Question for those who have some experience with these two rounds:

Given equally tight and equally accurate revolvers, would you choose the 44 Spc. or 45 Colt, and why? (I'm really not interested in seeing how fast I can shoot a 300 grainer or anything like that.)

I'm seriously thinking of rewarding myself for a frugal year or so by ordering a USFA Single Action, but this will be my first foray above the 38/357 in a revolver.

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Ridge

Several reasons for going either way, but when you threw the SAA into the mix that colors it a bit.

My first choice, and I own both, is the .44 Special in this case. The reasons, not necessarily good ones are:

1) Elmer preferred it (see 3).
2) Given the same weight .44 bullets have a higher sectional density.
3) In the same diameter cylinder the .44 is stronger (see 1).
4) If you get the urge to hot-rod it, see 3. 1000 FPS is easy from a .44/250-255 SWC. .45 Colt takes a little more effort and will strain the gun more.
5) .44 is the classic American caliber from virtually the beginning of revolvers.
6) Just like it better. If the USFA Rodeo was available in .44 Spl. I would have bought it instead of the .45. All God's chilluns needs a "Cowboy" gun and a "Pimp" gun, don't they?

Didn't say they were good reasons, just my feelings.

My .44 Special is a Smith & Wesson Model of 1926 with 5-inch barrel and is pleasingly accurate with good quality hand loaded semi-wadcutter bullets over a moderate charge of Unique. It always has performed well with factory Winchester 246 grain round nose lead bullets as well.

My .45 Colt is a Colt New Service Model 1909 with 5 1/2-inch barrel. It shoots to point of aim with 250-255 grain bullets and moderate charges of Unique but so far hasn't grouped as well as the .44 Special. The single action trigger pull of this particular New Service is not as light and crisp as is the S&W Model of 1926.

For self-defense I'd consider the .44 Special and the .45 Colt as equals and both are about as good as it gets for effective handgun defense. For field use I'd be happy with either assuming equal accuracy. I also would be willing to give each a try at Texas white tail deer hunting at short range with near max. loads from older TRADITIONAL hand loading data (no "Ruger only" type loads or super-heavy-weight-bullet loads).

Sir, IMHO it's kind of "six of one, half-dozen of the other" in the traditional loadings. It's almost like whichever one you get first renders the other redundant.

FWIW, I prefer the .45 Colt, particularly in single-actions. No good reason, really--I just do. [shrug]

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

While there's absolutely no hard evidence to back it up. I'd say that you'd find, out of any 10 guns chambered for either, a slight advantage of those being outstandingly accurate, would go to the .44 Special.
Of course, that's a COMPLETELY unbiased opinion?

Thanks for muddying the waters!

Actually, these are all good answers, albeit points I have already considered at one time or another. This just makes the choice more difficult, as they are both excellent.

How about if I did this: 44 Special for the USFA, just to stack the deck for accuracy.

45 Colt if I chicken out and decide to just get a New Vaquero instead.

After I posted this, I pulled out an old Skeeter Skelton book to see if I could find anything to help me make up my mind. Seems like he settled it by having around a dozen or so of each caliber on hand!

Wow, that’s a tough call, both are absolutely excellent cartridges. There have been some good reasons given in favor of the .44 Special and all are true. I would vote for the .44 Special just because everyone and his brother has a SAA in .45 Colt. 100 years from now, that .44 Special you order will be a desirable collector’s item.

As mentioned earlier, Iv found overall the 44 being more accurate. I think anyone using either gun in a shooting would be welled armed and the bad guy wouldnt know the difference on which caliber he was shot with.

I have more 44 Specials and they are easier for me to handload, so the .44 S&W Special gets my vote...

I like 45 Colt but prefer 44 Special.
This is the USFA Flat Top Target in 44 Special I got for my father.

You're a good kid, Joni Lynn. That's a beauty!

Thanks for all the replies, a 44 it is.

Thanks.
Dad likes the 44 Special and started with a Colt 3d generation New Frontier. Since then we've adopted a 24-3, 24-4 & 24-5. All but the USFA are nicely dressed in Herrett's stocks.

If there was a different gun that you want to get down the road that's chambered in .44 spl. or .45 Colt, that could be a tie breaker. If the ammo interchanges between the gun you want now and the one you want later, then you'll only need one kind of ammo and if you reload, one set of dies. Keep in mind that you can reload .44 mag. with .44 spl. dies. If you don't reload now, you probably will. Those two cartridges are very expensive to shoot. They launch a lot of increasingly expensive metal. Save your brass.

Joni,

That's a cool revolver; you have impeccable taste.

The .44 special may be more accurate, but the .45 is more versatile. Now if you could pick up one of those USFAs in .44 mag that would be a whole other story. I really think for single actions the .45 is the best choice. Just my 2 cents.