.44 Magnum vs. .45 Colt Magnumized

[oregon45]

I own 44 Magnums because I like S&W Model 29's and Ruger Flattops.

I own 45 Colts because I like Ruger Bisley's and S&W Model 25's.

Either cartridge will drive a 250-300gr bullet to 1000fps and that is all the power I need, or want, in a revolver cartridge these days, after years of pounding my wrists with heavy recoil.

Buy the gun that makes you happy; whether it is a 44 Magnum or a 45 Colt is largely irrelevant, particularly if you are a hand loader.

Edited to add: I never had extraction issues with my Marlin 1894 in 45 Colt when using Starline brass. Some off-brand brass from gunshow reloads I picked up had very small rims, and those resulted in some failures-to-extract from a dirty chamber in the 1894, but standardizing all my brass to Starline fixed that problem.

[BehindBlueI's]

I suppose if I had to have only one, it'd be the .45 Colt. Not because I enjoy shooting it that much more, but because I enjoy loading for it that much more. It's hard to explain, but it's just more fun. But I don't have to choose just one, so I didn't.

[Trooper224]

In my younger years I was really into big boomer revolvers and did a lot of load experimentation with the .45 Colt. While it's still a favorite, these days my hands down choice would be the .44 magnum. Overall I can do whatever I want with both of them through handloading. However, I can walk into almost any shop in the world that sells ammo and find .44 mag on the shelf, not so with. 45 Colt.

[OlongJohnson]

Attachment 47258

I’m not feeling a lot of motivation to go bigger than the .357, personally. These will do everything needed from a Magnum in my area.

If I ever do go bigger, it will probably be just a case of “I wantsit” not a need, so it will be whatever is making me feel the wants. B/C of wrist pain, it will be something that can be fired most of the time without being a beast, even if I’m not handloading. Thus, it will probably be a .45LC, not a .44 Magnum.

That's kinda where I'm at, but with more Ruger. I got out of the .430 business, selling some .444 Marlin rifles and my 629. All I have left is some .44 ammo and bullets that still need to get sold.

For some reason, though, I've started looking at Model 25s lately. This thread has me rethinking that.

[paul105]

I have both. Shot the crap out of both. Favorite short guns are S&W M69 and Freedom Arms M97. Have Rossi .44 Mag 16" carbine and 20" .454 Carbine (also shoots .45 Colt) -- just no real difference until you get into .454.
U
I've settled on the .44 Mag. No reason other than I shoot a bunch of different guns in that caliber.

Here are some pictures of the guns:

FA97 4 1/4" .45 Colt



S&W M69 2 3/4" M69 (5 shot L Frame), 4" M329 Ti/SC, 6" M629



Some chrono results:

Buffalo Bore, 305 LBT LFN HC rated 1,325 fps
Underwood, 305 LFNGC Plated (HiTech?) rated 1,325 fps
LabRadar muzzle velocity at 33 deg F

S&W M69 2.75" ===> BB 1,195 fps ===> Under 1,147fps
S&W M69 4.25" ===> BB 1,276 fps ===> Under 1,248 fps
Ruger SRH 7.5" ===> BB 1,395 fps ===> Under 1,315 fps

FWIW,

Paul

[Bigghoss]

Man, I wish I could afford a Freedom Arms. Well I guess I could if I really wanted but I could get 3 Blackhawks for the price and probably never wear out the first one. I guess what I really want is to be cool enough to justify a FA. Yeah, just a bunch of land, a couple really fancy six-guns, and a single room cabin with a bed and a reloading press.

[Duelist]

Man, I wish I could afford a Freedom Arms. Well I guess I could if I really wanted but I could get 3 Blackhawks for the price and probably never wear out the first one. I guess what I really want is to be cool enough to justify a FA. Yeah, just a bunch of land, a couple really fancy six-guns, and a single room cabin with a bed and a reloading press.

Add an appropriate rifle and shotgun, and a dog, and I’m there.

[Bigghoss]

Add an appropriate rifle and shotgun, and a dog, and I’m there.

I already have a nice sporterized Mauser and a Savage 99 plus a bunch of H&R singles...

[kihnspiracy]

If you reload, .45 Colt. If you don't .44 mag/.44special is easier to find.

[Duelist]

I already have a nice sporterized Mauser and a Savage 99 plus a bunch of H&R singles...

Winchester Model 70 .270, Marlin 1894 .357, Ithaca 37 Featherlight 12g.