Smith & Wesson and 44's go together like apple pie and ice cream, its just that simple, and the 45 camp is in Hartford...NOT...Springfield

While fishing, I shot a small black bear with a S&W 24-7, the results were not very impressive. Years later while fishing the same area, I had a 629 w/6" bbl and ran into the biggest black bear I have ever seen, it had scars all over his head-a fighter that probably never backed down from anything. The 629 w/factory Hornady 240 gr bullets was impressive. I went to the nearest town for more ammo because I wasn't going to leave my canoe, expensive fishing gear and bino's. The store 44 Rem Mag, but no 45LC ammo. I don't have calipers to measure bullets, or chrony's to measure velocity. I use 350lbs of mean to measure results. Those are the only two times I have shot big pistols without ear plugs, and never heard the shots. I fish that lake every year with a pole and a S&W 629.

Both, because good revolvers are a joy to have and you may have more than two significant others to gift at sometime in the future. The .44 Mag is enough gun and the .45 Colt is less muzzle blast and recoil plus a little lighter. It comes down to your budget and your preference. A four inch isn't really a dedicated hunting gun and both conceal perfectly well. Some juristictions have caliber restrictions for hunting which might sway your choice.

Wow, more than a year ago thread and I happen upon it the first time I've been here this year.

As for 45Colt and 45ACP, they have different chamber sizes and taper and I have never heard of ACP being fired in a Colt chamber..

I am quite satisfied w/ my 625JM shooting 45Super when I pack for hog and such and don't see the need for 45Colt unless that's already your caliber.

The ACP chamber is a couple of thousands smaller per side at the widest point and .003in smaller at the case mouth.

This might not seem like much but it is a large percentage increase in cylinder strength.

The 44 (.43) is much smaller and takes much higher pressures.

Batts

Several companies will cut your .45 Colt cylinder so that it will fire .45 ACP rounds in full moon clips. Most folks report good accuracy. .45 Colt can still be used as well.

Do a Forum search on .45 Colt/.45 ACP conversions. Lots of information here.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Walked the 2 dogs and my wife yesterday around a three mile mountain loop of logging roads like we do, year round every coupla weeks, at the road end above our house. It's 2,000' + elevation in Sothwestern WA state. In living here 22 years, I've never seen so much fresh coyote and bear scat.

Glad to wear the 4" 629.

CB

I have a 625 Mountain Gun. I find the 45 Colt pretty stout in a MG. I can't imagine shooting a 44 magnum Mountain Gun. Maybe I'm just old, but this level of power in a lightweight revolver beats the heck out of my hand.

If you load your own...the .45 Colt.
If you rely on store-bought...the .44 Magnum

From a SHORT BARREL (or any other length), the .45 Colt "magnumized" loading will surpass the .44 Magnum. But do YOU reload? And IF you reload do you have the knowledge and experience to reload the .45 Colt above it's SAAMI spec levels?

With top "hand loads" the .45 Colt will best the .44 Magnum...but only by a small margin, and that is with custom loads, either personally built, or store-bought.
The .44 Magnum does what it does with OTC loads....you're choice.

The .44 Magnum can deliver heavy slugs that are more than adequate to bust open a Grizzly skull and keep on going...and for every company that offers "magnum .45 Colt loads" they also offer top-level .44 Magnum loads!

You do realize this thread is over 2 years old and the OP chose the .44 magnum, right?

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No good deed goes unpunished.

The only answer is buy the one on GB and put the one at the LGS on layaway. I have 4 mtn guns. 357/45acp/45LC & 44mag. All great guns...I'll never choose one over the other.

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S&W Accumulator