45LC vs 44mag

[BUGUDY]

I did the search but still looking for some more advice. I am looking to get a Marlin 1894CB, and can't decide between a 44mag or 45LC
I do cast and reload.
The rifle will be for mainly shooting targets, but also deer and bear. What are the major differences in these two rounds?

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

The .44 mag operates at MUCH higher pressures and greater velocities. HH reloading lists a 44 Mag. 265 gr JSP at 1700 fps. The 45 Colt firing 255 gr lead FPCA runs at 1100 fps. These are both rifle loads. For bear, especially, the .44 mag is a better pick IMO.

KR

 

[R.W.Dale]

In the platform in question both cartridges can pretty much be handloaded to the same potental. So if you don't currently stock one of the two bullet diameters I'm gonna reccomend defaulting to the bigger hole for the win.

 

[BUGUDY]

I guess if I was to get a 44mag, I might as well get a 1894 and save some money. Never thought of that until a few minutes ago. Never had a lever action and am just looking into them. I do like the Marlin tho.

 

[ArmedBear]

In theory, the .44 Magnum is the better choice. Marlins can handle the pressure just fine, and a hot .44 Magnum is normal, not exotic.

However, and it's a big however, the Marlin .44 comes with slow-twist rifling. That means there are practical bullet weight limits before you lose stability. That probably makes the .45 Colt a better hunting choice in that particular rifle.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/Cowboy/1894_45Colt.asp

 

[zxcvbob]

I think the main difference is the rifling twist rate.

(BTW, I reload .45LC to 255 grain bullets at 1300 fps from a revolver without even trying very hard. A lot of folks load to much higher pressures using slower powders than I do)

Edit: Dang. ArmedBear snuck in ahead of me about the twist rate while I was still typing.

 

[APDDSN0864]

With bullet choices from 185gr .45ACP wadcutters up to 325gr Barnes Buster (my favorite .45LC load for bear country) I think the .45LC is more versatile. I carried a .44mag for years until I learned what a good, stout .45LC could do.

You can't go wrong with either one. Ain't it great to have choices!?!

Just my $0.02

Ed

 

[MCMXI]

Take a look at the links below to see the potential (advantage) of the .45 Colt over the .44 Mag.

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm
http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/heavyweight_bullets.htm

You can load the .45 Colt to similar velocities as the .44 Mag but with lower pressures. Also, you can shoot 300gr + bullets out of the .45 Colt with good results. 250gr lead bullets can comfortably and safely achieve 1,300 fps and they're fun to shoot at that velocity.

One advantage of the .44 Mag over the .45 Colt is that Marlin makes a stainless rifle (but with a slow barrel twist). If they ever offer a stainless '94 in .45 Colt I'll definitely buy one. As it is, I'm thinking about a stainless '94 in .357 Mag.

 

[ArmedBear]

250gr lead bullets can comfortably and safely achieve 1,300 fps and they're fun to shoot at that velocity.

I didn't know that was a problem. I think I'm loading my 240 grain .44s hotter than that for revolvers, and all I ever shoot is lead. Very hard lead alloy, though.

 

[Casefull]

Go with the bigger bore. I shoot ruger pistols in both calibers and prefer the 45lc over the 44 mag.

 

[MCMXI]

ArmedBear, the hottest load I've tried out of my '94 is 25.0gr H110, CCI magnum pistol primer and a 250gr OT Laser-Cast bullet. That's a real thumper but I haven't chronographed that load yet. ... I wouldn't be surprised if it's up around 1,500 fps ... maybe even faster than that. I plan on getting some data soon.

And I agree with Casefull ... I have six revolvers and one rifle in .45 Colt and I crave for more!

DISCLAIMER: Load data shown is for Ruger single action only.

 

[jmortimer]

The .45 Colt shoots same bullet weight at same velocity as .44 mag at lower pressure. Bigger is better especially if you reload. Also, notice that gun manufacturers are making "new" guns in .452 caliber but not .429 - i.e. .454 Casull and 460 S&W which both can shoot .45 Colt. In this regard .429 is a dying caliber. There is no good reason to own a .44 mag. The .45 Colt can do anything the .44 mag can do - lower pressure same velocity.

 

[Curator]

I agree with ArmedBear about the .44Mag and slow twist rifling. The twist on my 1894 marlin is something like 1 in 38". It won't stabilize 280 grain LFN bullets except at very high velocities (over 1600fps.) which is very hard on my shoulder. My Ruger SBH with 1 in 16" twist will out-shoot the Marlin at 75-100 yards. Most leverguns made for the .45Colt cartridge have a 1 in 16" twist and will shoot 300+ grain bullets accurately down to 1000 fps.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

The .44 mag operates at MUCH higher pressures and greater velocities.

I'm sorry, that's not really correct (well it is with factory ammo, but not as a blanket statment). It does operate at higher pressures (a bad thing), but does not give higher velocties necessarily - *IF* you reload. If you reload, then .45 Colt can match and exceed the .44 mag, with lower pressures for the same results. .45 Colt does everything the .44 mag can do, and then some.

Plus, if you ever have the hankering to get a .454 casull or .460 sw mag, your life is much simpler, with the same bullets, same dies, etc.

.45 colt all the way (if you reload).

.44 mag all the way (if you don't).

 

[joed]

Unless you plan on loading the .45 Colt I'd go with the .44 Mag, it's just more versatile. Try buying .45 Colt ammo in a store, you better be a cowboy action shooter.

I owned 2 guns in .45 Colt, 3 years later I'm down to 0. Not to offend fans of the .45 but I see no reason to own a .45 Colt.

 

[MechAg94]

There are some other 44 mags guns in my family so that made sense for me. I hate getting into a new caliber unless I absolutely have to.

I don't plan on doing any exotic loading. I did see 300 grain bear loads in 44 mag, but I haven't tried to shoot any of them.

 

[MichaelK]

I can think of three reasons why the 44 magnum is a better choice.

First, off the shelf factory ammo in 44 will be more powerful than .45. Sure, you can make .45 Colt handloads that compete with the .44, but you can't buy factory loads that do.

Second, the .44 has a fatter rim, which theoretically will make extraction more positive. Assuming you want to make hot handloads, that small rim on the .45 Colt could potentially rip off.

Third, it is really easy to make your own .44 magnum bullets out of discarded .40S&W cases. Just drop in a cast core, run it up into a swaging die, and out comes a finished bullet.

Oh, #4 would be that I've already taken my .44 magnum rifle deer hunting and that's what filled this winter's freezer.

 

[MCMXI]

Sure, you can make .45 Colt handloads that compete with the .44, but you can't buy factory loads that do.

Buffalo Bore offers quite a good selection of +P .45 Colt loads. They offer some 325gr bullets moving at 1,325 fps and a 260gr at 1,450 fps. Not sure if that's a revolver or rifle test barrel but nonetheless, those are fairly stout loads.

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=8

Second, the .44 has a fatter rim, which theoretically will make extraction more positive. Assuming you want to make hot handloads, that small rim on the .45 Colt could potentially rip off.

I think this is one of the biggest urban legends with regards to the supposed disadvantages of the .45 Colt. I've had ZERO extraction issues with my Marlin or five revolvers (still haven't shot the Alaskan yet). I shoot everything from mild to wild with no issues.

Regardless, I think Dr. THW summed it up to a tee ... if you handload then get the .45 Colt, if you don't, get the .44 Mag. I would add, the best solution is one or more of both and to reload for both.

 

[rogertc1]

45C had a lot more revolvers and rifles in the caliber. .
44 is kinda obsolete IMHO

 

[FSJeeper]

I went through the same thing trying to decide on a carbine/revolver combination. I have owned both the 45 LC and the 44 Mag in revolvers.

It has been said before and it was the basis of my decision. If you handload, 45 LC, if not, definitely the .44 Mag.

Handloading the .45 LC gives you so many more options than you could ever hope to get with the .44 Mag.

 

[murdoc rose]

um id vote for 45lc just because I have a saa in the same

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

If you go with the .45LC, (which seems to be the consensus) be careful about working up your handloads. Most of the data printed in the standard manuals (Lee, Hornady, Speer, and Sierra) loads the .45 at significantly less velocity and pressure than some of the guys are talking about here.

I handload, and I certainly tweak loads around, but to get the velocities being described here, you'll have to be operating well past the maximum loads listed in the latest editions of the industry manuals I trust. I realize that there are tons of reloading data available on the Internet that go far beyond the the handbooks I listed above. Work towards that data VERY carefully.

KR

 

[Arkansas Paul]

It's been said at least twice before but I'll chime in with it too.
.45 Colt if you handload
.44 Mag if you don't
Factory loadings for the .45 Colt barely exceed the .45 acp in velocity. It shines with the handloads.

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

Handloading the .45 LC gives you so many more options than you could ever hope to get with the .44 Mag.

Again, I work from the standard manuals.

Lee lists a total of 24 loads for the .45LC and 34 loads for the .44Mag. The .45LC bullet weights in Lee cover 160gr to 300gr. The .44 Mag bullet weights run between 165gr and 355gr.

Hornady lists 7 loads for the .44mag and 3 for the .45LC. Bullet weights listed for the .44 are 180gr to 300gr. For the .45LC the span was 200gr to 255 gr.

KR

 

[R.W.Dale]

You my friend need some diffrent manuals.

Hornady's online data centre is an excellent source