44 spcl vs 45 colt
- Thread starter m1978
- Start date
depends on what you have to shoot and what you want to use it for- properly loaded in a ruger , the 45 can achieve or exceed 44 mag performance- in a lesser pistol , not so much- however , right out of the gate, get a 44 mag because you can get brass anywhere and load special loads in it- 44 special brass is expensve and rare, and so is 45 colt-when the local supplier gets it in, the cowboy crowd desend on it like vultures - i can't remember the last time i saw real honest to goodness 44 special brass
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Accuracy will be nearly identical and "fun shooting" is pretty subjective. 45 Colt has a bit more power (and therefore recoil), but the difference is pretty minor.
IMO, your main question should be what other caliber(s) do I want to shoot from the same gun. If you buy a revolver chambered in 44 Mag, you can shoot both 44 Mag and 44 Special from it. With 45 Colt, you have even more flexibility. You can buy 454 Casull and shoot both 454 and 45 rounds, or you could but a 460XVR and shoot 460, 454 and 45.
Another thing that you have to take into consideration is whether you want a SA or DA revolver. 44 Mag is widely available in both SA and DA formats, while DA guns chambered in 454 Casull and 45 Colt are relatively rare.
IMO, your main question should be what other caliber(s) do I want to shoot from the same gun. If you buy a revolver chambered in 44 Mag, you can shoot both 44 Mag and 44 Special from it. With 45 Colt, you have even more flexibility. You can buy 454 Casull and shoot both 454 and 45 rounds, or you could but a 460XVR and shoot 460, 454 and 45.
Another thing that you have to take into consideration is whether you want a SA or DA revolver. 44 Mag is widely available in both SA and DA formats, while DA guns chambered in 454 Casull and 45 Colt are relatively rare.
I'm not a huge fan of either .44spl or .45colt, but I'd go with .44 because the bullets (for reloading) cost less.
I'd recommend .44mag or .454casull. IMO .44mag is more practical and cheaper to shoot (even if you reload!) Plus it won't be that much fun to shoot a lot of full power .454 ammo
I'd recommend .44mag or .454casull. IMO .44mag is more practical and cheaper to shoot (even if you reload!) Plus it won't be that much fun to shoot a lot of full power .454 ammo
True if you buy a .454 gun! You can't use .44mag wannabie Colt loads in any .45colt revolver.
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true- the 44 wannabee loads are safe ONLY IN THE RUGER AND CONTENDER-and they can actually exceed the 44 mags in some instances- but here we're dealing with the UPPER LIMITS of the 45 colt - as far as the bullets being cheaper, that's not necessarily true- i pay 59/1000 for each, no matter 45acp, 45 colt, and 44 mag
for me , ive got bad ears and the big stuff bothers my ears even with muffs. since we live in kanada, i dont understand the need for 'big nutz' calibers either. i guess im after one of these two, not only for the above reasons, but because they are a little more unique. just my style.
The .44 Special probably has a slight edge in accuracy. But, both are excellent ctgs. It would be a difficult choice. I'd probably make my choice based on the gun as opposed to the ctg as I can readily reload either/or for maximum performance whatever I chose.
NAA said:
For what reason?
Well, nothing in terms of practical accuracy. I was just talking about if both were shot from a fixed rest, the .44 would have the slight edge. Meerly discussion for the hot stove league....lol...
- Location
- Southeastern Michigan
I own, shoot, and like both calibres. If not used for hunting, I see little difference between the two. My preference is the 44 Special but the best group I have ever fired with a handgun was 1/2" at 25 yards using a 45 Colt in a 5" S&W M25. Regards, Richard
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
There have been a few comments that I am interested in responding to. Lets begin with discomfort from the noise of the report. On the range, everyone should be wearing hearing protection, but for those of us with ATC,s sometimes a shot might be fired without having time to take the proper precautions. When shot without hearing protection, and when being shot from guns with equal length barrels, I find a .357 magnum far more unpleasant than either a .44 or .45 caliber revolver.
As for which cartridge is most accurate, it comes down to the quality of the individual guns. The gun whose chamber throat most closely matches the diameter of the bullet will generally produce the best accuracy providing other aspects of the guns are equal; barrel uniformity, timing, etc. On the target range, the bigger the bore, the greater the scoring advantage as usually a cut scoring ring makes the higher score, so with equal placement a .45 might cut the ring that a .38 will not.
In defensive shooting against beast or man, the bullet with the largest frontal area combined with the greatest momentum will create the largest wound cavity. Again this gives the edge to the largest caliber, if we accept that the practical limits to handgun velocity do not result in dependable bullet expansion.
As for which cartridge is most accurate, it comes down to the quality of the individual guns. The gun whose chamber throat most closely matches the diameter of the bullet will generally produce the best accuracy providing other aspects of the guns are equal; barrel uniformity, timing, etc. On the target range, the bigger the bore, the greater the scoring advantage as usually a cut scoring ring makes the higher score, so with equal placement a .45 might cut the ring that a .38 will not.
In defensive shooting against beast or man, the bullet with the largest frontal area combined with the greatest momentum will create the largest wound cavity. Again this gives the edge to the largest caliber, if we accept that the practical limits to handgun velocity do not result in dependable bullet expansion.
I shoot both calibers, in various guns, I would give the nod to the 44 Special. FWIW - dan
