OM 45 Colt

[BearStopper]

So I wanted a nice 45 Colt OM for a long time and previously posted about the deal I got on a 7 1/2" OM in beautiful condition. Now that I have it I am just not passionate about it like I thought so a few questions for you 45 Colt lovers out there. Mine is bone stock so what kind of accuracy do these have as is...no mods? I find myself wanting a 4 5/8" 44 special instead of this so considering trading it. I have a couple 44 mags already so those are my "heavy load" guns. I have a 5 1/2" SAA clone that balances better in my hand than this.....give me your opinions and advice...thanks

 

[COR]

The Ruger Blackhawk accuracy is usually limited by the shooters ability. The mods we all are so addicted to now (myself included) sometimes get us over thinking it and we forget to just go shoot it and see. I bet this one is no exception....remember that the 44Spl is a catalag item now. They don't catalog an OM any more... (something to ponder) I love the OM's, I have a 45 like yourself and I have the 7 1/2" barrel. It shoots great with the 270SAA cast from WW's and air cooled. I'm willing to bet yours is no exception. You will hear varying reports of 45 NM's having throats that are too tight and I believe some of it because I have had some 45 cylinders reamed. However, these guns still shot fine without that mod and proper cast bullet size and composition. Barrel length is very subjective, as is balance. You have a great gun there that wasn't made for too many years (3 I think, but I have to check Mr. Dougans guide). If you do decide to trade or sell I bet you'll get some interest in the classifieds here and be able to get a 44Spl with no problem.

 

[flatgate]

I've had OM and NM .45's that didn't shoot worth a darn until I reamed the cylinder's throats out to 0.4525". BINGO, instant good shooter.

Now, if your OM .45 is in "collector" condition I'd not touch it. Sell it and buy the model you want, i.e. the .44 special on the "mid sized" cylinder frame.

Certainly your SAA clone balances better, it has a steel grip frame assembly!

All my "shooter" .45's, Ruger brand, of course, have steel or brass grip frames and feel great.

JMHO,

flatgate

 

[tom black]

I wouldn't take a farm in Texas for my OM 45's-well maybe I'd take the YO Ranch. They both shoot better than my old eyes will allow and the short barrel has become one of my favorite packers. I have both barrel lengths of the FT Bisley 44 Special and dearly love them but they aren't OM's.
Tom Black

 

[Bucks Owin]

And If your OM .45 has oversize throats, follow John Linebaugh's advice and go to a .454" cast bullet. Preferably with stiff doses of W296 if you don't mind some added recoil. In my prewarning NM, accuracy went from "somewhat disappointing" directly to the area of 1.5" @ 25 yds... :wink:

If you don't reload, I recommend WW 225 gr HPST as one with a bullet in that diameter. They are the only factory bullet that gave me any decent accy while I gathered up dies, mold etc. The "cowboy" fodder shot in the area of 4-5" @ 25....

(My throats are .455-6" with .452" groove)

Just my experience...

 

[J Miller]

The first thing I check for any more is chamber throat dimensions.
If they are undersized I don't waste any ammo seeing if it might be a good shooter, I just get the throats reamed out.

My OM has been so reamed and depending on the bullets and powder charge prefers .454" bullets.

Joe

 

[DGW1949]

So I wanted a nice 45 Colt OM for a long time and previously posted about the deal I got on a 7 1/2" OM in beautiful condition. Now that I have it I am just not passionate about it like I thought so a few questions for you 45 Colt lovers out there. Mine is bone stock so what kind of accuracy do these have as is...no mods? I find myself wanting a 4 5/8" 44 special instead of this so considering trading it. I have a couple 44 mags already so those are my "heavy load" guns. I have a 5 1/2" SAA clone that balances better in my hand than this.....give me your opinions and advice...thanks

My opinion:
All Ruger .45's are built on their big 44-Mag frame and are decidedly top heavy in my hands. That, and the aluminum grip frame in conjunction with the 7-1/2" barrel makes them feel plumb-ungainly compaired to a gun such as your SAA.
If balance and handiness is the goal, me thinks that you'll like the smaller 44Spl that you mentioned much better.

My advice:
Beings how you're a .44-guy anyway, I wouldn't even bother with shooting it. I'd just wipe her down, pack it all back up and pass it on to someone who'll get some use out of it. You'll probably get enough money for the package to buy a .44 Spl and have money left over.

DGW

 

[Dale53]

I have a couple of .45 Colt Rugers, so am NOT biased against them. They both have steel grip frames, however (as issued with a Bisley Vaquero and a SS Bisley).

That leaves me free to state that the Ruger .44 Lipsey Special (and it's brothers) are mighty fine revolvers. They come with proper throat dimensions and only need a trigger job to equal most any revolver out there. They handle better than the large frame revolvers (even tho' they are not much lighter, if any) as they are just simply "handier" (handier is a technical term only properly understood by the enlightened :roll: ).

I treasure mine, I'll tell you!

Dale53

 

[BearStopper]

All great advice and opinions guys, thank you!