45 colt or 44 magnum

[kidneyboy]

Which do you think is more versatile (pistol and rifle)?
If you had to choose just one, which one?
Chime in if you are a reloader please.

 

[25-20 WCF]

Not enough practical difference between them if you reload. Elephants have been killed with both. More strong firearms are available for the .44 than for the .45. I’ve loaded the .45 for almost 50 years and love it, but if I had a .44 instead I’d love it too.

This is another lengthy Ford/Chevy debate waiting to happen. Next time, please use the search function!


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[Legionnaire]

Both great cartridges, but the .44 Mag would get my vote if I could only have one. The .44 Mag is a higher pressure cartridge (SAAMI spec 36000 psi) than the .45 Colt (SAAMI 14000 psi). Being able to load across the wider power range tips the needle for me.

Probably more firearm options for the .44 Mag, too.

 

[MikeInOr]

I spent many months looking for a decent deal S&W 625 in .45 LC. I came across a great deal on a Dan Wesson 744 in .44mag and purchased it instead. I love my DW and have never regretted the choice for a minute!

In a heavy frame revolver (i.e. Ruger) I believe the .45lc is a more versatile round. The difference in cross sectional area of .45 compared to .429 is enough to be significant at any power level. Ruger power level .45lc hand loads are plenty for anything I will ever be faced with... and I just really like bigger holes! I can not foresee ever needing more power than a .45 lc loaded to Ruger only specs... this is more magnum than I will ever need!

.44 mag / .44 spec is probably a more versatile choice if you are not a reloader. For practice rounds I just download my .44 mag cases rather than load seperate .44 spec cases.

I also have a scoped 8" barrel for my 744.

 

[mcb]

I vote for 44 Mag. Maybe if I was into single action revolver I would go with 45 Colt but I am very much a double action revolver guy. 44 Mag is about is much power in a revolver as I need or want. It makes for a very nice pistol/carbine cartridge IMHO.

 

[Legionnaire]

@MikeInOr, for me the search was for a 7.5-inch Ruger Bisley Blackhawk Hunter in .45 Colt. Stumbled across one in .44 Mag and am very happy to have found it. I scratched my itch for a .45 Colt with a 5.5-inch Bisley Blackhawk.

 

[John Joseph]

All good.
.44 Mag is slightly more versatile since it will digest Specials and Russians
Both cartridges are a hand loader's dream.

 

[hossfly]

The big thing that sometimes worries me about loading the old cartridges to modern pressures....and that's not only related to the 45....is the chance somewhere down the line a high pressure cartridge could end up in an older gun. Because of that and that alone I would choose 44 if I could only choose one.

 

[mcb]

The big thing that sometimes worries me about loading the old cartridges to modern pressures....and that's not only related to the 45....is the chance somewhere down the line a high pressure cartridge could end up in an older gun. Because of that and that alone I would choose 44 if I could only choose one.

I use to think like this too. Still do to some degree but have come to terms with it. I load 38 Short Colt to pressures that would blow many conversion revolver but runs just fine in my 627. Control where your loads go and label you reloads well so someone coming after you knows what they have.

 

[40-82]

I don't really use the potential versatility of the .45 Colt. I don't want to have the high end loads lying around that a Ruger or a new Marlin could handle that just might in a moment of inattention be slipped into a hundred year old revolver.

I've also found that while the .45 Colt can be loaded as accurately as about anything that with a random bullet and powder combination--just because it's listed as safe--it might not be accurate. On the light end, .44 Special loads tend to have usable accuracy in a vast array of bullet and powder combinations. If I pick up a deal in a .44 mold or any kind of fast or medium burning powder I can make it work. The same isn't always as true with .45 Colt.

Truth is, you ought to have both.

 

[Milt1]

I have Blackhawks in .45 Colt and .44 Special. I used to have a Blackhawk in .44 Magnum but traded it off. I have a great deal of respect for the .44 Mag as it is a great cartridge and if the Colt wasn't around that would be my choice but I love the .45 Colt.

 

[earlthegoat2]

One can load 45 Colt to 44 Mag ballistics and do it with less pressure.

I would say if your a dedicated hand loader then the 45 Colt.

Also, being a fan of 44 Mag, 444 Marlin, and also 450 Bushmaster, I will say that it seems there is a better selection of 45 billets than 44. Especially for higher velocities. I’m sure the existence of 454 Casull and 460 S&W Mag are to thank for that. If one wants to load really hot 45 Colt there are plenty of bullets available to handle the speed if it comes to that.

Hot loading some 350 gr bullets in 45 Colt to longer than SAAMI length and using them in a 454 Casull Rossi 92 would be an interesting experiment. Wouldn’t beat up the rifle with high pressure Casull rounds but could still reap the benefits of longer COAL like you can in Rugers.

 

[edwardware]

I chose a 45 Colt, Bisley Blackhawk:
- the cartridge is older/cooler
- the industrial espionage behind the Ruger 44Mag Blackhawk, and the accidentally creation of a 45 Colt that was excessively strong, is fascinating
- mousefart loads use my cast .45 ACP bullets
- .45 Colt brass is cheaper. . . only old farts use it

 

[mcb]

I chose a 45 Colt, Bisley Blackhawk:
- the cartridge is older/cooler
- the industrial espionage behind the Ruger 44Mag Blackhawk, and the accidentally creation of a 45 Colt that was excessively strong, is fascinating
- mousefart loads use my cast .45 ACP bullets
- .45 Colt brass is cheaper. . . only old farts use it

Starline's 44 Mag brass is $5 cheaper per 500 pcs than their 45 Colt. So basically the same price.

 

[Bartojc]

I chose and took 45 Colt. I was looking for single action though. I'd like a 44 Mag now Its a tough choice. If you want more power go with the 44 mag in the first place. You don't mention its purpose. As a reloader they are both nice rounds. There are lots of low pressure loads for 45 Colt, and that said you can load the 44 to 44 Special pressures as well for lower recoil plinking.

-Jeff

 

[WrongHanded]

As a reloader (which I am), I'd say .44 mag.

As a handloader (which I'm not), the .45 Colt may have my attention. There's a lot to consider when it comes to get .44 Mag performance out of the .45 Colt. I'm just not that knowledgeable yet.

 

[Obturation]

The big thing that sometimes worries me about loading the old cartridges to modern pressures....and that's not only related to the 45....is the chance somewhere down the line a high pressure cartridge could end up in an older gun. Because of that and that alone I would choose 44 if I could only choose one.

Agree. I keep my 45 colt loading safe for all guns. Exactly the reason I bought a 454 casull, I used to dabble in the atomic 45 colt loads - stoped doing that when I had some unlabeled rounds laying around and didn't want to figure out if they were ruger loads or what .
Either way, I like 45 colt better but to get all the performance out of it you need appropriate guns and handload. If someone doesn't handload or care to tinker with rounds beyond saami max the 44 mag is the best choice. For the guy who's willing to tinker the 45 colt offers more.

 

[.38 Special]

With modern bullets I think it is essentially "six of one, half dozen of the other".

The Colt has a slightly larger diameter, which should hit game slightly harder, but with modern bullets, I believe the difference is, well, slight.

It is true that the .44 can be loaded to higher pressure, but what of it? With heavy-for-caliber hunting bullets in the 300-330 grain range, both cartridges produce about the same velocity.

Yes, the .44 Magnum guns can be used with the .44 Special. The Colt can be used with Schofields to the same effect. And both cartridges are easily loaded down with Unique or Trail Boss.

I do worry about Ruger-only .45 Colt loads finding their way into my weaker guns. I now use only LBT shapes in my hot loads for easy identification. Problem solved.

I can easily find just about any shape, weight, and construction for bullets and moulds in both diameters. Brass for both is plentiful and about the same price. I find no difference in brass life or ease of reloading. And recoil between the two is identical, at least in my hands.

So I use and enjoy both. I suppose my preference is for the Colt, but for reasons of the heart rather than the head. From a strictly rational point of view, I'm honestly not sure that there are any differences worth worrying about.

 

[.308 Norma]

For practice rounds I just download my .44 mag cases rather than load seperate .44 spec cases.

Yeah, that's what I do. And in that respect, I like my 44 Mag better than my 45 Colt. Those large, cavernous 45 Colt cases just seem to swallow up small to medium size charges of Unique - I don't like to have that much space left in the case for the powder to shift around in.
In truthfulness though, it doesn't seem to hurt anything. I'm pretty darned good with mid-range loads in my 45 Colt (4 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk) if I do say so myself. But I'm just as good with mid-range loads in my 44 Magnum (4" Smith Model 69), and I can shoot it double action style if I want to.
For full-house loads, I'll take my Smith Model 69, or my wife's 6" Ruger Super Blackhawk over my 4 /5/8" Ruger Blackhawk any day of the week. That little 45 Colt Blackhawk loaded with "Ruger Only" loads makes my 72 year-old tendonitis elbows hurt just thinking about it. Very many full-house loads in any 44 Magnum handgun also remind me that I'm 72 years old. But they don't do it quite as quickly as a few 45 Colt, "Ruger Only" loads in my Ruger Blackhawk.

 

[.308 Norma]

The big thing that sometimes worries me about loading the old cartridges to modern pressures....and that's not only related to the 45....is the chance somewhere down the line a high pressure cartridge could end up in an older gun. Because of that and that alone I would choose 44 if I could only choose one.

That's why when I bought my one and only genuine Colt SAA, I chose a 44-40. The dealer had a SAA in 45 Colt, but I was afraid one of my "Ruger Only" 45 Colt loads might somehow wander into my beautiful Colt SAA someday if it was a 45 Colt.

 

[whughett]

This is another lengthy Ford/Chevy debate waiting to happen. Next time, please use the search function!


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If all the newbies first time posters and guys like me who tend to forget stuff used the search function all the time this would be a dull forum indeed. Hash always taste better 2nd time around.

 

[Antihero]

If we are talking something that can handle Ruger Only 45colt....the 45 Colt wins by leaps and bounds for me. While the 44mag has the ability to do 44 special as well......the 45 Colt has a lot of lower powered factory ammo that's pretty much "45colt Special" compared to Ruger only.

If it's standard pressure 45 Colt vs 44 mag.....44 mag wins

 

[hossfly]

Truth is I love them both. I don't want to be in a place where I can only have one or the other. What kind of nonsense is that anyway.

 

[whm1974]

While I well aware that the .45 Colt has its fans, the .44 Magnum is better in every regard. The only reason that the .45 Colt is still in use today is Cowboy Action Shooting, and that is it.

Actually, why in Hell am I even posting for? I have no dog in this fight since neither is my cup of tea and never shot any firearm in either caliber before anyway.

 

[kidneyboy]

Thanks for most of the responses, so far.
I have an early Vaquero in 45 colt and a Henry lever action in 44 magnum and will be reloading for both. Hence the question.