Would you own a .45 revolver and why or would you go with a .357

Would you own a .45 revolver and why or would you go with a .357

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the 45 what? Acp? Colt?

^good point OF I just assumed .45 ACP

I just looked at one of these yesterday http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_764993_-1_757770_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y at SEC and it made me want another .45 ACP revolver. I have a S&W governor currently and it can shoot .45 ACP with the use of moon clips. If your gonna shoot a non rimmed cartridge in a revolver most will require the use of a moon clip of some sort, there are a few 9x19mm revolvers where clips aren't required. I also have a .357 mag colt revolver it's nice I haven't bought any speed loaders for it yet. Whether you go with a .45 ACP capable revolver or a .357 mag revolver it would be up to you depending on your preferences and what you want to do with it.

Oh, single or double action?

I run a S&W 625 at HDF, LIFE, and HRA events.  There are a few things I find superior to running a .357:
-moon clips.  Hella faster, lighter, and smaller to carry than speed loaders;
-smooth double action.  Ok, you could have this on a .357;
-reduced recoil.  Yep, I said reduced.  An N-frame .45 acp bucks far less than a K or L frame .357

The only downsides are size and weight.  Wearing that monster strapped to my hip all day does get tiring and uncomfortable.

Your question is kind of vague.
It really depends what your goal is and what your short and long term budget is.
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High quality double action 45 and 357 revolvers and ammo is pretty expensive now days.
Single actions like the rugers are a little less.
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Yesterday I met a gent who had a sw perf center 9mm wheelgun, 8shots in full moons.
Pricey gun but cheaper and plentiful ammo most of the time.

.45 ACP as a first revolver

I run a S&W 625 at HDF, LIFE, and HRA events.  There are a few things I find superior to running a .357:
-moon clips.  Hella faster, lighter, and smaller to carry than speed loaders;
-smooth double action.  Ok, you could have this on a .357;
-reduced recoil.  Yep, I said reduced.  An N-frame .45 acp bucks far less than a K or L frame .357

The only downsides are size and weight.  Wearing that monster strapped to my hip all day does get tiring and uncomfortable.

Hey Tom,

I would like to correct you on a couple of your comments. First is that the 38/357 case has a groove in it right above the rim (Sort of like an extractor groove on the 45 ACP) which makes it perfect for using moon clips. Moon clips are available for the 6 and 7 shot K/L Frames and the 8 shot N Frame in 38/357. So actually there may be no difference in speed loading between the two calibers. Except maybe the 45 ACP having a slight advantage due to the cartridge being shorter. As a matter of fact my Performance Center 627 N Frame comes with the chambers chamfered for quicker reloads. This may apply to the 625 from the performance center as well. And since the 38 and 357 are exactly the same case except the 38 is a little shorter you can get even lighter target loads in 38 Special. Which I would guess would mean even less recoil than the 45. And maybe even cheaper as far as the 38's are concerned but since I don't buy ammo I could be wrong about this.

If you want to compare the 625 to the 627 I would guess even if you could load the 625 slightly faster than the 627 due to having shorter cartridge length, the extra two shots in the 627 might make up for the extra time. JMHO 

Would you own a .45 revolver and why or would you go with a .357

As OF stated your question is kind of vague. However, I am a big fan of the 9mm revolver which would have similar pluses and minuses to other pistol cartridge revolvers. And I am a big fan of the 38/357 cartridge which is designed for shooting in revolvers.

Shooting the .45 ACP cartridge in a revolver is not a new idea. The U.S. developed the idea of half moon clips for the .45 ACP to shoot out of the M1917 Revolver during WWI due to a shortage of the M1911 pistol. If you already shoot the .45 ACP cartridge it may be a natural progression to go to the .45 ACP Revolver. There are some advantages and disadvantages to shooting pistol cartridges in a revolver. Mostly it is due to the moon or half moon clips and how the revolver is designed. Some revolvers require you inserting the cartridges into the moon clips before shooting them. The moon clips are required in order to use the extractor to remove the spent cartridges. But if they are required it could be that the use of moon clips is required to properly headspace in the chamber. Some revolvers headspace the cartridge on the front of the rim which is the proper way. A revolver designed this way can shoot the cartridge with or without the moon clips. You just would have to poke each cartridge out individually if you didn't use clips. The insertion and removal of the cartridges from the clips can be difficult and time consuming. Buying a special tool might make the job easier. For me it is a pain in the rear. Shooting a rimmed cartridge that is designed to be shot in a revolver has its advantages. The cartridge head spaces on the rim and not the front of the cartridge. The extractor has something to grad so extracting cartridges is quick and easy. No need for moon clips. But then you can't shoot them out of a standard semi auto pistol. Yes there are two .357 semi auto pistols on the market right now. They are expensive and can be finicky. Another advantage of the 38/357 cartridge is the fact that you can shoot light recoil 38's out of the 357. The 38 Special cartridge is cheaper than the 357 and you can shoot them all day long due to the lighter recoil.

Each cartridge has its advantage and disadvantage being shot out of a revolver. Let us know what you decide.

Hey Tom,

I would like to correct you on a couple of your comments. First is that the 38/357 case has a groove in it right above the rim (Sort of like an extractor groove on the 45 ACP) which makes it perfect for using moon clips. Moon clips are available for the 6 and 7 shot K/L Frames and the 8 shot N Frame in 38/357. So actually there may be no difference in speed loading between the two calibers. Except maybe the 45 ACP having a slight advantage due to the cartridge being shorter. As a matter of fact my Performance Center 627 N Frame comes with the chambers chamfered for quicker reloads. This may apply to the 625 from the performance center as well. And since the 38 and 357 are exactly the same case except the 38 is a little shorter you can get even lighter target loads in 38 Special. Which I would guess would mean even less recoil than the 45. And maybe even cheaper as far as the 38's are concerned but since I don't buy ammo I could be wrong about this.

If you want to compare the 625 to the 627 I would guess even if you could load the 625 slightly faster than the 627 due to having shorter cartridge length, the extra two shots in the 627 might make up for the extra time. JMHO 

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No moon clip necessary.   Headspaces off the case like a typical semiauto barrel.  There where some other revolvers setup this way, I forget the specifics though.  I'd look for those and not mess with moon clips.

Ruger Vaquero birdhead grip .45 acp.  Been on my wish list for a while....  just need more practical setups first.

.357 / .45acp....  couldn't go wrong with either IMO.  .357 gives you the option of shooting lighter .38 spl, that counts for something.   .357 full house loads has a lot more power than .45, if you might ned the extrra juice.

Would you own a .45 revolver and why or would you go with a .357

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Again...what would this be used for?

I would go with .357
option of running 38 sp is always good, and its very light recoil
going longer range, .357 is more accurate than 45 acp
and you can hunt here in Hawaii with 357, 45 cannot, but that may not make a difference to you

for versatility, accuracy, I would go with a .357 for your fist revolver, IMO.

I never tried a 45 ACP revolver so for all I know it could be the holy grail.

OF makes a good point. What you want to use it for?

357 is super versatile with the 38 spcl option.

Blow a 357 down the hallway and you won't hear again for 3 days.
Blow a 38 down the hallway and the bad guy will have a bad day.
Want to reach out and touch something, 357 kicks ass.

The report on a 45 ACP is reportedly less as it's not supersonic but the bullet is still a big bastahd. Might ask Tom G and Heavies and Inspector and OF about that.

you can hunt here in Hawaii with 357

for versatility, accuracy, I would go with a .357 for your fist revolver, IMO.

I agree but have no first hand experience with a 45 ACP revolver.
Also for hunting you need at least a 4 1/2 barrel if I'm not mistaken for revolvers.

45ACP even it's a 5" barrel, you can't hunt with that caliber.

I never tried a 45 ACP revolver so for all I know it could be the holy grail.

OF makes a good point. What you want to use it for?

357 is super versatile with the 38 spcl option.

Blow a 357 down the hallway and you won't hear again for 3 days.
Blow a 38 down the hallway and the bad guy will have a bad day.
Want to reach out and touch something, 357 kicks ass.

The report on a 45 ACP is reportedly less as it's not supersonic but the bullet is still a big bastahd. Might ask Tom G and Heavies and Inspector and OF about that.

I agree but have no first hand experience with a 45 ACP revolver.
Also for hunting you need at least a 4 1/2 barrel if I'm not mistaken for revolvers.

45ACP even it's a 5" barrel, you can't hunt with that caliber.

IIRC, yes, you need the revolver to be at least 4.5"

but, depends what its intended use is.
nothing wrong with 45 acp, expecially if you already own a 45acp handgun.
then getting a revolver in the same caliber makes sense.

Just go for the 44 mag and call it a day, I have one for sale 🔫😀

Just go for the 44 mag and call it a day, I have one for sale 🔫😀

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That's what I did when I first shooting. 4 in. Sw m29 with light wadcutters.

I just found out one of these is at a local shop, http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_765757_-1_757774_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y very interesting. I showed my wife and she said don't you already have a revolver...

I showed my wife and she said don't you already have a revolver...

That was your first mistake. 

Seriously though...... That seems like an awesome revolver. I have a PC 627 (Not scandium, all stainless) N Frame with 5" barrel. I love it. And the 5" barrel is the perfect length IMHO.

.45 ACP as a first revolver

No I wouldn't, not as a first revolver.  I'd do a 357 mag and that would allow me the option to use 38 spl as a practice ammo.