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I forgot to mention; don’t shoot souped up loads in your .45 unless it is a Ruger Blackhawk."
True. Some of the old Vaqueros would do it but
not the newer ones. Don't remember the date of design change, but it was a long time ago. There are also Redhawks (double action) for good defense loads, if they haven't weakened the design for those since I last looked (a few years ago).
And with single action, always do every safety step. Keep that thumb low and away from the hammer, until the revolver is completely clear of the holster and pointing forward. In my opinion, thousands of rounds of safe, slow practice should be put through a single action if considering it for defense. With enough practice and always with an effort toward being slow and accurate, speed will come naturally, eventually.
Why .45 instead of .44 magnum? Less recoil and as much power for defense with the right loads. But the reloader should read very thoroughly (especially safety stuff) and know what he's doing (no more than 1100 fps for heavy, hard-cast, wide, flat-nosed bullets in the lower 48, in my opinion, maybe closer to 1180 fps for parts of Alaska).
Some resources:
Gun Notes: The .45 Colt - Dissolving the Myth, Discovering the Legend by John Linebaugh
http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm
Lead Bullets Technology (best bullet molds)
http://www.lbtmoulds.com/index.shtml
Hell, I Was There by Elmer Keith
(book)
I forgot to mention; don’t shoot souped up loads in your .45 unless it is a Ruger Blackhawk. Mine is a Blackhawk. I reload my own rounds for it. I once used three extra grains of powder for one of mine for an experiment. I shot a 265 grain target projectile through a 2 X 4 and about an inch into the next one before the round was spent.
I always wanted a single action .45. It's the finest toy I ever owned. I call it my Peacemaker.