44 Mag or 45lc for hunting

[wildchild2010]

I know the 44 cartridges much more common than the 45, But you can reload the 45 without is much recoil as you do in the 44.
For you folks that handgun hunt, which would you chose the 44 mag or the 45 Long Colt.

 

[BobWright]

I'd pick the .44 Magnum over the .45 Colt by a slight margin. First of all, the .45 Colt requires handloading to be an effective hunting cartridge. Second, the .44 Magnum has a wider chioce of bullets for the handloader.

For game up to and including deer, the .44 Magnum wins hands down. For big stuff, grizzly elk, and buffalo, the .45 can be handloaded with some very impressively heavy bullets, uot to 350 grs. in weight.

As to recoil, it is a myth that you get the same performance with less recoil. A heavy bullet pushed to high velocity is going to kick. Get used to it.

Bob Wright

 

[Barry the Bear]

Oh <deleted> here we go,
Ill tell you my experiences and opinion but we are really opening a can of worms here. I recently bought a .45 colt "old" model vaquero after years of being a devout(almost catholic some would say) worshiper of the .44 mag. Ive shot it,(range review will be up shortly) with buffalo bore 325 gr loads as well as my ruger redhawk with the buffalo bore 340 gr loads. From what I can say either will do the job vs bear,deer,elk, or whatever you plan on taking. People have different beliefs on both cartridges. Some believe the .45 is superior due to being able to handle higher weights, while others believe in the sectional density of the .44 being superior. The truth is that the .44 can handle 405 gr bullets something the .45 can not do. However the .45 can do what the .44 can without the extra pressure. The heavy .45 loads can only be used in a certain amount of firearms such as the rugers,tc contenders, and of course any revolver chambering the .454 casull round. So as far as ammo availability(at least in my neck of the woods) your much more likely to find commercial .44 mag loads than you are to see hot loaded boutique 45 ammo. In the end whichever you choose If you need anything stronger than the magnum or the colt than you need to bust out a rifle or shotgun cause your in deep! Just my opinion from having shot both .

 

[wildchild2010]

Double post

 

[wildchild2010]

I'd pick the .44 Magnum over the .45 Colt by a slight margin. First of all, the .45 Colt requires handloading to be an effective hunting cartridge. Second, the .44 Magnum has a wider chioce of bullets for the handloader.

For game up to and including deer, the .44 Magnum wins hands down. For big stuff, grizzly elk, and buffalo, the .45 can be handloaded with some very impressively heavy bullets, uot to 350 grs. in weight.

As to recoil, it is a myth that you get the same performance with less recoil. A heavy bullet pushed to high velocity is going to kick. Get used to it.

Bob Wright

I think John Linebaugh may disagree with your theory.

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

 

[Barry the Bear]

I respect John Linebaugh and what he does, but I tend to agree more with chuck hawks interpretation.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/high-pressure45.htm

 

[eldon519]

If you're comparing .45 Colt Ruger-level loads to .44 magnum, it's a wash.

 

[Barry the Bear]

If you're comparing .45 Colt Ruger-level loads to .44 magnum, it's a wash.

What eldon said is pretty much spot on.

 

[huntsman]

I started with a .41mag then to .44mag settled on a .45C for me it was more about the gun than the caliber.

 

[tommy.duncan]

I like both calibers but I would go with the 44mag. I am not set up to reload either caliber yet and the 44 has many more options. I have Rugers that can shoot both calibers and I would still stick with the 44.

 

[wildchild2010]

I have seen some 45 long colt deer kills with 255gr FP cast bullets running about 900fps, don`t need P+ 45lc for hunting. Shot placement in penetration is the name of the game. The 45 Colt just seems like it's a whole lot less snappier than 44 mag.

 

[osteodoc08]

45 colt +P in a Ruger Bisley with heavy lead. My gun really likes the LBT style 360gr GC. I'm able to launch it with a healthy dose of 296 to 1150fps. That'll put a hurtin' on anything that needs handgun hunting by me. Any more and I need a good rifle.

 

[Barry the Bear]

I have seen some 45 long colt deer kills with 255gr FP cast bullets running about 900fps, don`t need P+ 45lc for hunting. Shot placement in penetration is the name of the game. The 45 Colt just seems like it's a whole lot less snappier than 44 mag.

I can just as easily take a deer with a 225 gr .44 special going at 850-900 fps, theres no need for magnums on deer its just wasted energy.

 

[mavracer]

No poll option for both. And since it's THR I won't comment on Chuck Hawk's.

 

[Barry the Bear]

No poll option for both. And since it's THR I won't comment on Chuck Hawk's.

Enlighten me mavracer, what do you have against chuck hawks? Is he not as knowledgeable as I believe?

 

[wildchild2010]

I can just as easily take a deer with a 225 gr .44 special going at 850-900 fps, theres no need for magnums on deer its just wasted energy.

Handguns or rifle there's no need for super magnums.

 

[rcmodel]

Either one will kill anything that walks or crawls in Kansas.
But so will a .44 Special, loaded right.

The .45 Colt at standard pressure (250 Keith LSWC at 900+) is way easier on my unprotected old ears in the hunting field then any high-pressure .44 Mag load though.

rc

 

[Barry the Bear]

I agree, Its a matter of personal preference.

 

[Desertrat357]

It all comes down to which caliber lights your personal fire. And which platform you want. But as far as which is definitively better? I go with the last few posts. They'll both do a fantastic job.

 

[dickydalton]

Quote:
" The truth is that the .44 can handle 405 gr bullets something the .45 can not do."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've been shooting and reloading 44 Magnums for over 40 years and have never tried a 405 grain bullet. For that matter I haven't loaded any that heavy in my 460 XVR either.
A mistype maybe?

 

[tightgroup tiger]

My problem with this kind of poll is you don't say what your hunting or what level of 45LC your implying.

I didn't vote.

 

[WestKentucky]

44. if your in a pinch you can buy ammo at LGS and take down a critter. 45LC not so much in off the shelf ammo. Not a big deal to reloaders...until hunting camp gets hit with a 100year storm and your ammo is soaked. plus the variety of bullets to load, and the 44 specials to shoot so easily as a mild practice round....but i have 2 44mags, im kinda partial

 

[Lj1941]

Six of one and a half dozen of the other= whatever you prefer.

 

[heycods]

Had a super blackhawk, 44mag, and a half dozen others in 45LC, I am a LC fan from way back, for some unknown reason I didnt care for the 44. Hard cast Kieth type 255gr over Unique for me.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Both can be very effective. Buffalo Bore makes .45 rounds that are up around 44 mag power levels.