.44 rem mag vs 45 colt

We have used the .44 Mag. Marlin '94 for 1550fps+ loads with the Chambers 325gr. WFN Gc and test it right along side a .45Colt, the .44 Shoots flatter, penetrates deeper, and is more accurate.......where there is aproblem is when we try the heavy loads in .45 Colt Revolvers such as the Ruger Blackhawk, one can tell just from looking that there is not the safety margin in the chamber walls, bolt stop cutout, or where the flutes are cut.
 
According to a test in the latest 'Handloader' Magazine. The 45 Long Colt with black powder loads, will penetrate 11 1" pine boards, and stick in the 12th.
That's enough for about anything from a hunting perspective.
I like them both, but, if push came to shove, I'd take the 45 LC
 
Bobbyjack, you are talking about the New Vaqueros, the Vaquero was nothing but a Blackhawk with fixed sights, I have one of each, big difference between tthe two, Cowboy loads are reccomended for the New Vaquero, where the Vaquero can shoot whatever you feel comfortable stuffing in the cartridge. 850 rounds of heavy loads and I show no frame stretch on my Vaquero. I'm talking 23 grains of H110 with a 255 gr. Keith style bullet. Les
 
thanks everybody for your info. It seems to me that I need to go out to the range ask around to try the calibers out. Will let you know what I choose.
 
.44 Mag or .45 Colt

I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 Mag....which also takes the much milder .44 Special loads, and you can buy .44 Special cowboy loads which are even light...and as far as full power .44 Mag. loads, there is a wide variety to chose from...much more than the .45 Colt..

I also have a Puma lever gun (Model 1892 clone) with a 16" bbl. in .44 Magnum which I bought from Doc Rowland....very effective deer./black bear rifle with full power loads...
 
I've had four 44 revolvers, two S&W and two Ruger. I also have the 1894 Marlin, the classical blue and nice wood, with a Williams peep.
I have used the same top load in them all, either the Elmer Keith load of 22 grains of 2400, or 24/25 grains of either Winchester 296, or H110. All of this with bullets that weigh about 260 grains.
I used to shoot silhouette with the revolvers and I have taken five consecutive rams, at 200 metres, with Blackhawks.
For all around "fun" shooting, good bullet choice, no worry about gun strength and excellent accurracy with good choices on loads, I would definetely say 44. I have also used Ruger rifles in 44, but I think the Marlin is top of the line.
 
If Elmer had access to the strong Blackhawk revolver, the .44 magnum might not ever have gotten out of the starting blocks. I recall he blew up a few SAA's in .45 Colt attempting to get performance with 300 gr bullets, performance we take for granted today, then he gave up and concentrated on the .44 Special.

Either cartridge would be a devastating small game round, but given the .45's slightly larger frontal area, I believe it would be a better big game round at the cost of more recoil due to the heavier bullets needed to for equal penetration; just as the .45/70 can be superior to the .444. Either way, a 325 gr WFN from a .44 or a 350 gr WFN from a .45 will resolve the problem if the shooter does his bit.

Big game was not what the original poster had in mind though, and in the old days .44 special revolvers tended to be more accurate than .45's. The reason was that the chamber throat of the .45's was often oversized, and a .451" bullet wobbling out of a .460" throat was hardly conducive to accuracy. Todays guns are held to much better tolerances, and and the elements that produce accuracy in a revolver is better understood. A modern .45 will shoot with any other modern revolver. The non-handloader would find a better selection of .44 magnum ammunition available than he would for the .45, but no serious big bore revolver shooter would be satisfied with the selection or cost of over the counter ammo.
 
pickpork said:
Which one would be best?
Click to expand...

What do you mean by "best"?

Numerous Lever guns and revolvers are available in either chambering, but there might be a bit more choice with the 44 Mag. There is a wide choice of bullets available for either, both cast and jacketed.

It's a toss-up, except that the 45 Colt can be loaded with heavier bullets than the 44 Mag, and with equal weight bullets can push them a bit faster than the 44 Mag.
 
But the 44 says "Magnum"!
Click to expand...
That is why I bought one. The name, the popularity, Clint Eastwood, the hype, plus most of the gun writers I ever read, (Elmer included), seemed to agree on its "goodness". This round provided more power than most folks thought they would ever need.

Of course the same kind of tinkering that brought us the 44 Magnum, has led to the heavy loading of 45 Colt and its offshoots, the Casull, the Linebaughs, etc.

I know I will end up with a 45 Colt someday too. Just too many great arms are being offered in it to ignore. I doubt I will "load it up" or buy a "wildcat" caliber unless something gets dropped in my lap, then I'm onboard too. :wave:
 
of course, you can pull the old "eastwood" trick and shoot 44 specials in it- according to the movie- but they didn't tell you is that you can do that with ANY revolver- it's MECHANICAL ACTION that cycles it- not blowback- so as long as there's enough powder to clear the tube, any load will do- i got a heck of a sweet deal on a win94 trapper back in the 90's b/c everyone wanted a 30/30 and this was a 44 mag- besides i already had a bunch of 308's in the stable, so i got it- years later i got a ruger redhawk(7,5) follows by a blkhwk 45( which i couldn't stand the slowness of the sa-amongst other things) and sold it and now i've got a 5.5 inch redhawk, which is just about perfect ( the 7.5 isn't near as handy) - i like to have a carbine to back uo all my pistols so if do anythig it'll involve a casull in d/a( riger super red) if they ever get around to shortening that long tube it currently comes with- and i don't mean the alaskan- and a short puma in casull- but that'll also mean buying all the logistics over again, and i don't know whether or not i wanna go down that road-
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom