.45 Long Colt recoil. How bad is it?

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ScottsGT

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A few years back I had a Bisley Vaquero in .44 Mag, and it was just way too much recoil for me to enjoy shooting. Disposed of that gun quickly. Now I have my eyes on another Vaquero (new model) but it is .45 LC. They don't make the .357 with a 7 1/2" barrel.
How is the recoil of the .45LC compared to the .44 mag? I am planning on rolling my own ammo and could down load some, but I want to stay as close to factory loads as I can.
 
Not bad at all.

The recoil from a .45 LC is not all that bad. I shoot Winchester Silver tips, Cowboy loads and MAGTECH. None of which are all that bad. I have a two .45 LC's. A Ruger New Blackhawk, and just purchased this week a Ruger Bisley. I love them.
 
Not bad at all. I found absorbing the recoil with both my elbow and wrist helps. I realize this might be common knowledge, but I had to find out on my own.
 
Why'd you get rid of the .44? You coulda fired specials in it even if you don't reload for light stuff.

Standard .45 Colt loads ain't bad at all. But, if you don't like .44 magnum full power, you wouldn't like my full power .45 colts either. It just depends on the load. Don't buy any Buffalo Bore and you'll be okay. Hope you make good money, though, if you don't handload.
 
The single-action grip frame on the New Model Blackhawk (or any other SA for that matter) makes the pistol pivot in the hand(s) when fired. Some of the energy of recoil is subsequently used up trying pivot the weight of the gun. There is not a lot of "push" transfered to the shooters grip, making the felt recoil less than a comparable double action revolver. The beauty of the SA design is that after the recoil cycle is completed, the hammer is right where it needs to be for a quick cocking of the action.

This is why I never liked Pachmayers (sp) on any of my SA Rugers.
 
Here's the deal with the 45LC: the original guns and close clones of same weren't that strong. The 45LC's basic specification calls for less net energy than the 357Mag.

Ruger has built most of their 45LC guns on 44Magnum-grade frames, that gun included. Only the New Vaquero in 45LC is on a "lesser" strength frame (still stronger than a Colt SAA in 45LC).

Any load you find in "45LC+P" will be seriously stout stuff, in a few cases exceeding 44Mag performance levels. Such fodder will fit in that gun you're considering, should you choose to "go there".

But if you don't, standard 45LC (generally peaking at 255gr/1,000fps range) will be very mild. The "Cowboy loads" meant for CAS/SASS shooting events will be even milder because it's supposed to stay under 1,000fps from a short-barreled rifle; it probably won't hit 850fps even from your 7.5" barrel.
 
Why'd you get rid of the .44? You coulda fired specials in it even if you don't reload for light stuff.
Click to expand...

Well, the main reason was due to an offer I could not refuse. I basically traded it for an all original 1945 Colt 1911A1 from a close friend. He saw mine and always wanted a "Cowboy" gun and had no use for that old Army gun he carried while in the Army :what:
His "Old Army Gun" is now my favorite pistol!

On a footnote, I went by the dealer today on the way home to see if he would budge off his $500 price tag. He wouldn't, so I said I'd be back after the gunshow tomorrow, maybe.....:D
 
I find .45 Colt to be very comfortable to shoot. It is a low presssure cartridge pushing a heavy bullet at less than 850 ft per second.

I'm pleased with it in a Taurus Tracker with an aluminum frame.
 
I've discovered that 45 LC is a caliber that will literally pay for a reloading press set up very quickly if you shoot with any regularity. The money I'm saving on ammo by handloading for my Winchester 94AE Carbine in 45 Colt is going to quickly save me enough money to buy a like chambered revolver to go with it.
 
Recoil? Well, it depends. There's .45 LC that pushes a 200gr bullet about 875 fps. then there's the traditional 250gr moving about 900fps. Then there's the cowboy loads that send a 250gr bullet 650-750 fps.
Then you can find some that send a 300gr bullet about 1,300 fps.
.45 Long Colt is a very versatile round.
-David
 
The single-action grip frame on the New Model Blackhawk (or any other SA for that matter) makes the pistol pivot in the hand(s) when fired. Some of the energy of recoil is subsequently used up trying pivot the weight of the gun. There is not a lot of "push" transfered to the shooters grip, making the felt recoil less than a comparable double action revolver.
Click to expand...
I disagree - assuming fairly heavy loads, I find the high bore line of an SA revolver makes the recoil MUCH more unpleasant than that from a DA revolver.

Hold on tight, and the upward torque is most unpleasant, thanks to the high bore line. Let the grip "roll" in the hand, and the trigger guard hits my middle finger. This makes (for example) a 6 1/2" M29 or a Redhawk more pleasant for me to shoot than a Super Blackhawk.
 
I've got a S&W Model 25 Mountain Gun in .45 LC....

and the recoil is nothing. Either shoot cowboy loads or load them yourself. I load a 250gr RNFP over about 4.5 to 5.0 grains of Trail Boss. You can shoot that all day long.
 
Just got back from the indoor range. Not bad at all! Sure ain't a .44 Magnum! I'm very pleased using Georgia Arms Cowboy loads and my own Cowboy loads using 5.5 to 6 grains of Trail Boss with the same 230 grain round nose I use on my .45 ACP reloads. Georgia Arms loads were a little more "snappy" than my own, but still no big deal.
Oh, I sure wish they would A/C that indoor range! It's a high of 100 today and must have been 85 to 90 in the range.
 
In a strong gun the recoil of the 45LC is pretty much what you choose it to be. There are many, many old 45's on the market that simply will not withstand the pressures of new, modern ammo and, thus, the ammo manufacturers tend to produce pretty mild loads - hence mild recoil.

With the advent of stronger platforms (of which Ruger is certainly one) some of the ammo manufacturers e.g. Buffalo Bore, produce some really strong, hot loads for the 45LC to be shot only in appropriate guns. Take a look at the Buffalo Bore 45LC+P in 325 grains and I guarantee you that this is a load with will outperform 44 magnum stuff easily and will produce really, really substantial recoil. As I said, the recoil can be pretty much what you choose it to be.
 
45LC is a sweetheart, especially in the cowboy loads.

It kinda has a "slow" feel to it. Instead of a sharp recoil like the magnums it kinda slowly builds up.

Very enjoyable shooting round, especially in the slower velocity loadings.
 
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