.45 long Colt vs .44 magnum

[dante_mags]

What is a more powerful round, the .45 long Colt or the .44 magnum? I know they are the same length case, but the .45 LC is just one caliber bigger.

 

[aaron v]

44 mag

 

[kennymo]

44. The Colt improves somewhat with hand loads, but then so does the 44 mag. In a strong single shot action (think T/C Encore not a SAA style revolver) the Colt can be pushed to very similar velocities to what the 44 makes in a six gun. But throw that 44 in the same single shot action and it leaps ahead again by a couple hundred FPS. You might be able to boost performance in say a Freedom Arms single action through careful experimentation, but at that point you may as well just switch to 454 Casull and leave the 44 Rem mag in the dust.

Long story short, between the two, get the 44 magnum if you're looking for maximum power.

 

[jeff270]

Traditionally the 45 colt had thinner cylinder walls than the 44spcl.
That was the limiting factor in how hot they could be loaded.
Elmer Kieth blew up several 45's before switching to the 44.

 

[Gunslinger]

It's a .45 Colt. In the same gun and reloaded to full potential they are almost the same, if anything the .45 is more efficient and maybe hits harder but we're really splitting hairs. The .45 Colt however is cooler and more manly, on that there isn't debate!

There's some really good reading here www.customsixguns.com

 

[alpining]

What is a more powerful round

Power has nothing to do with caliber. If you're restricted to commercial ammunition, the 44 Magnum is significantly more powerful, every time. If you can handload, though, the 45 Colt in a "Ruger load" capable chamber can very easily be loaded beyond the energy levels of off-the-shelf 44 Magnum ammunition. Much better bullet selection, too.

 

[alpining]

In the same gun and reloaded to full potential they are almost the same, if anything the .45 is more efficient and maybe hits harder but we're really splitting hairs.

Good point.

 

[(((Echo)))]

I was just checking the reload data between 44 Mag and 45 Colt (Ruger loads).

Top loads with identical weight bullets and powder, the 44 Mag does 1522fps @ 36,200 CUP while the 45 Colt hums along at 1532fps @ 30,000 CUP.
Now, you're burning 4 more grains of powder to get the same fps, but you're doing it with a lot less pressure.

Potatoe/potato....both go BOOM!! and wake up everyone on the line quite nicely.

(E)

 

[Andy]

In revolvers they come out approximately the same, but in a rifle such as a M92 lever gun, the 45 Colt has a slight edge.

 

[dan belisle]

Same in a Contender. 45 comes out on top in those circumstances, but not by much. - dan

 

[saskgunowner101]

The .45 Colt however is cooler and more manly, on that there isn't debate!

So true.

 

[Brutus]

Any firearm with 44 Remington Magnum stamped on it, you can expect a base level of upper level performance. The 45 Colt only wins in a firearm of sufficent strength with a higher level of loaded ammo. Then one has to make sure these Ruger level cartridges do not make thier way into a weaker actioned sixgun of the same chambering.