.44 Special or .45 Colt?

[valnar]

Now that I've saturated my thread on the merits of the .45 Colt, I had a question about getting a Ruger Vaquero in .44 Magnum instead of the .45 Colt.

Assuming I never shot .44 Mags, is the ballistics between the .45Colt and .44Special similar?

-Robert

 

[Nightcrawler]

Yes and no.

In factory loadings, where they might be used in replica or very old cowboy type guns, they're both loaded to pretty anemic proportions.

In a stronger gun (like a Vaquero), .45 Colt has more case volume and can beat .44 Magnum even.

Which is not to say there aren't some pretty decent .44 Special loads. Check out Buffalo Bore's "heavy .44 special" loads.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Nightcrawler pretty well covered it.

While .44 Special can be loaded right stout for strong guns....
The .45 Colt can be loaded quite a bit stouter...for strong guns.

Sam

 

[valnar]

If I don't reload though, I can get .44 in special (weak) or magnum (strong).

What's available for .45 Colt in factory loads?

-Robert

 

[Nightcrawler]

What's available for .45 Colt in factory loads?

Quite a bit. Unfortunately, there isn't any cheap powerful stuff. There especially isn't much factory stuff that's more powerful than cowboy fodder, but isn't up to Ruger loads, that I could use in my 25-5. Cor-Bon's hunting loads are safe in a 25-5, especially the 325 grain load, but that's about it. Nothing cheap, and nobody makes what I'd really want, a 270 grain Keith bullet at 1000 feet per second or so.

If you don't reload, and aren't really infatuated with .45 Colt like I am, you're probably better off with .44 Magnum.

 

[Mike Irwin]

I was at the NRA Range this evening, and pulled in a bunch of brass from the floor to sort for .30 Carbine that we were shooting

I was absolutely SHOCKED to find it loaded with .45 Long Colt brass. Given how expensive the loads are, I really was wondering how much someone shot their gun if they were tossing the brass.

I gave half a thought to pulling it and saving it in expectation of some day finding an S&W Model 25, but in the end just left it.

 

[C.R.Sam]

You makin me sick Mike.
I love it when folks shoot factory stuff and leave the brass.
Specially in my calibers.

Sam

 

[caz223]

Get the .45 colt convertible with an extra .45 acp cylinder, problem solved...

 

[WESHOOT2]

" I DON'T REMEMBER HAVIN' A 38 TJ..."

I like it when folks leave lay any once-off case.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

Mike next time save that brass for me
nightcrawler where ya located. Im in Munising

 

[Hal]

They said my speed was next to none
But my lightning draw had just begun
When I heard a blast that stung my wrist
The gun went flying from my fist
And I was looking down the bore
Of the deadly .44 of Ringo

You'll prolly have an easier time finding an accruate .44 Rem Magnum Ruger Vaquero than you will an accurate .45 Long Colt Ruger Vaquero.

 

[Oracle]

You'll prolly have an easier time finding an accruate .44 Rem Magnum Ruger Vaquero than you will an accurate .45 Long Colt Ruger Vaquero.

You're probably right, Hal. Ruger .45 Colts have the potential to be very accurate guns, but that usually requires a trip to the 'smith to have the chamber mouths opened up to .452, etc. Sometimes when Ruger starts production of another model of a gun, they take extra care to make sure the ones that come off the line first shoot well and have better fit and finish than later on. I got the first Birdshead Vaquero available in my area, and I will say that it is more accurate than the 5.5 Vaquero standard grip that I had, the fit and finish is also better.