Driving the Convertible

In each caliber, there are several types of personal defense loads and those cost roughly twice as much as lead or hardball ammo. As a result, having a cylinder for each caliber provides a lot of sense.

For me, a handgun that can function as the multi-tool for almost all of those uses is my Ruger Blackhawk Convertible. That handgun is marketed with two cylinders, one chambered for the legendary .45 Colt cartridge and the other for the .45 Auto. I think that the concealed carry function can be omitted for this handgun, but for the other uses it is a true multi-tool. Ammunition in .45 Colt caliber is sometimes difficult to find and when found the price of even lead cowboy action loads is approximately $1 per round. Ammunition for a .45 Auto is much more abundant and ordinary hardball loads cost about half as much as .45 Colt loads.

Both the .45 Colt and .45 Auto are versatile calibers. In factory .45 Auto ammunition, bullet weights usually range from 185-230 grains with options ranging from hardball to hollow points to other specialty defense loads.

My favorite is the Winchester 185 grain Silvertip that provides excellent expansion.

Ammunition in .45 Colt caliber usually features a 250-255 grain lead bullet that is similar to the original bullets used in the caliber or lighter bullets in the 185-230 grain range in defense ammunition. Most of the lighter bullets are hollow points or of some other construction to facilitate expansion, and they would make excellent varmint and predator loads. Shot cartridges for dispatching small pests are available in both .45 Colt and .45 Auto calibers.

For those of us who handload ammunition, the versatility can be exploited even further. Although the use of autoloading handguns may be illegal in some situations or areas, a .45 Colt revolver is generally legal for hunting and can hit harder.