Redhawk Moon Clips?

[Dead Hogs]

Anyone ever have a Redhawk 45 Colt machined to hold 45acp using moon clips? I am thinking about buying a 4" Redhawk in 45 Colt and would like the option of shooting relatively cheap 45acp ammo for practice and defense for two legged varmints. I still want to use 45 Colt loads for hog and deer hunting and an upcoming elk hunt (for bear). My son has the Blackhawk Convertible in this combination and I like the calibers but would rather have a double action.
Thanks

 

[Snyd]

Do you handload? I load a 200gr SWC (45 acp) boolit in 45 Colt brass with 7 or 8 gr of Unique and it's like shooting a pop-gun. 255gr rnfp with 8-9 gr Uniques is a pretty standard plinkin load as well. I had considered doing the same to mine but decided against it.

 

[Dead Hogs]

I was just curious if anyone had done this. My son loads some mild loads for his 45 colt that I have shot. I looked around on the net and found someone who machines cylinders for moon clips but it turned out a bit pricey for my needs. Thanks for the reply.

 

[JWhitmore44]

here is some one on this site that has made their Redhawk (or maybe it was a super Redhawk) so that it could take 45 acp in moon clips. It's a neat setup, always wanted to do that with a 454 Alaskan.


found the link http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=39323&highlight=redhawk+moon+clips

 

[Snyd]

It seems like it would weaken the cylinder. Am I mistaken?

 

[JWhitmore44]

It seems like it would weaken the cylinder. Am I mistaken?

Not sure why, I can't imagine the small amount of steel removed from the backside of the cylinder would be enough to cause an issue. If i had doubts i think i would check with the gunsmiths that have done this and tested it.

 

[cas6969]

http://www.moonclips.com/content/machine.asp

 

[jpickar]

You machine the cylinder for moon clips to shoot 45 acp and you won't be able to shoot 45 colt anymore.

John

 

[Dead Hogs]

I emailed Cylinder and Slide and they said I would not be able to shoot 45 Colt through the cylinder after milling. They said that Ruger might install a 45acp cylinder on the gun if I sent it to them. I will contact Ruger to see if that is possible next. Also will contact TK Custom to see about moon clip conversion.
Thanks

 

[JWhitmore44]

Interesting, you may want to tell the guy that had it done on his Redhawk in the link I posted

If you mill the cylinder to take 45acp without moon clips, then yes, you wont be able to shoot 45 colt in it any more. But, if you mill a 45 colt cylinder to take moon clips you will be able to shoot 45 acp and 45 colt.

 

[Dead Hogs]

I guess there is more than one way to skin a cat, It looks possible with your link. I would like to know how it shoots and to make sure there are no problems with hot loads. I will contact TK Custom when I get a chance.
thanks

 

[JAREDSHS]

why not just leave it be and shoot 45 colt and 45autorim.

 

[JWhitmore44]

How many choices of self defense rounds do you have in 45 colt or 45 auto rim? How many of those do you find on about any gun/ammo store shelves? You could always buy another gun, but why if you really like the one you have and you have the ability to shoot other options out of it? of course, one of the biggest reasons, how many Redhawks do you see that can shoot both 45 colt and 45 acp (now add the 454 cylinder and take it to the next level)

 

[jpickar]

OK, we are missing something here. You don't cut the cylinder down to shoot 45 acp and then expect to shoot 45 colt in it. The 45 colt rim will be .030 to far away from the firing pin. It just won't work. If you think you can put moon clips on a 45 colt cart. and shoot it in a cut down cylinder. They don't make moon clips fopr the 45 colt.

In any case a separate 45 acp cylinder fitted to your redhawk will be the best way to go as you can shoot 45 colt with the original cylinder and shoot 45 acp with or with out clips and 45 auto rim in the 45 acp cylinder.

John

 

[JWhitmore44]

John, did you look at any of the links that were posted? If you did you would have noticed in the link I posted that the person did have 45 colt moon clips (not sure if you need them). If you looked at the link cas posted you would see how the cylinder gets cut to use moon clips.

 

[cas6969]

The link I posted gives you just about everything you need to know, what they will and won't do and what it will cost for the work and the moon clips.

Personally I think I'd pass, I wouldn't expect much in the way of velocity or accuracy with .45 acp shells in that big long Redhawk chamber.... but who knows.

 

[jpickar]

Yes I looked at the links. BUT I did not notice the 45LC rounds in the moon clips. I STAND CORRECTED! I never heard of moon clips for a 45 LC. :shock: :shock:

OK, now we are on the same page. Why would anyone machine a 45 colt cylinder so you would have to use moon clips? :? :? It just doesn't make sense? I would think the slop in the 45 colt cylinder wouldn't help with 45 acp accuracy using 45 acp with moon clips. :?

John

 

[JWhitmore44]

Well I have no idea on the accuracy part. I haven't seen the person with that Redhawk around here for quite some time so no feed back from them.

What got my interest up about using moon clips in a 45 colt was a thread I was reading were some one did a moon clip set up in a 5 shot Taurus 45 colt. Taurus made a Tracker in 5 shot 45 colt and 45 acp. You could get them with anywhere from a 2.5 inch to 6 inch barrel.

A 2.5 inch in 45 colt that has been milled to accept moon clips could also handle 45 acp. Use the 45 acp for self defense (in more social situations) or home defense, and use the 45 colt when you need more of a wallop. I'm guessing that the jump the 45 acp has to make wont bother the accuracy that much for self defense distances.

I've considered doing the same thing with an Alaskan. As long as I can hit bowling pin size targets an about 15 to 25 yards that would be good enough for self defense. It would be interesting to see what something like that would do.

I thought at one time it was a fairly popular mod to convert old S&W 45 colts to 45acp using moon clips.

 

[jpickar]

Well I guess I don't see why anyone would make such a conversion. Expecially when you can load a 45 colt to the same levels as a 45 acp.

Now I can understand wanting an extra cylinder so you can shoot either 45 colt or 45 acp for ammo versatility. But not for different power levels in the same cylinder.

To each his own! It is something I wouldn't do. Then you are dependent on moon clips forever!

John