Colt revolver I have ever owned is one of the new Lipsey's Flattop 45s. I consider them quite affordable.

[Char-Gar]

For fun here are the other three sixguns in 45 Colt. They are a Colt New Service, a Gary Reeder custom Ruger Blackhawk and a United States Pat. Firearms SSA. They are all good sixguns. They would not hang around my place if they were not. Clunkers and clinkers are sold down river.

[DougGuy]

I owned a bunch of old Colts, Oh my they are romantic pieces of iron, had an 1896 4 3/4x45, a 1902 4 3/4x45 with documented cowboy history behind it in Wyoming in 1910, nicks all under the barrel from knocking out a window shooting at cattle rustlers, carried by a member of the posse that brought them in, a 1922 7 1/2x45 King's conversion (S&W adj. sights) that would cloverleaf a playing card at 80yds, a 1927 nickeled 5 1/2x45 with factory mother of pearl grips (lettered), a minty 2nd Gen 5 1/2x45, a few 3rd Gen 45s, love the feel and accuracy of the Colt, but affordable they are NOT. Had a Magnaport big bore snubby (S&W 25-2) in 45 Colt that was the slickest smoothest handgun I ever had my hands on, had a Uberti that shot the ejector housing off it every time it went to the range..

Good/best/most affordable 45 Colt? Ruger. End of story.

[seaboltm]

I picked my Ruger 45 Colt up on Gunbroker for less than $300. It needed some TLC, but it looks fine and shoots fine.

[CBMC]

Do the cylinder throats on the current run of blackhawks need to be reamed out? I know that they used to be really tight. But, have read that they are now shipping close to .4525. True or are they still tight?

[Fire_Medic]

Do the cylinder throats on the current run of blackhawks need to be reamed out? I know that they used to be really tight. But, have read that they are now shipping close to .4525. True or are they still tight?

Will let you know in a couple of weeks.

[CBMC]

Will let you know in a couple of weeks.

By then I will know. 😀Just bought a 7.5 Blackhawk in 45 colt.

[Fire_Medic]

By then I will know. ��Just bought a 7.5 Blackhawk in 45 colt.

LOL, well then we can compare notes. I am trading for one with a fellow forum member. :drinks:

[DougGuy]

I just settled on having to tweak the cylinder throats and traded some real nice stag grips for a forcing cone kit and a .4525" Manson reamer.

Just about all the big bore Rugers need a little work to their cylinder throats, I have worked over my .44 and .45 but I would rather massage them than they ship them to us already too big.

Seems like the newer ones are closer to .452" than previous models. Doesn't matter until you start shooting hardcast, at that point yes the cylinder throats need to be dimensionally correct..

[Wayne Smith]

My Uberti Cattleman in 44-40 shoots to the sights with a full case of BP and a 200gr boolit. I'll say Uberti is doing something right.

As I said earlier, if you want the romance of the historical copy get the Uberti. If you want a solid shooter that can take all loads get the Ruger SBH. Two good choices for different purposes.

[Dale53]

I only have two .45 Colt revolvers and they are both Rugers. One is a 5½" Bisley Vaquero and the other is a SS Bisley .45 ACP/.45 Colt convertible. I bought the Vaquero to shoot side matches at BPCR shoots. Right out of the box the revolver shot to the sights at 25 yards with a Lyman 452664 bullet cast 20/1 lead/tin, lubed with home made Emmerts lube and sized .452" ahead of a case full of Swiss 2F or 3F as well as Pyrodex. It shoots under 2" at that distance off a rest. It has excellent sights for a fixed sighted gun - unlike my .44 Special Cimarron which are not easy to see and shoot low/left.

The convertible did require that the throats be opened up to .4525" on both cylinders. Now, with either cylinder, it shoots to NRA Bullseye standards. A REALLY fine revolver in every respect AND affordable!

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/RugerVaquero-2.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/RugerVaquero-2.jpg.html)

Here is the Convertible with the .45 ACP cylinder:
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/DalesPistolsRevolvers4Selects-0385.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/DalesPistolsRevolvers4Selects-0385.jpg.html)

Right after I reamed the cylinder throats I took it to my home club for a trial run. The weather was COLD so I elected to shoot indoors at fifty feet. I had not even sighted the gun in yet. Here it is at fifty feet off an improvised rest:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/img072.jpg (http://s269.photobucket.com/user/Dale53/media/img072.jpg.html)

I shoot lots of .45 ACP's in a variety of guns so the utility value of the convertible is high to me. On the other hand, my standard bullet for the .45 Colt is a Mihec version of the RCBS 45-270-SAA. I have moulds in both hollow point and solid point. That is ONE FINE BULLET for the .45 Colt (in either version).

FWIW
Dale53

[robertbank]

Dale try 5.3gr of 231 under a 200 gr LSWC in 45acp and I think you will find it will shoot POA without adjusting the rear sight from your setting for your heavier 45 colt load. Works for me.

Take Care

Bob

[jonp]

Dale try 5.3gr of 231 under a 200 gr LSWC in 45acp and I think you will find it will shoot POA without adjusting the rear sight from your setting for your heavier 45 colt load. Works for me.

Take Cafre


Bob
mistaken post

[robertbank]

mistaken post

No, Dale has a .45Colt convertible ie he has a .45acp cylinder with his gun. I have the flattop with the extra cylinder as well.

Take Care

Bob

[Dale53]

robertbank;
Thanks for the info. That can be useful information, for sure...

Dale53

[David LaPell]

For the money you can find some nice used Rugers for around $400 or so where I am since few people really play with the .45 Colt much. You can't beat that. I know when I bought my Vaquero a couple years back it was like new and $399. I also saw a nice Blackhawk for $425 that was nearly mint.

[enfieldphile]

Yep, If you want the convenience of a double action, S&W is the way to go. My .45 Colt Mountain Gun (rare)
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/MountaingunR.jpg

If you want a heavier .45 Coltgun, the Colt Anaconda (uber rare) is the ticket.
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q228/ultramag44/Anaconda%2045%20Colt/Anacondac_zps9cc28406.jpg




This is the most accurate .45 Colt revolver I have ever shot ! When I bought it used it was very affordable. Unfortunately this Model 25-7 is now getting to be pretty expensive compared to a Ruger.

http://www.fototime.com/D6DBB36312AD6AD/orig.jpg

Jerry

[DougGuy]

What kind of pressure ceiling does the Anaconda have?

[olereb]

For s/a I think Ruger is the overall best out there but I also like the ones from heritage arms,they are NOT as pretty as the others but they are pretty good guns,i have 2 and have really beat them up without any issues.

[enfieldphile]

Given the thickness of the cylinder, the Anaconda should be able to handle anything within reason.


What kind of pressure ceiling does the Anaconda have?

[35 Whelen]

What kind of pressure ceiling does the Anaconda have?

Handloader #229 did data for an Anaconda. Without quoting their loads, the run a 250 JHP a little over 1300 and a 310 gr. SWC to about the same speed. You can find that info at www.loaddata.com

35W

[jonp]

No, Dale has a .45Colt convertible ie he has a .45acp cylinder with his gun. I have the flattop with the extra cylinder as well.

Take Care

Bob
Lol no what i was going to say i erased

[RogerDat]

I'm plus one for the Vaquero as a good experience to shoot at a good price. Have to be willing to live with SA only but hey if SA was good enough to settle the west it sure is good enough for me.

Really like it because it is simply fun to shoot, can't say it is practical, or having superb accuracy, or whatever but if you grew up playing cowboys and Indians through the neighbors back yards..... well you did not think in terms of having a DA revolver so why spoil the dream?

[rexherring]

Been shooting my BH since the 70's and after many thousands of rounds it still shoots good. I did have to replace the cylinder pin twice due to peening from heavy deer hunting loads. Should get the Belt Mountain one. Also look into the Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt. Not as easy to find as the BH but stronger than even the BH.

[meeesterpaul]

Gun-Tests.com and/or Gun Reports liked the cheap Cabelas 45 Colt single action revolver, may have been called the Millenium....? just checked; now on their site as Item: IK-291457 for F LLI Pietta 1873 SA Revolvers
here is another excerpt from one of their other reviews:
Gun Tests Recommends
• Heritage Manufacturing Big Bore Rough Rider .45 Colt RR45B5, $379. Best Buy. The Rough Rider offered a satisfying traditional look and shot sub-2-inch groups at 25 yards. In our opinion the Rough Rider is a bargain for the budding Cowboy Action shooter or anyone who wants a big-bullet single-action revolver.
They speak well of Rugers, as many of us do, but they had some problems with them in their testing at times and they quibbled about some features.

[35 Whelen]

Again, it boils down to what loads you intend to shoot. I have a Vaquero and a few Uberti's. The only reason I bought the Vaquero is I wanted to hunt with it and it will handle loads a tad bit heavier than a Uberti. If not for that I'd have just stuck with the Uberti. My Vaquero needed to cylinder throats reamed out to uniform dimensions, but all of my Uberti's have throats that are uniform and every bit as accurate, if not a little more accurate, than the Vaquero. Plus the Uberti's are infinitely more simple mechanically and easier to work on/smooth up.

35W

[Good Cheer]

I wondered who makes the most affordable .45 Colt revolver?

Colt.
Find an issue Model 1909 in good shape. Strap loop on the butt. Double action. Notches on the grips.
Then you have to find a mold.
http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/SNARGLEFLERK/adjustable45_zps8651f1de.jpg (http://s791.photobucket.com/user/SNARGLEFLERK/media/adjustable45_zps8651f1de.jpg.html)

[Hunter]

Another vote for Ruger, I like the New Model Blackhawk with the .45 Colt and .45 Auto cylinders.

[Hickok]

I have 2 of the Ruger NEW Vaquero. You need to be able to pick one up and handle it to really appreciate how good they feel in your hand.

[Larry Gibson]

What kind of pressure ceiling does the Anaconda have?

Ruger level 45 Colt loads with no problems. Problem is they are now "collector's" items and the price is ridiculous. Believe the OP asked about "affordable" but that is different to different incomes..........

Larry Gibson

[enfieldphile]

True, but...buy the Anaconda, shoot it w/ cast boolits, keep it clean and next year you could (if you wished), sell it and get all your $$ back, plus a nice profit to boot. Buy a new car, truck, computer etc. Use it, keep it clean, what's it worth next year? Phfffffffffffit, that's what it's worth!

The Colt Python prices are way beyond ridiculous! They don't hold up as well as a Smith 686, but they bring 2K. A S&W 17 or 18 will outshoot a Colt Diamondback .22, but the Diamondback brings twice the price of a 17 or 18. The market is like a woman! No reasons for the way it is, it just is!


Ruger level 45 Colt loads (in the Colt Anaconda) with no problems. Problem is they are now "collector's" items and the price is ridiculous. Believe the OP asked about "affordable" but that is different to different incomes..........

Larry Gibson

[habba8]

Ruger 45 Colt convertible
Comes with a 45acp cylinder
Love the two caliber gun.

[Black Chrome]

Ruger 45 Colt convertible
Comes with a 45acp cylinder
Love the two caliber gun.


Yep this just bought one last month and finally got some .45 colt loads ready for a range day last Friday. What a blast! Literally!!

[robertbank]

I'm plus one for the Vaquero as a good experience to shoot at a good price. Have to be willing to live with SA only but hey if SA was good enough to settle the west it sure is good enough for me.

Really like it because it is simply fun to shoot, can't say it is practical, or having superb accuracy, or whatever but if you grew up playing cowboys and Indians through the neighbors back yards..... well you did not think in terms of having a DA revolver so why spoil the dream?

Those were the days....Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Cisco and Poncho, Luke Slaughter.....

Take Care

Bob

[Whiterabbit]

This is a 2 year old thread.

[robertbank]

yup!

Bob

[Nueces]

This is a 2 year old thread.

Not any more, it ain't.

[robertbank]

Not any more, it ain't.

:drinks:

Bob

[Gunslinger1911]

No expiration date when talking about 45 Colt !