Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 44 mag vs 45 LC (Ruger)

I have a Ruger NMBH 4 5/8" in 45 Colt and a SBH 4 5/8". I don't load heavy bullets. 240-250 grs.

I've not noticed any noise difference. But my hearing hasn't faired well with age. Loads between 1200 and 1300 fps are to my perception brutal in the 45 but more tolerable in the SBH.. But I have wider grip panels on the 44.. When I had a CO bear tag, I packed the 44.. But that's because it was newer than the 45., and I wanted to use the newer gun.


For most of the 20+ years I hunted elk in CO I packed a 4" model 29 S&W.. It carries a bit easier than the hog-leg Rugers. But it's not a Ruger, and hasn't endured as well as a Ruger.

The SBH has a lower hammer spur. Some like that. I prefer the higher spur. The grip frame and ejector housing on the 45 are anodized aluminum. I prefer the extra steel on the SBH..

If a coin with a red Ruger emblem and a black emblem on opposite sides could be found, it could be flipped to make the choice. But then that leaves out the silver emblem.

It's a hard choice. I can understand the dilemma. :-)