Compare these calibers for me, .41,.44,.45

F

frank4570

New member
.41 mag,.44 mag,45 colt. I don't know anything about the colt, and I don't know much about the 41 and the 44.I have always been more of a semi-auto kind of guy. Specifically I want to know how they compare to each other as far as recoil is concerned, and deer killing ability,and self defense.Assume same frame size and barrel length(5 in) for each.I know opinions are different, opinions are what I want.
Thanks in advance.
 
Frank,

If we stick strictly to factory loads in these three caliber, listing them by increasing recoil/muzzle velocity would look like this;
  • 45 Colt
  • 41 Magnum
  • 44 Magnum

The original .45 Colt round was developed in the black powder era and most factory loadings are generally tuned towards single action revolvers. That said, the .45 Colt can be handloaded up to and perhaps exceeding .44 Magnum power levels, but only in modern guns or guns specially designed for it. The .454 Casull is one such design (and it's a 5-shot to add strength to the cylinder).

The .41 Magnum is the "overlooked" magnum. Overshadowed by the .44, it started life as an idea in better police firepower. But it was "magnum-ized" by marketing folks and the police gun idea floundered. But the .41 is a pretty good gun, shoots well and has plenty of power. Standard hunting load as designed by Remington is a 210gr JSP pushed at 1300fps @788 ft-lbs of thump. Recoil energy in a 4" S&W M57 is about 12 ft-lbs which is only about 1 ft-lb less than the .44 Mag. But it just *seems* to be easier on the shooter. If you've fired the original 10mm load (not the current ones) it is about equivilant to the .41 mag.

The .44 Mag pushes a 240gr JSP at 1180fps which provides 13.3 ft-lbs in recoil. The .44 Magnum does have many different bullet configurations and literally hundreds of loads cataloged in reloading manuals.

For hunting, the .41 & .44 will take down deer sized game quite well. For larger and more dangerous critters, the edge usually goes to the .44, although the .41 Mag will take black bears with good shot placement.
 
Simple version?

The 45 Colt is fine as defensive caliber but requires a large gun (as do the 41 & 44).

The 44 Mag is the most powerful of the 3 for hunting, but is roughly equal to the old 30-30 rifle, a caliber dissed by many as underpowered for deer so you make up your mind on hunting with it.

The 41 Mag is about 15% less than the 44 is all respects with higher ammo cost and reduced availability.

Both the 41 and 44 are a bit much for defensive use. Too much recoil for any sort of rapid fire. The 45 Colt in a large frame revolver with 200 grain bullets at 800-900 FPS is a pussycat.
 
Technically they are a .41, .43, .45 the 44 mag is really a .429. With a heavy revolver, Ruger and up, with optimum loads they rate in that order for stopping power. If you reload, the 45 can do what the 44mag factory loads do with less pressure, muzzle blast and recoil. Some folks like the .41 because it has a great sectional density for its bullets, giving it a flatter trajectory.
 
May I respectfully suggest the 10mm could be added to this group -- and, yes, for revolvers, with the Smith 610 (.40 S&W and 10mm) and the Ruger Blackhawk (.38-40 and 10mm) both excellent handgun hunting weapons.
 
If I went to a revolver from my auto, I would be picking up a little more thickness(which I have to carry and conceal) and loosing a little magazine capacity. Maybe a fair trade in my mind if I get more horsepower in return.
I currently carry a fullsize auto in 10mm with a mag of 9 rounds. I get 1250 with a 200gr XTP. I'm not sure I would pick up much by going to a 10mm revolver. :)
 
Check out Smith & Wesson's model 329PD. It's a .44 magnum weighing only 26 ounces. Good looking too. But she'll kick like a mule......
 
HA! Kick is an understatement! After firing the thing I would be found in the next county with the front sight stuck in my forehead.OUCH! Sounds like the kind of thing that would encourage flinching. ;)
 
too easy

I have 5.5" Redhawks in each caliber mentioned.

To kill a deer (even a moose) requires shot placement.
I'd use the 44 if I had to buy ammo, and the 45 Colt because I make it.
Recoil is subjective, but they all kick.

The best 'defense' bullets are 45 ACP bullets I load in 45 Colt. There are no good 41 Magnum defense bullets, nor 44.
But we have ways.....

Just get a 44 Magnum.
 
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With the .44 you can use .44 special for self defense ammo. After shooting .44 mags the specials feel like a .22.
 
Defensive loads in 44 mag: To paraphrase Dirty Harry... "This is the world's most powerful handgun, it will blow your head clean off." Now that is a defense!
 
I'd suggest either the .357 Magnum or the .44 Magnum if you will be buying ammunition. Both of these have piles of factory loads, and, both of these have a fully compatible Lite round for revolvers, the .38 Special and the .44 Special respectively, that is somewhat cheaper and much milder shooting, giving even more versatility.

If you want to emphasize more self defense and range use, I'd get the .357 of these two. It's cheaper and more pleasant to shoot, and shot-to-shot recovery time being better, is more effective for self defense as well. With a longer barreled revolver and the proper hot and heavy loads, it can be used for CXP2 class game too.

If you want to emphasize hunting more, I'd get the .44 - it will have similar ballistics, but will make a fatter hole than the .357, giving more on-target effects for deer, and in particular black bear.

For a range and hunting gun, and especially in a .44 Magnum, I'd get a 6" barrel steel gun. For the .357, the 6" will still be better for range, hunting, and home defense, but a 4" barrel will have more holster options, and be viable as a carry gun as well.
 
There are no good 41 Magnum defense bullets, nor 44.
Click to expand...

WESHOOT2 & Majic,

As Majic pointed out, the Speer Gold Dot is now available for the .41 Mag. It is a 210gr JMC (jacketed moon-crater) waltzing out of the muzzle at ~1250fps. A bit ..er.. "stout" for a self defense round, however they are spot-on accurate in my S&W M57. But if someone is used to carrying & shooting a 10mm auto, the .41 is ballistically very close.

Winchester's 175gr Silvertip JHP will work just fine as a Self Defense round and it's no harder to control than a 125gr .357 JHP. Remington's original 210gr LSWC "Police" load at 950fps was fairly easy to control but alas they have quit making them, which is too bad. One had the impression of shooting fence posts at the target.

Rapid fire in a Taurus 415T (Titanium) ported snubbie using the W-W 175gr Silvertips was controllable and you can cluster all 5 shots inside the 8 ring at 10 yards in 5 seconds. You wouldn't want to do it 3 times in a row without a wrist brace though. :D
 
So I'll repeat myself

Those Gold Dots are for hunting, marketed to compete with the W-W/Nosler and such.

(I have some 180g Gold Dots originally designed and intended for the 41 AE; no cannelure, but still the verybest .411"-bore defense choice).

The 175g Silvertip is not what I consider a "good defense bullet", but any bullet can work.

A 180g JHP from a 44 will work.
 
Yeah, well, I guess I'm just not so technically inclined as to worry about "proper defensive bullets." I sort of figure that any slug from a .41 or .44 caliber (OK, .429) in the right place will settle someone's hash.
 
This thread has gotten off track but this is a fun discussion and I have also developed my own opinion anyway.
I am a ccw holder. I am now a LEO. As such, given a choice I will probably run away. 1) If I do get into a situation where I have to shoot somebody I will probably be cornered and outnumbered in a deserted area.
I have never been in a gunfight or around gunfights. I take what I can from what I read, better than nothing. And what I have read is that as far as the goodguys bullet is concerned, 2) underpenetration sometimes gets the goodguys hurt or killed (bad guy continues the attack), people getting hurt due to over penetration is virtually non-existant.
And as I undersatand it, there are only two sure ways to take down a badguy or deer. Disruption of the nervous system (odds are against a hit) or 3) massive blood loss.
Ok, so for me, shooting bad guys or shooting deer, I want a full pass through that dumps blood out as fast as possible.
I carry and hunt with the same bullet. Currently 200gr XTP Doubletap.
If anybody has facts to argue against my conclusions I am happy to listen.
 
I shot both the .41 175 STs and the 210 GDs this weekend out of my Redhawk - very nice to shoot, recoil is fine (nicer then the ltwt. 45acp with Dbl Tap 230s and GD 230s I was shooting - due to the weight and grips(?)). Nicer then the .44 I range shot a couple months ago too - cleaner, less flash etc. (do not know what rounds were in the .44). My 8 yr old enjoyed it too, - much better then the Colt atleast - though a bit heavy for him.

Especially if it was a bit handier, I think it would be fine for limited SD - as long as you could conceal it properly.
 
it really depends on what you are wanting to do with the caliber

hunting?I would go with th 41 or the 44magnum

45 colt I believe is like 45 acp but with a rim and alot longer.
I have been told that it can be loaded weak or very powerful.

I have heard thast the 41 mag has a little bit more penetraction than the 4 mag just because it is the same power level but skinnier. they are all good rounds. you shoot them and then decide if that is the .situation

if it was me I would go with the 41mag. you can load it to whatever you want, and I would consider it a all around round.
 
"Hard and often"

No, not a marriage recipe. :rolleyes:

Let us know what you decide.........and congrats, and stay safe.

Rule One: Have a gun.
corollary = first it must go bang
 
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