Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 45 Colt vs 357 Mag

Which one would you rather have in a defensive or hunting situation? I'm new to pistols so don't really know. I like the 45 becasue of the history of it and am really leaning in its direction, but the 357 seems to be a power house. Thanks for all replies.
Aaron

If by "defensive" you mean defense against humans only, then hands-down the 357. It was the top stopper for years on Marshall's index. Much easier to conceal than any 45 Colt, short of an American Derringer, which is a backup as opposed to a serious fighting weapon. I'd pick the 686 in 4" length is concealment was not an issue. If it were, I'd pick the Colt Magnum Carry (Detective Special in 357). If the Magnum Carry were not available, I'd get a model 66 Smith in 2" round butt.

If your scenario involves defense against humans AND animals and the animals include Cougars and Black Bears or larger, I'd pick the 45 Colt-but only in the Ruger or similiar guns which are able to take the hot loads.

For strictly hunting, I'd again pick the 45 Colt in a sturdy handgun like the Ruger or Freedom Arms. I think the 357 is very adequate for deer-sized game, but I think the old 45 is better.

.45LC. It can do anything the .357 can do, except be more concealable, and then some.

Assuming that the "defensive" situation has no concealment requirement, the .45LC firing a 185 gr. premium JHP at about 1000 fps would certainly be more than adequate.

For hunting or animals, it's a no-brainer. The .45LC, in the right handgun, can be loaded to performance levels that equal or surpass the .44 Magnum.

What are you looking for and/or considering? I suspect that what you're actually looking for are requirements that indicate two handguns, not one. Details are certainly appreciated.

22rimfan,

Do you mean the .45 Colt, also referred to as the .45 Long Colt, or the .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol)?

The .45 Colt and .357 Mag is a kinda odd comparison, which is why I'm asking.

JOG;

Hadn't even thought of that...

Yeah, which one?

Assuming you refer to 45 Long Colt that would be my choice except in a concealed carry situation. In a Ruger you can load it as mild or as wild as you like. Have killed some deer with my Blackhawk all 50 yds or less and each only took one slug. I do have a old Model 19 S&W 357 that would be hard to part with and can be "carried" rather nicely, but if I had to choose one it would be the 45 Colt.

Thanks for all the replies. I was meaning the 45 Long Colt. Not really concerned about concealed carry, just stopping power. I know it's kind of strange question. Just searching for some info, before I commit to buying one or the other. So is a Ruger the way to go on a 45 Long Colt? Thanks again.
Aaron

Ah, with that clarification, the .45LC wins hands down. No questions.

Now, as to which one, what do you want? What's it going to be used for, primarily?

Single-action, or double-action? If SA, yes, Ruger. If DA, perhaps an S&W Mtn. Gun.

Since you are new to pistols I'm going to assume that you don't reload. And that "new to pistols" is what I'm going to consider as the salient point in this.

I'd recommend the .357. The .45 Colt has a glorious history, but in factory ammo the choices are limited and expensive. Mostly what you will find (have to admit I'm not up on everything out there) are lead round nose loads going about 800 fps or thereabouts and costing upwards of $20 per box. I don't believe you are going to find a lot of high powered .45 Colt factory ammo, if any. If you do it's going to be expensive as well.

For defensive use big is good, I like big, but placement trumps almost everything else. The way to get good placement is to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

The .357 is available in a wide array of handguns. You can buy very good practice .38 Special ammo for dirt cheap and it's very accurate. You can buy .357 ammo in bullet weights from 110 grains up to 180 grains. You can get wadcutters, semi-wadcutters, flat nose cast bullets, hollow points in all weights, the list is endless. And most all .357 Magnum ammo is loaded up to the full potential of the round.

Bottom line - you have to hit what you're aiming at. The .45 at 800 fps is a great stopping round but a .357 125 HP is a great stopping round too. You can buy very light recoiling practice ammo for your .357 at about 1/4th or less the cost of factory .45 Colt stuff. Then when you go hunting you can load up on 180 grain .357 loads, either Federal Cast Core or hollow points and slay about 90% of what you will find in North America to slay.

The .45 Colt is a great round for a handloader, but for someone new to pistols I'd recommend the .357/.38 Special combo without reservation.

Jim--

You nailed it!

You just about have to reload for the .45 Colt, unless you are a millionaire.


m

What Jim said (very well I might add).

Once you're not "new to handguns," and start reloading, then treat yourself to a .45 Colt-----------or several of them! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
222

I like the 686 plus seven-shot in .357 mag. Clearly a good choice for mano y mano confrontation. I also think with a heavy hard lead bullet would work well as a field gun.

Another benefit IMHO is that you can carry a greater number of rounds since the .357's are smaller and weigh less than the .45 LC.

If I can add to Jim and Norm, just one thing. Again if you're new to handguns you might also want to consider a .22lr too. Much more practice for the same money.

I taught myself how to shoot handguns on a S&W 586 with a 6" barrel. Shot 5-6 boxes a week of mixed 357 and 38 fodder. Could have shot a lot more but as a poor E-4 squid in the Navy in the late 80's couldn't keep buying lots of ammo and there was not place to reload on ship <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. I probably kept up this routine for several years and was pretty damn good. Now, I would call myself proficient, but nothing like I could when I was in the Navy. I guess the point being, Practice Practice and Practice 'til you feel proficient .... but keep practicing .... your abilities do erode over time unless you do.

Just for clarity sake, there is no such thing as a �.45 Long Colt,� it�s just .45 Colt (sorry, pet peeve of mine). Soldiers started referring to the .45 Colt as the �Long Colt� when the .45 S&W �Schofield� cartridge was introduced into the supply chain. It was their way of verbally differentiating between the tow. So why didn�t they just say Schofield or Colt? Well, that�s the nomenclature they used to refer to the guns, so they just used something different for the cartridges, since both could be fired in the Colt and only the shorter S&W round could be fired in a Schofield � Off my soap box.

Where factory loads are concerned, I think you�ll be better served by the .357 Mag. The .45 Colt packs a bit more punch, but in factory loadings, it�s hard to find the good stuff. Even the standard pressure stuff hit�s harder than the .357 (we�re talking live game here, not books or some energy calculator). When in bear country (my backyard), I carry a .45 Colt SAA with a 275 grain Keith style cast bullet at 900 fps. That�s within SAA pressure and it hits pretty hard for a non-magnum handgun.

But hey, who am I? I�m just a some puke on a web forum, so don�t take my word for it. Read Elmer Keith�s Sixguns and see what he says. He also based his opinions on game shot, rather than what was in the books.

So the long and short of it�If you plan on reloading, it�s tough to beat the .45 Colt. It�s a bonus when you have something like a Ruger Blackhawk, but not a necessity. If you�re a factory ammo kind of guy, the .357 Magnum with a good 158 grain JHP ought to get-er-done just fine.

GunGeek - you are right, of course. I used to tilt the windmill of correcting people on error of their ways when the called the .45 Colt the .45 Long Colt. It's kind of like people calling cartridges bullets. My 12-year old grandson asked why people call them bullets when they are cartridges - I told him all people are ignorant to some degree.

However forthwith - I will change my habit of typing .45 LC to .45 Colt.

Norm

Rimfan, it sounds as if you're leaning towards a 45. I would steer clear of Colt SAA's and their clones if you're going to shoot other than factory loads. They are great guns and fun to shoot, but their design is antiquated and they aren't built to withstand the pressures of modern hot-loaded 45 Colt ammo.

The Freedom Arms is possibly the best 45. They are very expensive though. Ruger makes a great gun in either their Blackhawk or Bisley model.

I would also steer clear of S&W's. The old N frame just isn't as tough as the Ruger. With the Ruger being cheaper, if cost is an issue, it's a no-brainer.

We went thru this years ago when most handloads were cast bullets. The conclusion then was that to get some power out of the 357 you got leading too. The .44 and .45 will hit just as hard or harder at lower velocities that don't foul a bore as much. The larger bores seem to make less of a report as well.

I don't bother with the 357 today as a field gun. The 44 or 45 are just superior without a strain.

By the way the .44 Magnum has a stronger easier case to load than the .45 Colt. I shoot the .45 though for it's nostagia.

Have both a 357 S&W model 19 6" barrel and a Ruger Vaquero 7 1/2" 45 Colt and I much prefer the Vaquero to the 357.

My point is that if you get used to shooting 38 specials from your 357 and like doing that, then you jump up to a hotter load 357, the model 19 wants to rip my arm off whereas the 45 colt just shoots the same every time.

If it were me, I would go with the 45 Colt because if you need to hit something with the 357, better aim good the first time because you will flinch the second time in anticipation of the recoil.

Daveyreka

Jim said it-
for a first handgun the .357 is best.

Bob

Not to start a fight but Colt at one time sold ammo in a box marked "45 Long Colt".
Good luck!