.357Mag vs .45LC in single action revolver

Status
Not open for further replies.
Hi...
I have multiple revolvers in both calibers and several other calibers as well.
I shoot pretty much an equal number of rounds of each caliber and reload for everything I shoot.
I prefer my Uberti/Pietta clones in .45Colt on the Schofield, Remington and Colt SAA frames to the .357Magnum chambered SAA Colt clones.
I prefer my multiple BlackHawks in .357Magnum over the one chambered in .45Colt.
I prefer my .44Spl revolvers over both the .357Mag and .45Colt revolvers.
Doesn't stop me from shooting all of them plus my .41Mag , .44Mag, .30Carbine, .357Maximum or 375SuperMag handguns.
I just enjoy shooting handguns and to be truthful if I listed my favorite to shoot handguns again tomorrow, the order would probably change. I enjoy shooting and picking a true favorite would be like picking a favorite child...not possible to do.

I have never fired a single round of .38Spl ammunition in my .357Magnum handguns whether they are SA or DA revolvers.
I have a couple of .38Spl revolvers for that.

If it were me, I would buy both and experience the difference and try some other calibers as well.
 
Perhaps something like this, an Italian copy of the Model P Colt, notice the mark on the cylinder.

426A6BAD-89A4-4B06-8355-21D8800E7D69.jpeg

I fit the 45 ACP cylinder 3 or 4 decades ago and have not changed it since. I carry my spare ammunition in a nifty ammunition holder, a 1911 magazine!


Kevin
 
I don’t see a compelling reason in your situation to choose one caliber over the other. I agree with the posts that a two cylinder convertible is a benefit. I also like the cowboy look more than I like the utility of a Blackhawk. Wait for a good deal, if you find you don’t like it you can sell it for what you paid.
 
I would choose .45 Colt and reload. You’ll never regret it. The .45 Colt is an excellent round that is versatile, powerful, and the firearms are cool even today. I have a couple of Ruger New Vaquero’s, an 1858 Remington conversion 8”, and a Uberti Colt 1872 open top that I even made black powder cartridges to shoot in it. I also have a Winchester 1892 SRC and rifle in .45 Colt. Did a bit of testing and have developed a load that is really accurate using 250 gr lead at 900 fps in the revolvers and 1100 - 1200 out of the carbine and rifle, respectively. I could shoot that SRC all day.

The 1858 is a little clunkier than the Colts, but my experience it that it is more accurate, especially at 50 yards. It’s a real thumper.

The black powder rounds were super fun to shoot. Most were set up with 30 gr of 3f. I made a few with 40 gr to see what the original load was like in a revolver. Now, that was interesting; there is a big jump from 30 gr to 40 gr. I see why the Army reduced it.

On the flip side, I’ve just added .357 to the stable with a couple of revolvers and will be able to reload when the loading dies show up. I like it too so far, but I can’t see it displacing the old 45.

Seems like you have a tough choice, but either way you win.

Cheers and good luck!
 
At the moment I am a really big fan of the 357 magnum. I do not own but have shot 45Colts. They are on the list for later if I live long enough. The 357 works for me because I shoot it out of my Uberti and Win 73. Both are stupid accurate for my needs and I have 5 bonafide loads to choose from. Reloading is cheaper and if get epoxy bullets its better. I have a nice range of bullet weights to choose from and powder goes a lot longer. I have a 1911 and a 45 Colt is in my future.
 
I went with .357 in my Taylor's Tuned Smoke Wagon. I had a bit of ammunition here, both in Magnum and Special, since I already had several other revolvers in both. I figure the gun might make a good hip partner when hiking in black bear country in NC or TN when I go up there once or twice a year.
 
Wolfman Zack said:
...This wouldn’t be a concealed carry gun per-se, as I have that covered, more of a around the homestead, hunting, and for dangerous animals in the event that a long gun isn’t available.
I’m located in the American South, so black bears, wild hogs, and semi-mythical big cats would be the extent of dangerous animals, snakes are actually more dangerous in some respects...
Click to expand...
Considering your post, I would say go with 45 Colt, or even better, Convertible 45 Colt / 45 ACP. If you go with Ruger, you can have Convertible, either standard Blackhawk plow grip, or Bisley. As for the grip, before making decision, I strongly suggest take a box of factory ammo you would like to use (one of those more powerful "Ruger" loads from reputable company), go on the range and ask shooters that have 45 Colt revolver to let you try to shoot few rounds. One important note; I mentioned "a box of factory ammo", not yours or somebody else's reloads. This is important because no shooter will let you shoot yours or somebody else's reloads from his revolvers.

If you do not have intention of shooting 45 ACP from revolver, you can take a look also at 44 Special and 44 magnum.Just make sure that bullet have 255-265 grains, and meplat is .320-.330" dia. As for 41 Magnum, I like this one more than any other caliber. However, for optimum results, bullets like 255-265 grains are required. See this thread https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...un-hunting-another-view.903836/#post-12255542 . Since 41-255/265 bullets are not very common, you should get mold and cast your own, or have somebody who can cast for you. The point is that all three calibers can lunch those bullets at 1100 fps, and that will be more than enough for "black bears, wild hogs, and semi-mythical big cats".
 
RealGun said:
The 45 Colt will typically be larger and heavier than a .357..
Click to expand...
... in the same barrel lengths the .357 is heavier at least empty... just got my first .357/9 blackhawk... mostly because I like .38/357 and it is cheaper to shoot than my .45 colts and 44 mags... and more miserly in the use of powder n d in reloading. Good for practice. Ya wont go wrong with either - I would lean ro the bigger bore if mostly for hunting midsize game or bigger
 
deadeye dick said:
Maybe a little off topic but, 357/38 are the same bullet 357 dia. Isn't the 9MM .355 dia. How does the 9MM fit a 357 bore?
Click to expand...
Fixed it for you, I think. You did mean 357 bore, not 257 bore, didn't you?
At any rate, I don't know. But I do know this - Ruger has probably built thousands of those 357/38 Blackhawks that come with a "conversion" 9mm cylinder - so that a person can run 9mm ammo through their 357/38 revolver.
In fact, I had one myself. It shot okay with 9mm ammo (although a bit high if I remember correctly) even though it was running 9mm (.355 diameter) bullets through a .357 diameter bore. :thumbup:
 
Last edited:
plainsdrifter said:
Well if you can find a 45 LC Vaquero or Blackhawk right now consider yourself lucky. The .357's are avaliable everywhere. That should tell you something.
Click to expand...

That decided for me. I have a 357 Blackhawk because it’s what I found first and it’s what I knew I could find dies for first.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
Single Action: 45LC or 357?
2 3
Replies
66
Views
11K
eastbank
eastbank
C
  • Locked
Which should I get? Another .357mag, a .44spl or holdout for a .45LC?
Replies
6
Views
703
J.M.
J
H
  • Locked
Single Action Help
2
Replies
29
Views
1K
hawk45
H
C
  • Locked
If I have a .41mag and a .45LC do I really have a need for a .44mag or .44spl?
Replies
12
Views
909
Majic
M
M
  • Locked
Can I Shoot 38 S&W Loads in a .357/.38Spc Single Action?
Replies
7
Views
4K
Mk VII
M
Back
Top