Next revolver, .44 Mag or .45 LC?

M

Merad

New member
At this point my gun collection has most of the basic areas covered, so I'm looking to expand the "just for fun" department. .44 Magnum or .45 LC, what would you choose and why? I don't anticipate using this for anything other than range fun. I will be reloading for whichever one I get. And I'd like to eventually get a lever rifle in the same caliber to complement the revolver.

I am partial to SA revolvers so I will probably be looking a Ruger Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk, possibly a Vaquero. A Redhawk or S&W isn't out of the question if the right deal comes along.
 
Both are very flexible and depending on the gun power levels of the old 45 can be pretty high. If I had to chose a new gun it would be a new M25 Smith with that 6 1/2" pretty tapered barrel, I would then go for some nice cast/lead 900-1000fps loads. I use to have a 7 1/2" Blackhawk that I sent back to Ruger to have a Super BH grip frame installed, it was a pretty sexy beast. With some 260gr Speer JHP's and a bunch of 2400 it really barked!:D
 
A 44 Magnum or a 45 Colt?

Yeah, I couldn't decide either.

So I got one of each.

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Every needs a .45 Colt revolver in Single Action. The history, the flexibility, the bigger hole... The do everything caliber. Then the lines of a single action are much more beautiful compared to the S&W DAs.... IMO of course. Whether New Vaquero, BH, or the medium frame flattop convertible is up to you. My vote is .45 Colt and Single Action. Let out a bit of the 'wild West' that is in most of us :) and have a solid dependable tool to boot.

One of my favorite .45 Colt revolvers:

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Get the standard catalog blue Blackhawk large frame in dual caliber/cylinder, 45LC and 45ACP. Both types of ammo are meant to shoot through the same barrel size (unlike the 357/9mm convertibles) so accuracy rocks with both. Whatever barrel length you want...and get one with the "Lawyer's Warning Billboard" text UNDER the barrel instead of on the side - not only looks better, that marks an improvement in how the cylinders are made.

There has been a special distributor's run of 45LC/45ACP Flattop Blackhawks made on the MEDIUM frame. I wouldn't go there - you'd be strength limited and 45ACP+P might be marginal, for sure no shooting the 45LC+P big boomers.
 
If not needed for hunting, I would go with the 45 Colt in a Single Action Army style. Many are available in a wide price range.
After all, everybody needs a "Cowboy" gun.
 
Adding to what cheapshooter said, if I were choosing between the two calibers, I would just decide if I wanted a double action revolver or a single action revolver. 45 is a traditional load for single action. 44 Mag was originally built on a double action frame.

If you don't have a single action revolver, I'd go 45 and get one. If you do, then it's up to you. They are both awesome rounds.
 
I am partial to SA revolvers so I will probably be looking a Ruger Blackhawk/Super Blackhawk, possibly a Vaquero
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To take It a bit further, with the 45 Colt I would go with the Vaquero in the Ruger line. Or better yet one of the various Uberti, or other makers models even closer to the original Colt SAA design.
The Blackhawk, and Super Blackhawk are great designs, but with adjustable rights, and a bit more "modern" look.
Incidentaly, I have a Ruger Super Blachawk that I have carried for years in the deer woods. Also have shot scores of rounds with It at the range. Great gun.
But I also have a Cimarron Cattleman in 45 Colt that is great fun to shoot at the range.
 
I have both, with the 44 mag you have a more powerful round if you ever want to use it for hunting. I get the idea you want to use one round in both revolver and lever action- like the old 44/40 Colt. If you go that route the chambers are different so you need to full length re-size the cases in many instances as one chamber will be slightly larger and rounds fired in that chamber that are not full length re-sized might fit tightly in the other gun. It wasn't an issue with the 44/40 because no one reloaded back then except for the buffalo hunters.
I always want to bump up a 45 Colt. I think in some of the newer revolvers it can be done to some extent within safe levels. A powerful load in its own right.
 
There has been a special distributor's run of 45LC/45ACP Flattop Blackhawks made on the MEDIUM frame. I wouldn't go there - you'd be strength limited and 45ACP+P might be marginal, for sure no shooting the 45LC+P big boomers.
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Depends on your needs. My medium frame Revolvers will do all that I need doing. Perfect size and weight... Will handle the .45 ACP+P no problem if one wants to go there. Tier 2 loads are great. Just no ROL loads which again, in my neck of the woods not really a 'need'. Plenty strong! Oh, if heading to Africa, I would grab one of my large frame .45 Colt BHs instead. Right tool, for the right job.
 
I'm partial to model 25's. The .45Colt is plenty for me. I consider the .44 magnum a nice carbine round, but too much grief on the hands in a revolver.
I have a nice soft load of 12 grs. Blue Dot under a 250 gr LSWC. YMMV.
 
Thanks all. I think I'm going to go with .45 LC! I'm mostly familiar with the Ruger lineup, as I do have a Blackhawk in .357. Can anyone comment on how they compare the Uberti's or other options?
 
M: sort of wish you could expand on all thing things you want to do, might help with some suggestions.
This is just my opinion but the Uberti- those guns are mostly for guys that want something historically accurate, as far as details- like the firing pin in the hammer rather than a transfer bar. For cowboy action shooting, etc the guns are fine. HOWEVER as far as top quality. The Older S & W's were the best- not as sure about the modern stuff. On the old S & W every part, even the bolts, were made at the factory and the steel was the best, the frame is smaller than the Ruger but Ruger uses investment casting and needs more metal. Ruger is a quality firearm and close behind the S & W. Either one is a top choice.
Just to make sure you are aware of the 45 Colt/44 Magnum situation. On the same frame the issue is not the frame but the cylinder. On the larger Colt 45 the holes for the shells are obviously larger which means the metal from the hole/chamber to the outside of the cylinder is less. That is the primary reason you cannot hot load a Colt 45 up to 44 Magnum levels.
The jury is out on the 44 Magnum. I stayed away from it for a while because of all the press about recoil When I finally got around to it I was sort of surprised to say the least.
"This isn't so bad"
" No, not bad at all"
" Maybe I'll try with one hand"
" One hand is sort of heavy but not that bad"
That's with the 6 1/2" barrel, the 4" kicks harder.
If you shoot as 45 Gvt and never really notice any recoil, then the 44 mag will not be an issue. There are far more powerful handgun rounds these days than the 44 mag.
 
Can anyone comment on how they compare the Uberti's or other options?
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Ruger's have coil springs which are less prone to breakage and since 1973 employ a transfer bar system that allows you to safely load 6 rounds. I own both and they're both accurate and well made, accurate and can last a lifetime. I do keep a wolff spring kit around for my SAAs.
 
I have a Blackhawk .45 Convertible. I can load hotter .45 Colt loads for trail use and use .45 auto for plinking. I don't do a lot of reloading and .45acp ammo is usually pretty easy to find and a lot less costly than .45 Colt. Around here .44 mag and .44 sp are very difficult to find.
 
Range / plinking gun?

That's easy, .45 LC in a Colt SA or a decent repro.

Tune your handloads to the gun, bend and file the front sight and go have a blast!

Add any more factors into the equation and the Ruger BH / Vaquero will come into play. Lots of good advice has already been given in those areas.
 
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