Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 44 spl revolver vs 45acp compact pistol

Been playing and working northwest Wyoming for twenty plus years. Started carrying a 44 revolver, was very happy with a model 69 Smith for awhile. Ten years ago or more I started carrying a Sig C3. A Saeco 058 at 935 fps has killed a pile of prairie dogs, picket pins, rockchucks, rattlers and stuff I don’t remember. Never worried about picking up brass as I have a lot of it. Eight rounds to start and a quick seven as a reload. Flat, fairly lightweight and easy to carry. Walking all day in varied terrain up to 10k elevation makes you want LIGHTWEIGHT.

If concealed carry in town, in warm weather is on the agenda, I would prefer the autopistol. That said, if I'm carrying such I would prefer it to be a 9mm with greater capacity and lower profile (think Sig 365 etc.) For outdoor walking around, hunting, most other outdoor uses I would prefer the .44 Special (or magnum or .41 magnum or .45 Colt) with a good flat-nosed bullet over any autopistol.

You can always have the best - or worst - of both worlds with an S&W 325. Not the NG but the 2.5" bbl, titanium cylinder 45 ACP revolver. 22 ounces and, if you handload, you can use any FP bullet you want to load in a 45 ACP case, or carry the same EDC loads you carry in an auto.

Pretty similar performance as the 44 Spl, if you want a light revolver in an effective cartridge.

In a compact piece, either will do. Many suggest GP100s or N frames but those are not compact. You might look at Charter Bulldogs or Pit bulls. They are offered in both calibers. The 45acp does not require moon clips. Really neat.
You may rethink heavy bullets and big loads since recoil and control become an issue very quickly with a compact.