singleaction

[pochis]

i am looking to get into a s.action gun for some deer hunting & i am on a fixed income, does anyone no of an inexsensive but good shooting 45lc that is in a lower price range, needs to handle med heavy rounds.  thanks

[bilmac]

For what you want you can't beat a Ruger. If you are thinking of something less expensive, look for a used Ruger.

[mcwoodduck]

Depends on what you plan on shooting through it.
If it's cowboy loads than any of the cowboy guns.  i would suggest one with adjustable sights for hunting.
If your planing on hot loads that equal 44 mag.  Then the Ruger is your choice. 
The colt and it's clones will bot be able to handle the hotter loads.

[Blackhawk44]

Since you'll probably using both heavy and light loads, adjustable sights would be very desirable.  That brings us to a Ruger Blackhawk.  They are pretty hard to tear up so a decent used one is very much an option.  There are dozens of articles on the web to help you tune it a bit.  Don't forget the .44mag/spec is an option also if you're not big in handloading yet, or even if you are.   

[Lee Robinson]

Either the Ruger Blackhawk or an older model Ruger Vaquero. The new Blackhawks are fine in the strength department, but the new vaquero isn't as strong to take the heavy Ruger loads.

[Brett]

A Used Ruger Blackhawk would be the way to go for a SA you intend to hunt with and as another poster mentioned the 44 mag/44 spl is a good alternative to the 45lc. worth considering and may be easier to locate used.

[blhof]

I hope you're into reloading; 45LC ammo isn't cheap.  I bought one for my son and I work up loads for him on it.  They're great shooters, but you can find a greater variety of 44's available for less; both guns and bullets.  If you reload and cast then the 45 is the way to go, and a good used Blackhawk would be the weapon of choice.

[Lloyd Smale]

agreed.

I hope you're into reloading; 45LC ammo isn't cheap.  I bought one for my son and I work up loads for him on it.  They're great shooters, but you can find a greater variety of 44's available for less; both guns and bullets.  If you reload and cast then the 45 is the way to go, and a good used Blackhawk would be the weapon of choice.

[bilmac]

Don't know if it is still true yet but a few years ago 45 brass was a lot harder to come up with than 44, another reason to favor 44 mag.

[Keith L]

It all may be due to location, but I picked up a couple hundred 45LC once fired brass not long ago at the range where I shoot, and have never seen any quantity of 44.  I am somewhat of a brass buzzard, and would prefer to get them for nothing rather than buy them if I can.

I like my 45s, and have no problems with Ruger.  Keep an eye on the used market and you will find one that suits you.  It won't be really cheap, but it will give long service.

[blhof]

I am a brass hound too; but I have never found any 45 Lc brass, lots of ACP and even a fair amount of 44, even a 458 Lott- with a ragged edge.  I even picked up some 50 S&W, but cleand and sold them on Ebay back when they sold such stuff.  Made enough for the 50's to buy new brass for the 45LC.

[fastbike]

I have no problems finding 45lc brass online. I can also consistently get it at my nearest Cabelas. My range has a bunch of Ruger shooters, but most of what I see is .357 or 45 acp. I do see more 45lc than .44 Mag.

I am a brass hound too; but I have never found any 45 Lc brass, lots of ACP and even a fair amount of 44, even a 458 Lott- with a ragged edge.  I even picked up some 50 S&W, but cleand and sold them on Ebay back when they sold such stuff.  Made enough for the 50's to buy new brass for the 45LC.

[Keith L]

I think that it depends on what folks shoot where you do, and if they load or not.  I am lucky to have non-loaders that shoot where I do in the round that I shoot and load.  God bless them!

[pochis]

thanks to all, perfect gun choice but forgot to tell you i do not reload.

[bilmac]

Not reloading puts a different slant on things if you haven't made up your mind about caliber. I would think it would be hard to find heavy 45 cal ammo, most all of it is of the pumpkin roller variety. On the other hand it will be hard to find mild 44s. You can buy 44 specials to shoot in the mag, but they aren't common and probably will cost as much or more than fullhouse mags.

I guess if I couldn't reload, I'd be inclined to go with a 45. Shooting 44mags is not my idea of fun.

 You might ask the same question in the cowboy action shooting category, they are probably most up to date on whats available ammo-wise for these two calibers.

[mcwoodduck]

Not reloading.  Get a 44 Mag.  Not only will it handle the hunting rounds but you can get different power levels in the mag.  The 210 grain silvertips, the 240 hydro shocks, and the 180 grain jsp's are pretty mild on recoil and the 240's are big boomers.  I like the 180 grain JSp's by remington as deer rounds.  But I hunt little deer in north carolina.
As for plinking rounds there are a few 44 special rounds out there that would work well and give the same power as 45 colt.
most of the cowboy loads are based around a 200 to 250 grain bullet with the equivealnt of 30 to 40 grains of black powder behind them.  this would include, 44 special, 44-40, 38-40, 45 schofield, and 45 colt.