will .45 rifle fit pistol?

[hightech_redneck]

I asked this before a good while back, can't find the answer...
If I get a lever action "cowboy gun" in 357 or .45, with the same rounds fit in the handgun of the same cal.? I am looking at getting another rifle and pistol, and always had a thing for the old west style, figured I would benefit with 2 guns that fire the same round.

[Phoenixhawk]

If you get a Lever Action and a single action six shooter in .357/.38 or .45 Long Colt, yes it will shoot the same ammo. The thing to watch for is the ammo, most lever actions are tube feeds, meaning the pointy end of the round is sitting against the primer of the next round. You can buy Cowboy action rounds, but anything with a flatten tip works.

[LLX45]

The Marlin 45 Cowboy rifle is chambered in .45 Long Colt. It is the same round as the .45 Colt round you find in several revolvers. It is NOT the .45 ACP. I wasn't sure about what your are asking. If you are asking about chamber pressures, the rifle will handle the same heavy rounds you can shoot from Rugers, Freedom Arms, and other modern well built .45 Colt revolvers.

[Phoenixhawk]

.45LC (Long Colt) is NOT .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol)

I'm sure there is one or two out there, but every single action cowboy gun I've seen if its a 45 is chambered in .45LC

My Opinion for cowboy action is to want to lean toward .45LC for loyalty, but .357 is the better choice, gives you the option of .357mag or .38

[sailinghudson25]

44 magnum is the best combination. IT really is the only caliber that can handle deer hunting at 100 yards as good as rifle calibers. If 44 magnum is too much gun, then get 44 special cartridges.

IF your intentions are to get a rifle for your 45acp pistol, take a good look at the marlin camp rifle in 45. Don't quote me on this, but I do think ruger made a lever action that uses 45acp. Almost looks like a 10/22. but with a lever on the bottom.

[raglan]

Absolutely. Great way to go, I too love the old west weapons.

[Rifleman336]

One downside, I've found out about the .45LC is it's can have a hard time ejecting out of a modren design DA revolvers and Leveraction rifle. For the cartridge was desiged to be ejected by a rod going in the cartridge casing itself in the SA revolvers of the era. No cosideration of it being used in a rifle for the Colt held tight to the patent for the cartridge, so as to not allow any future competion of any kind.

That why .44-40 was the bigbore cartridge of choice for the rifle/pistol combo. If you look hard you'll see that there was no such thing as a .45LC, until the 1980's. And ask the wild west comp crowd what fits they've had with getting the rifles to extract reliably.


So the choice should go between .357 or .44 Magnum for they can be loaded hot or very mild to suit the need at the time. But both have large rims for the extractor to get a hold off.

Rifleman 336

[Hick Industries]

I am not certain if they still make it, but Smith and Wesson used to make a revolver in 45ACP as well. It used 3 round half moon clips to hold the rimless auto pistol cartridge in a revolver cylinder, same round fits in the Colt 1911 45 auto pistol.

I agree that the 44 mag is one of the most useful rifle/revolver combos. But truely all the rifle/pistol combos and worth having.

[Rifleman336]

Originally Posted by Hick Industries

I am not certain if they still make it, but Smith and Wesson used to make a revolver in 45ACP as well. It used 3 round half moon clips to hold the rimless auto pistol cartridge in a revolver cylinder, same round fits in the Colt 1911 45 auto pistol.

I agree that the 44 mag is one of the most useful rifle/revolver combos. But truely all the rifle/pistol combos and worth having.

Yes they do. It's the 625 in stainless and the model 25 in carbon (now part of the classic lineup). But be carefull for the 25 designation means .45, but it's made in both .45 ACP and .45 LC, so doulbe check before buying!


Rifleman 336

[JedLMF]

336 Maybe I am misunderstanding what you wrote, maybe you meant in popularity, but .45 Colt (long colt is technically incorrect but I'm not here to flame) has been around since the 1870's. It was not used until later model Winchesters and the SAA was available in .45 Colt. Personally I;d going with the .44-40 as it was preferred, second choice would be the .357/38 then the .44 mag/.44 special.

[hightech_redneck]

Thx for the reply's, I'm going to do some more research on this. I think having a rifle and revolver would cut cost on ammo if they fire the same cal.
I've always been a fan of the old west stuff, those folks were TRUE survivalist!!
Especially the old trappers and mountain men.
Get me a horse, some light gear..BOV that won't need gas

[Rifleman336]

Originally Posted by JedLMF

336 Maybe I am misunderstanding what you wrote, maybe you meant in popularity, but .45 Colt (long colt is technically incorrect but I'm not here to flame) has been around since the 1870's. It was not used until later model Winchesters and the SAA was available in .45 Colt. Personally I;d going with the .44-40 as it was preferred, second choice would be the .357/38 then the .44 mag/.44 special.

yes you did miss read what I ment. The Colt SAA started in .45 LC. But yes their was a Short Colt, more commonly refered to as .45 SCHOLFIELD. The confusion sets in when one realises that the the Caliber was invented by S&W for the Scholfield revolver!! The selling point to the army was that the .45 Scholfield could be fired out of a Colt SAA if no LC ammo was available. But not the other way around. What muddies the water that got the public to say Long Colt or Short was the Ammo manufactures!! They wanted the shooting public to know that the cartridge could be fired out of .45 LC guns. But there are surviving boxes marked as such in private ammo collections.

But as for Colt in the 1870's, they wouldn't let other manufactuers manfacture pistols or rifles in that caliber (even under liceanse) until after the patent expired. But when Winchester introduced the .44-40, they didn't put such restrictions (even against Colt) and Colt saw how handy it would be to have a pistol chamber in the same caliber as the winchester 1873 and the rest they say is history!!! But it wasn't until the 1980's did one see a .45LC chambered levergun due to customer resurgance in intrest in the caliber.


The only strike I have against the .44-40 is it isn't as powerful as the .44 in hot loads, nor can it be loaded hotter for modren design rifles without a case seperation!! That would ruin anyones day. Also .44 mag is very common today versus .44-40.


Rifleman 336

[JedLMF]

Originally Posted by Rifleman336

yes you did miss read what I ment. The Colt SAA started in .45 LC. But yes their was a Short Colt, more commonly refered to as .45 SCHOLFIELD. The confusion sets in when one realises that the the Caliber was invented by S&W for the Scholfield revolver!! The selling point to the army was that the .45 Scholfield could be fired out of a Colt SAA if no LC ammo was available. But not the other way around. What muddies the water that got the public to say Long Colt or Short was the Ammo manufactures!! They wanted the shooting public to know that the cartridge could be fired out of .45 LC guns. But there are surviving boxes marked as such in private ammo collections.

Yes but it was referred to as Scholfield, Long colt came out of military slang to avoid confusion with the Schofield and also and actual .45 Short Colt (which was also called .45 Colt jsut like it's larger brother, part of the adoption of the long part of the name). but I have old boxes of ammo that only say colt, because that was it's original and official name but LC has continued to be a nickname. I only present this so that anyone reading and who is not aware does not become confused when they see some cartridges as Colt vs Long Colt. Like this guy here (THR forum but I came across it a while back.) http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/i.../t-142019.html
They are not different cartridges, kinda like 9mm Luger and 9mm Parabellum are the same cartridge.

[LLX45]

Originally Posted by JedLMF

336 Maybe I am misunderstanding what you wrote, maybe you meant in popularity, but .45 Colt (long colt is technically incorrect but I'm not here to flame) has been around since the 1870's. It was not used until later model Winchesters and the SAA was available in .45 Colt. Personally I;d going with the .44-40 as it was preferred, second choice would be the .357/38 then the .44 mag/.44 special.

The .45 Colt is commonly called .45 Long Colt b/c of the .45 Schofield round. The military used .45 Schofield and .45 Colt. The Schofield round was shorter and could be fired in a Colt revolver, but not the other way around. The term Long Colt was to identify the difference. The .45 Schofield actually became the standard round used by the Army. Usually only civilians (that could actually afford a Colt) used the .45 Colt (Long Colt) round.

[LLX45]

Oops! You guys covered this while I was "typing" my post.

[LLX45]

I need to learn how to type, instead of my "hunting and pecking" technique.

[JedLMF]

Originally Posted by LLX45

The .45 Colt is commonly called .45 Long Colt b/c of the .45 Schofield round. The military used .45 Schofield and .45 Colt. The Schofield round was shorter and could be fired in a Colt revolver, but not the other way around. The term Long Colt was to identify the difference. The .45 Schofield actually became the standard round used by the Army. Usually only civilians (that could actually afford a Colt) used the .45 Colt (Long Colt) round.

Yes I am aware, my point was to make it aware that Long Colt and Colt are the same today, that it is and was a nickname as well. Some people are confused by this like the guy in my last post, but thanks! and Rifleman thanks too! We three may have just helped some lurker.

[LLX45]

I should have read the entire thread before posting. We all agree (I think) that the .45 Colt is the actual name of the cartridge and it was later called .45 Long Colt by the military b/c of the shorter .45 Schofield cartridge.

[Herd Sniper]

Also keep in mind that there are certain specialty weapons. Take the Marlin Camp Carbine. There are TWO types of Camp Carbines.

The first type of Camp Carbine is one that uses 1911 style magazines and shoots the .45 acp cartridge just like the pistol. You can have one shoulder-mnounted firearm that uses the same ammo and magazine as your pistol.

The second type of Camp Carbine is one that uses the S&W Model 59 magazines and shoots the 9 mm ammo. Again, you can have two weapons that use the same ammo and magazines which is easier on a lot of people.

Now, the trouble with these carbines is that Marlin quit making them a number of years ago. If you find one, it will be a used one so be very careful and check it over very throuoghly before you buy it. These Camp Carbines are good weapons and do a good job at close close range.

[Rifleman336]

Originally Posted by LLX45

The .45 Colt is commonly called .45 Long Colt b/c of the .45 Schofield round. The military used .45 Schofield and .45 Colt. The Schofield round was shorter and could be fired in a Colt revolver, but not the other way around. The term Long Colt was to identify the difference. The .45 Schofield actually became the standard round used by the Army. Usually only civilians (that could actually afford a Colt) used the .45 Colt (Long Colt) round.

Actually , No. The .45 "LC" remained the standard round, but the Scholfieild revolver was supplamentry issue to the Colt SAA. The problems for the Scholfield was with two fold.

One their were caliber mix ups in supply on occasion. If you had a Colt SAA it was no big deal to have Scholfield rounds delveried by mistake, but not the other way around. If you were at remote fort and you were getting low on ammo, just to have the wrong stuff delivered, it could be fatal.

Two the weapon wrongly shared the blame by being present at the Litte Big Horn. For as if it was the handguns fault, that the leader of the cavalry at that battle was a idiot!!!

After these two strikes, the army wasn't going to wait around for the third, so they sold off the Scholfields as surplus to Wells Fargo. Thats where the 7 1/2" barrels that were cut down to 5 inches, so as to make it quicker to draw for there gaurds.


Rifleman 336