What to get: (45acp or .44mag) ?

M

mellow_c

New member
I've already got a .45 acp, it's a 5" XD. Great gun! I love it

I've already got a .44 Mag. It's an Interarms Virginian Dragoon, 6 shot single action 7 1/2" My grandpa gave it to me. Great gun! I love it


Now... I'm thinking about spending around $800 on a new handgun...

Should I get myself a Smith & Wesson 629 .44 Mag 4" barrel?

Or should I get some sort of 1911?


This is what I'm going on... it would be mostly for the fun of shooting, and the pride of owning a fine firearm.

The .44 mag would be a good replacement for my grandpas gun, so I could still shoot alot of .44 specials and mags if I wanted, but save grandpas gun for special occasions. Also, a 4" 629 would be a nice woods side arm.


However, a 1911 would be a lot of fun (maybe draw attention away from my XD?) and the cost of shooting a .45acp is about half as much as a .44 mag, or special.

What do you all think? I'll take any suggestions, Make some specific model suggestions if you like:)
 
Does it have to be .45acp or .44mag? If it's mostly for the fun of shooting and the cost of shooting is an issue you might consider a .22lr handgun. Maybe a S&W K-frame?
 
I just bought a Springfield 1911 in satin stainless for $750, and it rocks. I have a blast with that gun. I'm saving to get a Marvel Precision .22lr conversion, and a .460 Rowland conversion. 3 guns, and only one trip to the gun shop! Plus, 3 guns would cost $2100. And I'm paying $1500. More ammo for me!
 
Why not a 9mm that you can aford to shoot much more than even the 45? With bullet designs out today there is not as big a deal over caliber as it was 10 years ago for defence and easier to make a second shot. Nothing like a high cap XDm to go with your 45. You allready have the feel of that gun.. Get the compeitive version and start shooting some matches, maybe. 9mm is staring to get rather cheap to buy again, not so for the others. OR for the price of the other ones your look at you could buy a XDm and a compact for carry for less money. And i don't even like the xd but seems like a good option. A friend just changed from 1911's to the xd series for carry and comp and like them. If you still want a 44 look at ruger redhawk line or a used dan wesson 44, s&w is purtyer but the other to are better.
 
Consider a 1911 chambered in 9mm - Springfield, Kimber, Wilson Combat - etc all make them.

The 1911 platform is superior in a number of ways - great triggers - and 9mm is relatively cheap to shoot. Wilson Combat makes a new 9mm mag / 10 round - that's a great mag ( like their other mags )..

If you're buying ammo - 9mm is selling around here for about $ 12 - $15 for a box of 50 / .45 acp is selling for $ 22 - $25 for a box of 50. If you reload, the 9mm is around $ 6.80 a box / the .45 acp is about $ 9.80 a box...

I think one of the best values in a 9mm, in a 1911, is Springfield / the best 1911's I own are Wilson Combat - and I have a Protector model 5" all stainless in 9mm but that gun lists for around $ 3K now..
 
I've said it so often that it should be my user name.
I think any handgun "collection" without a good, solid, 4 or 6-inch .357 Mag revolver is a "collection" with a gaping hole in it. Because of the extremely flexible nature of a revolver that handles the lightest .38's to the heaviest .357's, I believe it's a true staple in everyone's armory.

If you need models, I suggest S&W 686 or Ruger GP-100. I also suggest used, since there are so many out there and they'll last a lifetime if kept in good care.

And if the cost of ammo (which you mentioned) is a rear consideration, then all the better for a .357 Mag revolver. IMO, it's perhaps the single best platform for a new reloader to learn the ropes.

Again, IMO, adding a reloading hobby to your shooting hobby will be MUCH more rewarding over the long run than even adding a new handgun.
 
1911 in 9mm is my vote. Great platform, and cheap ammo. Win win in my book. If it's gotta be a .45, look at a loaded springfield.
 
if you want to stick in the calibers you already have........i think id go for a 1911. Seems like just about anybody whos into shooting gets one eventually. If not that, then my personal favorite, hk--either 45 or a usp in 45.
 
I'll put an additional vote in for a revolver in .357 mag as well ( especially in a 4" and 6" - S&W model 19's, 66's, 27's, 686's etc )......but I would go with a 1911 in 9mm as well ......and check out the Dillon Precision website to learn a little about reloading machines ( I use and like the 650 very much )..

http://www.dillonprecision.com/
 
I'm a .45 guy and also a big 1911 fan, but if the .44 was from my grandpa,.......Well, that pretty much makes my decision for me. I'd keep the .44. I can alway get another 1911 later.
 
You're right. I misread the post. Heck, get the .45. Ammo, when you can find it these days, are cheaper to shoot.
 
I've had a Ruger super redhawk Alaskan in 44 mag for about a year now, and absolutely love it. I've had many redhawks and blackhawks over the years, and this is my favorite. Wouldn't hesitate to add another one to my collection.
 
Lots of factors here. If you need a gun to take out into the woods like you mention, I would go 44 mag definitely - or 357 mag, 41 mag. If you're just wanting to shoot or use it for self-defense, 45 is a great caliber. If I were buying a 45, I would take hard looks at Sig 1911 or Sig 220, but these are $$$. If I were interested in 44 mag, I would look at pre-lock S&W mod 29 or Ruger Redhawk. Again, a model 29 in mint condition is going to be $$$. I would encourage you though to expand your possibilities like a couple other guys have said and look at a pre-lock S&W full-frame 357 mag. You can shoot 38 from it for cheapness at the range, 38+p or 357 from it for self-defense/home defense, and heavy 357 if you need to take it out into the woods. With a 4" barrel it will kick up some serious velocity with the mag rounds, so the 357 is just a good all-around multi-purpose gun. I just bought a mint condition model 19 made in 1982 that will shoot the pants off of anything else I've ever used for targeting, and with the heavy mags you have 6 little bits of dynamite at your disposal if you find yourself in a pinch with it. With any of the Sig models or S&W models I mentioned, if you find mint condition and dress it up with fancy wooden grips (if they don't already have some), you will have a beautiful gun on your hands. The Rugers are more like meat and potatoes, no frills, but insanely reliable and durable. Ruger sp101 is a fine little 357 mag, but it's more of a snub gun (2.5 or 3" barrel varieties). Whenever I see a Ruger sp101, particularly the snub 2.5" variety, the first phrase that comes to mind is "bad ass," so it's beautiful in its own way and might make a really different sort of gun to consider adding to your arsenal. As far as picking a certain gun - 45 vs 44 mag, etc - If you root around in a gun store, you will pick up one and say to yourself - "I've gotta have that one." That's the gun to get. Don't overthink it, just enjoy buying what you want.
 
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Me, I'd get another 44mag and let Grandpa's gun retire in dignity. Maybe take it once in a while to let your kids and your grandkids shoot it. Then, later on, pass it along to them.

+1 for the Redhawk or Alaskan. When you hear "Ruger Only Loads", these are the guns they are talking about!
 
Thanx for the responses!

I've only read about the first 3... and I've got to hurry up and say it.

Yes... I want you guys to help me decide between some sort of 1911 and a S&W 629 classic 4"

I already have a 9mm and .22lr and whatever else. Thats not what I'm talking about here, I'm talking about which one to get, a 1911 or a .44mag 629, and only based on the reasons in my original post :) Thanx
 
Lets clairify

I've already got a .357 too, and a little .38 special (yes I know the .357 will fire both)

I dont care about any other guns right now, lol:D:rolleyes:

I appreciate the support about my grandpas gun. That was my original idea,(to get a .44 mag to relieve my grandpas gun from being my only .44mag) I REALLY like the 629 from Smith. And no matter what, if I get a .44mag, I want it to be a 4" barrel. Sure the Rugers are great, I've got a GP100 and I wouldent trade it for a smith. But I'd like something different, hence getting an S&W. Are the S&W's really that much weaker that I need to be concerned about it? Especially since I wont be shooting any (Ruger only loads) out of it, and also, with .44 ammo being pretty pricey, I wont shoot it all that often anyway. .... Sure I could beat the Ruger to death, and it would still be alive :D but the S&W has an appeal to me that the Ruger cant offer, is it worth getting the Smith based on that?

Now, on the other hand, like someone above has said. Most everyone gets a 1911 eventually, and I feel that way too. I'm wondering if I should get one now, or get the .44 mag instead. If I do get a 1911, I'll get a .45, I just dont want a 1911 thats not in the original chambering. Just my feelings about it. I know they make great ones in 9mm, But if I'm gona get a 1911, it's gona be a .45.

I'm still open to more opinions... so long as your not trying to convince me to try other calibers;)
 
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It seems you really like High quality guns and appreciate them as much as the cheaper ones.Meaning you dont mind spending the money on something thats worth it.
I know id be spending $1000 on a Dan Wesson 1911,you can pick your gun out according to wich you like as they have a few.But that is a gun you can pass on that is Custom gun quality and will last a few lifetimes,at mass production gun prices.
http://cz-usa.com/products/by-brand/dan-wesson/
Its actually a beauty to just hold and look at,and then shoot.Of course i can only imagine shooting one so far.
 
...the S&W has an appeal to me that the Ruger cant offer, is it worth getting the Smith based on that?
Click to expand...

Yes it is. You should get the Smith, it will serve you well. There will be opportunities for a 1911 down the road.
 
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