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The Ruger Bisley and the BFR .454 Casulls are about the best disguised 45 Colt revolvers out there without the reaming to open up the throats. They run a crisp .452/.453.
Most 45 Colt chambered Rugers are on the small side and need opened unless early model Blackhawks. Like 1970s.
45 Anacondas are .455.
45 Smith 25-5s are fat, sometimes .454 to .457

The last forty year 44 Rugers are pretty well standardized at .430/.431 but anything else gets iffy.

Smith 45 Colts from the 90s up are .452 that I've run across.

I've seen 44 Smiths from the 90s go .427 in throat diameter, so its best to buy and fix if needed.
Original Anacondas go .429.

I think poking an elk with either has been done more than a hundred times both ways, but to me handguns are about frontal area and the 45 Colt dumped an elk or a horse way before the term "magnum" entered firearm nomenclature, so I'd advise the 45 Colt....

FWIW both can be loaded with powders that aren't any nosier than a 200gr. 1200 fps. 10mm; none are fun without "ears" and throwing 400 rounds down range, nor are any going to blow your ear drums with two rounds...

Last edited by HawkI; 03/28/23.
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I vote 44 mag. But like other's said, both are good choices. I see more 44 caliber reloading components than I do 45, and the 45, like others have said can have throat sizing issues.

I carry a 10mm with 200grain bullets around 1230fps. Which gives 671ft-lbs. It's not easy to get that velocity out of a 10, and almost always requires a 5" or longer barrel. I like revolvers, a lot, but they are just so damn loud. Even with ear pro. If it was a charging bear, there's no time for ear pro.


Someone asked for the formula for energy. Here it is...with all the units already converted.

(bullet weight in grains x bullet velocity in fps x bullet velocity in fps)/450470

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I would assume the law applies for factory ammo and not for one that uses a handload that said handloader claimed to meet the the requirement. The latter doubtful IMO.


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Originally Posted by EdM
I would assume the law applies for factory ammo and not for one that uses a handload that said handloader claimed to meet the the requirement. The latter doubtful IMO.

The regulation states "as rated by the manufacturer." If you reload, you are the manufacturer. If in question, the warden could confiscate your ammunition and firearm and test it. Which I doubt would happen unless you were trying to prove your 9mm super ++++P++++ shot from your Shield was legit.

It's one of the dumbest regulations that exist IMO, specifically the part that says at 550ft-lbs at 50 yards. Up until a few years ago with the advent of LabRadar, it was not possible to measure bullet velocities anywhere other than the muzzle. Ok, fine you could attempt to shoot through your chrony ears from 50 yards away...only to find out your were just a little too low and took out the entire unit. Why not just say 650ftlbs at the muzzle? It's a 1000 times easier to measure and verify. The second part requires the barrel to be "at least 4" long." Why does that matter? If I can get 650ft-lbs out of a 2.5" Ruger Alaskan in 44mag or 480 ruger, what difference does the barrel length matter? Colorado law already states, very clearly, that you can "conceal carry a firearm while hunting without a concealed carry permit," so it's not a conceal carry concern for the wardens.

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Originally Posted by TX35W
Model 69 is probably the best option you have given your requirements and I would let that dictate your caliber choice. Coming from someone who has owned dozens of N-frames, Ruger SRHs, RH, BH's, flattops, etc.

The M69 is very tough, very light (will carry like your 357) and because the bore axis is noticeably lower, has less felt recoil than an 4" N-frame with the same loads, despite weighing less.

I hate the way it looks but after I got an M69 I slowly got rid of my other big bore revolvers. Still have an SRH that's about to go to Hamilton Bowen for a 45 Colt conversion.

I'd get a 4" M69 and not think about this anymore. My carry load is a 250gr WFN or LFN under 10.5-ish grains of Unique or N350 for 1050-1075 fps. It's much quieter than a 357 with full power loads.


If you're able to squeeze another shot off, you'll first have to bring the muzzle from behind your head back to a shooting position.


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I like .44 Magnums. I own and have shot several. The lower bore axis must be a real factor. With the X frame grips it's easy to shoot. I load both midrange 240 cast bullets and 240 grain XTP with full 24 grain H 110. The H110 loads are loud and do have more recoil but my wife shoots them too and neither one of us has developed a flinch.


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If you absolutely had to have a Ruger, they make a light 45 Colt single action that would be a good choice.
Ruger double actions chambered in 44 or 45 - Black Hawk and super Blackhawk are bulky/burdensome in my opinion.
You’d be better off with S&W revolvers, I think.
Id pick the 629 with a 4” barrel. If that’s too heavy then the model 69. A model 25 or 29 S&W with 4” barrels are a good choice.
Other options include the 1873 Model “P” clones in 45 Colt.
My brother had a Super Red Hawk - it was a general consensus that that Revolver was never meant to be carried - heavy, bulky, burdensome.


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Tough to beat a 4" 69 for carrying a lot and shooting some.

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May as well carry a SIG 45 ACP with cast 255s.


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I’m looking into a few different 45 Super platforms as well (primarily HK), but I just caught the revolver bug real hard not too long ago. Sexy isn’t quite the right term, but a 45 Colt just seems like so much more fun.

If there was a strong consensus on the Model 25 being able to safely push >255 grain bullets over 1,000 FPS I would probably have one headed my way already. Some folks say they have done it without issue, others say best not to. The 45 ACP+p pressures are just shy of the arbitrary KE requirements of CO.

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I have over a dozen 44s and it's Ling been my favorite handgun round. I've had 2 anacondas since the 90s a 4" and a 6" and also bought a smith mtn gun back then. I carried the mtn gun bow hunting and anytime in bear area for a dozen years before getting a 329 pd in 2005 or so. My bear carry load was a 310g wfn lazercast at 1200 fps from the 4" guns. It was alot to handle especially in the 329pd.

As I've gotten older and have a disease that's damaged my joints I've stepped it down a bit. In the 44 I go 270g gold dot over n105 at about 1100 fps. Still fairly warm but I'm often in grizzly areas.

I've also started using my 45 colts more. I have a stainless mtn gun 45 that's just like my mtn 44 and a Blackhawk 5.5" convertible. I'm loading 250 xtps or a 252g swc that I cast with a lee mold and powder coat. I'm using Longshot or be86 but am going to vv 3n37 or 3n38 with the cast soon.

I've really found the 45 colts more enjoyable than the 44s lately. It seems like I can get a good mid range load like the 250s at 1050 with less pressure and blast than my similar 44 loads. Although my 270g 44 load at 1100 is marginally hotter and not a fair comparison.
It seems like even my 240g swc cast 44 loads that run 1080 in my 44s seem more blasts than my 45 colt loads.

I also really like the wide flat profile of my 252g Lee 45 mold. Despite my love of 44s these days I've really been wanting a lipseys exclusive stainless Blackhawk convertible 45 with the 4&5/8" barrel on the medium size flattop frame. That's my current dream gun.

At 36 ounces it seems like it would be easy to carry and more shootable than my 329pd. I'd load it with the 252 swc cast from my lee mold at about 1050. At least until I got a 4 or 6 cavity mold in something similar to replace it. The lee 252 only comes in a 2 cavity.

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I sure do like my 44 magnum RedHawks. All have had a trigger job and shoot very well.


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I am puzzled by the noise concern. When faced with a bear attack, you are worried about hearing protection? There will be no discernable difference in the report of a heavy loaded .45 Colt of .44 Mag.


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I vote for the 45 Colt! Here's a few loads that shoot really well in my Ruger Bisley!

Bullet: Matt's Bullets Lyman #452490 (245 grs/Hornady Gas Check)
Powder: Hodgdon HS-6 11.4 grs.
Primer: CCI-350
Case: PMC 45 Colt
Avg Vel: 1081 fps
ES: 53
SD: 13

These are definitely Ruger only!

Bullet: Montana Bullet Casting 250 gr. WFNGC (260 grs./.453)
Powder: Hodgdon H-110 24.4 grs.
Primer: CCI-350
Case: PMC & Federal
Velocity: 1450.80 fps.
ES: 69.67
SD: 23.91

Bullet: Hornady 250 gr. XTP-HP
Powder: Winchester 296 25.5 grs.
Primer: Winchester Large Pistol
Case: Winchester 45 Colt
OAL: 1.600
Avg Vel: 1298 fps
ES: 46
SD: 15

[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]

Last edited by pbcaster45; 03/30/23. Reason: more info
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Bottom line is I’m wondering if one would rupture my eardrum but not the other. Or cause significantly more hearing damage.

I was hoping someone might have some decibel readings, but logically it makes sense to me that lower pressure in the Colt would translate to lower decibels. As far as I’m concerned for my purpose there is not much else that separates the two, besides perhaps better gun options in 44mag.

Last edited by Ramsdude47; 03/30/23.
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The M69 is on an L-frame. It's very easy to shoot, way less recoil than the Scandium guns and not much heavier. I greatly prefer it to my 629 mountain gun, which I got rid of. The M69 is smaller, lighter, and I found it easier to shoot with the low bore axis.

I've run 300gr factory loads through mine...definitely barked but weren't too abusive. On the other side, I carried it a bunch with Grizzly 44 special 260 gr WFNs. About 900 fps. Very pleasant. MacKay could make you up something similar pretty easily.

Most of the folks I know who own M69s got converted like I did. I really hate how the gun looks, but it does everything pretty well.

I still like Rugers for the really hot stuff, though.

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I have both and I will go with the .44 everytime.


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If you don’t reload I would choose a 44mag. If you do, either will work about equal. As far as hearing damage from not wearing protection, both will all so work about equal for that too.

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Originally Posted by Mannlicher
I am puzzled by the noise concern. When faced with a bear attack, you are worried about hearing protection? There will be no discernable difference in the report of a heavy loaded .45 Colt of .44 Mag.

This in spades

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Originally Posted by Mountain10mm
Originally Posted by EdM
I would assume the law applies for factory ammo and not for one that uses a handload that said handloader claimed to meet the the requirement. The latter doubtful IMO.

The regulation states "as rated by the manufacturer." If you reload, you are the manufacturer. If in question, the warden could confiscate your ammunition and firearm and test it. Which I doubt would happen unless you were trying to prove your 9mm super ++++P++++ shot from your Shield was legit.

It's one of the dumbest regulations that exist IMO, specifically the part that says at 550ft-lbs at 50 yards. Up until a few years ago with the advent of LabRadar, it was not possible to measure bullet velocities anywhere other than the muzzle. Ok, fine you could attempt to shoot through your chrony ears from 50 yards away...only to find out your were just a little too low and took out the entire unit. Why not just say 650ftlbs at the muzzle? It's a 1000 times easier to measure and verify. The second part requires the barrel to be "at least 4" long." Why does that matter? If I can get 650ft-lbs out of a 2.5" Ruger Alaskan in 44mag or 480 ruger, what difference does the barrel length matter? Colorado law already states, very clearly, that you can "conceal carry a firearm while hunting without a concealed carry permit," so it's not a conceal carry concern for the wardens.

There are very specific requirements to be a manufacturer, different than a handloader so I am not so sure.


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