tackleberry45
Member
I noticed a few chimed in on doing .45 Colt and not .44 Mag. Can I ask why? Is the .45 Colt also considered a mid range deer cartridge like a .44 Mag?? Versatility?
Continuing on my .44 mag poll below....
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The .45Colt is a fine cartridge but you have to handload to realize its potential. "Ruger only" loads in the 32,000psi range put in the same ballpark as the .44Mag. Lots of folks will chime in with the oft-repeated "more performance at less pressure" but the playing field is more or less even these days. Using bullets with comparable sectional densities, the .44 tends to maintain a measurable velocity advantage. The .45 is just 'slightly' larger in diameter but they are much more likely to be plagued with chamber/chamber mouth/bore dimension issues. The vast majority of .44's tend to shoot very well out of the box.
SwampWolf
Member
I agree entirely with what CraigC said. Unless you reload, imo, the .44 Magnum is a more practical round in terms of cost and efficiency. Reloading the .45 Colt permits it to aspire to the level the .44 Magnum started out at (yes, with judicious reloading, the .45 Colt can approach and even exceed the .44 Magnum's performance levels; keeping in mind that if you do reload, the .44 Magnum's ballistics can likewise be "enhanced").
While the 45 Colt is no slouch, the general consensus is that the .44 Magnum is the better round. "You can load a 45 Colt to a level that surpasses .44 Magnum though!". In STOCK form, yes. You can hot load the .44 Magnum to level the .45 colt won't touch. It's all relative.
That being said, it's still the general consensus that .44 Mag is the better round amongst everyone I know.
That being said, it's still the general consensus that .44 Mag is the better round amongst everyone I know.
Caliper_Mi
Member
According to these guys: http://kwk.us/cases.html .45 colt has a case capacity of 42 grains to .44 mag's 39gr.
Buck Snort
Member
According to my Speer Reloading Manual the hottest load for the 45 Colt with a 250 gr. bullet is just over 1200 fps. The hottest load for a 44 mag with a 240 gr. bullet is about 1450 fps. If an extra 250 fps will kill'm deader then I'd go for it! If you really want that 250 gr. 45 caliber bullet to rip out of the barrel then get a 454 Casull and it'll launch at over 1500 fps.
.45 Colt is a bigger case, and given a strong revolver can be loaded to beyond the .44, and, is better with heavy bullets.
The .44 mag can be easily downloaded using .44 Special. It's also seeing near the same potential as the heavy 45 Colt loads with heavy bullets, and some of Buffalobore and Garett's loads. If you want a good idea of what both cartridges are capable, Buffalobore is a good place to start.
Heavy 45 Colt +P Ammo - 260 gr. J.H.P. (1,450 fps/M.E. 1,214 ft. lbs.)
Heavy 45 Colt +P Ammo - 325 gr. L.B.T.-L.F.N. (1,325 fps/M.E. 1,267 ft. lbs.)
Deer Grenade .44 Magnum +P Ammo - 240 gr.Soft Cast - G.C. (1,550 fps
Heavy
.44 Magnum Ammo - 305 gr.L.B.T.-L.F.N.(1,325fps/M.E.1,189 ft.lbs.)Heavy .44 Magnum Ammo - 270 gr. J.F.N. (1,450 fps/M.E. 1,260 ft. lbs.)
Heavy .44 Magnum +P+ Ammo - 340 gr. L.F.N. - G.C. (1,478 fps/M.E. 1,649 ft. lbs.)
"The .454 Casull is one cartridge that Buffalo Bore Ammunition does not load to it's full pressure limit. When loaded to it's full pressure potential the .454 Casull can become unreliable and unpleasant to shoot. At upper pressure levels, heavy bullets tend to jump crimp - tying up the cylinder. (wouldn't this be great in an emergency) Also, fired brass can stick in the chambers. "
454 Casull Ammo - 300 gr. J.F.N. (1,650 fps/M.E. 1,813 ft. lbs.)
454 Casull Ammo - 325 gr. L.B.T. -L.F.N. (1,525 fps/M.E. 1,678 ft. lbs.)
454 Casull Ammo - 360 gr. L.B.T. - L.W.N. (1,425 fps/M.E. 1,623 ft. lbs.)
Bottom line is what gun do you want, how big, and do you want a 5 or 6 shot?
CraigC had an excellent point. .44's tend to be made to tighter specs, and with more room for error. Also, the cylinder for the .45 is bigger, so to get a strong, tight cylinder usually either means a 5 shot, .454, or a custom.
Also, do you handload? It's worth checking the prices of the ammunition for either gun, and what you intend to shoot with it.
You'll notice that the "Deer Grenade" .44 magnum by BB is a 240 grain bullet at 1550fps. At lower pressure, the .45 Colt 260 grain bullet hits 1450 fps.
That sums up the discussion in a nut shell. .45 Colt gives you more bullet weight, at near the same speed as the .44 magnum, with less pressure.
You might just read John Linebaugh on the subject, here:
http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm
If you look at the bottom, Linebaugh uses cast bullets, between 260-320 grains, at moderate velocities, 900-1280 fps. His main hunting load was, IIRC for deer, 260 grain cast at 1200 fps, using H110.
I settled on a 260 grain HP at 1450 fps. I found, without custom grips, this is as much as I want to shoot. I had a bunch of 325's at 1350 fps.
Quite the handful, and, my custom did digest 360's at 1550 fps. Just to see what a cape buffalo load was like.
Finding a strong, well made gun is easier with the 44.
BFR makes a beautiful .454 you could use for .45 Colt, or just stay with .45 Colt.
http://www.magnumresearch.com/Expand.asp?ProductCode=BFR454C7
The .44 mag can be easily downloaded using .44 Special. It's also seeing near the same potential as the heavy 45 Colt loads with heavy bullets, and some of Buffalobore and Garett's loads. If you want a good idea of what both cartridges are capable, Buffalobore is a good place to start.
Heavy 45 Colt +P Ammo - 260 gr. J.H.P. (1,450 fps/M.E. 1,214 ft. lbs.)
Heavy 45 Colt +P Ammo - 325 gr. L.B.T.-L.F.N. (1,325 fps/M.E. 1,267 ft. lbs.)
Deer Grenade .44 Magnum +P Ammo - 240 gr.Soft Cast - G.C. (1,550 fps
Heavy
.44 Magnum Ammo - 305 gr.L.B.T.-L.F.N.(1,325fps/M.E.1,189 ft.lbs.)Heavy .44 Magnum Ammo - 270 gr. J.F.N. (1,450 fps/M.E. 1,260 ft. lbs.)
Heavy .44 Magnum +P+ Ammo - 340 gr. L.F.N. - G.C. (1,478 fps/M.E. 1,649 ft. lbs.)
"The .454 Casull is one cartridge that Buffalo Bore Ammunition does not load to it's full pressure limit. When loaded to it's full pressure potential the .454 Casull can become unreliable and unpleasant to shoot. At upper pressure levels, heavy bullets tend to jump crimp - tying up the cylinder. (wouldn't this be great in an emergency) Also, fired brass can stick in the chambers. "
454 Casull Ammo - 300 gr. J.F.N. (1,650 fps/M.E. 1,813 ft. lbs.)
454 Casull Ammo - 325 gr. L.B.T. -L.F.N. (1,525 fps/M.E. 1,678 ft. lbs.)
454 Casull Ammo - 360 gr. L.B.T. - L.W.N. (1,425 fps/M.E. 1,623 ft. lbs.)
Bottom line is what gun do you want, how big, and do you want a 5 or 6 shot?
CraigC had an excellent point. .44's tend to be made to tighter specs, and with more room for error. Also, the cylinder for the .45 is bigger, so to get a strong, tight cylinder usually either means a 5 shot, .454, or a custom.
Also, do you handload? It's worth checking the prices of the ammunition for either gun, and what you intend to shoot with it.
You'll notice that the "Deer Grenade" .44 magnum by BB is a 240 grain bullet at 1550fps. At lower pressure, the .45 Colt 260 grain bullet hits 1450 fps.
That sums up the discussion in a nut shell. .45 Colt gives you more bullet weight, at near the same speed as the .44 magnum, with less pressure.
You might just read John Linebaugh on the subject, here:
http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm
If you look at the bottom, Linebaugh uses cast bullets, between 260-320 grains, at moderate velocities, 900-1280 fps. His main hunting load was, IIRC for deer, 260 grain cast at 1200 fps, using H110.
I settled on a 260 grain HP at 1450 fps. I found, without custom grips, this is as much as I want to shoot. I had a bunch of 325's at 1350 fps.
Quite the handful, and, my custom did digest 360's at 1550 fps. Just to see what a cape buffalo load was like.
Finding a strong, well made gun is easier with the 44.
BFR makes a beautiful .454 you could use for .45 Colt, or just stay with .45 Colt.
http://www.magnumresearch.com/Expand.asp?ProductCode=BFR454C7
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
IMHO, only in five-shots or the SRH. In standard six-shot Ruger single action .45's where loads must be kept to 32,000psi, I really don't think the advantage goes to the .45. At least not any more. Linebaugh wrote that article in the `80's and a lot has changed since then.
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