Schofield Revolver .45LC

Werwolf

Concerning the Schofield Revolver .45LC, I understand that it cannot handle +P type loads because of it being a break open revolver and all, but they can handle any standard .45LC round, correct?
Thank you.

ruger41

yep and you can also shoot .45 Schofield ammo in it--just like if you had a .357 and shoot .38's in it for practice. The Schofield ammo is now being produced or you can reload for it.

Werwolf

So .45LC 255 gr rounds then wouldnt be a problem, as that is the heaviest standard .45LC round that I could find?
Looks about the same power as a .45ACP, so definitely a manstopper and should be adequate for a sidearm while hunting.

ruger41

should be just fine to shoot--i reload for .45LC but when i did buy factory loads i usually bought the cowboy action loads from Black Hills-they are a joy to shoot and don't put much stress on your gun-and I shoot a Ruger Vaquero that can handle the hot stuff but I don't need to hotrod it everyday.

Werwolf

I think that I like the Beretta Laramie Schofield .45 LC 6.5" barrel blued revolver, as it is supposedly the high end, better built model of the other versions of Schofield Revolvers.
I wonder if I can switch the pistol grips to target grips however?

Wolf.

--
As you may know, Beretta is Uberti is Beretta, Beretta having acquired Uberti a few years back. Quality is higher than ever. The Beretta branded guns are most likely made on the same floor as the Uberti guns. There may be some minor variations in finish offerings, but they are basically the same gun. I don't believe there is any difference in quality. You should check out Cimarron and Taylor's, both of whom are distributers for Uberti. Also, I would not fire a high velocity modern round in this gun. Not that the gun won't handle it, but because the stress on this style gun will loosen it up. Just buy standard velocity ammo or reload your own. A slug that big will get anyone's or anything's attention.

Werwolf

The .45LC 255 gr rounds are the largest standard rounds that I know of and are not considered high pressure, +P type rounds, so should be fine there.
I agree that use of high pressure, +P type rounds in any break open revolver is not recommended as that type of revolver was not designed for that type of round and like you and others have said, not that it cant handle it, but that it will put alot of stress on the firearm and could become dangerous for the design.

givette

Response to earlier post. .45 S&W (Schofield) cartridge has either a thicker, or thinner rim than .45 Colt (.45 LC)..don't remember. Also .45 Schofield rim diameter is larger, and case diameter is not exactly same as .45 Colt (long colt). When at the gunshop, ask to "fit" .45 S&W (Schofields) into your new Beretta/Uberti. You'll notice that the fit is somewhat "off". Stick with the .45 Colt cartridges it was intended for. Best, Joe

EDIT: Below is the link to cartridge dimensions. Both .45 S&W (Schofield) and .45 Colt (LC) are listed for your comparison. Joe

http://stevespages.com/page8d.htm

beantownshootah

quote:Originally posted by BlackWolf
So .45LC 255 gr rounds then wouldnt be a problem, as that is the heaviest standard .45LC round that I could find?
Looks about the same power as a .45ACP, so definitely a manstopper and should be adequate for a sidearm while hunting.

Actually full power standard (NON +P) .45LC rounds should be slightly MORE powerful than .45 ACP. Supposedly the round was either designed, or used in practice by the cavalry to bring down horses!

Its also no coincidence that the .45 ACP and .45 LC are ballistically similar. The .45 ACP cartridge was intentionally designed to replicate the ballistics of the .45 Long colt in a self-loading pistol, again for cavalry use.

On +P rounds, not from a gun not rated for them.

Break open revolvers were from the heyday of (relatively) low pressure black powder rounds. They don't like modern high-pressure rounds, which is one major reason why no manufacturer makes a break-open design for hotter modern rounds.

If you want the ability to shoot beefy magnum-like .45LC rounds there are plenty of other guns that will do that, including any .454!

EDIT: For "standard" pressure, these look intriguing:

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#low45

quote:All of today's standard 45 colt loads are very anemic. Often featuring a 250 gr. Bullet at around 700 fps.

We knew that we could develop a couple standard pressure 45 colt loads that would feature a 255gr. Gas checked soft cast bullet at around 1,000 fps or a 200gr. JHC (Speer low velocity Gold Dot) at around 1,100fps. We wanted loads that were substantially more powerful than today's weenie loads, but that could be fired in ANY 45 colt firearm.

Both of these 45 colt loads are designed to be a heavy loading, yet be within standard (SAAMI) pressure. As such, both of these 45 colt loads are safe and recommended to be used IN ANY post-war 45 colt that is in normal working condition. ANY post-war means ANY post-war, so please take my word for it without phoning or emailing me "just to make sure".

Werwolf

For magnums I use the Ruger Redhawk in .44 Magnum with Corbon or Garrett Catridges.
However, I wanted a nostalgic break open revolver in .45LC so I chose the Beretta Laramie Schofield in .45LC, after seeing them both, the Beretta Laramie Schofield in .45LC looks to be heavier built and I like it overall in comparison to the Uberti Schofield in .45LC.
And I like the 200gr through 255gr rounds as the stats are good for non +P ammunition.
What are the best thumb break holsters for the Schofield revolvers?

v35

I believe Schofield would have chambered his version in 45LC if it could handle it in order to compete on a more equal basis with the Colt 1873.
The fact that he didn't and he didn't chamber it for an even more powerful cartridge than the 45LC for a competitive edge, tells me the gun couldn't handle more power. The 45LC was loaded with 40 grains of black powder vs 28 grains for the S&W Schofield.
I wouldn't trust the Schofield to stand up to a steady diet of original
full power 45LC loads without loosening up.
The Schofield load is weaker than the military 45ACP load.

givette

I believe the OP is refering to replica Schofields. Modern ordnance steel. They're the only ones chambered from the factory in .45 Colt. He should be good to go with any commercial .45 Colt (non +P) factory loaded ammunition. Joe

Werwolf

From all of the info that I have come across on the issue, so long as the ammunition is standard .45LC and not any +P or high pressure ammunition then the modern Schofield Revolvers are supposed to be able to handle it just fine and also should handle +P type ammunition, but it is not recommended however because those loads could cause the revolver to loosen up and may prove to be dangerous. There were also some forum posts and articles about this, although I haven't been able to find them again.

givette

If you contact Uberti/Beretta they'll tell you not to use +P ammo. Don't listen to unfounded info about hi-pressure cartriges. Standard ammo will allow you a lifetime of use in a top-break. +P will shorten the life (loosen the gun prematurely, or eventually cause a frame-hinge separation).

The post above sounds like you are trying to validate the +P/top break combo. Either get a S&W model 25 (+P), or get a Uberti/Beretta top-break (standard factory pressure loadings).

You can't have both!! HELLO!!!

Joe