A dilemma!

N

Nightcrawler

New member
I want a .45 Colt revolver. I just have a liking for .45 caliber.

Problem: I have a .44 Magnum levergun. I can't currently justify to myself having a lever carbine and a revolver in different calibers.

I know .44 factory ammo is more powerful than most factory .45 colt, and also cheaper. But I know where to get ammo cheap, so it's not such a big deal. I'm going to start reloading eventually, too.

So, what should I do? Sell/trade the .44 levergun or get a .44 revolver? Which .44 should I get? (let's assume I can't find anything used that I like.) I'm leaning towards the 5.5" Redhawk in either caliber, stainless, with a 5.5" stainless Vaquero to go with it.
 
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Just an opinion but if you are really determined to have a rifle and a handgun in the same caliber and you are happy with your current rifle then buy the handgun that you favor in .44 magnum. When you start reloading for yourself,which I highly recommend,then you will save some money on your startup investment.
 
There's no major downside to a .44Mag revolver over .45LC. If you're happy with the .44 levergun, stick with the caliber (and .44Spl of course).

There's two reasons to go .45LC:

1) You're not a reloader, and want something with a .45ACP swappable cylinder so you can practice cheaper;

2) You want to explore the outer edge of this sort of horsepower range, in which case the .45LC has a VERY slight edge and at slightly lower recoil from the larger case volume. It really only matters if you're trying to hot-rod this sort of power range into something it really shouldn't do, such as defend against a Griz. Either caliber is plenty for black bear, deer or boar without "going to the absolute max". Due to sectional density, the .44Mag has the advantage at longer ranges, if you want to try 100yd+ competition.

Taken to the ragged edge, the .44Mag operates at higher peak pressures and hence the recoil can get hairy...sometimes at a point when the .45LC is stil delivering a "big solid controllable push" for the same muzzle energy. But you don't *need* the "ragged edge" in either caliber unless you're going past what they should do :).
 
I'd buy the reloading equipment first and do without the handgun till my funds built up again.
 
I'm going to stick with my .44 levergun, I think. I couldn't bare to part with my little thumper. So, I think I"ll get a .44 Redhawk one of these days.
 
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