.44 spcl vs. .45 LC for self defense?

[HiWayMan]

I am looking at getting either the model 445 (.44 spcl) or the model 450 (.45LC) made by Taurus to replace my Taurus 651 (.357mag) as my primary carry gun. Both have a 5-shot capacity. Either piece would be taken to the smith for dehorning, hammer spur removal, and grip shortening. Also, I intend to hanload for this gun, so ammo availability won't be an issue. I am curious what everyone's feelings are about these cartridges. Is one historically better than the other as a self-defense load?

Thanks all.

Ryan

 

[Werewolf]

.45 LC hands down. IMO The cartridge is much more versatile than the .44 Special. There's a good variety of bullet types available and it is an inherently more powerful round than the 44.

If one wants .44 spcl performance all one has to do with a .45LC is download it. One can push 250gr bullets at 1000FPS out of a .45LC and still be within SAAMI specs. I'm not sure but I don't think you can do that with a .44 spcl and not get into the +P range.

With .45LC you get the best of both worlds - don't limit yourself with a .44 Special.

 

[SWMAN]

45 Colt

When I carry a wheel gun as a CCW, its my SW 25. The 45 colt is a big bore with flexibility as to what you can shoot, from cowboy rounds to magnum hunting round power. One size fits all.

 

[unspellable]

44 Special vs 45 Colt

I'd say the 44 Special is the more versatile cartridge for many reasons, but that's not really the question here.

Given factory loads only in a snubby for social purposes I'd take the 44 Special with the Blazer 200 grain hollow point loads unless there's a 45 Colt factory load lurking out there that I'm not aware of.

Given handloads below the +P range, the 45 Colt does have more horse power. If you can handle the recoil in a snubby pocket revolver and if you can find a suitable bullet it might be good choice.

Either one will beat out a 32 ACP.

 

[halvey]

I'd say the 44 Special is the more versatile cartridge for many reasons, but that's not really the question here.

I think that's exactly the question here.

I'd go with the .45 Colt. You can really load them hot. Most load books "underload" the 45 Colt because of the issue with strength of the older SAA's. Besides, you can use your .45 bullets in the .45 Colt.

 

[unspellable]

44 vs 45

I thought the question was which one would be best in a snubby pocket revolver, not which one is most versatile.

 

[roo_ster]

.44spl=6 & .45Colt=1/2dozen

Do you currently load for anything with a .429 bore? Go .44spl, if you wanna save $$$ on dies & bullets.

Do you currently load for anything with a .452 bore? See above.

Yeah, looking at the relaoding data & pressures, the .45Colt has a greater top-end range. Would you really use top-end loads in a snubby? Cor-bon explicitly said that their hot .45Colt loads were too hot for the 450.

All that said, I'd probably go for the 450 in titanium.

 

[fulloflead]

I HAD that gun in 44 special! (445) I don't know what I was thinking when I sold it. It was a darned good gun and Cor-bon 44 Special defense loads were a handful in it even though it was the steel and not titanium model.

I'd go with the 44 Special because even though the 44 is a much shorter cartridge, the cylinder is the same length at the 45LC. Since there will be that extra room in the cylinder in front of the 44 you won't have to worry about the bullets jumping their crimp under recoil and binding up cylinder rotation.

Ballistically, it's probably a toss-up. By the way they make those guns in ALL KINDS of configurations including bobbed hammer models so you might be able to find one you like and not have to pay a gunsmith to customize it for you.

 

[Bill B.]

I personally like the 45LC and own three of them. In a carry 5 shot carry gun the 44 special will serve the purpose just as well as the 45LC. Any thing that gets hit by either "isn't" going to walk away. As far as how hot the 45LC can be loaded is a moot point in a 5 shot carry gun. Recoil and hits on follow up shots are more important considerations IMO.


That was posed to be isn't not is! I think both the 44 Special and the 45 LC are excellent. Sorry about the typo ........ .

 

[Elkslayer]

There is a dandy S&W M24-3, 3" just listed in Buy, Sell, Trade Handguns.

Bet it won't last for long!

 

[HiWayMan]

Bill B.-
"Any thing that gets hit by either is going to walk away."

Please explain this. Do you also harbor the same feelings about the .45 ACP? The muzzle velocities tend to be similiar.

 

[McCall911]

<<Is one historically better than the other as a self-defense load?>>>


I don't like to talk about such things generally, but as I work in law enforcement I personally know of two real world shootings involving a .45 Long Colt. Neither one was fatal, and both were treated and released from the hospital. One was an abdominal shot, the other a wound to the upper right shoulder. The only thing from my personal recollection with regard to the .44 Special was a suicide, which obviously does not count.
I personally have no confidence in the .45 Colt revolver cartridge for self-defense, but that's just me. Good luck to you in your choice.

 

[Wedge]

.45 Colt.

There are some decent self-defense rounds. Speer Gold Dot, 250 gr, 900 fps.

.44 Spec.

Nothing to sneeze at either. Speer Gold Dot, 200 gr, 875 fps.

I think that the .45 Colt would be the better choice.

 

[Bill B.]

HiWayMan

Yes, I do feel the same way about the 45 ACP. I like the big slow 200 grain + bullets because they have a lot of knockdown and the recoil is manageable. I also like the 357 mag. but not out a J frame snubbie. It depends on the round you decide to launch from either the 44 or the 45 and at what vel. to determine it's effect. As far as that goes the standard lead round in either the 44 special or the 45 LC in a carry gun is still a very good compared to what most carry; a J frame snubbie. Then again this is just my opinion and worth what it cost ......... .

 

[Magnum88C]

Either will really do the job in such a revolver, so get the one that you "like" the best.

Personally, I prefer the .45 Colt.

 

[SunBear]

Blazer 45 LC 200gr JHP @ 900 - 1000 fps

 

[Wedge]

I almost forgot a load I have used in my Ruger Blackhawk.

300gr soft point, 1300 fps.

Yeah, even 44 MAGNUMS have a tough time keeping up with that

DON'T SHOOT THAT IN A TAURUS!!!!

 

[fulloflead]

I have some of those from Buffalo Bore. Shooting one of those through a snubby would be like getting hit in the hand by a Buick.

 

[tc300mag1]

I dont think ya could go wrong with either but i will say go 45 always had a thing for 45 acp and 45 colt course the 45 colt has a proven track record in the old west back before we had all these power houses...



But saying that the new Super Redhawk Alaskan 2
1/2 snubbie in 454 casull would get the job done .

 

[zeke]

HiWayMan- originally would have recommended the 44 special, but then thought maybe both these pistols are snubbies? Don't know the Taurus models. Are these below 3 inchs in barrel length?

There are more cannelured 44 caliber bullets available in the lighter weights (180-200 grains), but may not have reliable opening at velocitys generally given by less than 3 inches in barrel length.

Would not count on Speers 45 LC 250 grain GD, opening up from a snubbie, or even at 900 fps. Another personal opinion is heavier jhps from either caliber in snubs may be difficult to control for accuracy.

There are fewer 45 caliber bullets available with cannelures (in the lighter weights), but there are 45 acp bullets, which are made to open at the lower velocities. This may be why some saved (stock piled) those 350 count Speer value packs of the original "flying ashtray"

Both calibers have a variety of lead bullets or moulds availble with larger meplats.

Would also be concerned over empty case length, as it related to ease of extraction.

Corbon offers alternatives for either caliber, which may work in the shorter barreel lengths.

 

[MrMurphy]

An abdominal hit or a shoulder hit in ANY caliber isn't going to usually drop somone in their tracks, though an abdominal hit will eventually kill the guy if not treated.


If that .45 Colt round had hit the upper chest, he'd have been a goner.

 

[Marshall]

I have the following two guns, a Model 696 .44sp and a Model 25-13 .45 Colt. Which caliber is better? Well, it depends on what it's used for. Defense, both will do. Hunting, the .45 Colt. Carry? In this example of my two guns, the 696 is better for concealabiltiy and carry of course, being an L frame with a 3" bbl as opposed to a N frame 4" bbl.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. If interested here are some observations on the .44 Special and .45 Colt:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Comparing 44 Special to 45 Colt.htm

Best.

 

[McCall911]

Don't get me wrong....



I've shot both cartridges (44 Spc & .45 LC) and think the .45 Colt especially, even with factory loads, is a very accurate cartridge. I think it's a really great shooter with a good deal of history and legend behind it, and I understand a lot of people are taking some sizeable game using hot handloads. Also I wasn't exactly panning the cartridge based only on those two shootings that I reported earlier, I was just reporting. So take my report for what it's worth, if anything. Maybe someone else knows of different experiences with the cartridge, which I'd also like to hear about.

My lack of confidence with regard to the .45 Colt revolver cartridge is based mainly on my relative inexperience with the cartridge, plus my GREAT confidence in the .357 Magnum--and I don't even own one nowadays!

 

[Stainz]

The Speer #4427 200gr GDJHP .429" bullet was made for low speed, ie, .44 Special snubby, opening. Actually, unlike that higher speed designed 200gr GDJHP in .45 Colt, the #4427 is claimed to open by 800fps. It is loaded in the CCI Blazer ammo - and GA Arms slightly higher new ammo; the former in Al, the latter in Starline brass. I have chrono-ed them at 805 fps from my S&W 296's 2.5" barrel, 835-840 fps from my 696's 3" barrel, and 870+fps from my 6.5" 24's. The 200gr GDJHP in .44 Spcl is my HD/PD round.

The .45 Colt Speer 200gr GDJHP, in GA Arms Starline brass, really is a lot faster, as it must be since it's GD is the high speed design. I have chrono-ed it from 1123 fps in my S&W 625MG's 4" barrel, 1210 fps from my 5.5" Redhawk, and 1424 fps from my 24" Puma M1892. It may very well be a decent deer round in the MG! For protection, I still prefer the 2.5" Ti 296. I have switched to the GA Arms rounds due to a split Al Blazer case earlier this year. Besides, you get more good .44 Special brass, a 'good thing', as Martha, who now resides in a 'gated community' would say.

Stainz