What to get: (45acp or .44mag) ?
- Thread starter mellow_c
- Start date
guntotin_fool
New member
Get reloading equipment and really cut the ammo cost equation in half.
CarbineCaleb
New member
If you like older style guns and use .44 ammo already, how about one of these?
A Marlin "Cowboy" lever action?
A Marlin "Cowboy" lever action?
Lost Sheep
New member
My opinion
Any collection of handguns with a population greater than two should have a 22 rimfire.
Good for practicing sight acquisition, trigger control, and MUCH cheaper to feed than any centerfire. No matter what I take to the range, there is always at least one 22. In between shooting the centerfires, I intersperse the rimfires.
I second the notion of picking up a modest set of reloading gear.
My opinion of the Ruger vs S&W 44 magnums is that the S&W willl shoot as powerful rounds as the Redhawk, but will require a tune-up more often. Rugers have fewer parts inside and those parts are heavier-duty. The Redhawk has a single coil spring for both the trigger return and the hammer (ingenious) where the S&W has a leaf spring to power the hammer.
The fact that your collection lacks a .357 has already been mentioned. It is probably the most versatile chambering in creation. Everyone should have one. (Right behind the .22 RF)
You can concentrate on just a few chamberings for your collection or you can make your collection encompass the entire range. So wide and shallow or narrow and deep. I went wide.
22 Long Rifle (Revolver and Semi-auto)
9mm (Semi-auto)
357 magnum/38 special (revolver and Semi-auto)
41 Magnum (revolver)
45 ACP (Semi-auto)
44 Magnum (revolver)
454 Casull/45 Colt (revolver)
Good luck.
Lost Sheep.
Any collection of handguns with a population greater than two should have a 22 rimfire.
Good for practicing sight acquisition, trigger control, and MUCH cheaper to feed than any centerfire. No matter what I take to the range, there is always at least one 22. In between shooting the centerfires, I intersperse the rimfires.
I second the notion of picking up a modest set of reloading gear.
My opinion of the Ruger vs S&W 44 magnums is that the S&W willl shoot as powerful rounds as the Redhawk, but will require a tune-up more often. Rugers have fewer parts inside and those parts are heavier-duty. The Redhawk has a single coil spring for both the trigger return and the hammer (ingenious) where the S&W has a leaf spring to power the hammer.
The fact that your collection lacks a .357 has already been mentioned. It is probably the most versatile chambering in creation. Everyone should have one. (Right behind the .22 RF)
You can concentrate on just a few chamberings for your collection or you can make your collection encompass the entire range. So wide and shallow or narrow and deep. I went wide.
22 Long Rifle (Revolver and Semi-auto)
9mm (Semi-auto)
357 magnum/38 special (revolver and Semi-auto)
41 Magnum (revolver)
45 ACP (Semi-auto)
44 Magnum (revolver)
454 Casull/45 Colt (revolver)
Good luck.
Lost Sheep.
Thats interesting about the springs. I wonder how much a difference that makes in the long term life of the gun.
I do have a .357
So far I think I'm leaning toward the 629 instead of the 1911. The Redhawk is a nice option too, but ultimately I think I want the Smith.
Someone said the Smith would need more "tune ups" than the Ruger. What does a "tune up" entail for a revolver of these types?
I do have a .357
So far I think I'm leaning toward the 629 instead of the 1911. The Redhawk is a nice option too, but ultimately I think I want the Smith.
Someone said the Smith would need more "tune ups" than the Ruger. What does a "tune up" entail for a revolver of these types?
Yankee Traveler
New member
Something different...
9mm or 357 sig if you want Auto
357 mag if you like another wheelgun
9mm or 357 sig if you want Auto
357 mag if you like another wheelgun
Brian Pfleuger
Moderator Emeritus
Just MHO but, with a few exceptions, I've never understood why someone would have multiple guns of the same caliber. What role would be filled by the new guns that is not filled by the old guns?
If it were me, I'd be getting something different.
Mellow, if you were asking about which of these to get for self-defense, I'd say get the .45 ACP. I'm not an expert, but I have read the opinions of those who are experts and they mostly agree that .44 ACP is one of the absolutely best self defense calibers out there, while .44 magnum is overkill for most self defense uses.
However, you already *have* one gun in each of these calibers. So what *I'd* probably do if I had a few hundred dollars to spare on something for fun is skip the gun and buy a new rubber river raft. But I am obviously not you, so I'd say have fun deciding and more fun playing with your new toy. ;-)
However, you already *have* one gun in each of these calibers. So what *I'd* probably do if I had a few hundred dollars to spare on something for fun is skip the gun and buy a new rubber river raft. But I am obviously not you, so I'd say have fun deciding and more fun playing with your new toy. ;-)