44mag or 45colt

I like both but I went with the 44 mag.... Mostly because I own more 44 mag revolvers than 45 LCs and tend to reload more for the 44 than I do the 45..... Also like Voodoo said, the 44 is a little easier to find and is a little cheaper....

One more thing, and this part I can't verify from much personal experience with the 45LC in rifles so if your results or opinion differ you'll get no argument from me, but I have heard from several sources and it seems logical that the 44's often shoot a little better than the 45s... The reason I'm told is that the barrel wall thickness gets pretty thin on a lot of levers when they are chambered in 45LC, like the Rossi for example, compared to the same rifle in 44 mag or 357... I myself have had surprisingly good accuracy from lever actions in both 357 and 44...

They are both great rounds. I had both for a while. When I decided to downsize/consolidate a bit, I decided to keep the .44 magnums. Really can't go wrong either way.

This thread makes me want to run right out and buy a Henry lever action in 44 mag.
Maybe this fall before deer season.

The emotional response is the the 45 Colt. It has a lot of history.

But, the shooter response is the 44 Magnum. The 44 Magnum is much more practical to shoot: It has stronger brass, is much easier to find, and (if shooting factory) much less expensive to shoot. The reloading components for 44 Magnum are less expensive. IF you want a hot load, the 44 Magnum is available from the factory and a lower risk platform (because of the stronger brass) if you handload.

Either will serve most folks big bore needs. I presently own 5 firearms in .45 Colt, and have owned as many as 7. As such I have never felt a need for the .44, but would be just as happy with one, or more.

My Marlin 1894 in 44 RM is my fav lever gun (also: 39a, 1894 .357, 1895 .45-70).
19th century AR.
There are plenty of guns I’d trade before I traded it...
Greg

44 Mag. The Marlin 1894 ejects from the side, making it possible to easily mount a scope. A
very useful feature.

Dr T said:

The emotional response is the the 45 Colt. It has a lot of history.

But, the shooter response is the 44 Magnum. The 44 Magnum is much more practical to shoot: It has stronger brass, is much easier to find, and (if shooting factory) much less expensive to shoot. The reloading components for 44 Magnum are less expensive. IF you want a hot load, the 44 Magnum is available from the factory and a lower risk platform (because of the stronger brass) if you handload.

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Modern 44 brass is no stronger than modern 45 Colt brass. The advantage to the 45 Colt is that bullets of the same weight as the 44 can be loaded to the same velocities at less pressure.

I prefer the 45 Colt to the 44 Magnum. The 44 Magnum is a good choice, but overall the 45 Colt in a modern arm is a little bit better.

Since I already had three revolvers chambered for .45 Colt, the choice was obvious.

MistWolf said:

Modern 44 brass is no stronger than modern 45 Colt brass. The advantage to the 45 Colt is that bullets of the same weight as the 44 can be loaded to the same velocities at less pressure.

I prefer the 45 Colt to the 44 Magnum. The 44 Magnum is a good choice, but overall the 45 Colt in a modern arm is a little bit better.

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The pressure difference doesn't really mean anything. The .44 is a little faster and a little better penetrator and the .45 is a little bigger but the net difference is a wash.

The .431” bores are a pain in the but for the cast bullet shooter. Because of that I would get the 45 just because it makes life simpler.

CraigC said:

The pressure difference doesn't really mean anything. The .44 is a little faster and a little better penetrator and the .45 is a little bigger but the net difference is a wash.

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You can load the same weight bullet in a 45 to the same velocity as the same weight bullet as the 44 at a little bit lower pressure.

The same weight bullet in the 44 will penetrate a little bit more than the same weight bullet in the 45. However, the 45 can be loaded with a heavier bullet than the 44 for even better penetration. Of course, that usually means more recoil.

My answer would be 45 Colt. I have a Blackhawk in 45 Colt and already reload for that. If I did not already have 45 Colt I'd likely for 44 Mag.

-Jeff

MistWolf said:

You can load the same weight bullet in a 45 to the same velocity as the same weight bullet as the 44 at a little bit lower pressure.

The same weight bullet in the 44 will penetrate a little bit more than the same weight bullet in the 45. However, the 45 can be loaded with a heavier bullet than the 44 for even better penetration. Of course, that usually means more recoil.

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Far as I can tell, the .45 always lags behind with equal weight bullets and lags even further behind with bullets of comparable sectional density. The lower pressure is meaningless. Comparable loads will have comparable recoil and muzzle blast.

What weight bullets can be loaded in the .45 that can't be loaded in the .44?

CraigC said:

Far as I can tell, the .45 always lags behind with equal weight bullets and lags even further behind with bullets of comparable sectional density. The lower pressure is meaningless. Comparable loads will have comparable recoil and muzzle blast.

What weight bullets can be loaded in the .45 that can't be loaded in the .44?

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Is there a 360 grain .44 factory load? DoubleTap makes one:
http://www.doubletapammo.net/index.php?route=product/product&path=303_351&product_id=434

I don't pay much attention to factory loads but there is a 340gr Buffalo Bore at well over 1400fps. There is also a 355gr Beartooth .44 WLN that can be pushed to 1250fps at standard pressures and outpenetrates the 360gr .45Colt.

Garrett Cartridge makes a factory .45 Colt +P with a 405 gr @ 1,250 (7-1/2" bbl.)

Lee Martin wrote about some crazy .45 Colt loads such as a 350 gr making 1560 fps from a custom five-shot revolver. Might be cheating to compare to .44 from a factory revolver though?

One thing about the .45 Colt is that many chambers are cut a bit loose and the brass is somewhat thinner as well. So compared to the .44 it may push the same weight to the same speed at lower pressures, but with a generous chamber and thinner brass (and maybe thinner chamber walls) it might require being kept at somewhat lower pressures than a .44, making them end up about equal. Just speculating there though.

i like them both and own both but if I just had to choose one it would be the 45 Colt. its easier to find factory ammo from mild to wild for a non reloaders standpoint. plus some 44 mag lever guns don't feed well with 44spl and have to be tuned to run them both.

There are 405gr bullets from Beartooth but that weight doesn't really work in either cartridge. They really peak with the 355/360gr weights.

If your primary purpose is casual shooting and plinking, I would go with neither. I would go with one in .357 mag and feed it a steady diet of inexpensive .38 spl 158 rn lead. It will be easy on the shoulder, ears and wallet.

I chose 44mag. Couldn’t be happier. It’s never failed to put venison or pork in my freezer.

I agree with a few others. If you don't reload, 44 mag is cheaper and easier to find while most 45 colt you see at stores is downloaded for cowboy action and older guns. If you reload, then your options open up and 45 Colt looks a lot better and the matching pistols are cheaper.

I don't reload and I have a stainless JM Marlin 1894 in 44 mag.

.44 mag will do anything .45 LC will and you can shoot .44 special much cheaper than 45 LC for plinking and be much more powerful with .44 mag rounds without needing to reload.

44 mag, for the power, and availability. Also, I believe those things can take 44 special, which is nice.

45 colt great cartridge I own a rossi r92 stainless wood 16in barrel and a pair of heritage big bore revolvers all these in 45 colt I even cast my own lead bullets and if you want my reload info just holler and i'll share with you what I do! but I love my 45 colt guns!!