Pietta Colt 45 Question

[BigGameHunter]

I was looking on Marstars website and recently have had an interest in single action revolvers as I own a semi and a double action revolver so something like this would definately fill a space in my collection.

My question is 45 has a lot of potential as a cartridge on the high end of performance. Some loads are close to .44 mag in power. What I was wondering is will these new pistols although replicas of the original able to handle the newer hotter loads or are they just meant for standard power loads. This is a deal maker for me as the lower end 45 while fairly powerful isn't that much more than a 9mm or 45acp hot loads. I really like .44 magnum as a calibre and that is about the power level I am looking for in the pistol which is why I am wondering this. Thanks.

 

[ben hunchak]

Definately not, these are meant for the same loads as a Colt SAA and not the hot loads some use in the strong Ruger Blackhawk. One look at the cylinder wall thickness on these Colt's copies will tell you what not to do!!

 

[Mimco]

if you want 44mag power buy a 44mag.i have a uberti 45lc clone and have run some hotter loads but nothing compared to my 44mag.the clone guns are meant more for cowboy action loads.

 

[t-star]

in some manuals it actually says THESE LOADS ARE ONLY FOR RUGER AND CONTENDER- those loads are not just like a plus p version, but a WHOLE OTHER LEAGUE

 

[BCRider]

The replicas will shoot full house BLACK POWDER loads since they are modeled after the guns intended to shoot such loads but with better modern steels. But I sure would not want to shoot a steady diet of even full power regular smokeless "non Ruger" loads from them for long or I suspect you'd get into frame stretching and timing issues.

For that you want to step up to the Ruger Blackhawk or even the Super Blackhawk in one of the big calibers. The biggest plus is then you get the adjustable rear sight which can be clicked up and down in tune with the loads you're shooting to hit where you aim.

Otherwise fixed sight guns need to be tuned a narrow selection of loads with different bullet weights that all have the same internal ballistics so that the gun hits at the point of aim. It makes it hard to shift from some lighter plinking loads and back again since you're stuck with Kentucky Elevation aiming instead of being able to quickly set the rear sight up and down a few clicks as you switch power factors.

 

[BigGameHunter]

Thank you for the responses. I think I may just look for a ruger or something a bit more robust.

 

[BCRider]

If you shop for a Ruger keep in mind that their New Vaqueros are in the same boat as the Itallian SAA clones in that they are not really intended to withstand a heavy or even semi frequent diet or regular, but NOT "Ruger Only", full power .45Colt shooting. Again the Blackhawk is the gun of choice for you if this is where you want to go with it or to work up into the "Ruger Only" loads.