In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
45 Revolver. Barrel length. Let's argue!
Kevin_L
Member Posts: 2,011 ✭✭✭✭
I'm about to buy a 45 revolver. The last decision is: 5.5" or 7.5" barrel?
I have two other revolvers (38 special, 4" and 6") and both are easy to shoot. But a 200+ grain bullet is a lot more mass than the 125 grain 38s I've been shooting.
I like the look of the 5.5" barrel a tiny bit more than the 7.5". But, if there's a noticeable difference in felt recoil, I'll go with the 7.5" because I want to shoot this gun a lot.
So....who's got an opinion on their favorite barrel length for a 45 revolver?
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
Comments
I don't have a 45 but my 44's are 7.5 inch in the Black hawks and I enjoy those more than the 2.5 inch Alaskan, All of them are fun, just easier to hit the target with the longer barrel...
I owned several 45 Colt Blackhawks. The shoulder holster deer hunting one was 7.5" and the belt holster everything else ones were 4 5/8" (or whatever length it was that the short Ruger came as.) I generally shot lighter loads and more of them in the short ones.
I have both, a four and five inch S&W 625. The four inch is great, but the extra inch on the five makes the sight picture a bit better. What gun are you thinking about?
@toad67 : looking at a Taylor's Old Randall (5.5") and a Taylor's 1873 Cattleman (7.5").
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
Are you going to use moon clips, or load some 45AR?
When I deer hunted with Contenders,I had a 14 inch 44 mag barrel that would stay in the kill zone at 200 yards.After hunting with it a few times it proved to be sort of ungainly handling.I went back to a 10 inch barrel and did fine.
I don't think that you will notice a lot of difference in recoil. I've shot 7.5" and they don't feel much different than my 4 3/4".
I do like .45 cal revolvers. That's my New Frontier 45LC and a S&W 25-2 6" in that new fangled .45 ACP. As @KenK/84Bravo said though, the sights are more forgiving on the longer barrels. Bob
I'd go with the 5.5 inch barrel.
Hands down 5.5" they balance better.
If you are using it to deer hunt, I prefer a longer barrel. My 44 and my 41 are both 8 3/8 inch smith and Wesson.. I shoot a 210 grain Hornady xtp-hp in both. If you are just buying it to target shoot, I would say the 5.5 is much of a difference. You could also lower the grains of powder and shoot pet loads. Just me, But I prefer the longer barrels for both target and hunting. My wife asked me what I wanted for my 60th in two weeks. I really want a "JM'" Marlin 1894cb in 45 long colt. Then I want to buy a matching revolver in 45. So my final synopsis is, buy the longer barrel, hate it, and send it to me for my birthday. Problem solved😁
I have a Smith&Wesson model 22, same as the model 1917. It has a 5.5 inch barrel which fits that model very well. It was designed as you know to fill a gap in side arms during WW1, and only handles the 45 ACP round. For defense it fits the bill perfect, and for fun as well.
Now if you’re wanting to hunt with a handgun, I would go with the 45 Long Colt in a 7.5 inch. I had one once, but only in 4.5 inch barrel that was made by Ruger. They make a very strong revolver, but case in 45 LC if I remember can be rather thin if going to reload.
I will definitely load my own for this one. I doubt it will ever see factory ammo.
Almost all of my shooting will be indoors. You can never be too safe against paper plates. I'll never hunt with the 45. It's exclusively a range gun indoors or outdoors.
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
I'm also a fan of 5.5 but have a bit of mix of 5.5 and shorter.
Pietta 45 Colt
Uberti 357 Magnum
Look for a Cimarron, Evil Roy. Talk about a slick revolver.
Barrel length, what is you planed use for the revolver?
Mine are all 5.5 in Colt and Ruger. James Arness as Matt Dillon carried 7.5 and won all the shoot outs against Arvo OJala every time. So tell me, are you feeling lucky... To mix movie metaphors. My advice is to get one of each, and figger it out for your ownself.
And for the record, Hollywood not withstanding, there is no historical evidence that Wyatt Earp ever carried a Buntline long barreled Colt. Assertions from Ned Buntline, who bought Saturday night specials cheap and sold them as "Owned by Ned Butline" entirling with standing. Ned was a self promoter and not even a little credible.
I had a Uberti 45 Colt that would chamber 1 3/4" cut-down .410 shells. What a hoot! I even found a rare Lee Loader for .410 to make them. (My Rugers were too tight to chamber them.)
I have two SA revolvers. Both Rugers, one Blackhawk in 45 Colt, and one Super Blackhawk. Both have 7-1/2 inch barrels. I have never even fired a short barreled Blackhawk that I can recall. They look neat, and I would like to have one.
I have several Rugers in 45 colt, I was an avid cowboy action shooter. I personally have found I shoot much better with the 5.5" barrels than with the 7.5". Recoil difference seems negligible to me.
Do you think you shoot better with the 5.5 because of the weight/balance of the gun?
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
I don't think you will notice much difference in felt recoil with the 7.5" that would make that the deciding factor, but yes technically it will tame it more.
The 7.5 has a better sight picture for you, so you will shoot it more accurately, but you will likely tire from holding the longer bbl up, more quickly.
The 5.5, as said above, will balance a bit better and be quicker on the draw.
My 44 mag is in a ruger with a 7.5" bbl, and frankly grips do the most to tame recoil in that gun.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Yes, like I tell people in the store I think revolvers over the 5-6" range tend to get "front heavy" and are harder to hold steady.
I picked that one up at a local gun shop. Being so shiny it called to me. It has 4 clicks of the hammer. The top one I got on the auction side here, it has a transfer bar safety and only 3 clicks. Which is kind of disappointing.
I snagged this pic from GB Forums a few years ago as an inspiration. I forget the member's name but these are all Colts from his collection.
I thought Every one knew it's not the size it's how well you can use it
Nah , it's the size .............................................
Depends on what you are going to do with it. Short barrel is easier to carry, quicker go get into action. Longer barrel gives a much better sight picture..... chances are you will shoot it more accurately.
My S&W 25-2 with 2.75 inch barrel.
Which kicks harder: an angry bronco or that revolver? 🤔 😁
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
Wow, that's a beautiful Smith.
I like the .45 Colt cartridge and own some Ruger Blackhawks so chambered. To my eye, the 4 5/8 barrel looks just right; the 7 1/2 is impressive, and the 5 1/5 looks "ordinary". I generally load the traditional 250 gr. flat point bullet with 10 gr. of Unique and average 989 fps with the 4.6 barrel, 1,044 fps with the 5.5, and 1,117 fps with the 7.5.
As an aside: I bought a 7.5" Blackhawk that had only the ACP cylinder (the Colt cylinder was lost). I bought it mostly because it was a 3-screw. Loaded with the 225 gr. Lyman #452374 bullet and 7 gr. of Unique produced 1,035 fps--pretty close energy-wise to the Colt cylinder in the shorter barrels and recoil is noticeably milder.
I always felt the "classic" load of 10.0 Unique was a bit too much for me. I settled on 8.0. Actually, I preferred more modern, cleaner burning and better measuring powders like Universal. Unique was like burning charcoal. I also liked the Lee RNFP or a SWC bullet of 250 grains or so.
The 45 Colt was the first big bore revolver I bought back in the 70s. Enjoyed many decades of shooting them but finally decided that having 41s, 44s, and 45s was excessive. Sold off the .45s with a tear in my eye. Just recently sold my beloved Clements .41 Special, with crocodile tears. Down to a pair of .44 Specials.
4 5/8 unless you already have those. The fun is the balance
I have a pair of Colt SAA's in 45 Colt with 4-3/4" barrels and a pair of 45 Colt Ruger old Vaqueros with 5-1/5" barrels.
All Uberti. Got the 5+" "lazer" engraved Teddy is okay with silly light trigger the previous owner's doing I imagine. Then I got the 4+" Bisley handier but I kind a like to have my Teddy trigger job done to it. Then my 7+" Schofield love the brake top for quick reloads. I'd like S&W to make this in stainless in double action that takes 10 .22LR that can be scoped.
I suppose I like the Schofield best. One of these days I'll have to get a cross draw holster. Unless my belly gets bigger then a over the top of the belly cross draw rig.