Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 45 Colt vs. 44 Mag - splain

Sure like the looks of "Mr. Hammer"!!

My God this is as silly as the 308 vs 30-06 debates. Anyone or anything hit in a vital area by a max load 44 mag or max loaded 45 colt will never know the difference as they will be DEAD.
All the rest is like picking flysh-t out of the pepper.

Well, the original poster wanted to know how/why does a 45 Colt compare to a 44 mag. Now he's got the answer. It does compare rather nicely when loaded with modern brass and used in the proper firearms. Pretty simple really. And yes, if a critter is hit in the vitals with either it will die. If the shooter has the luxury of shot placement that is. If not, as in a bear defense situation or if the moose or elk turns at the last second so the bullet has to travel through lots of flesh and bone, then the 350-360 gr bullet just might give that extra edge of needed penetration. Which then of course brings us to the issue of how big of a handgun/caliber is one willing to carry that he can shoot proficiently. A 460, a 475, a 500?? A lower pressure/lower recoiling 45 Colt may also just give the shooter a better chance at the second follow up shot if he's not lunch meat after getting first one off. Hopefully I'll never find out! I"ve come close but not THAT close thankfully.

Not even going to bring up using (trimmed 454 brass).....

I don't pay much attention to a lot of the miniscule stuff. I just pick the right bullet and velocity for the job and go hunting/shooting.

I'd guess all here know that but it's discussing things you like and know which is why it comes down to minutiae....like what, 80% of all the other this-cartridge-vs.-that cartridge discussions on this site.

Both are great cartridges. I think the main point is the 44 mag hit the public in full stride, while the 45 Colt had slowly been jogging along in its weaker guns. Now that there are strong revolvers it to can become a sprinter.

Y'all have wild hogs in Idaho? I didn't know.

Personally, I wasn't arguing on the basis of brass. I've posted so much on this subject of late, that I don't know where I've said what. Somewhere I said balloon head cases are so scarce and collectible that you would have a hard time finding one, let alone reloading it with a hot load.

If you're going on the basis of how much the case will hold alone, the 44-40 holds more than the .44 Magnum and so should be able to exceed its velocities...

Mack, I'm starting to think you don't like jackrabbits...

We did, but I killed him and ate him.

Cole,
They are not wild. There is a rancher that imported them.

I don't think he knew he was shot with an inferior .44 mag load of 10 grains Unique and a 240 grain cast SWC.

In my 5.5" Redhawk I get 1200 fps or so with the 300 XTP with H110 in my 44 mag.

In my 45 colt Ruger Bisley Black hawk 5.5" barrel I get the same exact thing with 300 XTP and H110.
I rarely load them to this though.

Nothing really that much different. One has higher sectional density the other slightly higher cross sectional area.

Flip a coin.

Not much to add except the guys I know who only shoot max loads don't shoot much. I've found that the .41, .44, and .45 loaded with a hard cast bullet at 950 fps will drop a deer (or jackrabbit) if I hit it in the right place.

So does the 45 ACP. They really make a mush of the lungs

I agree but bullet selection is really important with that round (not that it isn't with others). The first deer I killed with a 45 ACP was with 185 gr. Silvertips - that was a mistake. Penetration was horrible. The next deer was with a 225 gr hard cast at about 950 fps - it worked much better.

Hard cast are hard to beat in any handgun IMHO, even for personal defence

You like those so called "safe" Buffalo Bore loads, you shoot'em. I've seen several of them lock up Marlin lever guns that they are suppose to be designed for. No thanks. E

I do shoot them and have shot equivelent reloads for many years before Buffalo Bore came on the scene.