Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Ammo
o

Notices

Ammo All Ammo Discussions Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-09-2009, 05:08 PM
David LaPell's Avatar
David LaPell David LaPell is offline
Member
.44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer  
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,543
Likes: 667
Liked 6,774 Times in 1,312 Posts
Default .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer

Ok, most of you that know me know that I love old time cartridges. So, between the two, which would be better on whitetail deer? I have always had a warm place in my heart for both the .44 Special and the .45 Colt, but to me, there is something to be said about using a modern .44 Special like a 624 or 24-3 with a 250 grain cast Lyman #429421 behind Skeeter's old load of 7.5 grains of Unique against a whitetail buck.
__________________
Vaya con Dios
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-09-2009, 05:24 PM
flop-shank flop-shank is offline
US Veteran
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: The Rust Belt Buckle/Mich
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 0
Liked 41 Times in 32 Posts
Default

With a decent length barrel and the best factory loads in each caliber the deer likely won't know the difference. Handloaded hot, the .45 Colt in the right gun can out run the .44 magnum. So It gets the nod in that case.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-09-2009, 05:25 PM
NE450No2 NE450No2 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 7
Liked 469 Times in 278 Posts
Default

I would prefer the 44 Special, but I would use one of Elmer Keith's 2400 loads for deer hunting.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-09-2009, 05:53 PM
mod34 mod34 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 133
Liked 1,609 Times in 518 Posts
Default

I vote for the bigger hole..........45LC.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-09-2009, 06:59 PM
Texas Star Texas Star is offline
US Veteran
Absent Comrade
.44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer  
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 20,362
Likes: 24,260
Liked 16,154 Times in 7,408 Posts
Default

In factory loads, the .45. With suitable handloads, either.
But unless you're using a big Ruger SA, the thinner chamber walls in tthe .45 require the .44, if you're loading hot. Elmer Keith had discovered that by the 1920's!

I'm sure that your Skelton load will work to at least 60 yards, but is on the light side if you're deliberately hunting a deer, as opposed to taking a target of opportunity under ideal circumstances.

If you hunt with a handgun, I really think the .44 Magnum is a better choice, and you don't have to worry about acccidentally slipping a "Ruger only" .45 round into an old Colt New Service or SAA. Or, a M-25-5, this being the S&W forum...

T-Star
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #6  
Old 08-12-2009, 08:57 AM
Mule88's Avatar
Mule88 Mule88 is offline
Member
.44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer  
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Vandalia, Ohio
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 297
Liked 231 Times in 137 Posts
Default

With the right load, the whitetail wont know the difference between the 44 or 45. So shoot the one one you like and enjoy yourself.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-12-2009, 09:19 AM
bmcgilvray's Avatar
bmcgilvray bmcgilvray is offline
SWCA Member
.44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer  
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 10,447
Liked 6,092 Times in 1,249 Posts
Default

Assuming good hits there's no way there's any difference in between the two cartridges.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-22-2009, 04:38 PM
TJC TJC is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NH
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

I have and load for a 25-5. The .45LC as stated is as good/better than a .44 Mag if loaded right. It also makes a bigger hole which is nice.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-23-2009, 12:51 AM
Vulcan Bob's Avatar
Vulcan Bob Vulcan Bob is offline
Member
.44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer  
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: central pa
Posts: 5,336
Likes: 2,745
Liked 2,492 Times in 1,182 Posts
Default

With proper bullet placement,(all calibers) Skeeters .44 Special load will work just fine! Used to use the same load in a Ruger .44 mag and had no trouble with the three whitetails I bagged. The only whitetail that left the front sight was one I nailed in the lungs useing the Speer .44 225 gr half jacket hollow point. It sorta blew up on a rib on the way in and not much of it reached the off side lung. Had to track that one for a bit, never used a jacketed hollowpoint again. Hard cast LSWC, big hole in, big hole out, works every time!
__________________
Stay safe people!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-02-2009, 07:10 AM
LoboGunLeather's Avatar
LoboGunLeather LoboGunLeather is offline
US Veteran
.44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer  
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Colorado
Posts: 7,518
Likes: 19,273
Liked 32,340 Times in 5,474 Posts
Default

Many years ago, while serving on a US military base in the south, I took several whitetails using an issued M1911A1 .45 ACP 230-grain ball ammo. All were taken within 25 yards, and all were one-shot kills with heart-lung shots.

Both the .44 Special and .45 Colt are superior in power to the .45 ACP. I would recommend the heavy semi-wadcutter bullets for this use.
__________________
Life of the party until 8:00PM
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #11  
Old 09-02-2009, 09:14 AM
LazarusLong's Avatar
LazarusLong LazarusLong is offline
Member
.44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer  
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Near Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Liked 23 Times in 9 Posts
Default

Critters can't tell the difference.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #12  
Old 09-02-2009, 09:17 AM
redlevel's Avatar
redlevel redlevel is offline
Member
.44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer .44 Special vs .45 Colt on whitetail deer  
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: GA
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 8,045
Liked 12,731 Times in 2,419 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by David LaPell View Post
a 250 grain cast Lyman #429421 behind Skeeter's old load of 7.5 grains of Unique against a whitetail buck.
That will surely work, but I feel a whole lot more comfortable with my 7.5" Blackhawk .45 with a 250 grain SWC and 10.0 grains of Unique. I have recently reduced that load to 9.0 grains of Unique, but I still have several hundred rounds of the old 10 grain load.

That 10 grain load will punch through a 150 pound Georgia whitetail more times than not, usually taking out both front shoulders. The bullet will usually either pooch up under the off-side skin, or go clean through. That is from the Blackhawk or a Trapper 94 Winchester.

I believe I will "sight in" the Winchester this weekend. I have seen two nice bucks on one of my places, and my neighbor stopped me Saturday and told me he had seen them just minutes before, crossing the road going through my place. Gun season opens here in five or six weeks.
__________________
Georgia On My Mind
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
44 magnum, 624, colt, military, model 25, ruger, saa, skeeter, skelton, wadcutter, winchester

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
44 Special Deer Load cladd1 Reloading 22 12-25-2016 12:25 PM
629-3 1 of 150 Illinois Handgun Deer Special from 1992? RogerA S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 5 06-23-2016 09:43 AM
Deer Hunters - Watch this guy skin & gut a deer in under 2 minutes. Hillbilly77 The Lounge 14 11-24-2013 08:56 AM
.44 Special vs .357 Magnum for whitetail David LaPell Ammo 9 09-08-2009 01:09 AM
.44 Special for Whitetail David LaPell Reloading 16 01-12-2009 10:29 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:35 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)