24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 10 1 2 3 9 10
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,241
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,241
I'm considering adding a big bore handgun to my collection. Nit even sure what I want to do with it - just want to feel the power and thump, I guess. Strongly considering a Ruger Redhawk, which can be had in either .45 Colt or .44 Magnum.
What are some reasons to consider one over the other? And yes, I do handload, so ammo availability is not a concern.

Last edited by Triggernosis; 08/03/19.
BP-B2

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 130,945
T
Campfire Sage
Offline
Campfire Sage
T
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 130,945
You will have a much easier time finding loaded ammo for .44 Magnum (I know you reload, but you can find yourself without your supply somewhere, when you need to pick up ammo locally). Also permits the use of .44 Special loads (which, if you handload, can be loaded in .44 Mag cases), of which there are many power levels from very mild to stepping on the heels of Magnum, if you get tired of the hand pounding you get from the full Magnums. Special is pleasant to shoot, and about equals .45 Colt performance.

Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 20,824
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 20,824
Do you handload? if so six of one & a half dozen of the other.... if you don't... follow TRH's advice


Originally Posted by Judman
PS, if you think Trump is “good” you’re way stupider than I thought! Haha

Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 18,264
J
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
J
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 18,264
I would get the 45 Colt in a ruger if I could be satisfied that the chamber size was not smaller than the barrel dimension


Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,502
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,502
45 Colt


Direct Impingement is the Fart Joke of military rifle operating systems. ⓒ
IC B2

Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 68,922
Campfire Kahuna
Offline
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 68,922
I prefer 45 Colt. Especially if you hand load.


"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston
Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"

~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,241
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,241
Originally Posted by SargeMO
45 Colt


Do you have anything to offer as to why?

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,241
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,241
Originally Posted by The_Real_Hawkeye
You will have a much easier time finding loaded ammo for .44 Magnum (I know you reload, but you can find yourself without your supply somewhere, when you need to pick up ammo locally). Also permits the use of .44 Special loads (which, if you handload, can be loaded in .44 Mag cases), of which there are many power levels from very mild to stepping on the heels of Magnum, if you get tired of the hand pounding you get from the full Magnums. Special is pleasant to shoot, and about equals .45 Colt performance.

Can the 45 Colt not be loaded down to 44 special levels?

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 130,945
T
Campfire Sage
Offline
Campfire Sage
T
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 130,945
Originally Posted by Triggernosis
Originally Posted by SargeMO
45 Colt


Do you have anything to offer as to why?

Nostalgia.

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 130,945
T
Campfire Sage
Offline
Campfire Sage
T
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 130,945
Originally Posted by Triggernosis
Originally Posted by The_Real_Hawkeye
You will have a much easier time finding loaded ammo for .44 Magnum (I know you reload, but you can find yourself without your supply somewhere, when you need to pick up ammo locally). Also permits the use of .44 Special loads (which, if you handload, can be loaded in .44 Mag cases), of which there are many power levels from very mild to stepping on the heels of Magnum, if you get tired of the hand pounding you get from the full Magnums. Special is pleasant to shoot, and about equals .45 Colt performance.

Can the 45 Colt not be loaded down to 44 special levels?

It's already there at standard pressures. No down loading needed to pretty much duplicate .44 Special. You can also Magnumize .45 Colt. But you will have a hard time finding .45 Colt in local gun stores, but never have any trouble finding .44 Magnum. That's about the only difference. If that's meaningless to you, then flip a coin.

IC B3

Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,240
S
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
S
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,240
I'd go with 44mag for the same reasons as listed above... esp the versatility aspect.
Ammo availbility
44 Special for lit loads
44 Mag for heavy loads


"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went"
Will Rogers
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,502
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,502
Originally Posted by The_Real_Hawkeye
Originally Posted by Triggernosis
Originally Posted by SargeMO
45 Colt


Do you have anything to offer as to why?

Nostalgia.


You know me better than that.

I lived with the 44 Magnum for 30 years- carried it daily, handloaded for it and hunted with it. Fooled with the 44 Special some too. I kept the 45 Colt for its mild manners and ability to handle anything, loaded properly and from the right gun. Even the basic 1870's load, or an equivalent reload, kills all out of proportion to its 'paper ballistics' so long as you use a bullet with a healthy meplat.

Works for me. Might not work for everybody.

http://www.thesixgunjournal.net/the-45-colt-140-years-of-success/


Direct Impingement is the Fart Joke of military rifle operating systems. ⓒ
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,389
J
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
J
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,389
Double action I'd go 44, single action 45, but I'm weird that way smile

Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,618
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,618
SargeMo x2.


I want a Smith Mountain Gun in 45.
I have a 44, and two 45 SA's already, lots of components, and load for them.

The way I see it, if your going to load 1000fps or slower,
With a cast bullet, bigger is better.

How much better?
Who knows? It depends.

Mountain guns seem to be for sale less often. If I see a deal on a 44,
I might jump. It's a good cartridge.


Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,389
J
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
J
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,389
Had a S&W Mtn gun in 45 Colt and let it get away - wish I had it back...

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,241
Campfire Tracker
OP Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,241
S&W Mountain Guns are ridiculous in price nowadays.

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 130,945
T
Campfire Sage
Offline
Campfire Sage
T
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 130,945
Originally Posted by SargeMO
Originally Posted by The_Real_Hawkeye
Originally Posted by Triggernosis
Originally Posted by SargeMO
45 Colt


Do you have anything to offer as to why?

Nostalgia.


You know me better than that.

I lived with the 44 Magnum for 30 years- carried it daily, handloaded for it and hunted with it. Fooled with the 44 Special some too. I kept the 45 Colt for its mild manners and ability to handle anything, loaded properly and from the right gun. Even the basic 1870's load, or an equivalent reload, kills all out of proportion to its 'paper ballistics' so long as you use a bullet with a healthy meplat.

Works for me. Might not work for everybody.

http://www.thesixgunjournal.net/the-45-colt-140-years-of-success/
I don't doubt you have good reasons.

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 130,945
T
Campfire Sage
Offline
Campfire Sage
T
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 130,945
Originally Posted by Triggernosis
S&W Mountain Guns are ridiculous in price nowadays.

Damn! Might be a good time to put my mint, stainless, pre-lock, .45 ACP, Mountain Gun up for sale.

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,357
2
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
2
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,357


Deus Juvat

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,935
G
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
G
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,935
In a Bisley I went .45 Colt with an extra .45 ACP cylinder for lighter. .45 Colt may not be common in stores, but lots of cheap .45 ACP out there.
I'll handload for both, but some of that .45 ACP is really cheap!
I might have gone .44 Mag., but 5-1/2" Stainless Bisley .44 Mags are rare and expensive, and that is the configuration I wanted.

In a Redhawk, you might go the .44 Mag. route with the .44 Spl. for lighter. But if you don't handload I don't know how common .44 Spl. is in stores.
If you want to load it "balls out", those guys will tell you there is more to be had with the .45 Colt.
Both are good. You just need to figure out how all that ammo sources/availability "stuff" works for your situation.


Clinging to guns & religion since 1959

Keyboards make people braver than alcohol

Election Integrity is more important than Election Convenience

Washington Post: "Democracy Dies in Darkness"
More correct: "Killing Democracy Faster Than Darkness"
Page 1 of 10 1 2 3 9 10

Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
163 members (12344mag, 160user, 257 mag, 10Glocks, 2UP, 300_savage, 16 invisible), 1,852 guests, and 845 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,728
Posts18,400,783
Members73,822
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.114s Queries: 15 (0.003s) Memory: 0.9001 MB (Peak: 1.0528 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-29 10:10:50 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS