45LC vs 44mag vs 357?

C

canuck1911

New member
I tried out a 45lc wheelgun at the range today (a Colt Anaconda), although I
don't normally shoot wheelguns. I found that
I liked it a lot, and it made me think about
getting a long barrelled whellgun.
Perhaps someone could give me a quick answer to the following two questions:
1) Is the 45LC an "obsolete" cartridge?
I can only think of one company than now makes a gun for it (S&W).
2) How do the ballistics compare to the 44 mag and 357, out of a 6" barrel, as far as stopping a large charging bear, hunting, etc.

Thanks,

Canuck1911
 
Answers:

1) No, the 45 Colt is most definitely not obsolete! Quite the opposite.

2) Think Redhawk (stainless of course), with the 5.5" barrel. Handy carry piece (thank you Milt Sparks).

3) The 45 Colt is as much gun as needed for any North American creature (and has been used with great success in Africa), and is capable of shoot-through on any animal you might encounter here.
Bullets range from the lightweights used in 45ACP up to 395g WLNGC from Cast Performance Bullets. Coomon hunting loads use 300g lead or jacketed.

I carry one as described, and my easy-shootin' load is a 300g XTP-HP at 1309fps.
(I also have 5.5" Redhawks in 41 and 44, and three Ruger .357's, but the 45 rules.)

------------------
"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
I have sent other folks to this address: www.sixgunner.com when you get there, go to John Linebaugh's page and read all about the .45 Colt. It's certainly not dead, and short of the .454 Casull, is the most powerful handgun cartridge around...just don't shoot the hot loads in a Colt, of any vintage! They're for Rugers, Freedom Arms, and Linebaughs!

[This message has been edited by Frontsight! (edited August 06, 2000).]
 
If using factory loads, I still prefer 44 Magnum for raw power. The 45 LC is not dead, but to this day I know of only one place in my state that stocks it.
 
If you take a STRONG gun, you can load or even buy .45LC fodder that's as hot as any .44Mag and in a few cases hotter.

These ".45LC+P" loads will turn old blackpowder-designed Colt SAAs into hand grenades, and will harm even later ones.

Handloaders often claim that a Ruger Blackhawk in .45LC has slightly more potential than the same gun in .44Mag.

Factory "non +P" stuff is limited to 15,000psi to avoid screwing up old guns. That's not a caliber problem, it's a "history" issue caused by the load dating to 1873.

The good news with that is you can buy "lower pressure" stuff still perfectly fine for personal defense, with power just a hair behind the .45ACP. Then the same gun can take +P for hunting if you've picked a strong one. If the same gun can be had in .44Mag, that's a good sign.

Corbon loads some .45LC+P bonded-core hunting stuff with a decent rep, if you don't want to handload. I think others do too...

Last point: all .454Casull guns can fire .45LC/.45LC+P as "downgraded practice fodder" or for whatever other purpose. Just like .44Mags can shoot .44Special/.44Russian, and the .357Mags can shoot .38Spl.

Jim
 
What I like about the .45 Colt is that you can strike a happy medium in power levels. A bit more than standard velocity, but not a hard kickin' magnum load. I find that pushing 250 to 300gr lead bullets at 1000 to 1100fps is just about perfect. Plenty of power to do the job without all the buck and roar of a true magnum.

------------------
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
 
And with the renewed interest in cowboy shooting, you can get quite a few guns in 45lc, Ruger makes several, the vaquaro, for one, which I own, there are several colt clones out there. Winchester started the cowboy line of ammunition, and the rugers even have guns with two cylinders so you can fire 45 acp out of the 45lc guns.
 
Thanks for all the replies - it has helped educate me. Now I have a few more questions I hope someone can shed some light on.

1. This is perhaps a stupid question, but I don't shoot wheelguns. What is a D/A wheelgun? I understand the single action, but not the D/A. In trying out the Anaconda, I found that it was very accurate when I cocked the trigger first, but of course much less accurate when I didn't. Does D/A cock the trigger, similar to an Auto?

2. I went to the Ruger site to look at the various alternatives - they have two basic types - redhawk and blackhawk, and then several variations on these. If someone has shot both, I'd appreciate knowing how they feel about the differences, in regard to recoil, weight, accuracy, etc.

3. Would there be much difference between the
5 1/2" barrel and a longer barrel, in terms of velocity and accuracy?

Thanks in advance,

Cnauck1911
 
If I understand your question correctly, then yes. If functions like a da/sa semi auto, with the exception that the subsequent shots are da unless you manually cock the hammer. There is one old revolver that actually cocked the hammer for you, but I don't remember what it is. So with a da revolver, you can pull the trigger with the hammer down, and fire a round, or you can cock the hammer and fire it sa. Also just like the semi-autos, you can get a DAO revolver, but usually they are snub nose cc guns.
As for your barrel length questions, if it is in regards to 45lc still, then I would have to answer no, you probably won't see any noticible difference unless you get way out there in barrel length. I have a 4 5/8 inch vaquaro, and my friend has the 5 1/2, and at least in the accuracy, there does not seem to be any difference, but we are only shooting at around 25 yards. He has taken his out and shot it at some serious range, where elevation was required to hit, but honestly I don't remember the distance.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top