Rifle Recommendations

[Hillbillyz]

A question for the group, if you don’t mind. I’m thinking of getting my grandson either a .44 mag or 45 LC lever action for deer hunting. I hand load for both so I can make the rounds as mild or snappy as I want. I also have handguns in those calibers. I’m just wondering if someone would have an idea why one caliber would be better than the other.

 

[BreechFace]

Given that you handload for both, no difference in my opinion. If your struggling with the decision then 44Mag, it does everything the 45 Colt does but also has greater commercial support for ammo.

If we were talking someone who wants to buy commercial ammo. No brainer, 44Mag.

Are you sure your grandson is going to desire to reload when he's older? If not, then 44Mag.

Much of the 45 Colt loads are neutered for older guns, its harder to find high performance loads.

 

[adcoch1]

If you're handloading I'd say it doesn't matter, pick whichever you like the most and have at it. The 44 may shoot a little flatter, and depending on the rifle the 45 may be slightly more accurate with cast bullets unless you get your sizing perfect. But in a rifle and handloaded to the application, they are very similar cartridges.

 

[ms6852]

Given that you handload for both, no difference in my opinion. If your struggling with the decision then 44Mag, it does everything the 45 Colt does but also has greater commercial support for ammo.

If we were talking someone who wants to buy commercial ammo. No brainer, 44Mag.

Are you sure your grandson is going to desire to reload when he's older? If not, then 44Mag.

Much of the 45 Colt loads are neutered for older guns, its harder to find high performance loads.

^^^^^^^His statement says it all. Agree with this statement.^^^^^^^

 

[Armored farmer]

Im tempted to consider which of the two is your favorite HANDGUN choice......44mag or .45colt? That would weigh heavily on my decision.


The 44mag rifle would also work with 44spl..(i think).

 

[OS/N]

The 44 would be better for deer hunting IMO. It will shoot flatter and give more range.

You can run 30kpsi in most new 45 long guns but you can run 36kpsi with the magnum. I prefer to run trimmed down casul cases for 45c hunting loads because it is rated for more pressure than the colt cases plus you can use SRPs in them.

 

[AWS]

I'd go with the 44 mag in a lever rifle just for the more positive rim.

 

[Hillbillyz]

Thank you one and all. I was leaning towards the .44 and I believe I heard enough to push me in that direction.

 

[Varminterror]

I’m a sucker for 44mags.

 

[adcoch1]

I’m a sucker for 44mags.

It's my personal favorite...

 

[Frulk]

.45 Colt started life as a black powder cartridge. .44 Mag started from the git go as a magnum. As a result .44 Mag brass is more durable if you’re shooting hotter loads.

That might mean something if you’re a reloader.

 

[Pat Riot]

I am a fan of .45 Colt, but I agree with @BreechFace
A logical piece of advice.

 

[M65Man]

Given that you handload for both, no difference in my opinion. If your struggling with the decision then 44Mag, it does everything the 45 Colt does but also has greater commercial support for ammo.

If we were talking someone who wants to buy commercial ammo. No brainer, 44Mag.

Are you sure your grandson is going to desire to reload when he's older? If not, then 44Mag.

Much of the 45 Colt loads are neutered for older guns, its harder to find high performance loads.

X2! Looking at the question as is circumstances of today, ? Close, hard to really make a significant advantage to either, but in my world, I'd probably pick 44mag!
Tomorrow's world, circumstances, the 44mag is the only wise choice! Nothing for sure, but IMO, 44 mag ammo & components will be as available as 30-30, 30-06, 270Win, etc, it's here to stay!
As far as performance difference in the two, again IMO, ain't a dimes difference!

 

[Bartojc]

Yup, I own a 45 Colt and I say 44 mag. Nothing wrong with 45 Colt, and I went with it because I was already invested in it with pistols and reloading. Starting from scratch 44 mag all the way. Lots of benefits for 44 mag.

-Jeff

 

[CraigC]

As a handloader, strictly personal preference. Some folks are convinced that there's magic in the .45Colt but there isn't. At "Ruger only" levels, the two are basically ballistic twins.

.45 Colt started life as a black powder cartridge. .44 Mag started from the git go as a magnum. As a result .44 Mag brass is more durable if you’re shooting hotter loads.

.45 brass is no limitation. Especially at "Ruger only" levels.

 

[horsemen61]

44 mag but both are fun

 

[Hugger-4641]

The 44 would be better for deer hunting IMO. It will shoot flatter and give more range.

You can run 30kpsi in most new 45 long guns but you can run 36kpsi with the magnum. I prefer to run trimmed down casul cases for 45c hunting loads because it is rated for more pressure than the colt cases plus you can use SRPs in them.

According to Starline, their 45c brass is tested to same pressure as 44mag, but you aren't gonna find any load data that gets you there.

 

[Rodfac]

Given that you handload for both, no difference in my opinion. If your struggling with the decision then 44Mag, it does everything the 45 Colt does but also has greater commercial support for ammo.

Ditto....Rod

 

[Obturation]

Personal preference. I prefer .45 but there's nothing wrong with .44 magnum .
I picked up a stainless rossi in 454 casull a while back and it's great.

 

[Bazoo]

Handloading brings them so close that there isn't much difference. I like experimenting with different bullets, and both are good for that, with a bit of an edge for 44 Magnum. My Winchester 92 will not feed Keith bullets in magnum brass, but loading them in 44 Special brass allows them to work. I also have a 44 Special revolver. Basically for 44 I have 2 brass lengths to choose from to make my bullets work. I suppose you could get some 45 Colt short brass or make your own too.

 

[OS/N]

.45 Colt started life as a black powder cartridge. .44 Mag started from the git go as a magnum. As a result .44 Mag brass is more durable if you’re shooting hotter loads.

That might mean something if you’re a reloader.

Both began as BP cartridges. The 44 was the 44 russian (bp) which was lengthed to the 44spl and loaded with smokeless powder.

Development of the 44mag was very similar to that of the 357mag. Both were hotrodded by Elmer Keith in the SPL version to increased magnum pressures and the cases were lengthened 1/8" by the manufacturers so they would not fit in firearms made for the special's case length. Established max pressure of the 357 is 35kpsi and the 44 is 36kpsi.

The story of the 45colt is a little different. The original BP load would push a 250grn lead bullet to 1050fps from a 8" barreled SAA. Changes thereafter were dictated by the gov and not so much by independant or manufacture developers like the 357 and 44 were. Cassul devolped the 45 magnum version which far exceeds the 357 or 44 abilities. There was also the 45 Win Mag but it was a different animal. Over all length of the 45C, 357Mag, and 44Mag are all about the same at 1.6" +\- and fire in the same sized revolvers.

Other variants would include the 357max, 444marlin, and 460 but those are a little much for use in typical handguns.

 

[TonyAngel]

I'd go with the .44, unless I had a reason for going with the .45. If it's gonna be a gift for someone else, go with the .44.

 

[Rob96]

As a handloader, strictly personal preference. Some folks are convinced that there's magic in the .45Colt but there isn't. At "Ruger only" levels, the two are basically ballistic twins.




.45 brass is no limitation. Especially at "Ruger only" levels.

Also, modern 45 Colt brass is thicker in the web than older brass.