45 Colt or 44 Mag

[C-grunt]

What are the pros and cons of both. Will be in a Ruger Blackhawk
It will be used for:
1. fun
2. learning to reload
3. hunting
4. protection while hiking
Thanks

[Vern Humphrey]

There's really no difference. The .45 Colt at max loads in a Blackhawk has a tad more horsepower than a .44 Mag -- but not that much more.

You can buy low power .45 Colt loads, and low power .44 Mags are hard to come by -- offhand, I can't think of any makers of low, low power .44 Mags.

The .44 Mag has more gas check bullet designs, so if you cast your own and handload, you'll have more options.

Having said that, I have three .45 Colts and no .44 Magnums.

[Frohickey]

45Colt.

Lower pressure.
Longer brass life.
Maybe longer cylinder life.

[Freddymac]

I know that you want to learn to reload, but there are more (greater selection of) available factory ammo. For fun and plinking you can also shoot 44 specials. It’s true that, in certain guns… at high pressures, the 45 Colt can rival the 44 mag, but lets be serious, at factory pressures the 45 colt is just not contend with the 44. I have both, and both serve their purposes, but if I cold only have one, it would be the 44. If you are reloading, especially for hunting, I’m pretty sure that you will find a larger selection of bullets and bullet weights for the 44.

[ARTiger]

In a word - versatility. Can shoot everything from mild SWC .44 Special target loads to 300 grain artillery rounds. Yes, .45 LC can be hopped up to equal standard 44 mag loads, but I'd rather a caliber doing what it was intended for rather than being stretched one way or another.

[TexAg]

Since you're interested in reloading, .45Colt offers alot of flexability. You can push it all the way up to where it offers a little more punch than .44mag or down to very light "cowboy" loads all in the same case. If you were stritctly not reloading I might lean .44mag as there is plenty of factory ammo available and a wider variety.

[wheelgunslinger]

six of one, half a dozen of the other.
I have a great affection for 45 colt. But, that has no bearing here.
44 mag is a great round too.
Choose the one right for what you'll really be using it for when you're actually firing the weapon.

[Lone_Gunman]

low power .44 Mags are hard to come by -- offhand, I can't think of any makers of low, low power .44 Mags.


I think 44 special would be the option if you wanted a low power round to shoot.

[rockstar.esq]

Keep in mind that the .45 Long colt has a long history of being offered in firearms with chambers that are cut "generously" thus impinging accuracy. Not that the Ruger would likely give you fits but I seldom have only one gun in a given caliber and I'd rather have all of them be "tight". All things being equal, I'd expect that the .44 mag will continue to be offered in a large variety whereas the .45LC will stay in replicas not so much newer designs.

[roscoe]

There is plenty of good +P .45 Colt out there nowadays. You can get heavy 300 grain or higher loads from Buffalo Bore, PMC, The Hunting Shack, Double Tap, and CorBon. The CorBon and Buffalo Bore is fairly expensive, but Double Tap and PMC is more reasonable. It seems to me to be on the upswing. Plus, you can shoot cheap cowboy loads for plinking.

[Warren]

What would be the best caliber for long-range plinking? Say you wanted to (try to anyway) shoot targets at 100+ yards, which one would get there with more accuracy and power?

[Nhsport]

If you are reloading there is no practicle difference. Used to be 45 colt brass and bullets were harder to find in the smaller gunstores but with all the cowboy shooters doing their thing they are more or less even. Full power factory loads for the 45 colt are much harder to find as the standard load is pretty mild (lots of weaker old guns out there in 45 colt) but factory loads for either are so expensive you will be sticking with the reloads.
Shop around and you will likely find 10 used 44mag blackhawks for every one in 45colt , just stands to reason you can shop up a beter deal on the 44mag. Later on if you decide to get a double action to go with your single action there are still far more 44mags than 45 colts
Go .44 mag unless you run into a great deal on the 45

[Freddymac]

That’s if you compare maxed out hand loads it 45 Colt to standard pressure loads in 44 mag. In one case your pushing a cartridge to its limits, in the other you get basically the same performance at factory pressures. Max out the 44 and it will stand out against the 45 Colt as superior. I thumbed through my Cabalas reloading catalog (I know that they might not be the best source), and there are more bullet weights and types available for the 44 that for the 45. It’s your choice, and with modern firearms, there is a great array of choices and options available to you, but personally, if I was only going to have one to fill all of the criteria that you specified, I would rather go with the 44 and load it down (or use 44 Spl), than go with the 45 Colt and max it out.

[roscoe]

What would be the best caliber for long-range plinking? Say you wanted to (try to anyway) shoot targets at 100+ yards, which one would get there with more accuracy and power?
They would be about the same - the major difference would be in the different loadings of the cartridges. A 240 grain .44 or .45 is going to be going faster than a 325 grain .44 or .45, and so on.

[MCgunner]

I prefer the .45 Colt, but I handload. I'd say, if you don't handload, 44 mag. For light loads, you can shoot specials in the gun. If you handload, I'm not real sure about .44, but .45 Colt is really easy to load accurate loads for. I cast a 255 grain flat point Lee mold bullet that is amazingly accurate. Yes, I haven't looked for a gas check bullet and they may not be available for the .45, but I load jacketed bullets, hornady XTP, for my hot loads. The .45 can throw more lead, too, if that matters to you. But, for heavy game stuff, they're both about equal. I didn't want the heavier super blackhawk, got a blackhawk 4 5/8" stainless in .45 for my heavy caliber back woods gun. Just my choice. Don't have a thing against .44, just don't need one with the .45.

Checked and I don't have any tragectory data for the Ruger, but I do for my Contender with 7" barrel. A 300 grain XTP bullet leaves the barrel at 1256 fps with 1050 ft lbs. It is 2.45" high at 50 yards and dead on at 100, 4" low at 125, 10" low at 150. It makes 1065 fps/756 ft lbs at 100 yards and is down to 1036 fps/715 ft lbs at 150 yards. This is plenty for killin' medium game like deer to 100 yards. It's making almost as much energy at 100 yards as my 6.5" Blackhawk in .357 with hottest loads is making at the muzzle. I've taken deer at 40 yards with that gun cleanly.

There's plenty of data out there for the .44, doubt it's much better than this though I know there are some pretty decent factory heavy bullet loads for .44 mag. Six of one, half dozen of the other the way I see it. The Blackhawk's shorter barrel knocks about 100 fps off this data, but it's still good for 100 yards on deer size game. If you want to HUNT with the gun, you'd get a longer barrel anyway. I liked the Blackhawk for toting, lighter than the super blackhawk and besides, I wanted to play with handloading the ol' .45, so that's why I did what I did.

[Frohickey]

The standard progression will be

44Magnum... you'll try some heavy 44Magnum loads off the bat, then you will either stick with the heavy loads, or start looking for 44Special loads to stop punishing yourself. Pretty soon, you will put that away and only shoot it during special occassions

Then... you will be introduced to the 45Colt, either in single action cowboy events, or by someone with a double action Casull... who would be shooting standard cowboy loads in a gun heavier than the 44Magnum, and you'd get a 45Colt or 454Casull...

Then you'd get a 454Casull, try some heavy 454Casull loads off the bat...

... and the cycle repeats

[KINGMAX]

Go w/ the .44 - Ruger Super RedHawk. You will love it. Get a good scope, lots of practice. Have some fun get that gun !!:) It is a hefty hand gun, if you really like to hunt, or in the woods alot where you need protection at a little distance this may be atleast a consideration. Got one, wouldn't be one that I would get rid of. Its a keeper. :D

[bowfin]

My vote is for .44 Magnum.

This might be splitting hairs, but it seems the .44 Magnum brass holds up a little better than the .45 Long Colt brass if they both are reloaded with comparable loads for hunting, in my experience.

My philosophy is, if you want a .45 that rivals a .44 Magnum, get a .454 Casull. If you want a 9mm +P+, get a .357 Sig.

My father had Colts and Rugers in .45 Colt, and was always afraid we were going to put a "Ruger" load into one of the SAAs and take off the topstrap. He traded the .45 Ruger and got a .44 magnum Super Blackhawk, and finally had peace of mind.

[MCgunner]

My vote is for .44 Magnum.

This might be splitting hairs, but it seems the .44 Magnum brass holds up a little better than the .45 Long Colt brass if they both are reloaded with comparable loads for hunting, in my experience.

My philosophy is, if you want a .45 that rivals a .44 Magnum, get a .454 Casull. If you want a 9mm +P+, get a .357 Sig.

Yes, but I carry 9mm +P because it carrys more rounds in a smaller gun. I carry .45 Colt because the gun is handier than a super blackhawk. Okay, there I could get a S&W mountain gun, I guess, if I didn't like SAs so much. The 4 5/8 Stainless blackhawk is 40 ounces, accurate, powerful, and while it's somewhat heavy, it ain't like totin' a Scoped super redhawk on a hike. I'd as soon carry a light lever carbine in .30-30 if I'm going to carry something that heavy and bulky.

The platform matters for certain applications. Hunting/hiking the Blackhawk can do. I'm not sure about the mountain gun, but if I wanted a hiking/back woods utility gun in a heavy caliber and I wanted .44 mag, I think that's what I'd choose or at least I'd think hard about it. There are the Taurus Trackers, too, though, and they make a dandy titanium or stainless tracker in .41 magnum. I've been thinking about that gun lately. I have two Tauri I really like, super DA triggers as well as SA and super accurate. They're a lot of gun for the money and lifetime warrantied.

[Harve Curry]

44 mag

[asknight]

My vote's for the the 44 Mag. You have the Specials for plinking and target work, and the standard fare .44 Mags for more serious work.

Most of the standard fare .45LC's are popcorn fart loads, and you have to spend some serious money for the more serious .45LC loads such as Cor-Bon and Buffalo Bore.

[bowfin]

MCgunner,

I'm not going to argue against a 4 5/8" Blackhawk, as that is my favorite gun to carry, only in .357.

A Blackhawk with a 4 5/8" barrel you quote as being 40 ounces, a new Ruger Flattop with a 6 1/2" barrel is 44 ounces. Oddly, Ruger lists both its 4 5/8" and 5 1/2" Super Blackhawks as 44 oz, I guess that 7/8" of a barrel weighs nothing:)

I do agree with you, a scoped Ruger Super Redhawk is as portable as a Winchester Model 94 Trapper Carbine. If I am going to take a handgun along, it has to be a lot easier to carry than a shotgun or rifle, else why bother?

[Lost Dutchman]

45lc if you roll your own, 44 maggie if you don't.

[Magnum PI]

That's exactly what happened to ME!

I'm on Stage 3 now with a FA83 and should cycle back to a 44 shortly.

MPI

[mausgun]

I posted this in the "Favorite Revolver Cartridge" poll a coupla weeks ago. Have a look there for a good thread on a lot of calibers: http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=2443058&postcount=39

44Mag:

High end of rational conventional carry revolvers -- tactical, shoulder and belt holsters comfortable with DA and SA.

Power range from rats to moose.

Midrange loadings superior to most +P and magnums in smaller calibers.

Economical cast bullet shooting.

Rifle chamberings.

Well established accuracy record.

Well established hunting record.

Accurate out the box with few "surprises" in the tolerance area (chamber throats, bore size, etc.)

Huge selection of reloading components.

Über caliber performance without über caliber price using reloaded, Buffalo Bore or Garrett ammunition.

Just plain bloody fun to carry around off road and pot 'yotes.

========================================================

One other issue to consider in the 44Mag/45LC choice: SAAMI pressure data (2004) lists 25000 CUP for the 45LC in "Ruger" loadings and 36000 psi for 44Mag. Manufacturer's only gonna support their product at those pressures or below. Now, I'm not saying the Blackhawk can't take a little hotrodding, but load tables for the 44Mag don't have "use only in strong guns like Ruger or TC" written all over them. Something goes wrong when shooting über loads in the Blackhawk 45LC, who ya gonna call?

[Magnum PI]

There is no significant difference for any of the catagories you have listed. 44Mag would be an advantage if you do NOT reload though.

45 Colt or 44 Mag

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What are the pros and cons of both. Will be in a Ruger Blackhawk
It will be used for:
1. fun
2. learning to reload
3. hunting
4. protection while hiking
Thanks

[S&Wfan]

Hi,

Since you will be shooting a single action revolver, you will be using it for hunting and/or plinking.

Either round will do virtually the same job as a hunting handgun. In most cases it seems that the .44mag has a better accuracy record overall than the 45 Long Colt. However, in specific handguns there is virtually no difference in accuracy either.

I handload, and my revolver is a double action one (a S&W 29-5) that could concievably also be used for defense. Thus, I'd prefer the .44mag in a double action revolver vs. the .45 Long Colt.

I can shoot 180gn. lead "powerpuff" loads for plinking, either in .44spl cases or .44 mag cases . . . yet load it pretty hot for hunting purposes in .44 mag. My 6" barrelled Model 29 has cleanly taken many, many deer . . . using my preferred FACTORY ammo (Federal Cast Core 300 grain lead flat nose).

Accuracy? Aim exactly 34" high from a braced rest . . . and that Model 29 will reliably roll milk jugs at 200 yards with the 300 grain bullet! Handheld 2" groups are the norm at 50 yards . . . using an unmagnified Bushnell Holosight red dot sight.
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/246/246167/folders/226705/1810269Mod29forweb.jpg

IN CONCLUSION . . .

Either round will do the same thing via the Ruger. You'll love either!

Sincerely,

Tom

[gazpacho]

If you want to experiment with black powder get the 45 colt. It was originally a black powder cartridge, and there are companies now selling BP cartridges again. You can make all the mess and smoke without dealing with loose powder and caps.

[mjolnir]

Oddly, Ruger lists both its 4 5/8" and 5 1/2" Super Blackhawks as 44 oz, I guess that 7/8" of a barrel weighs nothing.


Bowfin, the 5 1/2" has a fluted cylinder vs. unfluted on the 4 5/8."

Ruger weren't kidding.;)

[IV Troop]

44 mag vs 45 Colt.

As stated above, either will go from mild to wild and mouse to moose. Frankly, I am a 44 nut. I have 10 that I can think of off the top of my head.

That being said, I have a 4 &5/8ths 45 Blackhawk convertible. The ability to shoot 45 acp out of it makes it very handy for me as a 45 acp is a great general purpose round.

Just something to ponder.

[Stainz]

My entry into the .45 revolver world was also via a Ruger BH convertible - 5.5" in my case. I shot up my G21's stash of .45 ACP - and just had to 'try' those cowboy .45 Colt loads, only available locally at well-stocked gun stores - at ~$20+/50. My first DA was bought also for those rounds - a .454 SRH. Sadly, it grouped far better with the $22/20 Hornady .454's. My next acquisition - my first S&W, a 625MG in .45 Col - out shot it with lighter .45 Colt loads! I bought another new 4" 625 - in .45 ACP - for cheaper $9/50 plinking. Next... a reloading press!

Everyone told me I'd be 'saving money' reloading... in what universe? It is another hobby! I bought a 550B to make .45 Colts with, figuring that by 2,100 of the 2,700 empties I had amassed were reloaded, the equipment would be paid for and my per-unit cost would just be powder, primer, and bullet cost. Right. Then I had to add other calibers, often before I obtained a revolver for that caliber! I make some weird ammo now. And... a trip to the range now has a purpose... make more empties to reload!

Okay, so my suggestion is simple... it really won't matter, you'll eventually have both! Okay, you want to stay with 'available' and 'affordable' ammo? Wally World carries .44 Magnum. The local 'Academy Sports' chains have an excellent SD .44 Special round - CCI Blazer 200gr Gold Dots - $17/50. Heck, a .44 Magnum chamber will also load .44 Russians, for that matter. Lighter loads in .44 Magnum are available from Georgia Arms and other reloaders for 'cowboy' use - at reasonable prices, too. Great folks with fine products, too. I had bought many .45 Colt cowboy loads from them, before adding that reloading hobby to my life.

Now, maybe you need a push towards reloading... get that .45 Colt/ACP convertible Blackhawk - ~$400 new. Use the .45 ACP cylinder, and you can pop away with some now $10-$12 230gr FMJ's in .45 ACP from Wally World, etc, at about the same KE level as the cowboy loads. Change cylinders, and you can try mild Cowboy loads, mediocre 200gr Blazers or GA Arms equivalent, or some specialty hunting loads in .45 Colt. Those GA Arms 200gr GD's boogey - they get to 1123 fps from my 4" 625MG all the way up to 1424 fps from my Puma 24" M1982 - with a fairly mild report & recoil. Shoot many .45 Colts, however, and you'll rationalize the reloading aspect.

You can't make a bad choice here... just enjoy whichever one you get - with mild-moderate loads first!

Stainz

[stiletto raggio]

I own six .45 Colt revolvers and one Winchester 94. I have Smiths, Tauri, Rugers and Colts and all are great, but you can't go wrong with a Ruger Absolute tanks. 9mm, 10mm and .45 Colt are the only handgun cartridges anyone needs (though I have others).

Although it sucks not being able to buy ammo at most Wal-Marts, the .45 Colt has a greater range of bullet weights (200-360 grain), significantly larger bore size (.451 VS .429) and prevents the "leading" issue of shooting .44 specials out of a Magnum.

[FotoTomas]

.44 Magnum. Others have given the reasons why. :)