Oversized six shot???

[Odin]

What's the benefit of such a beastie? And why not just make the jump to 5-shot?

Just looking at options...

[Fowler]

Well pretty much that you have that additional shot obviously. The reality of what you give up power wise over a 5 shot cylindered gun is maybe 100-150fps for absolute redlined loads that really seldom get shot. The 5 shot cylinder will also weigh more than the same cylinder in a 6 shot.

But in the end not a whole lot of real world difference...

[whitworth]

I have a couple of oversized six-shot cylindered revolvers that can handle all of the H110 you can force feed them. They really aren’t giving up anything but you are gaining a shot.

[Encore64]

And the most important reason for us, BECAUSE WE CAN!!!

[RDW]

Jan 29, 2020 18:42:13 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

And the most important reason for us, BECAUSE WE CAN!!!

HERE HERE!!!!!!!

[dhd]

I've said it before, and may be making up for something, but I do love the way a big cylinder completely fills a frame window.

I only have one big cylinder 6 shot, and it passes the fun stage well before fired brass stops falling from the cylinder. I haven't chronographed anything out of it and don't really care as it's more of a safe queen. There's a lot of power to be had there and one more bullet too.

Not a builder like RDW, but aren't the 6 shots easier/cheaper to build than a 5 shot?

I haven't gone where Whitworth, Fowler and many others have gone with their loads in the 6 shots, and won't as I'm not needing to whack anything big.

[Encore64]

Not to sidetrack from the original thread, but how close are the new BFR 6-Shots going to come to this?

Seems certain that they will be stronger than a Blackhawk and maybe as strong as a Redhawk?

[leftysixgun]

Typically speaking, how much bigger can you go with a oversized 6 shot cylinder, diameter wise?

[Stump Buster]

I went with 6 instead of 5 because I didn't want to have the safety conversion installed on my old model and wanted to keep the tradition of loading 5 with an empty under the resting hammer alive and well. That and most handgun ammunition boxes are either loaded with 20rnds or 50rnds and I like to use up a full row at a time. I'm with dhd, I love me some window fillin' cylinders. So much so, I can't bring myself to buy some perfectly handy sixguns because of the daylight between the front of the cylinder and the frame below the forcing cone. Just can't get past the aesthetics. The COLT SAA and the S&W 29 were drawn up perty right from the beginning.

[Lee Martin]

Jan 29, 2020 20:08:14 GMT -5 leftysixgun said:

Typically speaking, how much bigger can you go with a oversized 6 shot cylinder, diameter wise?

Depending on how much you mill the frame window, it'll add 0.060" - 0.080". And the only benefit is over the bolt stop notch. Inner wall thickness between chambers stays the same.

We've done a few and they are a bit stronger than stock. Beyond milling the frame, enlarging the diameter requires timing modifications. Basically, the bolt has to drop sooner and you have to delay when the hand engages the ratchet. Otherwise, the bolt won't clear the notch as it begins to advance.

For all that's involved, I'd rather build a 5-shot. Fives do require pawl work but they're a lot stronger. And they have one less hole to ream.

45 Colts: Left - rough turned 1.80" oversized, Right - stock 1.73" Ruger Blackhawk



-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"

[leftysixgun]

Gotcha, thanks for the explanation Lee. I couldnt see the cylinder getting much bigger without milling the frame so I had to ask.

[Odin]

Jan 29, 2020 18:34:49 GMT -5 Fowler said:

...in the end not a whole lot of real world difference...

Jan 29, 2020 18:38:29 GMT -5 whitworth said:

I have a couple of oversized six-shot cylindered revolvers that can handle all of the H110 you can force feed them. They really aren’t giving up anything but you are gaining a shot.

Having you two chime in so early, and so succinctly is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

And to the rest, thank you for keeping this going and asking some of the ancillary questions that have been nagging at my brain. And thanks to those who've answered.


And now for a little backstory...



So I’ve decided to head down the rabbit hole that is the 45 Colt. The “why” is a long and winding path, but suffice it to say I want a gun that I can carry until I’m old and gray. One gun that will do it all. This will most likely culminate in a custom build. While I've owned a number of customs, I've never had one built. I'm planning to change that.

There are many levels of 45 Colt, from standard six-holer, to long-cylinder, to oversize 6, to full-blown 5-shot. Each iteration provides another step up in power (and cost). And so one of the big, big questions I’ve been asking myself is how much power do I want and/or need.

In reality the biggest, toughest, critter I’ll ever get to chase is Elk and that can be handled with a bone-stock six shot. So do I really need more?

I've started to mentally assemble some load levels that I'd like to run in this gun I'm dreaming up. Light and standard loads are pretty easy to sort out, but I'd love a good heavy load. Lee Martin has that beautiful line of Martin LFN bullets including a 380 grain 45 caliber slug. In my mind launching a 380 grain bullet at 1100-1200 fps would be be just about perfect for a “heavy” load in 45 Colt. Sure, a bit faster would be nicer, but again, what do I really NEED. So I tapped Lee for some load data for a long-cylinder six shot:

Jan 29, 2020 19:12:18 GMT -5 Lee Martin said:

Start at 19.0 grains of H110 and work up. Depending on the brass, you'll cap out around 20.5. Velocity will be about 1,200 fps. If you order the 380 gr LFN mold shown above, try them at 50 and 100 yards. They fly good…

To say I was a little giddy to read those words is an understatement….

Jan 29, 2020 19:53:52 GMT -5 dhd said:

…aren't the 6 shots easier/cheaper to build than a 5 shot?…

There a plenty of guys who are pretty much “in for a penny, in for a pound” when it comes to builds, especially around here. I’d imagine that an oversize six is marginally cheaper than 5-shot, but not by much. So why not just get the 5-shot? With a long-cylindered gun you’ve still got to pay for a long cylinder, so why not just pay for the action work and (again) get a 5-shot built. And so this is where the rubber really hits the road and the difference between WANT and NEED really, really hits home for me. How much do I want to spend and how long do I want to wait? I already know a long cylinder six shot will do all that I need (and a bit more). The rest is just icing on the cake.

Fairly spendy icing, but icing just the same…

[whitworth]

Here's my .44 Mag six-shot revolver with an oversized cylinder (by Huntington):



The .45 Colt six-shot (also by Huntington);



This is the .45 Colt oversized six-shot cylinder (by Huntington) next to a stock Ruger .45 Colt cylinder:

[Odin]

Jan 30, 2020 9:56:20 GMT -5 whitworth said:

Here's my .44 Mag six-shot revolver with an oversized cylinder (by Huntington):



The .45 Colt six-shot (also by Huntington);



This is the .45 Colt oversized six-shot cylinder (by Huntington) next to a stock Ruger .45 Colt cylinder:

Dang it, Max, you're gonna cost me money!!! I love those guns, especially the blue. Whew!!

[contender]

When I first read the title,, my warped mind thought of our own Dick Thompson. He's a good sized feller,, but I actually knew what the Op was about. But the title made me chuckle.

As seen above,, there is a LOT of very good info. This forum shares some of the best info on such projects that I've seen anywhere.

But I'd never say that "sixshot" is oversized!