American style bulldog experiment

[Scott Tschirhart]

I'm thinking through an experiment (based on my interest in the old British big bore revolvers and their cartridges) that is sort of an American version of a classic carry gun.

So, I am looking for a SAA type Sheriff's model to keep the size down, then I think the load will have to have a big flat point bullet in .45 Colt cases. I think the 270SAA bullet will have to be used (to fill the cylinder as much as possible) over a very modest charge of Unique to get to around 750fps or so. Here’s a Bulldog revolver that is probably not British but it is marked “British Bulldog “ and it is true to the type of easily carried big bore revolver I am thinking about.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I know that something with a .45 and a 3-3.5 inch barrel with those full cylinders would certainly get my attention if it were pointed in my direction!

[AmBraCol]

Looking forward to seeing how this develops. That slug at that velocity is indeed an attention getter. I'm finding the shorter barrels harder to use as time goes on. I'm drifting between a 4 5/8" and 7 1/2" barrel length for my current Fankengun project, but it's neat seeing others' projects and seeing what works for them.

[2ndovc]

This is going to be interesting.

Now I'm thinking about the short barreled Schofield I have sitting in the safe that hasn't been out in awhile. Pretty sure I have some heavy .452s in the basement.
Hmm.

jb

[Scott Tschirhart]

This is going to be interesting.

Now I'm thinking about the short barreled Schofield I have sitting in the safe that hasn't been out in awhile. Pretty sure I have some heavy .452s in the basement.
Hmm.

jb

That is even more cool!

[Ray]

Deleted.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Thanks Ray,

I’m looking at that one and it may be just the thing. But I think I will avoid the Thunderer grip because it isn't double action.

[2ndovc]

I did have some heavy .45s in my stash, a Cast Performance 265 FLNGC and a couple of boxes of 300 gr Hornady XTPs I'd bought to experiment with the .450 Bushmaster.

I'll put together a dozen or so each this weekend. This should be fun. The Uberti Schofield is one of those revolvers I've had for some time, but haven't had it out much for no other reason than being distracted by other stuff.


jb

[AmBraCol]

That looks quite business like.

[Ray]

Deleted.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Or you could go off the rails and setup for 480 Achilles.

[4t5]

Scott, even alec baldwin can tell that one is loaded.

[AmBraCol]

That looks quite business like.

If you're referring to that schofield, I wholeheartedly concur. Most interesting picture I've seen in a while !

Dixie Gunworks is the only online place I could find in stock. Be sitting down when you peruse.....

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/pag ... e?view_all

Looks like a good candidate for a 45 Short Colt marking and load.

And yes, I'm glad I was sitting down. I "need" one, but not THAT bad!

[Ray]

Deleted.

[2ndovc]

That looks quite business like.

If you're referring to that schofield, I wholeheartedly concur. Most interesting picture I've seen in a while !

Dixie Gunworks is the only online place I could find in stock. Be sitting down when you peruse.....

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/pag ... e?view_all

I didn't pay anywhere near that price tag. I got if from a guy that owed me about $800. It was new in the box w/ a belt and holster. Figured it was about the only way to get my money back and was going to sell it, but I liked the feel of it and the pistol belt fit.

jb

[Scott Tschirhart]

That Schofield looks like just the ticket! I'm probably going with a SAA clone but I could be tempted.

[Ysabel Kid]

Scott, even alec baldwin can tell that one is loaded.

I just ruined a keyboard!

[Ysabel Kid]

That looks quite business like.

If you're referring to that schofield, I wholeheartedly concur. Most interesting picture I've seen in a while !

Dixie Gunworks is the only online place I could find in stock. Be sitting down when you peruse.....

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index/pag ... e?view_all

I didn't pay anywhere near that price tag. I got if from a guy that owed me about $800. It was new in the box w/ a belt and holster. Figured it was about the only way to get my money back and was going to sell it, but I liked the feel of it and the pistol belt fit.

jb

Ended up being a great investment!

[Ysabel Kid]

Thanks Ray,

I’m looking at that one and it may be just the thing. But I think I will avoid the Thunderer grip because it isn't double action.

I know it is not as practical, but I would like to get a SAA with a 3" barrel and no ejector rod/ejector rod housing.

[Ray]

Deleted.

[Bill in Oregon]

Following this thread closely. A Colt clone in .44 Russian would be another interesting option, but you would probably need to just buy a Sheriff's model in .44 Special.
A late uncle of mine told me that when he was a youngster of about 9 years old, he paid a visit to his grandfather (my great-grandfather), who had retired from ranching and school-teaching along the Canadian to live in Denver. This would have been about 1920. When he asked his granddad about some of his hairier experiences in Texas, Grandfather Champion Traylor showed him bullet scars on one leg, a scar on one arm, and scar near the widow's peak on his forehead, where he had been creased in a gunfight. Then he showed my uncle the Colt SAA he always wore in a shoulder holster under his three-piece suitcoat. I daydream about the barrel length and caliber on a fairly regular basis.

[Scott Tschirhart]

My grandpa introduced me to a man who he said made the full auto 1911 for John Dillinger. I was just a boy, but I was fascinated how this man described what he did to the disconnector to make this work.

I found this on line:

https://gundigest.com/gun-reviews/a-ful ... -dillinger

Back to the project. I ordered a Cimmarron 3 1/2 inch SAA clone in .45 Colt. That will be the base gun for this experiment.

[AmBraCol]

My grandpa introduced me to a man who he said made the full auto 1911 for John Dillinger. I was just a boy, but I was fascinated how this man described what he did to the disconnector to make this work.

I found this on line:

https://gundigest.com/gun-reviews/a-ful ... -dillinger

Back to the project. I ordered a Cimmarron 3 1/2 inch SAA clone in .45 Colt. That will be the base gun for this experiment.

The plot thickens...

[3leggedturtle]

I've had this thought for the last 3 months or so, i wanna get a 4" barrel or shorter 460 S&W revolver and shoot 300-400gr cast bullets out of it at 750-950fps. I could also make my own full length brass shotshells for it too. So it wouldmt be completely useless for other than conversation porpoises! Hope to see your range report soon.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

That Schofield looks like just the ticket! I'm probably going with a SAA clone but I could be tempted.

Let me temp you back.

[ollogger]

Cool ideas on the stubby SA, i had thouht alot about it also but do to some hand problems the recoil
was starting to be a factor, so i came across a Ruger Alaskan in 454-45 colt, yep its a heavy beast but the recoil is light with a 454 case & 300 gr. Lee cast bullet at 870 fps with 9 gr. of Unigue, with 11.5 gr. of Unique it does
1020 fps & recoil starting to rise, with 6 gr. of titegroup in a 45 case & 255 cast bullet it goes 775 fps &
a very pleasant load to shoot. Have more loads i have shot & ran over the crony, but these are my favorites




Brad

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

[Scott Tschirhart]

Steve,

Your photos are definitely tempting! The top SAA seems like pretty close to what I am looking for except for a larger grip.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Cool ideas on the stubby SA, i had thouht alot about it also but do to some hand problems the recoil
was starting to be a factor, so i came across a Ruger Alaskan in 454-45 colt, yep its a heavy beast but the recoil is light with a 454 case & 300 gr. Lee cast bullet at 870 fps with 9 gr. of Unigue, with 11.5 gr. of Unique it does
1020 fps & recoil starting to rise, with 6 gr. of titegroup in a 45 case & 255 cast bullet it goes 775 fps &
a very pleasant load to shoot. Have more loads i have shot & ran over the crony, but these are my favorites




Brad

Those loads are exactly what I am looking forward to. Heavy lead bullets, but a moderate velocity. I think I just want to be able to put all five rounds on a playing card with one hand at 10 yards. Anything better would be gravy!

[Bill in Oregon]

Scott, that's a worthy goal!

[Scott Tschirhart]

Hmmmm

[2ndovc]

Sharp! Looks like just the ticket to me!

jb

[Scott Tschirhart]

This may be the most practical contender

[JimT]

OR ... you could do like some of the oldtimers did ...
screw the barrel out and use the single action without a barrel ...
I have done that with the .45 Colt ...
John K did it with his 480 Achilles ...

Surprising how well they shoot with no barrel.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’ve seen that done Jim, and that’s a pretty good idea. But I think I want a little barrel and a front sight. Of course I could silver solder a BB up on front of the frame.

But I am trying to decide whether I want to go with a .44 Special or a .45 Colt.

The truth is that you are largely responsible for this project:

https://leverguns.com/articles/taylor/a ... ywhere.htm

However, my always and everywhere gun idea includes a larger cartridge with a heavy cast bullet at a moderate velocity and a shorter barrel.

[2ndovc]

That Schofield looks like just the ticket! I'm probably going with a SAA clone but I could be tempted.

Scott,
I did have some .300 gr Cast performance bullets down in my reloading room. I thought I did, the were hiding behind a big box of .45 FMJs.
Pretty easy to see how much longer the cylinder is on the Ruger, but the bullet is still quite visible.


The revolvers are very close in overall length, but the grip on the Bisley is obviously longer by about 3/8".
I made up two batches of 15. One with a half grain more of Unique. I don't have a chronograph, but I'm more interested in point of impact at about 10-15 yards or so.

jb

[3leggedturtle]

That short barrelled Schofield is "way too cool" I tried finding one in 38 Special but could only find the longer barrel ones.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’m pretty used to a SAA style revolver, though I’m not as accurate as I was years ago. I shot up the cartridges I’ve been carrying in this one and on my belt for about six months

[2ndovc]

I've been eyeing the short barreled Cimarron Thunderer for quite awhile, trying to decide what caliber to get. Just happened to have the Schofield sitting around with nothing to do. Your post inspired me to get it out and so something with it. I'll get the Cimarron, but I just ordered a Benelli M4 so that's going to make me behave for a little while.

jb

[Scott Tschirhart]

I'll get the Cimarron, but I just ordered a Benelli M4 so that's going to make me behave for a little while.

jb

Lol! I understand completely.

[Bill in Oregon]

All right you guys, "Now cut that out," as Jack Benny would say.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I like these but I don’t know how easily I could cock the hammer with that grip frame.

https://youtu.be/y3mnirrMZGI

[2ndovc]

It would probably depend a lot on the size of your hands. I haven't fired one, but I've handled both the Ruger and the Colt style birds head grips. The "hump back" style of the old Lightning/ Thunderer just fit me better. Everyone is different though, the Bisley in the picture with the Schofield came from a guy that just couldn't shoot it well, sold it to me and bought a Ruger birds head gripped .45 Colt and loves it.

jb

[wvfarrier]

I did have some heavy .45s in my stash, a Cast Performance 265 FLNGC and a couple of boxes of 300 gr Hornady XTPs I'd bought to experiment with the .450 Bushmaster.

I'll put together a dozen or so each this weekend. This should be fun. The Uberti Schofield is one of those revolvers I've had for some time, but haven't had it out much for no other reason than being distracted by other stuff.


jb

The only issue with the XTPs is they are VERY velocity sensitive. At such a low speed theyll likely just function as a fmj.

[2ndovc]

Yes, well aware of that. Was looking for bullets I had on hand in that weight range. Ended up having a couple hundred CP / 300s after all.

jb

[jkbrea]

Thought I was the only one that daily carried a single action. I get comments from some of the glock guys that carry 3 extra mags of high capacity mags.

Only 5 shots but my favorite.

3.5" barrel .45.

Screenshot_20210825-165011_Photos.jpg

[2ndovc]

I carry the Bisley now and then. The Simply Rugged holster hides it quite well.


jb

[Scott Tschirhart]

Thought I was the only one that daily carried a single action. I get comments from some of the glock guys that carry 3 extra mags of high capacity mags.

Only 5 shots but my favorite.

3.5" barrel .45.
Screenshot_20210825-165011_Photos.jpg

If your friends ever had to use those three extra mags, they would certainly be famous! We just don't have regular people getting into fights like that.

......unless your friend is John Wick!

[Scott Tschirhart]

Update....Simply Rugged and Barranti Leather Co. are working on holsters and spare ammo slides for this experiment.

Subject sixguns have been shipped. This is starting to come together.

[2ndovc]

Looking forward to seeing the new rig.

jb