To the reloader, what's the difference between .41 mag, .44 mag, and .45 Colt?

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Shivahasagun

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2021
Messages
917
Just curious.

All are chambered in the same sized guns.

All can be loaded lightly or hot.

Why choose one over the other?
 
No they are not chambered the same. I shoot and load 44 mag and 45 colt. 44 mag i can load from mild to wild. I shoot a Ruger SBH and a CVA hunter rifle in it. My 45 colt loads i keep under 15k in pressure. I shoot a SW 25-5. I like both so i wont chose one over the other. But for woods defense against bears. 44 mag loaded hot. We have black bears here in Pa.
 
.41 and .44 differ only in bullet diameter (.410" and .429" or there abouts) and bullet weight. Typically .41 tops out at 265gr or so, where as 300gr in common for the .44 and heavier weights can be found fairly easily.

.45 Colt is a different beast. What pressures are safe, depends very much on the strength of the gun. But in strong guns, it can be loaded to do what standard .44 mag can, but with lower max pressure. The .44 can be loaded to +p levels and gain an edge over the hot .45 Colt loads, but again this is firearm specific.

.44 is a nice middle ground that can do a whole lot.
 
BBarn said:
Not much difference in potential performance. Biggest difference is bullet choices and availability (in favor of the 44).
Click to expand...

This is what i was thinking.

Certainly many .45 Colts cannot handle being loaded hot.

I hadn't considered that .45 Colt can push the same weight bullet the same velocity as a .44 mag with lower pressures. (In the appropriate, strong guns)

Was just thinking about the power levels between .357 mag and .480 Ruger / .454 Casull and why one should choose one over the other.
 
I am there with Coal Cracker, with the 44 mag and 45 colt. I load 45 colt for pleasure shooting as my father got me into that caliber. I have a Henry Big Boy and a Rossi Regulator 6 shooter, so I don't load the 45 colt rounds above where they perform well, so I don't have to load differently for them. I have pushed the 44 mag hotter loads, as I do not have a revolver in that caliber.
 
If your looking for a handgun carbine combo the only one to avoid is 44 based on the carbine generally running a larger bore. This is an issue for people who like cast bullets and really a nonissue for those that shoot only jacketed. If your new to hand loading the processes are essentially identical. Lead is a lot cheaper and if that is your path micro groves are another thing to know about and avoid.
 
.41 Mag may be the most under rated round ever. It's a great round, and I really like it. Bullet selection, gun selection, all limit it. 45 Colt is a fantastic cartridge, and it's a real hoot to load for. In the right gun, you can load it as hot, with as much energy, as 44 Mag. My son's first deer rifle was a Winchester 94E in 45 Colt, which he handily took an elk with. But alas, bullet selection is not there either. 44 Mag...if you own a 44 Mag, you also own a 44 SPL. You can load from rounds that barely ring a steel target.......to a round that will put a hole in a steel target. Probably the most versatile handgun cartridge out there, huge bullet selection. Also the widest availability of guns...from lever action carbines, to the desert eagle, to BFR's. My daughter's first deer rifle was a Ruger Deer Stalker semi-auto carbine in 44 mag. She used that gun to take a buffalo for her 13th birthday.
 
EricBu said:
.41 Mag may be the most under rated round ever. It's a great round, and I really like it. Bullet selection, gun selection, all limit it. 45 Colt is a fantastic cartridge, and it's a real hoot to load for. In the right gun, you can load it as hot, with as much energy, as 44 Mag. My son's first deer rifle was a Winchester 94E in 45 Colt, which he handily took an elk with. But alas, bullet selection is not there either. 44 Mag...if you own a 44 Mag, you also own a 44 SPL. You can load from rounds that barely ring a steel target.......to a round that will put a hole in a steel target. Probably the most versatile handgun cartridge out there, huge bullet selection. Also the widest availability of guns...from lever action carbines, to the desert eagle, to BFR's. My daughter's first deer rifle was a Ruger Deer Stalker semi-auto carbine in 44 mag. She used that gun to take a buffalo for her 13th birthday.
Click to expand...
41 Magnum has 41 Special, and 45 Colt has 45 Cowboy Special. The advantage of 44 Special is that there is at least a chance of it being available commercially. If a reloader, you can own and shoot any or all of the calibers from mild to wild. What will run reliably in a rifle is a little different discussion...usually the full length cartridges.
 
IMO 41 mag is the best handgun cartridge ever. I prefer mine to my 44 mag, but then I have a Marlin in 44 mag that adds a lot of value to that caliber for me.

I load 45LC in 250gr RNFP @ 17.5 grains of 2400 and share the rounds between a 7.5" Blackhawk and a 24" Chiappa 1892 replica. I enjoy them, but it seems to me that compared to the magnum rounds the 45 sheds energy a lot quicker. If I was engaging targets further than 50 yards away I'd opt for the magnum, because I am more accurate with them at distance than I am 45LC.

I also haven't put my 1892 on paper to check the sights. It's automatic at 50 yards but I struggle to hit with it at 100, and that just might be because my sights are off. My 44 magnum Marlin is automatic to 200 yds and I've hit steel with it at 300 yds. It's confidence inspiring.
 
I already have the 44MAG and 45 Colt in the SBH frame. Being that there is such a large selection of bullets for the 44 and being able to load from mouse fart to engine block buster at will I never saw a need for a 41. I can do the same with the 45 Colt but with substantially fewer bullet choices if needed. If one doesn't reload then a 41 might work well other than the cost of factory ammo for all of them.
 
.44 Mag, so many options in factory ammo for the non reloader, so many components for the reloader, lots of choices in revolvers (Even autos).

That said, a lot of us have all three, although I don't load .45 Colt hot any more.
 
44 mag is king when it comes to options and versatility. I love my 44’s and enjoy shooting all power levels in them. I mostly stick with medium- hot 240’s and hot 180’s. I used to shoot a lot of 44 special as well. Nothing beats 44 special for plinkers, and a good bullet in it also makes a good defense load for the two legged predators. I’ve shot 41 mags and 45 Colt as well, and they’re both excellent cartridges, but the 44 reigns supreme in my book.
 
Shivahasagun said:
This is what i was thinking.

Certainly many .45 Colts cannot handle being loaded hot.

I hadn't considered that .45 Colt can push the same weight bullet the same velocity as a .44 mag with lower pressures. (In the appropriate, strong guns)

Was just thinking about the power levels between .357 mag and .480 Ruger / .454 Casull and why one should choose one over the other.
Click to expand...


That’s a pretty big gap to consider between 357 and 480/454! I’ve shot 454’s in my 460 S&W and it makes the venerable old 357 look like a pop gun! Though I’ve not shot or owned one (yet), the 480 Ruger and 475 Linebaugh are no joke either. They will also put the old 357 to shame. I do love a good 357 though and I hate that I no longer own one (might have to fix that problem ). I have a blast plinking with mild 38’s and I’ve regularly carried 357 as bear/hog defense up in the mountains. With the super magnums available today, the old warhorse 357 kinda gets left outside looking in. It’s hard to imagine that there was a time when it reigned as the undisputed king of handguns. At that time in its life, most people thought that a handgun simply could not get any more powerful. Boy were they wrong! I often wonder what those same people would think of today’s smorgasbord of hand cannons.
 
Shivahasagun said:
Was just thinking about the power levels between .357 mag and .480 Ruger / .454 Casull and why one should choose one over the other.
Click to expand...

Although the .357 is a powerful cartridge, the .480 and .454 make it look very tame.

I have and shoot all three, and load for the .357 and .480 and both of those can be loaded from mild to wild. I even have a load for the .480 that has a felt recoil similar to .38spcl using a 370gr bullet and trailboss powder. I hope to start loading for the .454 soon.

Each of these three are good choices for certain situations, as are the .41, .44, and .45 Colt, really just depends on what you want/need. Full power loads in the larger calibers can be punishing in handguns, but can really shine in rifles at longer distances. And as others have said above, the .45 Colt can almost match the .44 at closer distance if loaded hot, but doesn't have the range and only some guns can take the pressure at max loads.

chris
 
BigBoreBubba said:
That’s a pretty big gap to consider between 357 and 480/454! I’ve shot 454’s in my 460 S&W and it makes the venerable old 357 look like a pop gun! .
Click to expand...

I wrote my sentence poorly!

What I meant to say is, "which cartridge to choose that lies between .357 and .480 / .454?"

It other words a comparison between .41 mag, .44 mag, and .45 Colt +p.

I've read some good answers helping to explain the difference, thanks!

Too bad a higher quality gun maker never made a compact 5 or 6 shot .41 mag snubbie or 3 inch.

Seems like .44 really rules this category of cartridges.
 
Shivahasagun said:
I wrote my sentence poorly!

What I meant to say is, "which cartridge to choose that lies between .357 and .480 / .454?"

It other words a comparison between .41 mag, .44 mag, and .45 Colt +p.

I've read some good answers helping to explain the difference, thanks!

Too bad a higher quality gun maker never made a compact 5 or 6 shot .41 mag snubbie or 3 inch.

Seems like .44 really rules this category of cartridges.
Click to expand...


Smith and Wesson have made snubs and 3” 41mags in the past.
 
Shivahasagun said:
Too bad a higher quality gun maker never made a compact 5 or 6 shot .41 mag snubbie or 3 inch.
Click to expand...

Well... they did. There was a Lew Horton 3" stainless .41MAG that was put out, but because it's a .41, it was built on the N-frame. Compact it was not, although that depends on how you look at it.

Hope always springs eternal that S&W will kick out some 5-shot .41's built on the L-frame... they have done so with the .44, so why not the .41?

In reality, the .44 wins the 'versatility' trophy... based on available pistols, factory ammunition, and handloading potential... and I say that as a life-long .41 fan. I don't own a .44.
 
Shivahasagun said:
I wrote my sentence poorly!

What I meant to say is, "which cartridge to choose that lies between .357 and .480 / .454?"

It other words a comparison between .41 mag, .44 mag, and .45 Colt +p.

I've read some good answers helping to explain the difference, thanks!

Too bad a higher quality gun maker never made a compact 5 or 6 shot .41 mag snubbie or 3 inch.

Seems like .44 really rules this category of cartridges.
Click to expand...
Those who have a 44 Magnum compact probably hope they never have to shoot it (meet a bear). A 41 would not be fun either. Even a 41 Special is a hand full in a carry size gun.
 
Magnum and snub nose seems completely counter intuitive. The real power of a magnum is in magnum powders and longer barrels. If your in a dangerous area for bear maybe a pistol isn't the best choice. Once the compromises begin your not using the best tool.
 
Charlie98 said:
Friend of mine offered me his 3" Lew Horton .41... I wanted NO part of that! 4" is pushing it, 5" would be ideal... and, of course, anything longer.
Click to expand...
I got my dirty paws on a colt.python with an 8" barrel 357 and other than being 1800 dollars I would have taken it home. The pistol was a dream an I need to find some stocks like those for my trooper.... maybe when I'm a big kid I can get one. :)
 
I have a replica Colt Model P in four and something length. I load it to the velocity of the original load (or what is claimed) and use it for fun and demonstrating the usefulness of an 'obsolete' arm for personal defense.
I have a S&W 29-2. In youth, I loaded it in the magnum fashion, but now don't really like the recoil. And I came across a shortened 2nd Model .44 Hand Ejector. Which can be loaded as a 'hot' .44 Special; so the M29 is superfluous these days. If I want more horsepower, I'd prefer a rifle.
Never have had anything in .41 Magnum. I have long suspected if I'd bought a .41 Magnum first, I'd never have had a .44 Magnum and possibly not a .357 Magnum either. I don't suppose I'll ever know.
 
To the reloader, hardly any difference at all. It is in the shooting that the difference in recoil and muzzle blast is felt.

This is a first year, stainless steel model 44 Ruger

8T05jFx.jpg

and full bore 44 Magnum rounds ate up my hands, that square back trigger guard rubbed the skin off my knuckles. Oh, joy!

This is a lot pleasanter to shoot, even though it weighs about 20 to 30 ounces less

eH7wq2Y.jpg

Push 240's just at 1000 fps, and the recoil on this pistol is just at the edge of unpleasant. Just.

jCqNekV.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

68Dave
  • Locked
44 mag vs. 45 colt
2
Replies
43
Views
2K
roscoe
R
E
  • Locked
41 Long Colt vs 41 Rem Mag
Replies
14
Views
4K
only1asterisk
O
B
  • Locked
Blue dot and .41 Mag
Replies
8
Views
599
sparkyv
sparkyv
blackd24
  • Locked
41 Mag - talking myself out of it
2
Replies
45
Views
2K
Barbaroja
Barbaroja
P
  • Locked
what can be achieved with the 45 Colt..
Replies
16
Views
785
PT1911
P
Back
Top