45 Colt light weight / compact double action CCW gun ???

[magnumwheelman]

this came up on another forum, that there isn't anything made right now in double actions, but Judges / Governors, Redhawks ( rare ) Super Redhawks ( in 454 Casull ) ( & heavy ) this got me thinking, ( & I do love my single actions ) that maybe my next custom aught to be a modern "fight'n 45 Colt" double action... either a smaller frame stainless, or a alloy frame, something compact, light, & easy to carry

thoughts or suggestions for platforms

was thinking the difficult to shoot S&W light weight 44 Magnums, bore the chambers, & switch barrels... maybe something like my L frame 44 Special ( 5 shot ) converted to 45 Colt maybe something like a GP-100 snubbie in with a 5 shot cylinder

... anyway I think it could be a highly desirable gun, once the project is completed... anyone done anything similar thoughts or eye deers welcome

[zac0419]

I'm sure others will say "why?" but I say why not. I love the 45 Colt and I know there have been a at least a few S&W snubbies in 45 Colt. The last one I saw on GB went for $1200+ but it was really cool looking and there weren't very many made, like 100 or something..

I dug up a picture for you, not mine but pretty cool. Notice they didn't even have enough room for the "O" in "COLT".

[magnumwheelman]

awesome... personally I'd have put a 1/2" more pipe on it, but that's just what I was thinking... my local retired smith buddy has no issues doing cylinders for single actions, but doesn't want to futz with making double action cylinders... I'm wondering if I could find someone to shoe horn a 5 shot cylinder into a GP-100 ( I already have one on the wall ) or equivalent S&W frame I really like my single action 45 Colt snubbie in my avatar, & could easily use one of my Dan Wessons to make a 45 Colt snubbie, but the frame would be larger than I'd like...

would cost me more ( since I'd have to buy the gun 1st ) but the alloy S&W would be a prime candidate...

I also thought ( if I wanted to step down to Tauri ) the Tracker has a 5 shot 44 mag version... ( I already have 2 totally custom guns built on Tauri... but finding someone to build a cylinder & be willing to work on them, may be too much of a challenge

[serialsolver]

A 329ng rechambered and rebarreled for the 45 colt would do it. A 325ng would do the same thing without the custom work.

[magnumwheelman]

or maybe a 625 NG if I could find one... just a little futzing with the cylinder...ooops... sorry, guess they called them 325's ( always have had trouble with S&W's model numbers )

hmmm... probably get headspace issues using the short 45 acp cylinder ( machined for moon clips ) so would likely still need a cylinder made

[stevemb]

I haven't boughtinto the .45 bore...yet. But with a bulldog and a Vaq Nm Sheriff .44spec, I see your point, and yes it can be done. A 5-shot GP ? A 6-shot N-frame "sheriff" ? Go for it ! stevemb

[shorty500]

a .45 Colt cylinder from m625 or while they aint a S&W , Taurus does make a snub compact .45 Colt similar in size to the Charter Bulldog. They have made then with steel, stainless, titanium and aluminum frames. Did action tune and made wood grips for customers airlite .45 and was impressed when shot the little taurus

[magnumwheelman]

I think I'd really like a 5 shot GP, if it were possible...

& I haven't had an issue with either of my Tauri customs... one ( a 22 Mag Tracker, converted to center fire, & re-chambered for my 22 Mag CF, & one a Raging Hornet fitted with a 6" Dan Wesson Barrel Shroud, & a 1 in 9" twist barrel...

but since this would be designed as a CCW from get go, I'd prefer it be bullet proof solid...

[shorty500]

aint sure how much outside wall would be on gp100 size in .45. Never held one of the .44 conversions and aint heard of anything bigger. Love the idea

[Frank V]

I had a Taurus Tracker 4" .44 Mag. for a time. I actually liked everything but the ported bbl & "ribber" stocks. I think it'd be really nice in a 3".
It leaded a bit till I fire lapped the bore.
I would have another.
I think it'd work in .45 Colt too?

[magnumwheelman]

thanks for the suggestion...

[dougader]

625 Mt Gun isn't that hard to conceal. Excellent revolver, with all 6 rounds.

[Snyd]

I'm thinkin after my bigbore project gun I'll keep on the lookout for one of these. Taurus 450 45 Colt snubbie. They made the 450t the titanium one and also one in stainless.

unblinkingeye.com/Guns/T450T/t450t.html

[salmonriver]

Have a Tracker 4in. 45 colt. Had a 625-6 mt.gun in same. Loved the Smith, but for packin wouldn't trade the Tracker straight across. Loaded the Smith with everything I load and it was one of the most accurate wheelguns . However, it won't shoot with the Tracker. The Tracker is lighter and smaller, on the order of a full lug k frame, smaller than a L, in five shot colt. All I can say about the ported barrel and ribbed grips is they just work. Sights are better and resprung it's everything the Smith wants to be with out pull'in your pants down. Pack it in a crossdraw or behind the back and never know it's there. What's not to like? AVAILABILITY Scarce is the word. As a bonus they produced a few 4 in. Trackers in Titanium, so I'm still looking.

[dougader]

I have owned Tarus handguns, and it was the luck of th edraw whether you got a decent one or not. A M85 was crap. Felt like sand in the trigger, accuracy sucked and the cylider lockup was looser than a 2-bit, well, you know.

Now I had a 357 mag Taurus, a 6" model 66, IIRC, and honestly it has been about the most accurate out-of-the-box revolver I have ever owned... better than a S&W 686, a Ruger GP100, etc. (Although, the 625-6 Mt Gun and an OM 357 mag Ruger BH was right there with it.)

The downside to the M66 was it shot itself loose in about 3,000 rounds, and i shot a lot of 38 specials as well as 357 mag. It got to where I'd pull the trigger and the cylinder wouldn't rotate anymore.