.45 Colt or .44 Magnum?

T

Tom68

New member
My next purchase will most likely be a Ruger SA Revolver. I do not currently own a SA revolver, although I have owned one in the past. Either way, I've been drawn to that sort of action here lately and I'd like to hear some opinions. my question is a comparison of the .45 Colt and the .44 Remington Magnum.

First, I do handload, therefore I can take advantage of the limitations of factory offerings of .45 Colt and the advantages of handloading; and similarly, I can see the advantages of loading .44 Special to download 44 Magnum loads. That being said, I understand the versitality of either chambering.

So, which is more versitale? Which is the better choice for a casual shooter, with an ability to load high loads or low, and who does not currently cast lead bullets? I'd like to shoot whitetails when the mood strikes me, and punch paper during other times. Either way, I'd like to have a cool SA revolver with the nostalgia of past days, along with the flexibility of modern load ability.

What are your thoughts on this?
 
Since you handload I also think it's a wash.

If you didn't load then I would go with the .44 since you could also get .44SPC loads for it and be more versatile.
 
Do you plan on getting into Cowboy Action Shooting? If so then the 45 may be better. You mentioned hunting whitetails so I would give a slight edge to the 44 Magnum. BTW I have a 5.5" Ruger Vaquero in 44 Magnum and love it. I combined two wants into one. I wanted a 44 magnum and I wanted a single action revolver and the 44 Vaquero filled both bills.
 
Ruger BH 45 Convertible was my last purchase and I am still pleased with it.

45 Colt only I think has some longer barrel options. I have also been getting some impressive velocity and accuracy seems fine from 45 ACP "Ruger Blackhawk Only" loads and standard loadings also seem to shoot good.

45 Colt can be loaded as hot as I want.

Can't go wrong either way! Have a great day!!
James
 
It depends on the Ruger SA you want. If it's not available in .44mag it may not be strong enough to take the souped up .45 Colt loads. If it is available in .44mag you might as well just get it that way.
 
Since you reload, either one will do. I chose the .45 simply because I wanted to use a cartridge that had been in use since 1873. Just remember that the recently released small frame Ruger .45 Colt will not be safe with the "Ruger only" loads.
 
I'm a fan of the Colt .45. Shooting a 255gr flat point at 850fps is just plain fun.

I'm also a recoil wimp.
That being said, I think the .44mag might have a slight advantage for the reloader. It is a higher pressure round and brass should last a bit longer.
Hot loaded .45colt rounds tend to tear up brass pretty quick.
 
I suspect it's a lot easier to load a 44 magnum down to 45 Colt levels, than it is to load 45 Colt up to 44 Magnum levels.
 
.45 Colt or .44 Magnum?
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Probably the 2nd most asked question on internet gun forums right after "which gun for bear defense?"

Do a search option on any gun forum and you will have reading to keep you busy till next week.


After all that reading odds are the definitive answer you will come up with is

flip a coin
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Hmm, this is a tough one. On one hand, you could go 44 and shoot 44 Specials in it, well you can shoot cowboy loads out of the 45 too. You can download the 44 easier than upload the 45...say what? :D

This is def one of the things you let the wife and kids surprise you with. Don't forget dies and brass!

I've loaded 44 Mags for countless years, and I've been loading 45 Colts for maybe a year now, and my impression is...wait for it...there's not much difference. All the good 45 Colt loads are not dancing with near 454 pressures at all. Good safe sane loads abound, and I have not been tempted to ride the ragged edge of sanity with my 45 Colt. I admit, having a 454 really helps with that.

For the money, the Ruger BH Convertible is the winner. 500 bucks gets you two guns, and you can ride the wild side with your loads if you want.
 
I am very happy with the 45 colt at 1000 fps for all of my needs in the lower 48. The 44s that I have owned were shot mostly with loads around 1000 fps also . I shoot a lot of 45 acp and cast 230 gr tl bullets that also work great in the 45 colt. If I did not hand load the 44 mag would be my chose, but I just like the old 45, it is fun to shoot and can still do every thing I need done. :)
 
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In a full sized Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk there is virtually no difference ballistically between the two cartridges, given that you handload. The .44 gains you a little velocity, the .45 gains you a little diameter and bullet weight, so basically it's a wash.

That said, just because you're interested in a single-action, I would choose the .45 Colt. It's just "right." Now if you want a double-action instead, go with the .44 magnum. That, too, is just "right."
 
This one keeps coming back again and again. There isn't a lot of ballistic difference between a hot loaded 45 colt and a 44 magnum. However hot rodding a cartridge and gun that was never designed for it, just doesn't make sense. Before the Ruger fanatics get out of joint, YES I know it can be safely done. That doesn't make it a good idea. The 45 Colt is a EXCELLENT cartridge in its own right, but if you feel you need more power than it offers, I would urge you to buy a 44 magnum or a 454 Casull.
 
That doesn't make it a good idea.
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I respect your opinion, but actually I think it is a 'good' idea (my opinion). If I have a revolver that can handle 30,000cup .45 Colt loads (like a Ruger BH or RH), I have a 'broad' range of loads that make bigger holes. I see it as a win-win. I don't have to buy another gun to get the job done. The .45 Colt cases are not 'weak' but are as strong as .44Mag.... Now I do agree if you need more than that then go up to the .454.... But there is no need to get a .44Mag is my point... if you reload of course :) . BTW, I do have .44Mag and .44Spec revolvers and like them as well. The way I look at it power wise is .22, .38, 357, .44Spec, .44Mag, .45 Colt ROL (which covers the .44Spec and .44Mag. and .45 Colt), and finally the .454..... The .454 I don't have and never will as the .45 Colt gets me where I want/need to be for anything I might run into.
 
That doesn't make it a good idea.
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I disagree with this also. It's an excellent idea! The reason being that while the original weaker loadings were ok in their own right, there is a very much more amount of versatility to be had with only slightly warmer loadings. WHen you juice that 255 gr boolit up to 1000 fps or 1100 fps, suddenly you have something you can walk the earth with.

Compared to a 44 Mag with the same weight/velocity, would be a warm load for the 44 Mag, and an even lighter load for the 45 Colt. A steady diet of these loads would not be hard on shooter or gun.

I agree if you need more power, get a 454 (I did) or a rifle. A 44 Mag is always a good choice too. (I got mine) Logistically the 44 Mag would probably be the better choice.

If one chooses the 45 Colt, do your homework and be very sure what you are buying and what level loads are safe to load and shoot in it. If one would find that over-whelming then perhaps the 45 Colt is indeed, not for them. Personally, I find that inconceivable but one continues to be amazed at life. :)
 
In the OP's case (a handloader using a suitably strong SA revolver) there isn't much difference and one will kill whatever you feel the need to just as dead as the other. However, .44 Magnum is probably a better choice for someone who doesn't handload (greater ammo availability and selection) or someone choosing a DA revolver (larger rim for more positive extraction).
 
Because you reload I would go with 45, I have both and perfer the pushof the 45 rather than the snap of the 44
 
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