45LC vs 357mag

[MCgunner]

Kinda takes an N frame to get a 6 shot .45 Colt. Takes a big, beefy gun like the Rugers to shoot the hot stuff. I'm shorry, but I ain't shootin' my hot loads in no Italian 73 clone. Kinda like shooting full charge 777 in a brass frame Colt clone, gonna wear it out post haste. .357s will work even in J frames. They make a better choice for a concealed carry. There have been small frame .45s, but they're limited to original SAAMI limits. They are "big and slow" and most, including me, would rather go with a .357. Even the reloads are easier to carry.

That's the down side to the .45 Colt. I love the round for outdoor use in my 4 5/8" blackhawk, bit I have other calibers for carry. The .45 Colt simply lacks the versatility of a gun chambered in .357 magnum, thus, my vote for it even though high end .45 Colt has more power in the right revolver.

 

[CraigC]

How could anybody figure that a cartridge that can be loaded for anything from mouse to elephants is "less" versatile than the .357??? The .45Colt covers the entire .357 spectrum and then some and does so without making your ears bleed. Which is why the only .357's I own are destined to become something more useful.

 

[fireside44]

The .45Colt covers the entire .357 spectrum and then some and does so without making your ears bleed.

Yeah, but most people wear ear protection when shooting so other than SD scenarios, it isn't really an issue.

Which is why the only .357's I own are destined to become something more useful.

I wouldn't be caught dead at the range or defending myself with one of those abominations.

 

[CraigC]

Yeah, but most people wear ear protection when shooting so other than SD scenarios, it isn't really an issue.

You do realize that there's a world full of woods, fields and hills outside that indoor range, right?

 

[Marvin KNox]

It depends, of course, on what you want it for.

For a concealed J-frame type situation, the answer is obvious. .357 all the way - either with low or high velocity rounds as you see fit.

For packing in bear country or for bedside use, the answer is obvious. 45LC all the way - either with max loads approaching some 44 magnum rounds for the furry guys, or with low speed hollow point stuff for bedside social programs.

Hunting situations bring in many other elements to be considered.

 

[Vlad357]

I voted for the .357 because I shoot one more then everything else put together. I reload a lot, almost all .38 P+ to .357 mag loads. My everyday carry is a Taurus MODEL 66 SS 6 inch, a little big, but I'm a big guy and I don't mind. I admit I could do the same with a .45LC, but I don't, just habit I guess. I do keep a set of ear plugs in my pocket and ear phones out in the barn and on the tractor for any loud noises. I also enjoy holding a stick of dynamite in my hand when I light off a few full house loads as well.

 

[Gryffydd]

How could anybody figure that a cartridge that can be loaded for anything from mouse to elephants is "less" versatile than the .357???

One must also consider the guns for which each are chambered. The .357 wins on versatility by a landslide in that department. Also one must consider the quantity of factory ammunition that is available for the .357/.38.

But yes, from a strictly power perspective, the .45 Colt wins hands down.

However, it's not very good at sending a 125gr target round downrange with only a couple of grains of powder. The amazing economy of the .38/.357 platform must be considered as well.

 

[dakota1911]

Have several guns in both calibers but picked the .45 LC over .357 Mag by a slim margine. Like to shoot both. My .45 LCs are all Rugers although if I stumble across a .45 LC Anaconda in good shape I will probably pick that up also.

 

[Nomad]

I would go with a 45 Colt every time. I hate the muzzle blast of a 357 and I like the big hole a 45 Colt makes. I like any strong platform that alows for hot loads when needed. Put a 250-300 gr slug at 1000-1200 fps into almost any game in North America with proper shot placement and it isn't going far. IMO the 357 is marginal at best for anything over deer size game.

 

[Blue Brick]

If I remember it correctly, during the Second World War the British studied the 38 S&W (not Special) compared to their 45 cartridge in real world combat conditions (.455 Webley??) and concluded that the 200gr 38 was equivalent to a 265gr 45.

 

[Dnaltrop]

.45 Colt.

Easier to manipulate... like those giant crayons.

less painful to shoot. I'm fine tossing gentle boulders, and once I have one that isn't a replica... I have the option of eliminating my hearing later on.

Love .38 spl. though.

 

[Sport45]

For just shooting with normal loads, I find the .45 Colt to be more pleasant. But I voted for .357 because of it's versatility in allowing one to also shoot .38 specials. I did not consider the hot .45 loadings because not all handguns can handle them.

 

[gringolet]

45 "snubby"

Taurus made the 450...a 2 inch mid-size (rougly L frame I'd guess)..
5 shot...and can be modified to accept 45acp moonclips also (check out
at tenringprecision). I own one and it has been a pretty decent little revolver,
but not really sure if in 45 colt I'd prefer it for self-defense over a snubby 357?
The Tarus 450 can still be found from time-to-time on the gun sale web sites,
but most seem to have been scooped up and sadly, no longer made.

 

[XxWINxX94]

I like the .45 colt in almost any revolver with a barrel bigger than 4''.
I have a Taurus Judge that shoots th 2.5 410 and the 45. It's got a red, carbon fiber sight and is pinpoint accurate.

.357 is also a great round, got a Ruger Security Six in that.

 

[ijosef]

I'm sure many of you have already read this article, but I thought I'd post it anyway. It's entitled "The .45 Colt sucks! Heresy? Listen-up before you blow a gasket!" The author really doesn't like the round for some reason.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_174_29/ai_n8968390/pg_3/?tag=content;col1

Of course the follow-up rebuttal article is great:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_176_29/ai_n13785456/?tag=rbxcra.2.a.22

I would like to get a .45 Colt since I'm such a fan of wheelguns. The ammo seems to be a bit more available now as well, and reloading would be fun. I don't know about the claims that a .45 Colt can surpass a .44 Magnum when loaded to modern high pressures. On paper it looks like a stout .45 Colt +P load is definitely in .44 Magnum territory, but a very hot .44 Mag would still outdo it.

I do wish there were more .45 Colt revolvers on the market, like most.

 

[CraigC]

Magazine publishers playing games with their readers, trying to stir up a controversy to sell more copies. Venturino wrote the same article about the .44Spl. Whether or not he really feels that way he lost a fan that day. Lost any shred of respect I had left when he let the mob string up Taffin on the CastBoolits forum without speaking up for his supposed "friend". Got no use for him.

 

[mothermopar]

Anyone who'd criticize EITHER of these rounds as being inadequate or not worthy of a self defense loading (even hunting within reason) is a moron. Plain and simple. These are two of the most versatile, proven and used handgun calibers EVER. Such things don't occur by accident.

 

[eatont9999]

I would prefer a .357 because there are more carry weapon selections out there, it is also easier to carry extra ammo. If OC is a choice, then sure, you could get a big, mean looking super pistol in .45LC. Not many people would want to mess with you, I bet. I would still buy a .45LC but for range/back yard use. You could probably take a decent size bear, so it has benefits.

 

[kludge]

.45 Colt

It's a subsonic 255gr load that will go clean through a deer, that my 10 year old son can handle (at the limit, but still handle). I can load 180gr plinkers or go all the up to .44 Mag power levels. I can also, if I really want to, shoot 325gr loads that will rattle your fillings loose.

I have both. I load and shoot mostly .38SPL 125gr and 158gr SWC target loads, and carry a SP101 in .357, but my choice is .45 Colt.

Anyone who'd criticize EITHER of these rounds as being inadequate or not worthy of a self defense loading (even hunting within reason) is a moron. Plain and simple. These are two of the most versatile, proven and used handgun calibers EVER. Such things don't occur by accident.

Exactly. All my revolvers are either .357 or .45 Colt for just this reason. (I'm counting my SRH in .454/.45 Colt)

 

[Gryffydd]

On paper it looks like a stout .45 Colt +P load is definitely in .44 Magnum territory, but a very hot .44 Mag would still outdo it.

The hot .45 Colt loads do exceed typical factory .44 Magnum by a good margin. However, the premium boutique .44 Mag stuff still has a slight velocity advantage, though it needs an additional 12,000psi to do it, with the disadvantages that entails.

The 45 seems to be a lot happier with the heavier 300+gr bullets while the .44 has the advantage of being able to shoot 180gr bullets really fast for a scaled up version of the 125 in the 357. The .45 Colt doesn't really have that option.

 

[WatongaJim]

I like both but voted for the 45LC since it's what I always carry in the woods and I enjoy shooting it better than the 357. Handloading is a must.

 

[ijosef]

Well, I plan on owning both. I think that's the consensus of this kind of thread, even if the question is "if you could have only one, which one would you choose?"

Is it safe to assume that the Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 Casull is more than capable of handling extremely hot .45 Colt loads? I might look to pick one of those up, which would also give me the option of trying a hand cannon with hot .454 Casull rounds.

 

[WVMountainBoy]

I picked .357 mainly due to available rounds and versatility. Almost all weapons chambered for it can load the .38 special thus giving you a very wide range of options and available factory loads.

 

[Dnaltrop]

Ijosef

SRH .454 is my plan for joining my soon-to-be brother in law Deer/Hog hunting. I'm not planning on shooting much, just being good company, but if something comes within reasonable distance with one of the more Avid hunters too far out... or enough for Bear should one be charging me. (though if I have enough warning to see it it's probably not interested in me.) Can play with any .45 load then.

At least here in Oregon.

.357 = more plentiful, easier to find off the shelf ammo.

.45 colt = fighting every Taurus Judge owner for any .45 colt off the shelf, if you want something other than Cowboy loads, gotta do it by hand. (Been getting easier lately though)

 

[MCgunner]

I don't care about ammo availability or cost, just case availability and primer cost and availability and those are about the same for the two calibers. Unless you're very wealthy, you really don't want to shoot .45 Colt without handloading. You can get .38s for "cheap" for a .357, not that cheap. I mean, they cost me about 5 bucks a hundred, but then so do .45 Colts.