357 or 45 colt

L

lordhedgwich

New member
I dont know much about revolvers i own a nagant and 2 black powder .44 1851s I have been thinking about getting a Single action army And i was wondering what kind i should get and what caliber i was thinking 357 or 45 colt. Im only looking to spend 400-500
 
Unless you reload or are looking to take down some really big animals, I'd definitely recommend the .357.
You can buy relatively cheap .38spl, and will wind up being able to shoot it a lot more than the .45.
 
I like the 45 Colt. You can buy low recoil cowboy action loads for the 45 Colt. Here in Maryland...it is not legal to hunt deer with the 357, but it is legal to hunt deer with the 45 Colt. Make sure your SA can handle stout 45 Colt loads, if you are so inclined.
 
For all practical purposes, the .45 Colt is almost strictly a reloader's caliber.
Sure, factories do produce .45 Colt but all are very pricey, even the so-called Cowboy loads.

So, that leaves you with.......

This comes from someone who has used .45 Colt for more than 30 years including years in Cowboy Action Shooting (SASS).
 
A single action army in 45 LC is an extremely potent gun in a very compact package.

I am about to tell you to get both, but I think if it were for only one, go for the 357.

This is not an easy decision, tomorrow I might change my mind. :D



357 Three Screw Ruger
 
If you reload, the .45 Colt is really the way to go.... If you don't reload, then the wittle bitty peanut caliber .357 is the way to go (if you don't have deep pockets that is) . Get a lot more shooting in :) . Now, the .45 Colt is my favorite do-all caliber so maybe I see things a bit differently :) . I do own both BTW... but the .357s SA revolvers rarely see the light of day.
 
I suspect you will end up with both.

.38/.357 probably a 4" bbl would be a good first revolver, small enough to conceal at least part of the year, large enough to not be a flinch maker at the range, good compromise.

Do price local to you ammunition, really a gun is just an ammunition dispenser, you want a gun you can afford to practice with.
 
Get the .45 Colt.

Unless you are going to get a DA .38/.357 for concealed carry/self defense then get the .357… and the .45 Colt.

If you know you’re never ever going to reload, even in spite of the outrageous prices of ammo and the shortages and even though it is fun and practical to do, then get the .357. (And then go get the Colt .45 too).

Dale (who probably saw too many cowboy movies in his youth.)
 
Easy answer. If you reload definitely go with the 45 Colt (reloaders dream cartridge :) ) if you don't definitely go with the 357 (cheaper, more common, can shoot 38s)
 
These are my two most favorite carts and the two most versitile.

You have to get one chambered in each, which one you get first doesn't matter.

Maybe first a double action .357 then step it up to a .45 single action.
 
Get the .45 Colt and start reloading. The last 2 Christmas my family gave me primers. An older gentlemen who is no longer reloading gave me powder and I traded some range brass and a little cash for 500 lead bullets. My next 500 rounds of .45 Colt ammunition is going to cost me $30.00. By contrast, equivalent factory ammunition would cost close to $500.00. Even if I had bought the primers and powder, I would have only been out about 100.00.
 
Do they make .45acp cylinders for the SAA? If so, that might get you by until you started reloading and shooting the more classic .45 Colt.
 
Let's be realistic, factory ammo for anything but .22LR and 9mm is expensive. Too expensive to use in sufficient quantity to become proficient with any chambering. The .357 is overrated. Whichever you choose, I suggest you reload. The .45Colt, while not my favorite, is a very potent chambering, even in a Colt SAA or replica. A 250gr cast bullet at 900-1100fps is much more consistently effective on game than any .357 load and it will do so with a lot less muzzle blast and noise. The guns are also lighter and balance better. My .38Spl SAA is a full 6oz heavier than my .45 version. However, when all is said and done, I'd rather have a .44Spl.
 
A 45 Colt makes a bigger hole in target paper than the 357. The bigger diameter of the 45, gives a shooter a better chance of scoring the next highest scoring ring on a bullseye target.
 
.45 Colt is my all time favorite round. However, I shoot a lot more .38 special than I do .45 Colt. .45 is more expensive to buy and reload.
 
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