.45 LC vs .357

[Csinn]

They are still on sportsman’s warehouse website out here, I guess I don’t know though

 

[Smokin Gator]

I have a 45 Colt USFA with 4 3/4 inch barrel. Shooting a 250gr bullet with good real blackpowder is a lot of fun. When I shot SASS i mostly shot 44 special 200gr in my Ruger Vaqueros and the same bullet in 44-40 in My Marlin. 12 guage double. All with blackpowder. Cleaning wasn't that bad. I usually bring my 45 along when getting together with some friends because a lot of people have never shot black powder. Always fun.

 

[Mark_Mark]

.45 LC is Cheap! get one of these, a hammer! some components!

all set for Cheap .45 Colt Action

 

[Tallball]

I thought the Heritage centerfires used to be German. Maybe I'm hallucinating again.

 

[Obturation]

I was looking at a .45 because I like the old cowboy style and black powder sounds fun but the ammo is a little expensive. Then my friend said why not get a .357. My brother in law says he’d rather shoot his 10mm than his .357 though. I found the .357 to be a bit noisy depending on round at the range. No one I know has a .45 to try. How do these compare shooting? Noise? Recoil? Overall fun?

Not a tough one. Both.

Sorry, had to.

Both cartridges are legendary. Both are powerful. 45 colt takes the cake for me though. Bigger is better , easier to handle and easier to load. Bigger holes and less kaboom. I shoot a lot of 357 mag, more than any other cartridge but it's not as satisfying as the 45 colt, something special about the way big bullets ring steel and 357 gets there in a hurry . It's just not the same.

Or get a 454 casull and never need another magnum revolver, shoot 45 colt and 454 casull. You'll need to reload though. Really for either. 357 takes less lead and less powder so it's more economical if you're shooting cast . factory jacketed 357 rounds are pricey and about the same as 45 colt , I haven't bought either in a long time , I roll my own and advise you to do the same if you're going to get much use from the revolver. Highly recommend shooting lead, only exception is sd or hunting if you have a specific task that lead isn't ideal for. Everything else cast is king.

Can't go wrong either way. I'd recommend ruger when shopping for revolvers, fair price with great service and some of the most robust revolvers available . I got a 357 bolt action carbine from ruger too, pairs with my 6" gp100. That's a good combo.

 

[Csinn]

Not to throw a wrench but how does a .38-40 compare?

 

[35 Whelen]

Not to throw a wrench but how does a .38-40 compare?

I have an original 1873 Winchester (1886 prod.) in 38-40. Using a cast 192 gr. bullet and a case full of Swiss 3Fg black powder I get a touch over 1400 fps and roughly the same ballistics with smokeless powder.

35W

 

[45 Dragoon]

.45 LC is Cheap! get one of these, a hammer! some components!

all set for Cheap .45 Colt Action

View attachment 1158024

Lol!!! That's what I started with (back in the 80's)
They're even better if you have a bearing press!!

Mike

 

[dickydalton]

Lol!!! That's what I started with (back in the 80's)
They're even better if you have a bearing press!!

Mike

In the 60's I had a $13 Herters C Press to feed my Ruger Blackhawk. I was very proud when I finally bought a powder scale and quit using a cut down case to measure the 2400 powder.

 

[gilgsn]

I'd second the 45 here, certainly more pleasant to shoot. I would only pick the 357 if for long distance shooting. If you ever must shoot inside without ear protection, the 45 won't blow your ear drums out. The 357 might. 45 cases last longer for the reloader. I have owned and like both, but at the end of the day, the 45 wins.
As to the .38-40, it's a great caliber too. I have shot my 1897 SAA with a case full of 3F and a 190gr bullet, and it's definitely very potent! No chrono data unfortunately, the range was too dark and my Chrony didn't work. I really wish I knew the speed. I might have to try again, but that gun is really retired. I only shot 25 rounds through it. At least it didn't blow up... I don't think a .38-40 has anything to envy from the .45 Colt or .357 mag. Same goes for the .44-40 probably. All four are "enough cartridge" for most jobs required of a handgun.
Bullet suggestion for the .45 Colt: RCBS 45-270-SAA, which is a great mold and bullet, coming out at 280-285gr, Keith style.

.38-40:

 

[Mark_Mark]

Lol!!! That's what I started with (back in the 80's)
They're even better if you have a bearing press!!

Mike

something satisfying about hammering out a loaded cartridge with couple of tubes and pin! charging with a dipper too! very SHTF ready! I collect Old Lee Loaders! Colt .45 for around $.25 in components! very cool!

 

[Plano11]

If you don't reload get the 357, 45lc is pricey and with the 357 you have the 38sp option, which comes in real handy.
Don't get me wrong I love the 45lc I shoot it in my 454 Casull a lot, you just wont shoot it as much as if you had the 357.

 

[MikeInOr]

When I had the itch for a big boomer revolver I ruled out the .357 pretty quick. Nothing wrong with the cartridge but if your going to go big then GO BIG!. After considerable research and a lot of reading I decided a .45 LC was the revolver for me. Specifically a S&W 625 in 45 LC but I was always a little hesitant on the barrel length. While saving up for a couple of years waiting for the right S&W 625 in .45 LC with a barrel length that felt right to come along a local listing for a Dan Wesson 744 with an 8" barrel for $600 came up and my choice was made for me. I quickly added a 4" barrel to the Dan Wesson and I was hooked. For all my research and being positive that I wanted a .45 LC the 744 was too good of a deal to pass up and I drove 10 hours there and back to buy it. Best part is I no longer have any yearnings for a .45 LC. I still think the 45 LC is an excellent cartridge and I like the little larger diameter bullet but the 744 with interchangeable barrels does everything the 625 can do and more (mainly change barrels in about a minute, at the range. The quickly attachable muzzle break is another bonus).



I am not saying that a 744 is a perfect gun for you (although you could do a lot worse). What I am saying is look around and be open to something interesting. Don't lock yourself into a particular cartridge or revolver model. A pistol might just come along and be the perfect gun for you!

I haven't experimented with .44 special loads or lite 44 mag loads yet. I think I will get some nickel 44 mag cases and use them for lite loads. My other 44, a Desert Eagle, won't function properly with light loads so I want to be able to quickly distinguish between the two by sight.

P.S. When I found the Dan Wesson listing I vaguely remembered reading about them 30 years ago in the gun mags. The listing peaked my interest enough that I researched it a bit and was then absolutely shocked at the price which included the scope mount, a Tasco red dot and a very nice hunting chest holster. The EW arms muzzle break shown can be used with any of the different length barrels.

 

[cfullgraf]

I’d vote for 45 Colt. I like heavy, slow moving bullets.

I used to belong to a range that held IHMSA handgun silhouette competitions. They had sighter targets on railroad car springs. The fast mover bullets hit the sighters with a splat while the 45 Colt would hit the target with a ring.

I’ve shot lots of 357 Magnum, I used to compete in IHMSA silhouette with it. It is a good cartridge.

But, for reasonable expense, you have to reload regardless of the cartridge. Also, I’ve gotten interested in shooting wadcutters in my 45 Colt and 44 Special revolvers. Commercial wadcutters may be available but I cast my own.

I happen to enjoy reloading and casting bullets. One has to decide what he likes and not look back.

Finally, there is something special about shooting 38 Special ammunition in a revolver chambered for 38 Special.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I was looking at a .45 because I like the old cowboy style and black powder sounds fun but the ammo is a little expensive. Then my friend said why not get a .357. My brother in law says he’d rather shoot his 10mm than his .357 though. I found the .357 to be a bit noisy depending on round at the range. No one I know has a .45 to try. How do these compare shooting? Noise? Recoil? Overall fun?

The obvious solution is: get both.

 

[Blue Brick]

I like low pressure rounds.

 

[edwardware]

. . . but the ammo is a little expensive.

If you don't reload, and you aren't rich enough to not care what ammo costs, you want a .357.

The .45 Colt is wonderful fun, but unless you need the extra power for large angry mammals, it's a handloader's or rich man's caliber.

 

[the Black Spot]

I’m all over the 45 colt! (Black powder rounds)

 

[Ethan Verity]

I was looking at a .45 because I like the old cowboy style and black powder sounds fun but the ammo is a little expensive. Then my friend said why not get a .357. My brother in law says he’d rather shoot his 10mm than his .357 though. I found the .357 to be a bit noisy depending on round at the range. No one I know has a .45 to try. How do these compare shooting? Noise? Recoil? Overall fun?

You said black powder sounds fun, but if you want to shoot it you'll have to hand load them anyway. I'm not aware of any factory 45 Colt ammo still in production that is loaded with real black powder.

I just got into reloading black powder 45 Colt a few weeks ago, and with the power of Ammoseek.com was able to track down the needed components for a decent enough price. The hardest thing to get is real black powder (I never tried the subs, and I don't intend to). Plan to buy in bulk, to ease the pain of the hefty hazardous shipping fees.

 

[Dave T]

Shooting black powder 45 Colt rounds is one of the major joys of my life, gun wise. Being a western history buff makes it that much better. And as stated already, it is a hand loading proposition from the start.

The muffled boom, the substantial recoil of full power loads, the billowing cloud of sulfurous smoke, and the satisfying clang when a metal target is hit (an possibly knocked down) will get you hooked in short order.

Dave

 

[TriTone]

You can get quality factory 45 Colt for $35-$38/box (50) right now (Flip ammo, Ammo Inc. brand, made in WI, I think) and buying all new components except brass, reload 45 Colt for about $21/box (50). [LPP ~$80/1000 @LGS, Powder $32/lb @ LGS, Bullets ~$50-60/500 all over)

If you want big, old time action, and a hobby to enjoy at home as well as the range, learning to reload 45 Colt is EASY, FUN, and pays for itself; your press cost will be quickly eclipsed by your savings, and last a lifetime. (Or more, I use my grandpa’s press, now, though I started with the affordable $20-30 lee loader hand kit, and recommend that + a hand or bench primer to start with, to be honest.)

Get your 45 colt! It’ll end up being the first of many, more than likely. I just picked up a Taylor’s SAA, engraved white steel finish, and it shoots dead-on accurately, and puts smiles on faces to no end, even those who aren’t shooting it.

 

[MacAR]

Not to throw a wrench but how does a .38-40 compare?

I'm a big fan of the 38-40; it shoots hard and doesn't kick like a .357 or .45 does. The only downside is, it's definitely a reloader's cartridge, as factory ammo is basically non-existent. I load a 180gr bullet over a healthy charge of W231 and get about 875fps out the end of a 7.5" barrel; plenty enough "oomph" for any critter I'll come across in these hills.

The .357 is my second pick after the 38-40, and the 45 Colt would be my third. My other single action is a .357, to go with my .357 carbine. I load hard cast 158gr bullets over a heavy charge of 2400 for hunting use; they're no fun to shoot out of the 4.75" hand gun but a hoot from the 16" carbine. On the other hand, My little brother has a 4.75" 45 and swears by it. He's had it for quite a while now, and taken at least two deer with it that I know of, besides other varmints. He loads a full case of black powder under a 250 gr bullet best I remember; he says it's good for man or beast.

Mac

 

[dbmjr1]

Why choose. Get them all.

 

[WisBorn]

Why choose. Get them all.

There we go!!!!
THR enabler

 

[dbmjr1]

Well one of the good things about revolvers is that they don't care if you use another one for a while.