gunguy0829
Member
I have never asked this here and dont see a thread on it, but which is the best for say hog or bear hunting (black bear)?
OK here it is again 44mag vs 45 LC
- Thread starter gunguy0829
- Start date
- Status
zxcvbob
Member
With the right loads, I'm pretty sure it's a virtual tie. Each cartridge has some insignificant advantages over the other, so just pick the one you like. Are you shooting a revolver or a rifle?
ETA: if you do not reload, it's easy. .44 Mag is a lot easier to buy appropriate factory ammo for than .45 Colt.
ETA: if you do not reload, it's easy. .44 Mag is a lot easier to buy appropriate factory ammo for than .45 Colt.
gunguy0829
Member
shooting a revolver, ruger super blackhawk
I've had a S&W M29 44 magnum and a Ruger Bisley BlackHawk 45 Colt. I loaded both to max levels and would find either one sufficient for the same range of big game. It's true that the 45 Colt (if you handload) can easily surpass the performance of the 44 magnum, and do so with less pressure. The 45 also has the advantage of a slightly larger diameter bullet. But with equal weight bullets, the 44mag would have greater sectional density for somewhat greater penetration. I used 300gr bullets loaded to max out of both cartridges and I don't think any game animal would notice which one it was hit with.
If I were to do it again, I'd go with the 45 Colt simply because I handload and can get better performance over the 44mag with heavy 300gr.+ weight bullets at less pressure/ less felt recoil. If I didn't handload, I would go with the 44 magnum and some of the premium loads from CorBon or Buffalo Bore and not look back.
Tmygun
If I were to do it again, I'd go with the 45 Colt simply because I handload and can get better performance over the 44mag with heavy 300gr.+ weight bullets at less pressure/ less felt recoil. If I didn't handload, I would go with the 44 magnum and some of the premium loads from CorBon or Buffalo Bore and not look back.
Tmygun
hardluk1
member
The 44mag can be found in most any store around and the 45lc ammo you tend to find is low pressure colt loads.
You can find .44 mag loaded with hunting bullets on just about every store shelf. .45 Colt, not so much. With handloads the .45 has a slight edge, but I doubt you would ever notice the difference on a hog or black bear. Of course you can also get a convertible Blackhawk, then you have the option of .45 ACP for plinking.
gunguy0829
Member
I have never re-loaded before, but here is another delima, I am also thinking about getting into it. I am thinking about the ruger vaquero bisley, this may be a good gun/opertunity to start re-loading. I can't seen to make up my mind.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
That right there would be a mistake if you plan to load higher performance .45 Colt, or heavy bullets in either caliber.
To do either and sight in the gun, you have to have a gun with adjustable sights.
The Ruger Vaquero Bisley doesn't.
You might want to set your sights (pun intended) on a Ruger Bisley, Blackhawk, or Super Blackhawk.
They do have adjustable sights.
rc
Snowbandit
Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2007
- Messages
- 314
In standard loadings the .44 Magnum wins hands down. Handloaders can hot rod the .45 to make it pretty close to the functional equivalent of a .44 Magnum but it's no longer a 45 Long Colt. Some of those over pressure rounds would disassemble a traditional Colt in short order.
zxcvbob
Member
Does it? No question the .44 has higher energy in standard loads. But the .45 makes a bigger hole, and both will shoot clean thru a buffalo. So the .44 has a flatter trajectory and a longer range, but the .45 just might kill better if you can hit with it.
FWIW if we are going to be technical it was never a 45 long colt. Regardless of the pressure levels it is loaded to it is a 45 colt.
Not trying to be a stick in mud about this just want to point it out if any newbies might he reading the actual name is 45 colt
Not trying to be a stick in mud about this just want to point it out if any newbies might he reading the actual name is 45 colt
hardluk1
member
rule 303 I am not sure I ever saw a non hunting 44mag load in any store. The standard ammo from all know matter if 180gr hp 240hp or 240sp will all kill deer or black bear and the premium in 200 gr hp, 240 270 gr hp sp or swc or the few hardcast you see are good for elk moose and bear. If it ain't on the shelve it because its selling good.
Last edited:
Im kind of in the same boat, if I were to do it over I think i would have picked up a Ruger SRH in .454 over my Raging Bull .44, It has nothing to do with the gun or the brand, just the caliber. With that said, I think it may be a case of "Magnumitus", you know, bigger is better.
I doubt even a Cape Buffalo would be able to tell the diffrence between a .454 and some of Garrett's 44 Mag+P Hammerhead Ammo
Owen Sparks
member
- Joined
- May 27, 2007
- Messages
- 4,523
The .45LC is factory loaded to very mild pressures to make it safe in antique revolvers intended for black powder. The .44 Magnum is the only practical choice for hunting UNLESS you reload.
I reload and chose .45 Colt. If I had to do it again, I would probably go with .44 magnum. I like to keep the number of cartridges I handload to a minimum, and .44/.45 are too similar for me to justify doing both. The main reason I wish I had gone with .44 magnum is that .45 Colt pretty much ties you to Ruger and Freedom Arms if you are talking about this level of performance. Otherwise you have to start making separate loads for separate guns so as not to blow up one of them by accident. I would rather have Ruger single actions and S&W double actions at my disposal to feed the same ammo to without worrying about logistics. Also with .45 Colt, it seems like dimensions aren't so well set, so you have to start tinkering with chamber mouth reamers, barrel constrictions, more crappy chamber dimensions in my personal experience, etc. .44 magnum seems to have its manufacturing act together a little better from the little I've seen, all anecdotal of course.
Also, for whatever reason, I was initially drawn to the concept of the .45 Colt Ruger loads getting similar ballistics at lower pressure. I really have no idea why? I think mainly because it is touted by gun writers as a good thing? What it actually translates to is more gun powder to achieve the same results. In engineering terms, it would be known as "inefficiency."
Also, for whatever reason, I was initially drawn to the concept of the .45 Colt Ruger loads getting similar ballistics at lower pressure. I really have no idea why? I think mainly because it is touted by gun writers as a good thing? What it actually translates to is more gun powder to achieve the same results. In engineering terms, it would be known as "inefficiency."
I was too, but it's nonsense. Lower pressure doesn't mean lower recoil and it doesn't mean gentle push vs. shove. I have both a 44 and a 45 Redhawk and I can't tell any difference betweeen them in recoil. A 300 grain bullet at 1200 fps out of a Redhawk generates the same amount of recoil regardless of caliber. Recoil = mass2 * velocity2 / mass1. If anything, you get a little more recoil out of the 45 because the gun (mass1) weighs a little less. This is one of those myths that people keep repeating over and over again. They should get some loading equipment and a chrono and produce the exact same load in both calibers and see if anyone can tell the difference.
Last edited:
USSR
Member
Nobody said it was. Recoil is a product of the mass you are propelling (including the weight of the powder charge) and the velocity. If you use a slow powder, you can operate at a lower pressure than by using a fast powder, yet your bullet will be going faster (and you will use more powder) and your recoil will be more than the higher pressure load using a fast powder.
Don
The problem is that when you go to the store the manufacturers have it labeled as "45 colt (long colt)" or "45 LC".
Its difficult to expect the average joe to know (or care) that technically its not a "long colt" when thats how its sold.
Today my wife asked a clerk for 45 colt and he asked "which one? There's two."
He was trying to tell her that he had 45 short and 45 long. I got on the phone with him and he was looking at 45 acp and calling it "45 colt short"...what joke that was.
- Status
