45LC vs 357mag

[Oldnoob]

Which caliber do you like better? And what was the reason? If you want, add the platform of your choice.

 

[rcmodel]

I didn't vote as I don't prefer one over the other.
I presently own three .357's and two 45 LC's.
The question is, Best for what?

I prefer the .357's for long range varmint hunting and busting rocks at 150 yards because they shoot much flatter at long range.
Not so much for HD or SD use as the muzzle blast inside a house or car would set your hair on fire & knock your fillings loose.

The 45's are better suited for that, as they are much lower pressure rounds without as much shock & awe in closed spaces, and they make bigger holes. They are also capable of much better performance on large game then the .357 if hunting is in the cards.

rc

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

If you love muzzle blast, especially in enclosures, like buildings or vehicles, then the .357 is the way to go. If you might shoot in self defense or hunt without ear protection, then the .45 Colt is a little easier on the ears, and still packs a wallup.

 

[Blue Brick]

They are also capable of much better performance on large game then the .357 if hunting is in the cards.

Handloads?

 

[seanie!]

I voted .357 solely because of ammo price and availability.

 

[rcmodel]

Yep, handloads, or Buffalo Bore or Corbon factory loads in a strong revolver.

rc

 

[Tallinar]

.45 Colt has my vote.

.45 Colt - slow, heavy bullet
.357 map - fast, light bullet

For self defense, I favor the .45 Colt due to less chance of overpenetration given the slower velocity.

For sporting/hunting, I still favor the .45 Colt for it's versatility. It's capable of pipsqueek plinking, but can also exceed .44 magnum ballistic performance if pushed to +P in modern firearms.

I should also qualify my stance by saying I am a handloader. If all I used was factory ammo, I would prefer .38/.357 mag.

 

[DWFan]

.357 Mag = fast, light bullet? Maybe in factory ammo.
Lyman 215gr #358627 SWC over 9.5gr of AA #7 gives 1075+ fps in a 6" barrel revolver. The same bullet and 10.0gr of AA#9 gave 875 fps from a 2.5" barrel revolver. (Sounds like a good SP101 load.)
http://www.lasc.us/FryxellLyman358627.htm

 

[RonBernert]

Voted for .357, but it was a tough one..

I like shooting the .45LC more. The .357 has more options for SD. It is a dead even with me, but I voted .357 because if I were to be in a gunight TODAY, RIGHT NOW, that's what I have on me. Yesterday it would've been the LC.

 

[Rexster]

I don't believe in simple answers to complex questions. I like the wide-ranging utility of the .357 Magnum, the size range of guns that chamber it, small snubby to sixguns to lever rifles, its sound and fury with defensive loads, and its devastating effect against an armed opponent one summer night in 1993.

I like the .45 plain old vanilla Colt for its mild recoil while delivering a huge bullet, and the wonderful handling characteristics of the single action sixguns that are the natural home of the .45 plain old vanilla Colt.

IOW, I like them for different reasons, and see no reason rank them.

 

[rcmodel]

For self defense, I favor the .45 Colt due to less chance of overpenetration given the slower velocity.

Well I don't know about that.

The .45 Colt was designed from the getgo to shoot calvary horses out from under the riders.

Even the standard factory load 255/850 will shoot clear through most medium size big game animals.

rc

 

[8830]

I voted for 357 since I use it for everything I do.

 

[Blue Brick]

How does 45 Colt compare in a rifle vs. the 357 Magnum? I would like to know because, I have been researching the 357 Magnum vs. 30WCF and it seems that with the similar grains and the same barrel length, a hot 357 Magnum keeps up (give or take about 100fps) with the 30WCF while using less powder at a lower pressure.

 

[rcmodel]

Standard loads?

A 158 grain 357 that does 1,279 in a 4" barrel does 1,735 in a 20" carbine.

A standard pressure 250 grain .45 Colt that gets 969 in a 7 1/2" gets 1,097 in a 16" carbine.

If you look at real +P carbine .45 Colt loads they will blow the .357 away out of a handgun or carbine.

rc

 

[md7]

oldnoob,

i voted for the .357 mag. it is a common cartridge, can shoot cheaper .38's, has an excellent track record for SD, and can be used as a woods/hunting sidearm in the lower 48 states. my favorite platform to shoot it from is the Ruger GP100 in 4" bbl. also i like the 3" bbl GP100 (with older small grips) and 3" bbl SW 19/66.

 

[Blue Brick]

Does the 45 Colt have a flatter trajectory? Which uses more power for the hotter loads? To me it’s all about the balance of cost vs. benefit. Is the 45 Colt a short range round?

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I voted for .45 Colt, but I love the .357 as well. I'm just nostalgic about the single action Colts. I know you can get em in .357 too and they're great. But there's just something about a single action and a big 250 grain chunk of lead that gets me all warm and fuzzy inside.

 

[mothermopar]

If you handload, or plan to, the 45 Colt is the better all around choice... why? It can be loaded to plinking levels up to an including loads that surpass the 44 magnum and approach 454 casull performance.

The 357 while one of THE best rounds for handguns, can't supercede 44 magnum loadings (handloads).

Additionally, the 45 Colt throws bowling balls compared to the 357's baseballs.

Then again, if you want to CCW... the 357 comes in smaller packages.

I own a 357 and am getting a 45 Colt. Love the 357... gonna love the 45 Colt. You won't find yourself 'wanting' with either of these fine rounds, IMO. Its a win-win.

 

[rcmodel]

Is the 45 Colt a short range round?

a hot 357 Magnum keeps up (give or take about 100fps) with the 30WCF

All pistol caliber carbines are "short range" rounds.

All pistol bullets have a very poor ballistics coefficient, and drop like rocks at extended range compared to a rifle bullet with much higher & better ballistic coefficient.

They may start out equal at the muzzle, but by 100 - 150 yards they will always lose the race.

rc

 

[md7]

i think mothermopar hit the nail on the head. we may have preferences for one or the other, but neither is wrong choice.

 

[Blue Brick]

Understanding the limitations of pistol calibers, does the 45 Colt have a flatter trajectory?

 

[Tallinar]

How does 45 Colt compare in a rifle vs. the 357 Magnum? I would like to know because, I have been researching the 357 Magnum vs. 30WCF and it seems that with the similar grains and the same barrel length, a hot 357 Magnum keeps up (give or take about 100fps) with the 30WCF while using less powder at a lower pressure.

A rifle in .45 Colt can be pushed to deliver heavier bullets at up to and beyond the same speeds that you'd find in .357 mag. Doing so, however, requires you to push the pressures up well beyond SAAMI guidelines -- up to around 30,000 PSI, compared to the 14,000 PSI indicated by SAAMI. This is not as dangerous as it may look on paper at first though, as modern rifles chambered in .45 Colt (model 92's, model 94's) should be more than capable of digesting a steady diet of 30,000 PSI. The SAAMI guideline still needs to be adhered to with SAA replicas and older rifles.

I've read of some individuals pushing .45 Colt up to 40,000 PSI and reaching bullet weights and velocities that start to resemble light .45-70 loads, but I personally will never feel comfortable attempting such a thing. I'd sooner just buy a rifle in .45-70.

 

[Water-Man]

I have and love both but if forced to choose just one I'd go with .357mag because of cost and availability for a non-reloader.

 

[Tallinar]

.357 Mag = fast, light bullet? Maybe in factory ammo.
Lyman 215gr #358627 SWC over 9.5gr of AA #7 gives 1075+ fps in a 6" barrel revolver. The same bullet and 10.0gr of AA#9 gave 875 fps from a 2.5" barrel revolver. (Sounds like a good SP101 load.)

I don't believe you're going to find an extensive amount of 215gr factory ammunition for .357 magnum, so the point remains, hehe.

Coming from the standard school of thought for each respective cartridge, a .357 magnum will generally be used to deliver a ligher bullet than a .45 Colt, but at faster speeds. In contrast, the .45 Colt will generally be used to deliver a heavier bullet, but at slower speeds.

 

[fireside44]

I shoot lots of lead, so my vote is for .45 Colt. Can't get max velocities without heavy leading using wheel weight alloys out of a .357.

To be honest though, the .44 special is superior to both of them IMO except in terms of guns and ammo selection/availability.