44mag and 45 Colt comparison

[ChasMack]

I have a 44mag revolver I am thinking of selling. To replace it for carry in the woods I want to carry my Ruger 45 Colt. Can a 45 Colt be reloaded to come close to 44mag performance? I am not talking velocity per se, but a load that will accomplish the same thing. What few "hot" loads I have seen don't approach a 44mag, but then I am sure I have not seen all info. I don't want to go over published data unless it's safe to do in a Blackhawk. Thanks for any help!

 

[tdstout]

If you're wanting to hunt with it, a 45 colt will kill a deer just as dead as a 44 magnum.

I have always heard that you could load a 45 to almost the same power as a 44 in a blackhawk, but I don't know that from first hand experience.

 

[Seabeeken]

The 45 Colt can be loaded pretty close to 44 magnum. It was never intended to be loaded to that level but there are some guns that can handle it. Blackhawks, Contenders, and rifles will handle the higher pressure loads listed in the loading manuals. If you want to better the 44, you might want a 454 Casull.
My Hornady manual has loads for the 45 Colt that are very close to 44 Mag. In fact, velocity is slightly better with the 45 cal 240 gr with some powders. I've been looking into the same thing recently for my Winchester 94 in 45 Colt. I like the 45 better and want to get a Redhawk in 45 Colt.
Elmer Keith once said, A large caliber heavy bullet makes a big hole and a big hole lets a lot of air in and a lot of blood out.

I'll post my accuracy data when I'm done if you like. I need to pick up a couple other powders before I start loading

 

[ChasMack]

That would be very helpful! The 44mag I am thinking of selling is a 4" Ruger Redhawk. Never shot it, and doubt I'll be shooting a 44mag double action anyway, hence the 45Colt BH. I don't want to hunt with it but want as much firepower as the 44 mag for defense against big critters.

 

[Walkalong]

Many manuals have "Ruger Only" loads for .45 Colt, but it isn't all Rugers. They are plenty stout enough, but as far as that goes, you don't have to go to that level to kill a deer with the .45 Colt.

We have some .45 Colt aficionados here, so maybe they will be by soon and can help you out.

 

[MEHavey]

For what the 45 Colt can do (in Ruger Full-Frame Blackhawk and similar STRONG designs):

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt45lc.htm

 

[Manny]

When it comes to loading powerful .45 Colt six gun loads, John Linebaugh, the man who was one of the trailblazers has written what is probably the definative article on the subject:

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

I find heavy .45 Colt loads to be far more pleasant to shot than most .44mag loads with far less muzzle blast & flash and a much gentler recoil pulse.

 

[murf]

if you are going to shoot "ruger only" loads, make sure your ruger is a "large frame". ruger vaqueros since 2005, and blackhawk flattops are small frames and not strong enough to shoot the "ruger only" loads.

murf

 

[kanook]

doubt I'll be shooting a 44mag double action anyway,

The day you need it, you will wish you had it.

 

[buck460XVR]

I have a 44mag revolver I am thinking of selling. To replace it for carry in the woods I want to carry my Ruger 45 Colt. I don't want to hunt with it but want as much firepower as the 44 mag for defense against big critters.

The 44mag I am thinking of selling is a 4" Ruger Redhawk. Never shot it.

My first suggestion is maybe try and shoot your gun and get proficient with it before considering it a woods gun for protection against "big critters". Carrying a firearm for protection you never shot makes little sense regardless of how big the caliber is.

 

[ljnowell]

I've been loading "Ruger only" loads for my 45 Colt Blackhawk for quite awhile. I prefer lead bullets and Alliant 2400. I have made some screaming loads with that combo. PM me for load data if you are interested.

 

[ChasMack]

My first suggestion is maybe try and shoot your gun and get proficient with it before considering it a woods gun for protection against "big critters". Carrying a firearm for protection you never shot makes little sense regardless of how big the caliber is.

I have shot previous 44 mags and 45 Colts(cowboy loads) before. I have not shot my present 44mag Ruger and want to decide whether to use this in the woods or the 45 Colt BH. Since I have not shot 44mag but have shot the Ruger 45 I would like to sell the 44mag to fund other projects. Apparently from what I have read the 45 Colt loaded hotter than "cowboy" loads should be all I need...so now I can sell the 44mag

 

[moxie]

Ross Seyfried and John Linebaugh did the pioneering

work on heavy .45s some years back. Here are two articles that might pique your interest:


http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/article.cfm?tocid=321&magid=24

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

 

[Seabeeken]

I've shot both
I'll take the 45 colt any day of the week.
Just need to work a good load up. Have a number of powders but want to get a couple I dont have. I've killed a number of deer with my 44 now its time for the 45. I doubt the deer will be able to tell what caliber it was. I'll be sure to ask him.
When in doubt, I'll go with the bigger hole as far as sidearms go. IMO

 

[rondog]

Just my opinion, but you want a powerful handgun to carry in the woods for defense against critters, like bears? You already have one! It's the .44mag Redhawk! You may not target shoot much with it in DA mode, but if you have to draw and fire quickly to defend against a bear, big cat, or charging moose/elk/deer/bigfoot, a DA revolver will be FAR better than trying to cock a SA revolver for every shot under that kind of stress!!!

My suggestion is to KEEP that .44mag, shoot it, get used to it, make friends with it, fall in love with it, and make it an inseparable part of your woods gear! Use the SA Blackhawk for other things. Comparing the two revolvers against each other for this defensive application is pointless in my opinion. Just my 2 cents.

 

[USSR]

...you don't have to go to that level to kill a deer with the .45 Colt.

Ain't that the truth. I reload for my S&W 25-5 which, while it can't handle Ruger-only loads, can be loaded with heavy bullet loads in the 23-25k psi range. To date I have killed 3 deer with handguns: 2 with a .357 Magnum and 1 with my .45 Colt. All I can say is, the .45 Colt firing a 255-270gr SWC at a little over 1,000fps kills way out of proportion to the energy number obtained in a mathematical calculation. The thing with big, heavy, lead bullets is, they aren't stopped very easily. And a large diameter hole going in one side of a critter and coming out of the other side, quickly drains the life blood out of them.

Don

 

[gamestalker]

I've done a lot of H110/296 loading for both the 44 mag SBH and 45LC of same, I can't say whether one is better suited than the other for deer, they have both killed them efficiently. Both bark real loud and also remind you to hold on tight when you pull the trigger.

GS

 

[Jlr2267]

Yes, the 45 Colt can be loaded up...just don't use 300-MP powder. I never got it to work well in the larger 45 case...very unpredictable behavior. 2400 and IMR 4227 work well. Make sure your gun can handle it!

 

[IlikeSA]

If you are wanting to consolidate calibers, the Ruger Redhawk is offered, or at least available, in 45 Colt. It will need less pressure to do the same work at a 44 magnum.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

45 long colt

I have loaded my own 45 long colt since 1973. My "Ruger Only" loads are capped with Hornady jhp slugs. My standard/range loads are Elmers design semi wad cutter lead slugs. I also shoot a Smith 25-5 and never would want to mix up those loads. I would put my Ruger blackhawk (3 screw) up to any 44 mag. The Ruger is cocked again as it comes down from recoil and is very fast. You don't have to come back on target and go thu a da trigger pull. It comes down to practice and a lot of it. A buddy of mine used to cast my 45 slugs for $20 dollars per thousand. I stocked up at the time and still have about 6 thousand. The 45 colt is my favorite round !!!

 

[ljnowell]

Yes, the 45 Colt can be loaded up...just don't use 300-MP powder. I never got it to work well in the larger 45 case...very unpredictable behavior. 2400 and IMR 4227 work well. Make sure your gun can handle it!

That's a shame. On paper it sure looked like a good match for 45 colt. Did you experience erratic pressure signs?

 

[35 Whelen]

When it comes to loading powerful .45 Colt six gun loads, John Linebaugh, the man who was one of the trailblazers has written what is probably the definative article on the subject:

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

I find heavy .45 Colt loads to be far more pleasant to shot than most .44mag loads with far less muzzle blast & flash and a much gentler recoil pulse.

Someone beat me to it. Go to the above link, read and remember.

With the two calibers mentioned, it's not about which can run a bullet xxx grs., xxx fps and produce the highest velocity, it's which can make the largest hole, for the greatest distance in a creature. That'd be the 45 Colt.

As Mr. Linebaugh says: "A sixgun is a long-range punch press. The bigger the caliber and the heavier the slug the deeper and bigger the hole we can punch in our target."

35 W

 

[GooseGestapo]

I'm another fan of the .45Colt.
I've owned a number of both .44 and .45's.

My "keeper" .45 is a NewModel Flat-top .45 "Lipsey's" special.
The .44mag is a S&W 329PD.

Neither gets full powered loads. But on a side by side basis, I'll take the .45Colt for heavier use.
A 275gr (RCBS SAA mold) over enough LongShot to make 1,000fps will do anything you need a .45 to do.
But, that 329PD is much easier to tote all day in the boonies.

If you want to find out what a .45Colt will do, run 20.0gr of #2400 under a 250gr Hornady XTP.

FWIW; the .45Colt in a Ruger will exceed the power of the .44mag. Larger diameter bullet with larger case capacity.

I had some loads for a .45Colt Redhawk that were BRUTAL. (310gr WFN-gc @ 1,250fps). It was exceptionally accurate. I shot one 5-shot 1-hole group from bench at 25yds while working up that load. But, I seldom shot the load because of RECOIL !!!
But, that RedHawk (5.5"bbl) weighed 3lbs loaded.
You will move it from your belt to the back pack before lunch !!!
I prefered to carry my .45/70 GuideGun to the Redhawk. RedHawk got SOLD !!!

 

[Manny]

I had a 5.5" .44mag Redhawk that was wonderfully accurate, but as the previous poster noted, just too darn big & heavy so I sold it. Looking back, the size of the gun wasn't so overly large, but I think using a nylon belt/holster REALLY exacerbated the feeling of size & heaviness, making it ride like a bowling ball around my waist. That being said, these days I have two short barreled, big bore blasters, a Ruger SRH Alaskan .454 & a just recently acquired 4" Redhawk in .45 LC that seems nowhere near as big & heavy as I recall my old 5.5" being. I still need to get holsters for both, and will be going with the high quality Simply Rugged belt & holster for them so I don't repeat the error of my younger years.

To the OP, while I like Blackhawks, especially in .45LC, given my druthers between am old model BH & 4" Redhawk, I'd prefer the Redhawk.....in .45lc
YMMV

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Apparently from what I have read the 45 Colt loaded hotter than "cowboy" loads should be all I need...so now I can sell the 44mag

Exactly... The standard military 45 Colt load is rumored to take a horse right out from under a rider. That load was a 250gr bullet @~900 fps. With smokeless powder you can achieve that velocity and still stay within SAAMI pressure limits. Keeping the pressures down will aid in controlling the recoil which will be important if you need to fire the gun in defense.

I like a 255gr LSWC bullet (Missouri Bullets) over a charge of 10.6gr HS-6 w/magnum primer which should deliver between 850 fps to 900 fps in most revolvers. That is my current woods carry load in my older Bisley Vaquero.

Of course you can achieve similar performance with W231/HP-38, Unique, Universal and AA#5. (I've used them all)