Bear Gun

H4831 said:
The 45 Colt was a favourite cartridge of Elmer Keith, but he developed the magnum from the 44 Special.
I will guess that if there had been a good double action 45 Colt around, we would have had the "45 Magnum," years ago, instead of the 44.
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At a point in time quite a while ago, I started collecting variations of the Colt New Service but gave up on collecting. Just couldn't get into it and if I don't shoot it, it's gone. Thinking along the line of your comment though, I was always suprised the New Service was never developed further as competition for the large N-frame Smith. It's big enough and could've been the basis for a 'giant' Python.
 
Johnn, Do you know why Elmer settled on the 44 instead of his favourite 45 Colt?
Like Boomer said, the Colt single actions were not suitable, but I wonder why he didn't go a double action route.
 
H4831 said:
Johnn, Do you know why Elmer settled on the 44 instead of his favourite 45 Colt?
Like Boomer said, the Colt single actions were not suitable, but I wonder why he didn't go a double action route.
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No, I'm afraid I don't. From comments he made on the 45 LC in his books and magazine articles, it does seem a little strange more emphesis wasn't placed on further 'development' of that caliber. I'm guessing that perhaps considering the diameter of the biggest cylinders around then plus the metallurgy of the day, and questioning the relative strength, perhaps it didn't seem to be a good idea.

At a quick glance in his book Sixguns he speaks highly of the development and quality of the 357 Mag in the larger frame Smiths. From there, his next statements go right into design changes urged and required to increase the power of the 44 SPL and transform it into the 44 Mag.

I'll have to delve deeper but so far I see little if any mention made of his significantly pushing similar development improvements of the 45 LC.
 
Gatehouse said:
Elmer blew up a few 45 colt revolvers. There wasn't enough metal left in the cylinder for really hot loads.:)
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That he did, and it's well documented in his books and articles. During our visit with him, he mentioned similar results in a few other calibers as well. I guess at that point in time, with some of the trial & error methods of testing, there was an increased risk of that as the result.

Perhaps Keiths favorite double action and frame size is the S&W N-frame but a quick check indicates a weakness or design flaw in the cylinder. The bolt cut or index mark is directly over the chamber. This, with the increased diameter of the 45 LC cartridge case, may explain why the 45 caliber, in an 'improved' version, wasn't a logical choice. On the Rugers SA's I have and on my Colt Python and Diamondback, this bolt cut or index point is a little off center in relation to the chamber in the cylinder. Couldn't tell you about Colt SAA as I sold mine. Prefer the Vaquero as a shooter.

As engineering and technology moved on and it would appear this weakness has been corrected. On my 500 S&W the indexmark or bolt cut is located between chambers considerably improving the cylinder strength and loads it will safely handle.
 
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Just pick something from this list and off you go into the woods. Just kidding, this "exotic shotgun ammo" is such a waste of money. Would probably catch on in Canada for some reason. http://w ww.deltaforce.com/catalog/pg31.html
 
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