dickydalton
Member
Yes sir. I see that the Mountain Revolver has the original grips on it. Is the one above it a 629-1 4" then? They all are beautiful Smiths
.44 Magnum vs .45 ACP/AR
- Thread starter Hurryin' Hoosier
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B!ngoFuelUSN
Member
Wow. Some beautiful handguns in these posts. Thanks for letting us see 'em.
But to the OP's question, there's still a fair amount of 'it depends' in the answer. There's no question of course that the total energy and thus gross (or potential) recoil is far greater in the .44M than the .45ACP. But the .45 might be in a scandium snubby and the .44 might be in some hunting revolver with a heavy 8" barrel. After the flash and sound of each was complete, you might feel that the .45 was a more challenging experience. Of course, if it was a same/same comparison, it's a low-brainer.
I took the techie route. I really wanted a .44 mag but wanted to shoot it in reasonable comfort without twitching myself to death. So I bought a S&W V-Comp. Comes with a small compensator at the end of a 4" barrel. Makes a world of difference. Yes, it's cheating the recoil gods. Love it.
B
P.S. One question for the folks who shoot .45's and now 9x19's in revolvers. What's the attraction? I don't mean this negatively at all but I assume they require moon clips and such. Seems like a complicated extra step(s). Is there something different and better? Or is it the allure of variety? Really just curious after reading of the S&W Jerry M. models released earlier this year.
But to the OP's question, there's still a fair amount of 'it depends' in the answer. There's no question of course that the total energy and thus gross (or potential) recoil is far greater in the .44M than the .45ACP. But the .45 might be in a scandium snubby and the .44 might be in some hunting revolver with a heavy 8" barrel. After the flash and sound of each was complete, you might feel that the .45 was a more challenging experience. Of course, if it was a same/same comparison, it's a low-brainer.
I took the techie route. I really wanted a .44 mag but wanted to shoot it in reasonable comfort without twitching myself to death. So I bought a S&W V-Comp. Comes with a small compensator at the end of a 4" barrel. Makes a world of difference. Yes, it's cheating the recoil gods. Love it.
B
P.S. One question for the folks who shoot .45's and now 9x19's in revolvers. What's the attraction? I don't mean this negatively at all but I assume they require moon clips and such. Seems like a complicated extra step(s). Is there something different and better? Or is it the allure of variety? Really just curious after reading of the S&W Jerry M. models released earlier this year.
MrDig
Member
I own a Tracker in 44 Magnum, it will dance when you pull the trigger that is certain. More importantly you feel the percussion of the round in your chest depending on the load.
.45 ACP is a pleasure to shoot out of a 1911 compared to the tracker.
I hunt Deer with the revolver so I shoot it enough to be somewhat comfortable but it is lively as all get out.
Here is why I like the S&W 25-2 and variants. I have always appreciated the 45 ACP cartridge. Originally a 200 grain bullet at 900 fps, it became a 230 grain at 850. What is not to like? The problem for me was the self loading platform. For years (decades), I did not like the 1911 platform, or most of the self loaders. So, when a 25-2 came along, I grabbed it and used it in competition. I handload so cast bullets were a natural. I have molds for all sorts of bullet suitable for the cartridge, from full wadcutter to round nose so I can tailor a load to my revolvers. Mostly, I use a 240 grain SWC and goose it along at about 900 fps. but I do have a load for the 235 grain wadcutter that matches that velocity and makes a very good hunting round. Slow that bullet down by 150 fps and it is a superb target load.
I can load in ACP cases or 45 AR cases so that gives me a bit more flexibility.
So for me, the versatility of the revolver and the ACP/AR cartridge are a winning combination.
Not a fan of 9mm so someone else will have to defend it.
Everyone should own a .44 mag. I have 3 from old to new. To be honest I've never fired a mag load out of any of them as I don't have the need. My loads are somewhere in between a .44 spl and mag. I also stay with bullets with a weight of 240 gr to 250 gr.
The guns are a joy to shoot. If I were going to use the guns for hunting I would load them hotter. It's a joy to own a gun with a cartridge this versatile.
The guns are a joy to shoot. If I were going to use the guns for hunting I would load them hotter. It's a joy to own a gun with a cartridge this versatile.
Gotta love a full house .44 Magnum. But for soft recoil and high accuracy, shoot .44 Specials.
No worries concerning any "chamber rings" you may experience, just insert one of your fired but unsized .44 Magnum cases into each cylinder and any residue "ring" will be cleaned right out.
Before I got educated on the internet as to the "snappy" nature of the 40 S&W, my meat and potatoes gun was a 7 1/2" .44 Magnum for silhouettes. Still do it some and it's a fine reminder of where real power in a handgun starts.
I just bought my fourth "eargesplittenloudenboomer" ... a S&W 629-6 6". This is my current .44 Special shooter. The Redhawk, Super Redhawk and Super Blackhawk are still my big bore "power" favorites.
No worries concerning any "chamber rings" you may experience, just insert one of your fired but unsized .44 Magnum cases into each cylinder and any residue "ring" will be cleaned right out.
Before I got educated on the internet as to the "snappy" nature of the 40 S&W, my meat and potatoes gun was a 7 1/2" .44 Magnum for silhouettes. Still do it some and it's a fine reminder of where real power in a handgun starts.
I just bought my fourth "eargesplittenloudenboomer" ... a S&W 629-6 6". This is my current .44 Special shooter. The Redhawk, Super Redhawk and Super Blackhawk are still my big bore "power" favorites.
Deaf Smith
Member
Whip Lash
Member
It really all depends up on what you are shooting the .44mag ammo from. A heavy steel gun like my Ruger Redhawk with 8.5" barrel is a pleasant experience. I could shoot it all day with no problem. If however you are shooting .44mag rounds from a light weight gun then you are in for a beating (so I hear). I have no experience with .45s. I went for the .44mag as a backup while wild pig hunting and felt that nothing else would do as good a job. I really like my Ruger but it is big and heavy.
Combat Engineer
Member
"P.S. One question for the folks who shoot .45's and now 9x19's in revolvers. What's the attraction?..."[B!ngoFuelUSN]
Hey Bingo,
Two big attractions, first off, both calibers use moon-clips which are a Godsend. They make for very fast reloading in a gunfight, and you can't put them in backwards (when reloading) even if you are blindfolded, whereas with an autoloader you can (under stress) try to put a mag in backwards thus wasting precious time.
Secondly, you don't have to hunt down your empties, all bent over, picking up all that spent brass... when shooting a 1911 I always lose some in the grass, whereas the brass stays put in a revolver. ( I handload.)
As for the 44Mag, once the shooter has learned to ride the recoil, they are a joy to shoot.
Hey Bingo,
Two big attractions, first off, both calibers use moon-clips which are a Godsend. They make for very fast reloading in a gunfight, and you can't put them in backwards (when reloading) even if you are blindfolded, whereas with an autoloader you can (under stress) try to put a mag in backwards thus wasting precious time.
Secondly, you don't have to hunt down your empties, all bent over, picking up all that spent brass... when shooting a 1911 I always lose some in the grass, whereas the brass stays put in a revolver. ( I handload.)
As for the 44Mag, once the shooter has learned to ride the recoil, they are a joy to shoot.
gwpercle
Member
Every one needs to watch a " Dirty Harry" movie and shoot a 44 mag. S&W model 29 at least once in their life.
Big bore N-frames are cool!
Big bore N-frames are cool!
Sunray
Member
Unnecessarily huge pictures aside, think physics. Big things going faster than other big things produce much greater equal pressures in all directions. Hence, a .44 Mag has much more recoil than a .45ACP/AR(a .45 Autorim is just a rimmed ACP.). Felt recoil is a totally different beast.
huntsman
Member
Just make sure you use a .44spl load like Ole Harry claimed he shot.
A 44 mag with 'cowboy loads' (240 gr Lead flat point at 750-800 fps from a 7.5 inch barrel) are about the equivalent of shooting FMJ Ball ammo from a 1917 Colt (230gr @ 830 -850 fps from a 5.5 inch barrel).
The grip and wight will make a difference but NO 45ACP/AR load is like a full power 180, 240 or 300 gr 44 magnum load.
You can 'work up to it' with 44 cowboy loads, 44 specials and hand loading.
I did a lot of shooting with cowboy loads before getting comfortable with full power 44 magnums.
The grip and wight will make a difference but NO 45ACP/AR load is like a full power 180, 240 or 300 gr 44 magnum load.
You can 'work up to it' with 44 cowboy loads, 44 specials and hand loading.
I did a lot of shooting with cowboy loads before getting comfortable with full power 44 magnums.
Pete D.
Member
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recoil
Ran some data through the recoil calculator at Handloads.com:
Given guns of equal weight (I used 2.5lbs/40oz. The weight of a S&W 625),
a 44Mag. shooting a 240 grain bullet at 1200 fps from a 23 grain powder drop will produce 18.79 Ft.lbs. of free recoil.
The .45 ACP loaded with 230 grain bullets at 900 fps over 5.8 grains of powder (from Lyman #48) will result in 6.72 ft.lbs. of free recoil.
Round them down and you have the .44Mag at 18 and the .45ACP at 6.
For reference: A rifle chambered for the .30-06 cartridge and weighing 9 lbs.....shooting a 180 grain bullet at 2800 fps (56 grains of IMR-4350) will have 18.72 ft. lbs. of free recoil.
Ran some data through the recoil calculator at Handloads.com:
Given guns of equal weight (I used 2.5lbs/40oz. The weight of a S&W 625),
a 44Mag. shooting a 240 grain bullet at 1200 fps from a 23 grain powder drop will produce 18.79 Ft.lbs. of free recoil.
The .45 ACP loaded with 230 grain bullets at 900 fps over 5.8 grains of powder (from Lyman #48) will result in 6.72 ft.lbs. of free recoil.
Round them down and you have the .44Mag at 18 and the .45ACP at 6.
For reference: A rifle chambered for the .30-06 cartridge and weighing 9 lbs.....shooting a 180 grain bullet at 2800 fps (56 grains of IMR-4350) will have 18.72 ft. lbs. of free recoil.
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