.45lc vs .44mag ruger blackhawk

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Some more food for thought comparing the .44 to the old, worn out .45.
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And one must remember when reading the above article that it was written in the `80's and that bullet selection has changed greatly. I'm afraid that with regards to the .44, it is outdated. Nowadays the .44 enjoys at least a 100fps advantage over all bullet weights.
 
45 Colt because it has 100+ years of American heritage, makes a bigger hole, and can be stuffed full of black powder just as originally loaded in 1873.
 
zackyholdem said:
looking at a ruger blackhawk as a companion gun for deer hunting in michigan, and I cant decide between .45lc and .44 mag

shots will be under 50yds, w/ iron sights. i'm leaning towards the .45lc because of the availability of ammo in my area and i feel that the .45lc is more versatile than the .44.

Anyone got any ideas?
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Companion gun? What is your primary?

The 45 Colt loads for the Taurus Judge are pretty far short of what you can shoot out of the Ruger Blackhawk. So, if you handload yourself, have access to a custom ammo manufacturer or can get Buffalo Bore or other high-end, high-power hunting ammunition (available in both 45 Colt and 44 Magnum) either will do.

45 Colt has 12% more frontal area than the 44 Magnum. But the 44 Magnum has better external ballistics (flatter trajectory and better velocity retention at distance). For the performance envelope you describe, I suggest 45 Colt in custom crafted hunting ammunition. HOWEVER, if you are going to use off-the-shelf ammunition, the 45 Colt's commonly found ammo will not take advantage of the strength of the Ruger. So the 44 Magnum will offer better killing power. 44 Magnum, in addition to having a wide range of power levels commonly found, also has a wide range of factory bullets in loaded ammunition. In 45 Colt, to get really good bullets, you have to go specialty ammomakers, custom loads or load them yourself.

My advice: 45 Colt if you will use custom or specialty ammo. Common retail 45 Colt hasn't the power levels to take advantage of the strength of the Ruger and bullet selection in commonly found loaded ammunition is poor. 44 Magnum if you will use truly off-the-shelf ammo. Common retail ammunition has better bullet selection and power commensurate with your gun.

Good luck,

Lost Sheep
 
i vote for the 45lc. standard ammo is plenty powerful for deer, recoil is mild and, as stated above, the 45 weighs less than the 44.

murf
 
The .45 colt is a good choice even more if you find one with the .45 auto cyl. The .45 will take deer and with less recoil and noise. I like the Keith swc of 452424 at 260 gr. and in the hotter 600 to 700 ft pd level. Have fun and bangaway.
 
While I think the .45 LC is a dandy if you reload, the .44 will be found far more often on dealers shelves.

I've always wanted a 3 to 4 inch Ruger Redhawk .45 LC, but I'm quite happy with my 4 inch 629-1.

Deaf
 
I reload so both are excellent choices for Deer. As noted the 45 has a larger cross section, however the 44 mag can be loaded to a much higher pressure = more velocity, better ballistics. I shoot more 45s than 44s but hunt with the 44, so take you pick and enjoy.
 
A 45 convertible gives you both...45 acp for cheaper ammo at around 350 ft/lbs, or 45 loaded up to whatever you are willing to try.
 
And a reloading press opens a whole nuther world. I don't need no stinkin' ACP cylinder...
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+1. My .45 Colt loads vary from mild (270gr SWC/6.2gr Solo 1000) to wild (270gr SWC/18.0gr 2400). And, anybody with a stronger revolver can load them even hotter, but since I have a S&W 25-5, I tend to keep my pressure no higher than the 23k level.

Don
 
alienbogey said:
45 Colt because it has 100+ years of American heritage, makes a bigger hole, and can be stuffed full of black powder just as originally loaded in 1873.
Click to expand...
And the .44 magnum came from the .44 Special which came from the .44 Russian.

And they were also black power rounds over 100 years old.

Deaf
 
A little different angle here but my .45 Colt is a 20" Marlin. With handloads it will do anything a .44 Magnum will do with the same weight bullet and make a slightly larger hole. If you are limited to factory loads by all means go with the .44. Typical .45 Colt factory loads are held to very low pressure to keep you from blowing up great-grandads antique revolver and sueing the ammo maker. If you load the .45 Colt hot use new Starline brass and common sense.
 
i just like the idea of a 45 Colt runnin' as fast as a 44mag......25gr's of 296 behind a MBC 250gr "Pinbuster" @ 1400FPS puts out a world of hurt!!!......but i have 1911's too....so i went with this....

S3010324-1.jpg
 
Ok,
I went through this entire thread and it seems like a toss up. But nowhere in the discussion did I see anything about shot placement. I'm curious as to how one hunts white tail with a hand gun be it Ruger or Colt (I have both) So riddle me this:
You're hunkered down behind a tree... (Prolly for a good deal of time) along comes Mister Buck (the kind with antlers on 4 legs) What is the preferred position before you squeeze the trigger?


Thanks

KKKKFL
 
I'm curious as to how one hunts white tail with a hand gun be it Ruger or Colt (I have both) So riddle me this:
You're hunkered down behind a tree... (Prolly for a good deal of time) along comes Mister Buck (the kind with antlers on 4 legs) What is the preferred position before you squeeze the trigger?
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sittin' or standin'...grab with both hands aim for boiler room and let her fly!!!
 
Since I'm left handed, and this buck approached from the right side of my blind, it was "lean back and aim one-handed across my chest, while holding onto the side of the blind with my right hand and POP right in the sweet spot!"

9.jpg

From about 25 feet away, any closer I coulda buffaloed him Wyatt Earp style! :)
 
made my choice

after careful thought i decided to go with the .44 mag instead of the .45lc. I picked up this beauty for 450 otd (2009 model year) used in 99% condition. Its got a 7.5" barrel and a pachmayr aftermarket grip. all in all i think i got it for a good price so i'm happy :)
 

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^^^ Oh, now you've opened up that ancient can-o'-worms called "thou shalt not dangle thou participles in public" associated with "American English".
 
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