Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 45 Colt single action choices

I've had a couple FA's and still shoot a model 83 .454 Casull. Freedom Arms is in a class all their own. If you want 100 yard plus accuracy and a great trigger in a very shootable revolver, buy the FA.

I've had 2 45s on the larger Super Blackhawk Bisley frame, but my only experience with the Flattop "357" Bisley sized gun is in 44 Special with 265/270gr. bullets. Of course I've shot numerous 45's with the Ruger plow handle as well.

That said, the Bisley grip frame is a recoil champ, just don't do the death grip thing. Most who "like" the std plow handle aren't content with the OEM grips and are usually replaced by some rubber fist...

Very nice.

Thanks. Safely holds six, due to the newer design on the Cattleman, so there goes that rationale for preferring Ruger to the more authentic Uberti.

Rugers are still likely a bit stronger, but not so much for the New Vaquero.

Hawk how is the accuracy of that Cattleman?

Three screw Superblackhawk, line bored by Jim Stroh from .44 Mag to .45 Colt. Shilen 6" barrel, long exractor, front sight made by Jim. I added the aftermarket rear sight, did the trigger job and fitted a trigger stop. I installed a nail inside the trigger spring, behind the plunger, cut to the right length to eliminate excessive over travel. I fitted the stag grips, installed the Ruger medallions.

Mernickle cross draw holster, belt long enough to fit over Winter clothes I may be wearing while hunting. Good rig for WT's from a ladder stand. I use Penn Bullets 270 gr. Thunderheads over max 4227 load.

Have posted this before. This is my favorite .45 Colt.

DF

For the life of me, I can't see why...





Very nicely thought out and executed. The Dragoon grip doesn't seem to get much love on heavy kickers with the Bisley grips getting all the attention these days but I've always liked them in the SBH, they've never whacked my knuckle with the heaviest loads and the square back guard adds some visual niceness.

Most folk seem to like the Bisley grip for recoil but I’m in the opposite camp as well. The old plow handle grip, to me, does a much better job with heavy loads. At least in so far as making them comfortable.

The SBH grip is comfortable for me. I also like the Bisley but think the FA may be the best one yet.

IMO, Elmer's #5 sorta set up the Ruger Bisley, although a bit different from the #5.

Here is a Bill Grover Longhorn Arms #5, a copy of Elmer's #5.

Then a custom Jim Stroh Ruger Bisley I traded for.

And last, a FA 97 in .357.

One can see the grips compared.

DF

John, if you carefully analyze the 4 different grip styles I posted, you may see that the SBH may have more middle finger/knuckle clearance than the others.

And, it depends on how you grip the gun. Some wrap their hands around the grip, such that the middle knuckle isn't directly behind the trigger guard. I tend to grip such that my knuckle is just about in line with the back of the trigger guard.

Now, I don't have (or want) a .454, 480, etc., just shoot full house .45 Colt loads. I don't get my knuckle busted with the SBH shooting max loads.

In the .357 FA, I'm shooting full house 170 gr. Gold Dots. I needed a taller front sight with the heavy bullets, FA knew exactly which one. The retrofit was easy with an Allen wrench. That load is equal in power to a 10mm and I prefer it to my 10mm Glock. No knuckle busting.

DF

Thanks Dirtfarmer. I like the idea of having a bit more room between my middle finger and the back of the trigger guard. Having my middle finger bashed like it's being hit with a hammer each time I pull the trigger takes all the fun out of shooting.

Based on a bit more online research as well as reading the preceding posts with great interest I'm leaning strongly in favor of the FA 97. What I really want is one with a 4 1/2" +/- octagonal barrel and express sights. If I have to order one what's the general consensus on delivery/turnaround time?

FA is pretty efficient, don't know about turnaround time. Their stuff isn't cheap, but very well done. And, as I noted, their CS is excellent.

They do know their stuff. Give them a call.

The gun you describe is super nice. I like the octagonal barrel and 4 1/2" is a great carry length, very handy.

DF

I called FA a couple years ago to check on delivery time since I'd saved up the loot. They quoted me 14 months. I decided it wasn't worth that much wait to me.

Tom

May find one on line from one of the brokers, like Gunsamerica, etc.

DF

I had one just like it; shot high and left. Sold it.


Them Italians are hit and miss. I have another that is wicked accurate.

When I was in the cowboy action game, I got an action wrench and barrel vice to adjust the POI. Shooting high is a problem, L vs R can be handled.

Shooting low, just cut some off the front sigiht.

Sometimes changing a load can influence POI.

DF

Depends. My old Cattleman purchased by me around 1988 shot left.

My new one is dead on. Not high, low, left, or right. I like it.

How tight the group is will depend on the load. This group is from some cheap, FMJ, .45 ACP range ammo at 15 yards from off hand (I have a .45 Colt cylinder for it, too). You can cover it with the palm of your hand. I'd say that's good enough for government work.

PS In Hickok45's hands, I'm sure it could ring the gong at 80 yards pretty regular.

That Jim Stroh's a beauty. Love those stags on it, too.

Yeah, Jim's a master craftsman.

I enjoyed working with him. I did the stags with medallions on that one, as well. Jim had rosewood grips, which are nice, just like stag better.

The line bored SBH with Shilen barrel will out shoot the Bisley, also a .45 Colt. It's been slicked up, but otherwise just a factory gun.

25 yds off a bag with SWC 255's and 4227.

BTW, FA's are reportedly line bored and will shoot with the best custom Rugers.

DF

Here's my 4 1/4" Oct Bbld FA97 in .45 Colt. I lucked out and got it used -- I've put in excess of 25,000 rnds thru it. Perfect size for me and can be loaded from mild to wild.



Paul