.45 vs .44

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the 45 acp should be fine for "large game defense", PROPERLY LOADED. hardball or hardcast flatpoint bullets should work ok.

even a 44 mag should have the appropriate bullet (don't want to bounce one off a bear's skull).

murf
 
Since you specified 45 acp, not just any 45 caliber, I would go with the 44 magnum in a single action revolver, preferably a Blackhawk. The SA is a simpler mechanism to maintain, can handle more diverse ammo, and won't toss potentially valuable brass all over the landscape. This is supposed to be a bug out situation, so I assume preserving resources is desirable. Also, as you can tell, I'm a revolver guy. ;)

My own preference would be a Blackhawk in 45 Colt, maybe with the optional 45 acp cylinder to use for lighter applications.

Jeff
 
Realize somebody already mentioned it: 10mm. Who would choose 10mm over 44 mag in grizzly country: me.

I read something somewhere (Don't you love my refs?) that any caliber 200 gr. and up and 1,000 FPS+ is capable of penetrating a grizz skull. Which means a 200 gr. 45ACP +P @ 1,000 with a SD of .140 should do it. A 200 gr. 10mm @ 1200 with a SD of .178 will definately do it.

A Glock 20 is the same size as a 3" L frame, smaller than a 3" N frame with 16 rds. on tap before a reload. Also remember most 44 mag box flap velocity #'s are from 6" vented test barrels. Is the 44 magnum mpre powerful than the 10mm? Yes it is. The 10mm loaded properly is still a very viable SHTF sidearm caliber for protection against anything in the central and even northern Rocky Mtns. IMO of course, as always!
 
.44 mag in levergun.

Sidearm is just that, something for backup.
 
You know settlers carried pistols and rifles in 44-40 and 38-40. Would not be the greatest against bear, especially mad bear.

You have to think about weight if you are going to carry all this.
 
I am picking up my Winchester 94 Packer hopefully next month in .44 magnum which will make a perfect camp/truck gun. It will lob 300 grain bullets at approximately 1800 fps which is in the range of 45-70 loads at the lower end. Great little addition to go along with my Marlin .444 and my Ruger SRH.

I think anyone that ventures into grizzly country with anything less is not using all of their marbles. Even that is way below grizzly minimal calibers. Even the African caliber weapons fail to stop these critters at times. This is not a time to consider little SA as a grizzly side arm even though there are cases where it has worked. Penetration and stopping power is the name of the game in grizzly country and I hope I never have to put those factors to a test. The Feds are scarier than that grizzly.
 
Doncha just love all the big bear experts on gun boards? :D DAMN, I'm glad I live in Texas. Nothing here but a few blackies out west, mountain lions, and gators to worry about. Don't go swimmin' with the gators, black bear are just big racoons. Lions, well, they're out there, but attacks are really rare here cause there ain't that many around and the ones that are around have plenty of hogs to eat. :D
 
I happen to have known two guys who got into that argument (well, a woman and a lot of liquor were also involved). Contrary to what I would have expected, the guy with the .45 auto was the winner; he died several hours later than the guy with the .44 Magnum.

Jim
 
Suburbia .45 acp kills anything you may come across: and does so very well. I don't even bother with hollow points: The 230 grain FMJ at 850 fps has buried fascists, communists, totalitarians, zealots, guerrillas, anarchists and tribesmen on various continents across the globe. Dead, planted: in the ground. With great success and ample zeal. When it comes to predation creatures of the two legged variety: few other pistol cartridges have been as time honored and successful as the .45 acp.

That being said: it's not my first choice for dealing with quadrupeds. Particularly the big furry ones with very menacing teeth...

For just such an occasion: the 250 grain SWC keith .44 magnum load has proven equally affective against four legged predators as the .45 acp has been against their two legged counterparts.

Usually I like to give $0.02, that was $1.50, free of charge: it's on me.
 
rocky mountains of Colorado would you rather have a .45acp or a .44 magnum on your hip?

........... My problem is that a .45 would be effective against humans (high cap, faster target acquisition, more common caliber) but not great for large game defense
Click to expand...

What exactly do you think you'll run into out here?

Pumas are the greatest danger (which is minimal to an adult male), and they'd be easily dispatched with a .45. They're not that big at ~150 pounds for a large tom, and pretty thin skinned. The problem is getting a shot off on the stealthiest predator in North America....

We do have black bears, but they're pretty timid creatures. I, as well as many family members & friends, have run across them numerous times, and they can't get away fast enough. They want nothin' to do with us bipedal critters.

I suppose a ticked off moose is always a possibility, but they don't hunt us, so just be aware of your surroundings and don't put yourself in the position where one feels threatened by you.

Me? My sidearm when hiking/camping/hunting is a 10mm.
 
10 mm in CO is probably just fine. WY, MT, ID, not so much since they do have grizzly up here as several people every year find out and some tragically. Here, big bore and high powered is the name of the game. CO, yes, 10 mm is a great choice properly loaded of course.
 
When hiking, I usually have a medium framed .357 on me. It's light and powerful enough and trumps the .45 ACP by a good margin on game. I can load it with wadcutters, make the elevation change, and shoot small game for the camp fire. One inch at 25 yards accurate off the bench. Versatile. :D
 
It distinctly outperforms the 44MAG period.
Click to expand...
The .44Mag distinctly has a 100fps advantage across the board with all bullet weights. The .44Mag, at the upper end, maintains a sectional density advantage over the .45Colt. The two cartridges are so distinctly equal it ain't even funny.


The 230 grain FMJ at 850 fps has buried fascists, communists, totalitarians, zealots, guerrillas, anarchists and tribesmen on various continents across the globe.
Click to expand...
Ever tried hardball on something live? I have, it is dismal beyond words. Yes, it's put a lot of people in the ground but so has the .22LR. :rolleyes:
 
+1 on hardball^^^^^

I bought my .45 colt because I handload and I wanted it. .44 mag works just as well as the high end .45 stuff, I won't argue that point. I don't own a .44, though, never really wanted one, and I don't load .45 Colt to the ragged edge, either. Just ME.
 
Im thinkin a .44 Redhawk Alaskan. Would prefer a longer barrel but dont want anything to bulky. Any opinions on the Alaskan?
 
I don't know CraigC. The main problem is most people don't move .45 hardball fast enough. I used to take a .45 Colt case, fill with H110 put 230 grain Super hard cast Nevada 230 grain ball on top and go shooting. Funny things start working better when the bullets going 1800 fps...:evil:
 
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