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Which should I keep: 45 Colt or 44 mag?

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Jlr2267

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Ok guys/gals, need some opinions on which to keep. The 45 is a 4.2" fairly new Redhawk, the 44 is a 1980's vintage 5.5" Redhawk. I absolutely LOVE both, and reload for both, but one of them MUST go.

The 44 is smooth as butter, accurate with my handloads, and is an all around great revolver for hunting and plinking.

The 45 is not as smooth (will be with age, I am sure), also very accurate, and is much more convenient with the shorter barrel.

The 45, with hot loads is every bit as much as the hottest 44 mag, but has heavier recoil when loaded up.

Bullets are roughly same cost, 45 brass is a little more expensive, not much, so no advantage either way there.

If I did (god forbid) need to buy factory ammo, 44 is more available, and there are more choices. I can't easily buy 45 Colt "Ruger-only" loads off the shelf, so I'd be stuck with cowboy loads in a pinch.

So I guess my thinking is that the 45 is more versatile, as long as you are able to roll your own, but if not, the 44 wins....

Thoughts?
 
I'm of the opinion that in general, older guns are better quality than newer.

You can load the .44 Mag down to .44 Spl. specs, or just use .44 Spl. cartridges which probably approximate .45 Colt. As you noted, you won't find hot .45 loads on the shelf. Either caliber can have a lever rifle to match.

I'd keep the .44.
 
I also have a vintage mid-80's (just after they were introduced) Ruger Redhawk with the 5.5" barrel and it's a keeper. Great balance and very accurate. That would be my choice.
 
If it's maximum versatility you want the 44 wins every time. But the 45 is a much handier package. Tough choice but I'd go with the 44.
 
i have a bunch of guns in both .45 Colt and .44 Mag. To date I've sold off three or four .45 Colts…and no .44's.

I vote that you keep the .44.
 
Yeah, I'd keep the .44 as well. But I'd also try everything I could to keep the .45 too! I hate selling guns to pay bills, I always lose a piece of my soul when that happens.
 
I'm not much a revolver person, but I'd personally rather have a .44 magnum than .45 LC.
 
I had to make the same choice several years ago, and I chose .45 Colt. I also have a 4.2" Redhawk and a 5.5" Bisley Blackhawk in .45 Colt and I love them both. Eventually I would like to get a rifle in .45 Colt. I don't have anything at all against the .44 magnum, but I prefer the .45 Colt. Cor-Bon, Buffalo Bore, and Double Tap make hot .45 Colt loads.
 
The only advice I can offer is that I have often regretted the sale of many of my guns.
 
I have no advise to offer, think about this: Elmer Keith said he gave up the .45 colt in favor of the .44spl. Re sixguns and cartridges
 
Down through the years, I've always told myself I'd get a S&W 629 or Ruger Single Action in 44 Magnum. Instead, I bought three or four single action 45 Colts. I've never missed the 44 nor have I ever regretted getting the 45 Colt instead. What I do regret is passing on the Colt Anaconda in 45 Colt when I had the chance.

It may be easier to find high performance 44 Magnums, you can equal or better it's terminal performance with the 45 Colt due to it's larger diameter bullet with less recoil. My choice would be to sell the 44 Magnum because the real answer is to keep what you like to shoot and I like to shoot the 45 Colt much better than the 44 Magnum or 44 Special
 
Wow, I'm honestly surprised so few voted for the 45 Colt...I guess deep down, like most of you, I have a soft spot for the 44mag.

It does not have quite the history of 45Colt, but growing up in the " Dirty Harry " years, its just got that allure that's hard to put into words.

Thanks to all for helping make the decision easier.
 
I made the choice 5 years ago and kept the .44 Mag. It's more versatile, you can load it up or down to do almost anything. I don't miss the .45 Colt but would like to have another revolver in .45 acp.
 
Is that 5.5" .44 blued?
If so, a sale of it would have you into the .45 pretty dang reasonable.

Either way though, I agree with the gang that the .44 is the keeper of the two.
Brass is a little more available with a wider range of jacketed bullets.

If the economic/political situation gets to where you and I are shut off from reloading components, I expect factory to be a little out of my range.

Mistwolf,
I had a chance at a like new 4" 45 Anaconda from a friend who got it for cheap. Should have bought it (who knew!) because I collect Colts, but what a POS it was on the line.
Been loading for .45s (the 190 and 424 along with Hornadys 250 SP) quite a while so I knew what to try.
The gun was at it's best with a solid 4" group. Can best that with any of my service 9mms. It just would not shoot.
Other than the collecting aspect, I do not regret passing on it at all.

JT
 
The 5 1/2" barrel is the perfect length for the Redhawk frame.

I'd keep the one that is that length regardless of what caliber it was in.


As to caliber... if you roll your own for a Redhawk.. it's six of one, half dozen of the other.
 
Why must either one "go?"

Don't you have something else; silverware, wife's jewelry, TV, wife's car, that you can part with?

Bob Wright
 
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