9mm / .45 ACP revolver options

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Esoteria

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I've been looking for a full-size 9mm or 45 ACP revolver for some time. Problem is, I really don't like the look of stainless steel on revolvers, which puts the Redhawk and 9mm S&Ws out immediately.

This basically leaves two options:

The Czechpoint / Alfa Proj 9231 in 9mm, which was discussed in this thread but the review left me a little concerned and there's not much other information about it. Plus, they say it'll be early next year before they get more in, which would be fine but based on that thread I'm not sure I should count on it.

Then there's the S&W 325 Thunder Ranch which looks pretty amazing, but it's pretty pricey. I saw a decent deal for it on slickguns.com recently, but it'd still have been a hair over $1000 out the door. I wonder if the price will come down any more?

Any thoughts on these two guns? Is there one I've overlooked? There's the LCR, but it's hammerless and too small to shoot high volume at the range. Also, this would be the first time I've used moon clips. Is there more I should know besides the obvious, such as needing a tool to load most of them and such?

Because I expect someone will ask, my main reasoning for wanting a 9mm or 45 ACP is fast reloads with moon clips, and just generally wanting something different out of my next wheel gun. This may put the S&W 325 at a further advantage because I would guess it's designed with faster reloads in mind. Also moon clip availability might be better on the S&W.

EDIT: I neglected to mention the Chiappa Rhino in 9mm (or 40 S&W). This would be a viable option despite the very strange looks of the gun, because I don't mind the goofy styling. However it seems really tough to find in those calibers and also runs in the $950 range on a good day, which makes it hard to choose over the S&W except for the "interesting" factor of the bore being aligned with the bottom chamber. I welcome any thoughts on this one too, especially when used with moon clips.
 
S&W made the Model 22 a few years ago in their Classic line. Similar to the M1917 used in WWI.

It is a blued steel, 45 ACP revolver. I am not sure if S&W still offers it but used is always an option.
 
Interesting you mention the Model 22. I hadn't seen it before but I was poking around and learned of the Model 25, which I guess is in 45 colt but I guess some people had them converted to .45 ACP?

On that note, there's the Webleys that are often converted from 455 to 45 ACP, but I've already got a Mk IV Webley so that feels a little redundant.

At any rate, the Model 22's frame style doesn't really suit me -- never liked the slender barrel or the "rear sight" being part of the frame. The 1917 is a little closer to being likeable but they seem dated in the ergonomics. Maybe someone has one and can tell me otherwise.
 
Don't forget the Ruger Blackhawk .357/9mm and 45colt/acp convertible models. Available in blued so it wouldn't be stainless. If you just want a fun, versatile shooter they're hard to beat
 
Everything I've heard about the Blackhawks has been really positive. I'm just generally a single-action fan, too, and I hope to get an SAA clone sometime soon.

But as single actions go I don't see much benefit in the auto calibers if you hand load ammo. Sure, factory .45 ACP is way cheaper than .45 Colt, but they reload for the same cost. mostly the same with 9mm vs 38 or 357. So for me if I'm going to get a single action I'm not really looking for it to use a rimless cartridge. I really want the rimless for moon clips and the shorter case length for faster reloads. If I've got a single action I'm going to take my time and enjoy putting in every long rimmed case. =)
 
Howdy

There is always the venerable S&W Model 1917. Built specifically in 1917 to help ease the crunch of building enough Colt 1911s for the war effort.

There are plenty of them around, I just saw one today. There is also the Brazilian Contract model which is identical, just created a bit later in the 1930s to help keep S&W afloat. Some are a bit beat up on the outside, but it takes a lot of abuse to make one stop functioning.

This one was made in 1918 and came with an antique box of ammo. Yes, the grips are incorrect.

1917andammo.jpg



Here is a pair of Brazilian Contract 1917s. One with the original grips, one with reproductions.

Brazillians_zps1cdb2ddb.jpg
 
Driftwood Johnson, those are really cool! I never heard of them till now.

Too bad they're a little pricey from what I'm seeing. And if I bought a neat old firearm like that, I'd be afraid to shoot it a lot in fear of somehow messing it up.
 
Get a S&W M625 or the new Ruger Redhawk .45/.45 convertible.
Don't like naked stainless?
OK, have it blackened by any of several processes.
Robar chromium sulfide comes to mind.
A shop here, Hamilton Armory, is sending out guns for Melonite.
 
I was going to recommend having a stainless gun coated but I was beaten to it... so I will second the idea!
 
Don't forget the Ruger Blackhawk .357/9mm and 45colt/acp convertible models. Available in blued so it wouldn't be stainless. If you just want a fun, versatile shooter they're hard to beat
Click to expand...

While I love my Blackhawk convertible, he says he wants it for "fast reloads with moon clips", sorta lets out the Blackhawks. :D Now, I can reload my 5.5" 1858 Remington/Pietta with Howell conversion in .45ACP pretty fast. Takes a spare cylinder to do it, though. :D

Having to be full size is a catch, otherwise, I do like the little Ruger LCR in 9x19. Charter Arms offers a 9, but it doesn't take moon clips. There were guns offered in the past in 9x19, but they were mostly snubbies.

I had a 1917 Smith and Wesson for a while, sold it. It was a pretty beat up old war horse and it wouldn't shoot lead bullets for squat, which is about all I shoot in .45ACP for practice. It was fairly light for an N frame, though, and I've seen some really cool carry guns built on them.

Driftwood has some NICE 1917s. I'm jealous. :D
 
Looks like having a stainless gun blackened would run about $200 after shipping and such. That'd be pretty cool, but for the added expense I guess I'd probably go for the 325 again anyway. A Redhawk or a 625 would be more expensive than the 325 after blackening.

Certainly if my goal is just to put out as many rounds as possible in a short time I'd opt for a double stack 9mm semi-auto, but I'm just looking to diversify my revolver lineup. I've got single action, standard double action swing-out style, break action, did black powder for a while, and now it's time for a smooth, fast-reloading revolver that could theoretically be used for light competition if I decided to do that later on.

Also I'm a fan of being able to reload light rounds and hot rounds and with a semi-auto you would typically have to switch recoil springs when going between them. Who wants that?

One other thing that seems cool about moon clips is that they're inexpensive. Assuming a 12-round magazine in a semi-auto, if I want to do some competition or just get into more action shooting, I need 4 or 5 mags, and that's over $100 right there. 10 moon clips does the same job for under $20.
 
The Taurus 905 comes in a blued version, but its not full sized.

Moon clips vary from gun to gun - the LCR moon clips don't require a tool to load or unload - very nice. The moon clips for the S&W 929 are really horrible to try to load by hand, I needed a tool.

The Alfa Proj come with a tool.
 
Don't let the stiff moon clips sway you away from a S&W. I have a 625 and found RIMZ, a glass-reinforced polymer moon clip at ezmoonclip.com. Loading and unloading them is easy and they don't drop the rounds. I fired over 200 rounds through one RIMZ clip in one range session and did not affect the clip at all. Good luck in your search for a great, enjoyable revolver.
 
A few thoughts:

The 325 is a lot lighter than the 625. The difference in recoil might be important to you.

A 625 is the way to go. I'd get over the stainlessness issue and go for it. But, as noted, you can get it coated.

With autos you do not necessarily have to change recoil springs between heavy and light loads. Depends on the gun, the bullets and the loads. And even if you do, it's 5 minutes of work an the springs are cheap.

The 625 is THE perfect shooter.
 
I had one of the Model 21, "Thunder Ranch" revolvers, but in 44 Special. That is one of the few guns I kick my butt for selling, but it had to be done at the time.

I see no reason to think one in 45 ACP wouldn't be just as nice. I wouldn't want it because I don't want to fool with moon clips, but the idea of the gun is sound. They're well worth the money IMHO, and I don't see the price coming down anytime soon.

(I replaced my 21 with a Taurus 431 in 44 Special, but I don't think Taurus ever made one in 45 ACP.)
 
S&W's Governor revolver might not immediately spring to mind but it accepts moon clips and despite it's large size has nice balance and reasonable weight due to the use of scandium. The price seems to be lower than S&W's other offerings in .45 acp.
 
Moxie beat me to that one.
The 325 weighs 31 ounces. That is a LIGHT .45.
I know my Commander is not nearly as much fun to shoot as a G.M. that weighs 3/4 lb more.
 
In a 9mm. revolver you might try looking for a used Ruger Speed Six. It was made in stainless but it is a full size revolver and it uses half moon clips.
 
There are blue Speed Six 9mms around.

I once (before IDPA changed their revolver rules) looked hard for a 4" but could find only 2 3/4". Wouldn't have minded a stainless one, either. I even considered recylindering a Security Six but could not find a cylinder, either.
 
I haven't personally seen the Thunder Ranch version. It is the one that's 31 oz. Pretty light. But it does have a 4" barrel. Also has a shortened cylinder and lengthened forcing cone for less free travel, which theoretically enhances accuracy.

Also since you are interested in fast reloads, it comes with chamfered chambers. But you can have that done to a 625 for very reasonable.
 
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