.45acp vs .44special?

ok, if the shooter was equal in both calibers and both firearms, lets say a 4 inch revolver, with each calibers most effective round, then?
 
I think Sam was trying to say that the two cartridges are remarkably similar, which they are. Off-the-shelf .44spl FMJ (not cowboy loads and not exotic stuff) and off-the-shelf .45ACP FMJ are practically the same, ballistically. Virtually the same size bullet (.4x), virtually same weight (230 or 240), virtually same speed (8xx fps).

"Defense" loads are also very similar in the two rounds. You can get cowboy loads for the .44spl that you can't get for the .45ACP. They're even slower--and smoky, stinky, and lead-y to boot.

Now, if you handload, that's where .44spl gets interesting.
 
All thinge equal..it all depends upon the marksmanship of the shooter. I would give the edge to the .45 ACP only because of the wider range of power levels and bullet choices available.

Corbon offers a 165gr bullet at 1150fps out of a 4in barrel in .44 special. They also offer a 165gr bullet at 1250 fps out of a 5in barrel in .45 ACP. If we use a similar length barrel in the .45 you could a expect 50fps velocity loss giving you only a 50 fps difference between the two rounds. Not enough of a difference to make a drastic change in bullet performance. It all depends upon the shooter.

Perhaps you would see more of a difference if you went with a standard weight 200gr HP in .44 special vs a 230gr JHP in .45 ACP. Still...both calibers are effective in their own rights. I wouldn't want to get hit by either.

Good Shooting
RED
 
I have an old article from Handloader (I think), in which the writer long-loads .45 Auto Rim, to approximately the same OAL as .44 Special. He was able to get some very impressive ballistics, at reasonable pressures, from a Model 25.
 
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