Not a caliber war, just a question

[Arizonan]

I love single action revolvers. I have two Virginian Dragoons. One in 357 and the other in 44. I have a Ruger Single Six from 1976. I am looking to add one more to my collection. I really would like a 44Special. But the 45 Colt is pulling me in that direction just because of nostalgia.
I reload all my calibers. If I go with the 45, that means getting all the stuff to set up to reload that caliber. Just an added expense. I own a 44 Special in double action. So I have brass and everything I need for it. But that 45 just wont go away. Other then the nostalgia reasoning I don't think a 45 will do anything better then the 44 can do. I just shoot the Singles for fun. I know you can hot load the 45 to great pressures. And you can get a heaver bullet. But again. I shoot them for fun, I don't really carry them in the forest or hunting. I have a 5.5 in Redhawk for that.
Any suggestions?

 

[Kurt]

Happy New Year Arizonan - and all.

I’ll take a stab at this, keeping in mind your primary stated purpose of wanting to add the .45 Colt in your mix, which is nostalgia. I'm also regret that I'm running
the risk of "stating the obvious" here.

The reasons that many folks would choose the .45 Colt are ones that you already have covered with your other firearms. That said, the .45 Colt is a reloaders dream.
Also, the firearm choices – from derringers to rifles – in that caliber seem to grow daily. To the majority of those deciding on a big bore revolver, its desirability is
undeniable. Whether one would choose it for its power, nostalgia, versatility, or because it has a set of “legs” on it that should carry it well into the future, the .45 Colt
is definitely in rarefied air once again.

So only you can really decide. If your nostalgia reason wears off sooner than expected, all those reasons listed above should give you an easier path to find a buyer
for it. Then you can rely on your other singles when you need that "fix".

 

[Rio Laxas]

You won't stop wanting one until you have one. At one time, I decided I would only have .45 Colt as my big bore revolver round. Then I decided that I had to have every .44 Special DA revolver that I could reasonably lay my hands on. I think they are both great, and I am glad I've got them both.

 

[Tallball]

I own a couple of revolvers in each. The two calibers feel about the same to me.

 

[joed]

I owned 2 revolvers in .45 Colt at one time. Also owned 3 .44 Spl/mag revolvers. I may have stayed with the Colt for about a year at most. They're long gone and I'll never own another one.

There were 3 reasons the Colts are gone. The first is I despise loading any cartrige where powder does not fill the case past 1/2 way. Reason for this is there is a chance of a double charge.

The second is the .44 is a better cartridge. It's more efficient with it's powder charge and in my opinion is more accurate. It's also more versatile, you can load it hot or load it down.

The third reason is one night I heard something outside. Grabbed a revolver, cartridges and headed for the door. Turned out I picked up .44 mag cartrdges and the .45 Colt revolver. I don't like the idea of owning a gun that can fire a wrong cartridge.

You can have the nostalgia.

 

[bannockburn]

Arizonan

Too tough of a choice between the .44 Special and the .45 Colt, so what I did a couple of years back was to get them both! Bought the .44 Special first, a Ruger Blackhawk Flattop, then later picked up a Beretta Stampede and a Rossi Model 92, both in .45 Colt. Always wanted a .44 Special (read a lot of Skeeter Skelton over the years), and have been fascinated by the .45 Colt cartridge (and single action revolvers), for as long as I can remember. Definitely the best of both worlds.

 

[Arizonan]

Very nice weapons. I think as much as I would like the 45. I am going to go with the 44. Like I said. I am set up to reload the Special. And that helps the cash flow quite a bit. Maybe one day when I have more gun $$, I will delve into the 45 Colt arena.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

I have two Ruger, 3 screw 45lc sa's I reload for them, they are great guns. I love the sound they make when cocked.

 

[PapaG]

Just recently picked up a new-New model flattop Blackhawk 44 spec which joins my Smith 624, my original Charter Bulldog, and my Rossi 720. It is fast moving up to first place. Can't hot rod it but I knew that going in. I have Supers, a 29, and an old New model 45 Colt for serious stuff.
I love the special, anywhere from 650 fps plinkers to 950 fps "serious" stuff, in an appropriate vehicle.

 

[leo96150]

OK, listen carefully. Buy the .45, fill the primed case to the bottom of the bullet with black powder or one of the substitutes (APP is my favorite). Seat the bullet so that it compresses the powder about 1/16 inch. SHOOT ALL YOU CAN. It will be days before the smile fades from your face.

 

[sandy4570]

OK, listen carefully. Buy the .45, fill the primed case to the bottom of the bullet with black powder or one of the substitutes (APP is my favorite). Seat the bullet so that it compresses the powder about 1/16 inch. SHOOT ALL YOU CAN. It will be days before the smile fades from your face.

I did exactly just that with my Ruger Old Vaquero ,touched off two rounds inside the indoor range , let a guy next lane shot two more and my buddy finish off the cylinder .We nearly suffocate the rest of shooters there . 45 Colt rule.

 

[BLU]

LEO96159: What BP do you use? FFFg? You say you just fill it to the top and compress it a bit with the bullet?

I shoot Black Powder handguns so I do have the powder available, (although it is hard for me to obtain here in Central Illinois). Apparently you can use Pyrodex too, huh?


Arizonan: I have both revolver types too. I can't picture my big bore collection without the .45 Colts. I say get one. Worst case scenario.... you shoot it, have some fun and then sell it.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

Another vote for the .44 Special. I think Skeeter Skelton would approve.

 

[leo96150]

LEO96159: What BP do you use? FFFg? You say you just fill it to the top and compress it a bit with the bullet?

I shoot Black Powder handguns so I do have the powder available, (although it is hard for me to obtain here in Central Illinois). Apparently you can use Pyrodex too, huh?


Arizonan: I have both revolver types too. I can't picture my big bore collection without the .45 Colts. I say get one. Worst case scenario.... you shoot it, have some fun and then sell it.

Most true black powders and substitutes recommend light compression by the bullet, 1/16 to 1/8". APP, my choice of substitutes, recommends that the bullet be "firmly seated against the powder, no further compression is needed". A .45 Colt can use either FFG or FFFG, anything smaller should use only FFFG for consistent velocities.

An excellent article on black powder cartridge loading is here: http://www.curtrich.com/bpsubsdummies.html

 

[BLU]

I can see the reason behind compressing the powder... absolutely. That's a really good site, thanks. Think I'll try some Pyrodex and save what black powder I have. I use the FFFFg only for priming the flintlock.

 

[murf]

i have the 44 special blackhawk flattop w/5.5 inch barrel. i load 300 grain lead bullets for it that chrony 1000 fps. the blackhawk is the only "44 special" gun that will take this load without blowing up!

the gun is accurate and, if you want, powerful enough to take any game animal in the lower 48 (except, maybe, grizzlies). it ain't "top fuel", but it's a winner in "super stock".

murf

 

[Schwing]

If I go with the 45, that means getting all the stuff to set up to reload that caliber

You're looking at this all wrong! You GET to buy all of the stuff to reload that caliber

Seriously though, I personally would never buy a 44 special. I don't have anything against them but I own .44 magnums that I can shoot 44 specials in so I have never seen a reason. Like you, I have had the bug for a long time to get a 45 colt. When I do finally break down and do it, I am fixing to get a revolver and a rifle at the same time.

The guys I shoot with love their 45 Colts. It is one of the easiest calibers to get achieve accuracy with, especially if you cast your own bullets.

 

[WestKentucky]

One nice thing about the 45 is that 45acp has a big enough following that a lot of places keep a variety of reasonable bullets around that you could use. If you buy 45, my suggestion is to buy a convertible 45acp/45colt gun. Nostalgia of the colt with ammo price and availability of 45acp. Not too shabby of a mix, especially when looking at the range from weak colt rounds to acp rounds to "ruger only" loads. I better quit before I talk myself into one.

 

[BLU]

WestKentucky... Too late! You know you want a .45 Colt!

 

[375supermag]

Hi...

I was once faced with the same dilemma.

Solved it in a most satisfying manner...I bought handguns in both calibers...and then I bought more handguns in both calibers.

Really an elegant solution to a perceived problem that really isn't a problem at all.

This solution works on any number of issues....44Magnum or .41Magnum???
I just bought one of each and then I bought some more of each...no problem whatsoever.

Works on rifles, also. .30/06 or 7mm Magnum...just buy one of each.

 

[Jaymo]

Have both. Like both. Still like Spl better.
The Spl is more efficient with the powder.
Plus, you can load it with BP, too .
If you already load .44 Spl, you can use the money you would have spent on .45 Colt dies/bullets on more .44 Spl bullets/powder/primers.

The .44 makes a lot more sense because of economics. You can load it cheaper, it will do what the .45 will do, with less powder. You don't have to buy new components/supplies.
You also have the safety factor. A .44 with a cylinder diameter that is the same as the .45 cylinder diameter will have thicker chamber walls at the ever important cylinder stop notch. From an equal sized gun/cylinder, the .45 can handle about 80% as much pressure as the .44.

The only reason I still have my .45 Colt SA revolvers is because they are large frame Ruger and EAA revolvers that can be loaded almost has hot as my .44 mags but with shorter, handier barrels.
If not for that, I'd own only .44 Spl SA revolvers. Well, I'd still own my Ruger Vaquerito .32 H&R and I'd probably get an Uberti .32-20.