The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: The Revolver Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old July 4, 2013, 10:41 AM   #1
Cosmodragoon
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 18, 2013
Location: Northeastern US
Posts: 1,869
Ideal barrel length for .45 Colt?

I see that the .45 Ruger Redhawk is now produced only in a 4" barrel. The first time I saw a 4" Redhawk, I thought it was an aesthetically odd fit for this beefy revolver. I suppose that makes it easier to carry around but it's still a brick.



Since I don't have much experience with .45 Colt, is four inches a good ballistic pairing? What barrel lengths do you use for this caliber? What would you prefer?

Thanks.
Cosmodragoon is offline  
Old July 4, 2013, 10:49 AM   #2
Nathan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2001
Posts: 6,285
I like 4 - 7.5" because of ballistics, handling and accuracy.

I have a 5.5" Ruger SA. It is easy for me to hit with out to 50 yards, but 75 is reaching. I used to shoot a 10.5" 44 mag and killed a deer at 125 yds, so a lot is in the barrel length and sights.

To me, 5.5" is a great packing/hunting length. With practice, my 100 yard shooting should get better!

If it was more of a pure hunting gun, I would like 7.5" better.

If more of a SD Bear stopper, I think 4" would be ideal as 4" is about as long as you can sit in a car with in a normal holster.
Nathan is offline  
Old July 4, 2013, 11:11 AM   #3
black mamba
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 13, 2011
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 890
Depending on the frame size, 4-5" is ideal for me. In a large frame like the Redhawk, I would prefer a 4.75-5" barrel. The 4" works well on the smaller Taurus and S&W revolvers, while the Ruger SA 4-5/8" is beautiful.
black mamba is offline  
Old July 4, 2013, 11:27 AM   #4
AL45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 12, 2012
Posts: 753
I have a Ruger Blackhawk with a 4 5/8 barrel and I like the way it balances.
AL45 is offline  
Old July 4, 2013, 11:35 AM   #5
Dragline45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 30, 2010
Posts: 3,513
Just FYI, you will be hard pressed to find a 4" barreled Redhawk in .45 Colt. For some reason Ruger does not make alot of them, I mean barely any at all. I cant understand why they put it on their website when they are almost impossible to find.
Dragline45 is offline  
Old July 4, 2013, 11:38 AM   #6
newfrontier45
Junior member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2012
Posts: 921
Gunsmiths have made quite a bit of money shortening Redhawks to 4", it was nice to see Ruger offer it for a change. It's a good length, if not, you can always find a used 5.5".
newfrontier45 is offline  
Old July 4, 2013, 11:53 AM   #7
WIL TERRY
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 6, 2000
Location: BLACK HILLS
Posts: 1,322
LET'S SEE....;I use 4", 4 3/4", 5", 5 1/2", 6", 7 1/2", and 8 5/8" 45COLT revolvers. THEY ALL WORK just fine thank you very much. NO, I do not have any favorites in BBL lengths nor calibers as they all can do what they can do and no more.
WIL TERRY is offline  
Old July 4, 2013, 12:35 PM   #8
rclark
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 12, 2009
Location: Butte, MT
Posts: 2,614
There is no 'Ideal' barrel length for .45 Colt. There is one that is ideal for 'me' which is 5 1/2" and of course must be a blued single action revolver. Simple enough . Pick the one that fits what you are going to use it for. I like the 3 1/2" for CC . I like 7 1/2" for a hunting gun. 5 1/2" works for a general/every day use gun. Again ... That is 'me'. Other guys feel the same way with the 4 5/8" barrelled revolvers. Your call .
__________________
A clinger and deplorable, MAGA, and life NRA member. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes colloquially referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. That said, the .44Spec is right up their too... but the .45 Colt is still the king.
rclark is offline  
Old July 4, 2013, 05:29 PM   #9
rep1954
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 5, 2009
Location: Mid Western Michigan
Posts: 1,187
I sure am enjoying the 8" barrel on my Uberti 1858 Remington New Army with it's 45 Colt cartridge conversion. I'm thinking a 5 1/2" one would be nice to have also.
rep1954 is offline  
Old July 4, 2013, 06:37 PM   #10
redrick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 5, 2007
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,041
My 45 Uberti is a 5.5". I like that length with a cowboy 45.

My next handgun is going to be 4.2" Redhawk 44mag. I am going to carry it with me while hunting.
redrick is offline  
Old July 4, 2013, 08:11 PM   #11
GeauxTide
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 20, 2009
Location: Helena, AL
Posts: 4,415
Had a 7.5" Blackhawk and gave it to my youngest. My 5.5" Bisleys in 45 and 44Spl are my favorites.
GeauxTide is offline  
Old July 4, 2013, 11:48 PM   #12
horselips
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 26, 2013
Posts: 159
I guess ideal barrel length would depend on the purpose of the weapon. One bought for hunting or target shooting should have a long barrel, one bought for cowboy action somewhat shorter, and one for personal defense shorter yet. I love my Colt New Service Target in .45 Colt with its 7.5" barrel, but I would also like a Ruger Alaskan in .454/.45Colt. That 2 1/2" barrel and adjustable sights makes for a very appealing package, especially in a gun built to handle far higher pressures than a .45Colt would ordinarily develop.
horselips is offline  
Old July 5, 2013, 09:52 AM   #13
vba
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 26, 2008
Posts: 357
My favorite barrel length for the New Vaquero is 4 5/8". The gun just handles so well for me and I seem to be able to get on target quicker than longer barrel lengths. I used to own a 7.5" New Model Blackhawk but ended up preferring the shorter length.

Ballistically, the longer tube will do better but as in everything there are compromises.
vba is offline  
Old July 5, 2013, 10:57 AM   #14
Poindexter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2009
Location: Interior Alaska
Posts: 154
I agree with all the foregoing, depends on what for. I have a 4" redhawk (45 Colt) as a hunting sidearm, a 3.75" New Vaquero for CCW.

I used to have a 7.5" revolver that I bought for hunting, but I couldn't shoot very far with it, and I couldn't get it into action quick enough to think of it as a bear defense pistol either, so I went back to 4" sidearm and back to toting a rifle.

For sheer looks, I like the 4.75" Colt SAA. It's next on my list.
Poindexter is offline  
Old July 5, 2013, 11:40 AM   #15
40-82
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 6, 2013
Posts: 178
For carrying I prefer the 4-inch barrel in the New Service, but I can live with the 5.5 inch. Same with the single-action I prefer to carry the 4.75 but can get along quite well with the 5.5 inch. Once in the hand 7.5 inch beats them all. Longer than 7.5 inches and I prefer to forget the sixgun and just go with a carbine. In terms of performance on target the slow 45 Colt loses little in the short barrel.
40-82 is offline  
Old July 5, 2013, 09:05 PM   #16
s4s4u
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 22, 2007
Location: MN
Posts: 365
I cut my 7-1/2" Bisley down to 6", much happier.
s4s4u is offline  
Old July 6, 2013, 12:26 AM   #17
Slopemeno
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 19, 2007
Posts: 2,663
I had my Bisley shortened from 7.5" to 5.5".
Slopemeno is offline  
Old July 6, 2013, 02:08 AM   #18
stevelyn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 19, 2004
Location: Fairbanksan in exile to Aleutian Hell
Posts: 2,655
Quote:
I see that the .45 Ruger Redhawk is now produced only in a 4" barrel. The first time I saw a 4" Redhawk, I thought it was an aesthetically odd fit for this beefy revolver. I suppose that makes it easier to carry around but it's still a brick.
I have one and it's ideal for tent and sleeping bag security. I think I would prefer to have a 5" to 5.5" barrel on it to increase sight radius and versatility a bit in the event I have an opportunity to take a whack at a moose or caribou beyond 50yrds and a rifle is out of reach.

It is a bit of a brick, but I can live with it as I can run 32K psi loads in it and not worry about it.

The best way I've found to carry it is in a Diamond D Guides Choice chest holster. It keeps it handy and out of the way on a wheeler, snowmachine or while fishing (especially wading) or doing light work. I can carry it inside or outside my outer clothing. Just make sure you take it off or push it to the side if you are eating tacos.


http://www.diamonddcustomleather.com/Chest_Holsters.php
__________________
Stop Allowing Our Schools To Be Soft Targets!
http://fastersaveslives.org/

East Moose. Wear Wolf.
stevelyn is offline  
Old July 6, 2013, 11:57 AM   #19
newfrontier45
Junior member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2012
Posts: 921
Quote:
It is a bit of a brick, but I can live with it as I can run 32K psi loads in it and not worry about it.
You can run 50,000psi loads through it and not worry about it.
newfrontier45 is offline  
Old July 7, 2013, 09:52 AM   #20
Colt46
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 25, 2002
Location: Campbell Ca
Posts: 1,090
5" give or take

I like my guns for carrying in the outdoors. The Colt 4 3/4" and Ruger 4 5/8" work best for me.
Colt46 is offline  
Old July 7, 2013, 08:50 PM   #21
stevelyn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 19, 2004
Location: Fairbanksan in exile to Aleutian Hell
Posts: 2,655
Quote:
You can run 50,000psi loads through it and not worry about it.
Yeah, I read the Brian Pearce reply to a letter in Handloader, but I don't advertise it too much. Besides, a 330gr cast bullet fueled by 21 grains of Lil'Gun is getting near the upper edge of what's comfortable for me to hang onto during a range session.
__________________
Stop Allowing Our Schools To Be Soft Targets!
http://fastersaveslives.org/

East Moose. Wear Wolf.
stevelyn is offline  
Old July 7, 2013, 09:39 PM   #22
Sarge
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 12, 2002
Location: MO
Posts: 5,453
I like 4 3/4" for single actions and 4" for double actions.
__________________
People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.
Sarge is offline  
Old July 7, 2013, 10:11 PM   #23
SaxonPig
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 24, 2006
Posts: 1,900
It is very popular to hot rod the 45 Colt and these guys like the longer barrels to wring every last FPS from their hot loads. I think the 45 Colt is fine at normal velocities for its intended purposes and I don't know why S&W even made their guns in this caliber with barrels longer than 4".


SaxonPig is offline  
Old July 14, 2013, 08:29 AM   #24
smee78
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 14, 2008
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 2,918
I perfer 4-5 1/2 for handguns/general purpose use, If I cant get it done with one of thoes then I need a rifle. Now yes I dow own a Ruger Redhawk 7 1/2, I mainly shoot it with a scope. If CCWing then the 2-3 1/2 works out great.
__________________
We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are
smee78 is offline  
Old July 14, 2013, 08:55 AM   #25
Ibmikey
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 1, 2013
Location: Now relocated to Texas
Posts: 2,943
I had my S&W barrel shortened to 5" and it made all the difference in handling yet maintained it's accuracy. For me it fit all my revolver needs for carry, target and hunting but the main point is the ease of getting on the target quickly coupled with a decent sight radius.
Ibmikey is offline  
Reply

Tags
.45 colt , redhawk

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:22 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.10349 seconds with 10 queries