.44 Magnum v .45 Colt

[zxcvbob]

I'll admit it; I've never fired a .44 Magnum.

I have a Ruger Bisley-Blackhawk in .45 Colt and I load it to about 900 - 1000 ft-pounds (sometimes higher, but that takes too much expensive powder) with 250 grain bullets. Is the recoil from that comparable to a.44 mag, or am I fooling myself? It's stiff enough that I don't shoot very many at a session loaded that hot because I don't want to start flinching again.

I could probably handle the extra-heavy loads better if I took the checkered grips off the gun and put the smooth grips back on, but that checkered rosewood is just so darn pretty...

 

[.38 Special]

900-1000 ft-lbs or FPS?

If the former, meaning you've got that bullet going about 1350 FPS, then you are experiencing .44 Magnum recoil.

If the latter, well, then you need another 400 or so FPS to put yourself into magnum territory.

It's all about bullet weight and velocity. If you're matching the Magnum in bullet weight and velocity then you're going to get Magnum recoil too. If you're not matching bullet weight and velocity, you're not getting Magnum recoil.

 

[calaverasslim]

38 is right. Your moving along at about 900 FPS not pounds. That Bisley grip frame is pretty but not conducive to heavy loads under recoil.

You can load the 45 Ruger pretty hot but if you want 44 mag velocities, then get a 44 mag. If you like the Ruger, then get the NM Super Blackhawk, which comes with (your choice) 4.63", 5.5" or 7.5" barrel. I like the 5.5" for several reasons. Better balance, fluted cylinder.

Regardless, put a set of Hogue or Pachmeyer grips on it and you won't have a problem with hot loads. They absorb much of the felt recoil.

Having said all that, I am considering one of the new Redhawks in 45 Colt They also come in 44 mag.

Whichever you choose, you can't beat them.

Good luck

 

[zxcvbob]

I mean foot-pounds (1300+ fps with a heavy bullet).

My typical loads are between 1050 and 1100 fps with a 230 grain bullet, and are a lot more managable.

 

[highlander 5]

I have 2 Ruger SA with a Bisley grip in 44mag and 45 Colt and
2 Redhawks in the same calibers(7 1/2" barrels) and the difference in felt recoil is slight with the edge going to the 45 Colt,primarily because the heavy loads I'm using are rated at 25,000 psi for the 45 as opposed to 35,00 psi for the 44. As far a self defense,hunting etc 100-200fps isn't going to make that much of a difference,assuming proper bullet placement dead is dead.

 

[.38 Special]

I mean foot-pounds (1300+ fps with a heavy bullet).

It really is that simple: you've got .44 Magnum ballistics, so you have .44 Magnum recoil, regardless of what's written on the side of the gun.

My typical loads are between 1050 and 1100 fps with a 230 grain bullet, and are a lot more managable.

I used to be gung-ho for hot loads, but over the last year or so I've realized there's precious little I can't accomplish with 250 grains at 1000 FPS. If I ever go after cape buffalo it will be with 350+ grains at 1400 fps, but the local pigs don't seem to know the difference between a maximum .45 Colt and a medium .44 Special.

 

[Youngster]

Heavy .45 Colts are quite a bit less snappy and intense in the muzzle blast department but the recoil level is technically at par.

I prefer the effect of the .45 on both ends of the gun.

 

[CSA 357]

The 45 Colt Has Been Around A Long Time And Is A Great Round, I Hear These People Talking About Loading The 45 Up To 44 Mag Levels, Why? I Like The 45 Lc As Is, If You Want A Magnum Get A Magnum! The 44 Mag Is A Great Round Too, One Of My Favorites, But I Wont Be Trying To Make A 454 Out Of Mine! I Will Enjoy It As It Was Meant To Be, Thats How I Get By With Buying So Many Handguns, They All Have There Place(dont Tell My Wife) :d Csa

 

[hangtime]

yeah, what Youngster said. . . . .

250 - 300 grain bullets in the .45 Colt can easily be pushed to .44 mag velocities in the Ruger revolvers and they do so with a bit less pressure which makes them easier on the gun and easier on the shooter. The target can't seem to tell the difference between the two rounds as everything you hit with either of them is DRT if the shooter does his part.

 

[razorblade31]

That Bisley grip frame is pretty but not conducive to heavy loads under recoil.

I'm sure John Linebaugh would like to know that the Bisley grip isn't good under recoil. He might stop using it for almost all of his big bore revolvers.

 

[.38 Special]

Heavy .45 Colts are quite a bit less snappy and intense in the muzzle blast department but the recoil level is technically at par.

This hasn't been my experience, although I have never had two guns identical except for caliber in which to test the theory. For my money, 250 grains at 1300 FPS feels the same regardless of what the barrel says.

That Bisley grip frame is pretty but not conducive to heavy loads under recoil.

The Bisley grip frame -- as done by Ruger -- has the reputation as THE grip frame for heavy loads. No only does Linebaugh insist upon it for maximum cartridges, so does Hamilton Bowen, who literally wrote the book on the subject. Speaking personally, I do not tolerate recoil in the 325+ grain/1300+ FPS category with anything but the Bisley grip frame. Of course, there are individuals who don't care for it, but they are a very distinct minority, in my experience.

 

[Big Boomer]

when I load my 45 Colt up to about 1450 fps the recoil gets stout in those single actions. IMHO it surpasses the recoil in a 44 mag. It it is simply not pleasant past a few rounds.

The gun (Ruger blackhawk) can handle it fine but I only load a couple of stout ones and mostly shoot 45 acp through the other cylinder. Accuracy doesn't suffer and its a lot cheaper and more fun to shoot. It's the wifes favorite gun.

If I were hunting yes sure I would most likely load up some hotties but even so, most likely not max loads. I would just go for accuracy. A 45 250gr bullet was not designed to travel at 1450fps most I would say about 1200. This being so you actually end up getting less penetration as the bullet fragments. This would be find on small thin skinned game.

The 460 Mag for instance uses MAG bullets with a thicker jacket recommended just for this purpose. If you load it with your normal .452's it will damn near disintegrate when you hit close to 2000fps.

The Colt is great and can go from mild to wild in the right firearm (ruger) but you have to weight other factors such as if you like single action etc. Barrel length also will play a large part in recoil as well. More weight less recoil. I'm not sure I would like to get ahold of one of those 44mag lultralights with a full house load, I imagine it would be most unpleasant. (Although I think I might like to experience it once...just once.

 

[Youngster]

This hasn't been my experience, although I have never had two guns identical except for caliber in which to test the theory. For my money, 250 grains at 1300 FPS feels the same regardless of what the barrel says.

All else being equal the .45 is more comfortable for me, same amount of thump but the Colt doesn't come back as abruptly nor is the muzzle blast as grating. I can handle about 3 times as many rounds downrange with the Colt before calling it quits.

 

[zxcvbob]

If I were hunting yes sure I would most likely load up some hotties but even so, most likely not max loads. I would just go for accuracy. A 45 250gr bullet was not designed to travel at 1450fps most I would say about 1200. This being so you actually end up getting less penetration as the bullet fragments. This would be find on small thin skinned game.

I shoot cast bullets, mostly at steel targets (sometimes bowling pins.) I just like the recoil, but if I shoot too many I start flinching.

230 grain cast bullets with 7.5 grains of Red Dot is a moderately hot load that I can shoot all day.

 

[Oohrah]

Max loads in Rugers and a Contender gives a very little edge to the
45 LC. Ten grains heavier bullet with one grain less 2400 powder.
Both are awsome

 

[Stainz]

I fitted my 4" & 6" 629s, both current production and bought within the last three years, with the Hogue made-for-S&W .500 Magnum grips. They pad the backstrap and permit a higher grip than the typical target grips folks had back in the 70's - when I shot three hot .44M rounds. They blistered & split the web of my hand - I didn't touch a .44 for twenty-five years! Those new Hogues make shooting the normally miserable UMC 180gr SJHP .44 Magnums fun - they pad that backstrap!

My first-ever DA revolver was a 7.5" .454 Casull SRH, which was far easier to shoot full power .454s, like the Hornady 240gr XTPs at 2,000 fps (2,130 ft-lb), with than that miserable lacquered wood target gripped 29 was - and that 29 was at less than half the energy. I also had 5.5" SA BH & SS Bisley BH - they weren't as much fun to shoot hot .45 Colts in as that SRH was - or as accurate. I added a 5.5" SS .45 RH - the SRH was still king, except in the lower power range - my first S&W, a 625MG in .45 Colt from over six years back, quickly garnered that title. In fact, it displaced the others - the SS Bisley actually being traded for a second such 625MG. The Rugers are all gone now.

So, for real 'emphasis' now, I have my .500 Magnum gripped 4" & 6" 629; for normal 'emphasis', I have my fun to shoot .45 Colt 625MGs. I am happy!

Stainz

PS While not up to the power level of a .44 Magnum, the 625 in .45 Colt uses the same frame, barrel, and similar, but longer, cylinder as a .45 ACP-rated 625. That's 21-22+ kpsi vs the .45 Colt's normal 14 kpsi, so there is room for a tad more oomph.