Hypothetical question 45ACP vs 357 mag

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Long long ago in a time far far away when I was wandering the forests and deserts and Superstitions of Arizona I carried my S&W re-arsenaled 1917 in 45acp. Would have been equally happy with my Highway Patrolman in .357 mag but the 1917 had a longer barrel.

1917 refurb with holster.jpg
 
jar said:
Long long ago in a time far far away when I was wandering the forests and deserts and Superstitions of Arizona I carried my S&W re-arsenaled 1917 in 45acp. Would have been equally happy with my Highway Patrolman in .357 mag but the 1917 had a longer barrel.

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That's why I like my Colt New Service in .45 Colt. I can safely load this gun up to match the .357 in KE, and it has a bigger bullet, to boot.
 
1911 for me, easier to draw over a 6” barrel, likely lighter, if you are concerned about animals you can always load +p hardcasts, easier recoil management (IMO, having owned a GP100 and still owning 5” 1911s) easier reload if needed.

If you’re wearing a jacket anyway I’d personally go with an OWB pancake holster over a shoulder , never found shoulder rigs comfortable, concealable, or easy to use, my self.
 
I would be afraid of using a pancake holder. Wouldn't a standard hip holster or (better yet) a chest holster be better? While the .45 was said to be designed to stop a charging cavalry horse (not instantly kill it probably), penetration might be important while benefits of the hollow point would be desired. How about loading your .45 with Lehigh bullets?
 
BJung said:
I would be afraid of using a pancake holder.
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. Why do? More points of contact with the belt to disperse the weight typically over a lot of standard holsters, medium/high ride would be comfortable and more concealable under a jacket, especially if you want it open a little, can be had with a thumb snap if retention is a concern.

I’ve done all three options on a snowmachine (granted, it’s different than a bike) and when I didn’t need my big parka a Simply Rugged cuda worked wonderfully for my Redhawk and my 1911.
 
Waterboy3313 said:
I have a Kimber TLE 2 full size 1911 in 45acp. I also have a Ruger GP 100 in 357 magnum with a 6 barrel. Both of these are on my ccw permit. I'm not a competition shooter but I feel like I shoot both of them exceptionally well. I just ordered a shoulder holster for the revolver and still waiting for it to be delivered.

I recently bought an adventure type motorcycle. My brother bought one as well. We have been riding the trails and remote dirt back roads of far northern California for the last few weekends.

My question is of the two hand guns I mentioned earlier which one would you carry and why? Obviously it's for personal protection and hopefully never needed. We have mountain lions, black bears, rattlesnakes off grid people like from deliverence and some people even say wolves around here.

Like I said hopefully never needed but if something happens in the middle of nowhere and left alone for a break down or whatever. I've carrying my 9mm shield but I don't ever want to have to face a hungry mt lion or bear with that or let alone at all. My goal is to leave the wild life alone but to have a plan if things go sideways.

Both firearms are loaded with my hand loads. The 357 packs a full load of h110 and Hornady xtp 158gr bullet. The 45 acp is loaded with either a 230gr hollow point or 185gr Hornady z-max with hefty load of tite group.

I'm leaning towards the 357 so far but if you had to pick one of the two I would like to know the reason why.
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Used to have a Model 19 .357, nice gun but traded it for a 1911 many years ago. I’m actually mote comfortable with the 1911 in bear and cat country, I load with Buffalo Bore 255 gr hardcast, confident it will take down a cat or black bear, maybe a grizzly with proper shot placement. I would not recommend either if in full time grizzly country. The Buffalo Bore hard cast is made for penetration, it won’t flatten out like a hollow point. 11368A9D-08E4-4405-A277-C6DF4FA79DD7.jpeg
 
If I'm trying to cover both areas of concerns, especially in a situation where I might find myself stranded without any backup ammo. I think I would pick the Glock G40. In a survival situation there is something to be said for a reliable pistol with 16 rounds of near .357 mag power.
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I would love to carry an actual normal capacity magazine. Being in CA it would probably land me a felony. Not something I'm willing to risk.

If you’re wearing a jacket anyway I’d personally go with an OWB pancake holster over a shoulder , never found shoulder rigs comfortable, concealable, or easy to use, my self.
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When I was getting ready for my weekend ride this morning I had my my 357 in my shoulder holster all geared up waiting for my brother and the guy up the street to show up so we could leave. I had about all I could take of it. It was like 80* at 6:30am and unusually humid. I quickly decided it was too hot and humid not to mention ridiculously uncomfortable.

I goofed around with the 1911 in my waist pack for a few minutes making a failure of a modification leaving it useless as well. I don't like going anywhere without a carry gun but I was over it today. I figured 3 of us big ugly ogres in an ohv park I wasn't too worried. Plus I was already overloaded as it was and I wasn't going to risk the IWB 1911 on my hip while riding the slick shale rock .

This week I should have plenty of time to come up with a better plan. The temp is supposed to drop to around 100* this week so it will be cool enough to ride to work. Luckily my 20 mile round trip commute isn't too sketchy.
 
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