Recoil 44 mag vs 45 Long Colt

It's not even remotely close.

The two cartridges are similar in appearance, but not at all in performance.

The powder charge in .45-Colt is loaded to the same power as .45-ACP (or the .44-Special)

.44 Magnum is loaded to DOUBLE that amount.
 
bollox said:
Actually, you can exceed 44 mag (lb/ft) with a proper 45 Colt gun and brass....
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You're quite right. In one of todays workhores strength revolvers such as an old model Ruger Vaquero or Ruger Blackhawk, with handloads, one would be hard pressed to beable to tell the difference in power between the two calibers. I agree though, in reality, the 45LC would have a slight edge.
 
Gatehouse said:
If you handload you can make a 45 Colt into a 44 magnum pretty easily
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^ This is your answer. In old cartridges like the 45 Colt the factory loads are made to be safe in some of the weakest gun designs of the past 130 years. If you are looking at a pair of modern Rugers or similar they can be hand loaded to nearly identical performance.
 
soditide said:
Could you tell me witch caliber offer the biggest recoil? I want a 1873 revolver and i want a mega blast at the muzzle.
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If you are looking at the proper classic 1873 clones then I would not want to run a steady stream of full bore .44Mag rounds thru them. It won't be dangerous if you stick to the SAMMI load levels but you'll likely beat up the gun and cause it to wear loose far sooner than it should.

If by "1873" you were referring to the generic single action revolvers such as a Ruger Blackhawk or Super Blackhawk then by all means fill your boots.

I'd suggest you go for a Super Blackhawk in .44Mag and look into carefully exploring the "Ruger Only" load levels. You'll obviously need to get into reloading your own stuff to do so but it should satisfy your need for recoil.

You might find that you need to get a different set of grips for this gun depending on the size of your hands. I put some fatter grips onto my SBH because with the stock ones it kept slamming the trigger guard into the back of my middle finger with full power loads. I made my own grips which are fatter around the neck and now I can shoot full power loads without the gun "stretching" my hand as much and causing the guard to slam into my fingers. Even one handed I don't get the dreaded "Draggon Guard Bite" since the changeover.

Now if it's simply all about the recoil kick then why stop with a .44Mag? Get yourself a Ruger Super Redhawk in .454Casull! ! ! ! :D
 
The 45 Colt will outdo a 44 Mag if loaded accordingly. Modern brass 45 Colt brass is just as strong as 44 Mag brass, and the 45 Colt can shoot the same weigt bullet slightly faster than the 44 Mag at the same pressure - and heavier bullets (~350 grs) if you wish.

The only reason why the 44 Mag seems superior (to those who look only at load tables), is that all of the strong revolvers, and none of the weaker designs are chambered for it, while 45 Colt is chambered primarily in older, weaker designs such as 1873 SAA's.
 
Andy said:
The 45 Colt will outdo a 44 Mag if loaded accordingly. Modern brass 45 Colt brass is just as strong as 44 Mag brass, and the 45 Colt can shoot the same weigt bullet slightly faster than the 44 Mag at the same pressure - and heavier bullets (~350 grs) if you wish.

The only reason why the 44 Mag seems superior (to those who look only at load tables), is that all of the strong revolvers, and none of the weaker designs are chambered for it, while 45 Colt is chambered primarily in older, weaker designs such as 1873 SAA's.
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I get a bit worried when I read a reply like this. I would assume that in the first bolded part that Andy is referring to the SAMMI max chamber pressure for .45Colt, which is around 14,000CUP. I hate to think of trying this with the max pressure for .44Mag, which is up at 36,000CUP, in a gun that was rated and proofed for only 14,000. So keep that in mind when reading Andy's reply.

We then get into the options for "Ruger Only" load and which guns they are OK. Generally that comes down to the old larger frame original Ruger Vaquero or the presently made Blackhawks. It also applies to a couple of other specialty made revolvers such as Freedom Arms. It most certainly does NOT include the Italian and other SAA replicas. It also does NOT include the presently sold "New Model Vaquero". The NMV's are built on a lighter frame and will not stand up to any of the "Ruger Only" loads that are OK for the old model or the Blackhawk.

In ONLY these guns the "Ruger Only", also sometimes seen as .45 Colt +P, max pressure is limited to a top end of 30,000CUP. And that is still well below the max for even regular .44Mag. So don't go thinking that you can load .45Colt up to the same pressure as a .44Mag.

Andy, I hope this only added to your reply instead of stepping on your toes. It's just that I could see how someone could read into your reply that it's OK to load up hot loads that exceed the gun specs even for a good strong Ruger.

And in fact a few posts here suggested that as well without adding that only a few guns are rated for such loads.
 
"1873 revolver" and "mega blast at the muzzle" don't go together.

As others have stated on here, you can push 45 Colt loads to near 44 Mag levels, but you must have a good pistol to do this.

I have a 1873 repro Uberti. It only gets cowboy action ammo. (5.5grs Trailboss under a 250gr LRNFP) Fun plinker, modest recoil, more of a loud pop than a boom, but that's all I'll put through her.

When I want a mega muzzle blast, I load 28gr H110 under a 230gr FMJ for my S&W 460V. Nice boom, good flash. Hard to compare the recoil and blast due to the comp. Even then, I'm under 44 Mag pressure levels.
(For the record, I segregate that ammo from the other *45 Colts loads.)

*Quick sidebar: Local indoor range says 45 Colt is largest caliber allowed on range. Didn't say what power level it could be loaded to :p.​

(E) :cool:
 
I do not counsel people to exceed action and/or brass strength.

Regardless of the fact that the max SAAMI pressure for 45 Colt is 30K CUP, I shoot 45 Colt in a M92 Puma and I'm not afraid to match 36K CUP 44 Mag pressures in it. Mind you, this same gun is chambered in 454 Casull that's rated at 65K psi, so 36K CUP is not "over pressure". The Starline brass I use is more than strong enough at that pressure.
 
Why not the S&W 460XVR and you can shoot the 45lc , 454c or the 460 S&W .. Pick your punch.. 454c factory loads seem to have a decent fireball but the 460 hornady factory loads(under the right conditions) has an impressive visible shock wave with the appropriate noise level. (neat to shoot on indoor rifle range makes others take a look)

I know off topic but if you want the big bang .. Al
 
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