45 colt Cowboy barrel question? - The Firearms Forum

thomasray · 12-05-2009, 07:01 PM

Well we got the barrel taken care of. Local smith will cut it to 3 1/2 inches and solder a haf-penny for a front sight.

Now somebody said that this wouldnt work for a personal weapon. May be the same guy who said my .380 Beretta wouldnt work either. I seeit thusly. These things are invariably over in a millisecond at the first shot. If it goes that far. The intimidation of a gun, any gun, much less a 45 must be sobering and frightening to most journrymen thugs.

You got a 25 round clip in you CS fat gripped 9mm and want to spray excitement all over a parking lot. I submit that 1 well placed bullet whether from a .380 or a 45 Colt will put a quitus on festivities. I have put out 2 or 3 rounds from a SA45 and hit a pie tin at 15 feet in a very responsive manner. I feel safe. Carry on.

muddober · 12-05-2009, 08:32 PM

What if anything are you going to do with your ejection rod and housing? On the gun pictured the end of the rod has been skeletonized so it will fit over/past the cylinder retaining pin allowing the ejection of the fired case.

Ron

pinecone70 · 12-05-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomasray

Now somebody said that this wouldnt work for a personal weapon. May be the same guy who said my .380 Beretta wouldnt work either. I seeit thusly. These things are invariably over in a millisecond at the first shot. If it goes that far. The intimidation of a gun, any gun, much less a 45 must be sobering and frightening to most journrymen thugs.

You got a 25 round clip in you CS fat gripped 9mm and want to spray excitement all over a parking lot. I submit that 1 well placed bullet whether from a .380 or a 45 Colt will put a quitus on festivities. I have put out 2 or 3 rounds from a SA45 and hit a pie tin at 15 feet in a very responsive manner. I feel safe. Carry on.

I can't say if I'm even going to hit center mass in a stressful situation with any caliber. I am a good shot though, in non-stress situations, and I carry a .40.

thomasray · 12-05-2009, 09:39 PM

Hi Mudober. I will look into the need to shorten the ext rod. Economics will govern. I got the Cowboy in a favorable trade. It is representative of a Colt although a purist do not like it. Everyone has valid ideas if they are the one walking down the dark alley.

308 at my gate · 12-05-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muddober

What if anything are you going to do with your ejection rod and housing? On the gun pictured the end of the rod has been skeletonized so it will fit over/past the cylinder retaining pin allowing the ejection of the fired case.

Ron

Nice looking wheel gun there.

Alpo · 12-06-2009, 08:42 AM

I see three options, for the ejector rod/housing.

First, and the easiest, is to just remove it. This, of course, limits you to 5 rounds, unless you carry a pencil or nail or something similar, to poke the empties out.

For the next two, instead of shortening the one that came on the Colt, buy a replacement rod and housing for a Cimarron Thunderer. That gun comes with a 3 1/2 inch barrel, and they have figgered out the geometry of having an ejector that works. But you still have the problem of installing it.

The housing screws into a threaded hole in the barrel wall. With Ruger, there is a large hole (maybe 1/4" diameter), with a threaded plug silver-soldered into the hole. I don't know why they do it that way, rather than just drilling and tapping a hole into the wall, but they do. I don't know if Colt does it that way or not.

If Colt does do it that way, it would probably be easier to remove the Colt barrel, cut it from the back end and rethread it to screw back into the frame. That way the hole and plug would already be there, and you would not have to change the front sight.

If Colt just drills and taps a hole in the barrel wall, then that's an easy fix.

Jim K · 12-06-2009, 08:18 PM

I get the impression that Thomasray won't need more than 5 shots. After all, how often does one encounter six bad guys?

Jim

thomasray · 12-07-2009, 10:31 AM

A lot of good advice. What keeps putting 6 in if we remove the ext rod? I put 6 in this one.

muddober · 12-07-2009, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 308 at my gate

Nice looking wheel gun there.

Thank you, it is a second generation made in 1957 and who ever did it was a master craftsman. The writing on top of the barrel is in two lines making it look factory but I am 90% sure it is not.

Ron

Alpo · 12-08-2009, 08:27 AM

I think (not absolutely sure) that the Colt Cowboy has a transfer bar, and is safe loaded with six.

45nut · 12-08-2009, 08:59 AM

The Colt Cowboy has the ruger transfer bar and is safe with 6. I made an IWB for my Colt SAA and carry it now and then. Bob James did the work years ago. I don't feel outgunned with it at all.

12-05-2009, 07:01 PM	#1
thomasray V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Columbia River Posts: 79	45 colt Cowboy barrel question? Well we got the barrel taken care of. Local smith will cut it to 3 1/2 inches and solder a haf-penny for a front sight. Now somebody said that this wouldnt work for a personal weapon. May be the same guy who said my .380 Beretta wouldnt work either. I seeit thusly. These things are invariably over in a millisecond at the first shot. If it goes that far. The intimidation of a gun, any gun, much less a 45 must be sobering and frightening to most journrymen thugs. You got a 25 round clip in you CS fat gripped 9mm and want to spray excitement all over a parking lot. I submit that 1 well placed bullet whether from a .380 or a 45 Colt will put a quitus on festivities. I have put out 2 or 3 rounds from a SA45 and hit a pie tin at 15 feet in a very responsive manner. I feel safe. Carry on. __________________ a farting horse will never tire and a farting man is the one to hire. -->

12-05-2009, 08:32 PM	#2
muddober Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,436	Re: 45 colt Cowboy barrel question? What if anything are you going to do with your ejection rod and housing? On the gun pictured the end of the rod has been skeletonized so it will fit over/past the cylinder retaining pin allowing the ejection of the fired case. Ron Attached Images

12-05-2009, 09:39 PM	#4
thomasray V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Columbia River Posts: 79	Re: 45 colt Cowboy barrel question? Hi Mudober. I will look into the need to shorten the ext rod. Economics will govern. I got the Cowboy in a favorable trade. It is representative of a Colt although a purist do not like it. Everyone has valid ideas if they are the one walking down the dark alley. __________________ a farting horse will never tire and a farting man is the one to hire.

12-06-2009, 08:42 AM	#6
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,756	Re: 45 colt Cowboy barrel question? I see three options, for the ejector rod/housing. First, and the easiest, is to just remove it. This, of course, limits you to 5 rounds, unless you carry a pencil or nail or something similar, to poke the empties out. For the next two, instead of shortening the one that came on the Colt, buy a replacement rod and housing for a Cimarron Thunderer. That gun comes with a 3 1/2 inch barrel, and they have figgered out the geometry of having an ejector that works. But you still have the problem of installing it. The housing screws into a threaded hole in the barrel wall. With Ruger, there is a large hole (maybe 1/4" diameter), with a threaded plug silver-soldered into the hole. I don't know why they do it that way, rather than just drilling and tapping a hole into the wall, but they do. I don't know if Colt does it that way or not. If Colt does do it that way, it would probably be easier to remove the Colt barrel, cut it from the back end and rethread it to screw back into the frame. That way the hole and plug would already be there, and you would not have to change the front sight. If Colt just drills and taps a hole in the barrel wall, then that's an easy fix. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies. Last edited by Alpo; 12-06-2009 at 10:31 PM.. Reason: because, apparently, I can't spell

12-06-2009, 08:18 PM	#7
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: 45 colt Cowboy barrel question? I get the impression that Thomasray won't need more than 5 shots. After all, how often does one encounter six bad guys? Jim

12-07-2009, 10:31 AM	#8
thomasray V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Columbia River Posts: 79	Re: 45 colt Cowboy barrel question? A lot of good advice. What keeps putting 6 in if we remove the ext rod? I put 6 in this one. __________________ a farting horse will never tire and a farting man is the one to hire.

12-08-2009, 08:27 AM	#10
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,756	Re: 45 colt Cowboy barrel question? I think (not absolutely sure) that the Colt Cowboy has a transfer bar, and is safe loaded with six. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

12-08-2009, 08:59 AM	#11
45nut Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,430	Re: 45 colt Cowboy barrel question? The Colt Cowboy has the ruger transfer bar and is safe with 6. I made an IWB for my Colt SAA and carry it now and then. Bob James did the work years ago. I don't feel outgunned with it at all. __________________ A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that. Shane Nemo me impune lacesset We recall the case of the Shoshone war band which showed up complete with one 30-30 rifle per man the week after Pearl Harbor, and simply wanted to have the enemy pointed out to them. "We hear there's a war going on and we want to go fight it." Jeff Cooper *KCCO*