45 colt or 44 magnum

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With modern steel and modern loads the 45 Colt holds it own. With your choice it matters so little as to be one that you could make by flipping a quarter and still win. I like 45 Colt because I can get a lot of rifles chambered for it. What is excellent is you really can't make a bad choice.
 
.45 colt guns can be more versatile. You can get one gun that will shoot .45 colt, .45 schofield, and .45 ACP/auto-rim, at power levels ranging from .44-mag level on down. Personally, when I wanted a maximum versatility/minimum count set of guns I picked up a .454 casull revolver and rifle pair, mainly because I already had non-Ruger .45s.

Of course, I then picked up a .44 mag, because why not both. It’s nice too.
 
Jumping to conclusions, like you did here, is not some form of exercise that benefits you in any way.
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Sorry you feel offended, but my point has been adequately proven in this repeat of so many identical thread topics. And actually, I feel much better for my comments so I am amply benefited, but thanks for your concern.


.
 
I started with 45 Colt almost 40 years ago. I do reload so I can go hi velocity or lite loads. If I had to do it over I'd go with 44.
More choices in firearms, and with the ability to shoot 44 special, it more versatile.
Especially if you don't reload, 44 mag makes more sense.
 
Ed Ames said:
.45 colt guns can be more versatile. You can get one gun that will shoot .45 colt, .45 schofield, and .45 ACP/auto-rim, at power levels ranging from .44-mag level on down. Personally, when I wanted a maximum versatility/minimum count set of guns I picked up a .454 casull revolver and rifle pair, mainly because I already had non-Ruger .45s.

Of course, I then picked up a .44 mag, because why not both. It’s nice too.
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If it shoots 45 Colt it can't shoot 45 Auto Rim and vice versa. The best combination of cartridges is to start with a 45 Colt and have it cut for 45 ACP and moonclips. Then you have a revolver that can shooting 45 Colt, 45 Schofield with or without the moonclips. Then it can also shoot 45 ACP and 45 GAP on moonclips. It won't work with 45 Auto Rim at all. The Ruger Redhawk (model 5050) comes configured like this from the factory. Its fairly easy to convert a 625/25 in 45 Colt to this configuration.

If you cut the entire face down like a 45 ACP revolver (like a 1917 or 625 45ACP) and then run a 45 Colt reamer into the charge holes it could chamber all of those cartridges (45 Colt, 45 Scholfield, 45 ACP, 45 GAP and 45 Auto Rim) but in that case everything thing except the 45 Auto Rim would require a moonclip to head space correctly.

My own bias if I am going to shoot a 45 revolver its going to be my 625 in 45 ACP. Fastest reloading revolver going.
 
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I have rifles and pistols in both and realistically there is very little difference from a performance standpoint in modern guns-

I do reload to get the most out of the .45-
 
mcb said:
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.
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I have an Colt double action in 38 Long. I had read that they would chamber a .357 just perfectly. They do. Gave me the cold chills when a .357 plunked into the chamber perfectly. It's easier to keep the revolver locked up than to control the ammunition.

I suspect too many casual shooters believe that if a round chambers that means it's right.
 
40-82 said:
I have an Colt double action in 38 Long. I had read that they would chamber a .357 just perfectly. They do. Gave me the cold chills when a .357 plunked into the chamber perfectly. It's easier to keep the revolver locked up than to control the ammunition.

I suspect too many casual shooters believe that if a round chambers that means it's right.
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I got similar cold chills when I bought an Noble Mfg SxS 12 gauge off a friend. It's a fairly inexpensive gun but the fit me very well and I fell in love with it. It was the first 12 gauge I owned that only had 2 3/4 chambers (all the rest of mine are 3 or 3.5 inch guns) Out of curiosity I tried to chamber a 3.5 inch turkey load (expecting it not to) and it dropped right into the chamber like it was made for it. Colt chills for sure. Got to be careful especially with the older guns.
 
hossfly said:
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.
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Unique and Trail Boss are your friends;)
 
I have had many of both, in both double and single action revolvers, and the 44 mag wins hands down. Loaded to their maximums, the power is so close to the same that any difference is completely negligible. The 44 being the more modern of the two, lends itself to tighter chambers, throats and barrels, and is therefore universally more accurate. The brass is also stronger, and lasts through many more firings than 45 Colt brass. If I could only have one handgun for the rest of my life, it would be a 44 magnum.
 
I stocked up on Trailboss when Unique became nonobtainium awhile back. I've enough of both to see me into the future.
 
black mamba said:
I have had many of both, in both double and single action revolvers, and the 44 mag wins hands down. Loaded to their maximums, the power is so close to the same that any difference is completely negligible. The 44 being the more modern of the two, lends itself to tighter chambers, throats and barrels, and is therefore universally more accurate. The brass is also stronger, and lasts through many more firings than 45 Colt brass. If I could only have one handgun for the rest of my life, it would be a 44 magnum.
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One of my .45 Colts is among my most accurate guns. It is easily more accurate than any of my .44 Magnums.

And I cannot tell one bit of difference in brass life between the two.
 
40-82 said:
I have an Colt double action in 38 Long. I had read that they would chamber a .357 just perfectly. They do. Gave me the cold chills when a .357 plunked into the chamber perfectly. It's easier to keep the revolver locked up than to control the ammunition.

I suspect too many casual shooters believe that if a round chambers that means it's right.
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This is scary, but it might be useful... Buy a few later revolvers in .38 Long that are basically worthless and use them as "Burglar Bait" with a box of .357... I read a report written by some Researcher studying gang usage of handguns by gangs in Chicago who made the claim that teen members of gangs will check which ammunition a gun uses by seeing whatever they have will chamber...

This must be over ten years ago since read this and have no clue if this actually true or not.
 
whm1974 said:
This is scary, but it might be useful... Buy a few later revolvers in .38 Long that are basically worthless and use them as "Burglar Bait" with a box of .357... I read a report written by some Researcher studying gang usage of handguns by gangs in Chicago who made the claim that teen members of gangs will check which ammunition a gun uses by seeing whatever they have will chamber...

This must be over ten years ago since read this and have no clue if this actually true or not.
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Sounds more like lawsuit bait.
 
Speaking from only the point of view of Marlin lever action rifles, the 44mag has a bad twist rate which limits your bullet weights, and the 45 Colt has an oversized chamber that blows crap back in your face. Soooooo 357 :)
(I have had all 3)
 
It's nearly six of one, half dozen of the other. At the very, very top end, you can get slightly more velocity out the 44 Mag. Because of CAS, there's a lot of 45 Colt stuff available, including a possibly wider range of rifles.

Callahan liked the 44 Magnum

Cogburn liked the 45 Colt
 
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