.45lc vs .357

J

John Rus

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I have recently had the privilege of handling a GORGEOUS new model 25 in blue and 6.5" barrel. Dam those chambers are huge! Makes the .357 look small (And I never thought they were small to begin with.). Question is how does the .45 compare to the .357 as a self defence caliber? I was all over the .357's performance but after looking at the ballistics it seems standard pressure .45's are more like the speer gold dot .44 mag ballistics (the speer is loaded very light, more like a hot .44 special) which look very good.

So have I overlooked a very nice cartridge in favor of the .357? In case you are wondering, I'm not thinking of carrying that m25. It just made me rethink the .45's viability for SD.

Thanks,
John.
 
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My thoughts. 1. How do they compare ? They are both at the top of the list of self defense handgun rounds. 2. Where you hit them is more important than what you hit them with. Practice is important. If cost matters I would bet on the guy that had sent hundreds of 38 special round down range than the guy that only burned a couple of boxes of 45 LC. Also consider ammo avaliablity. 3 If I wasn't going to carry it and use it only as a house gun I would probably pick something like a Mini 14. However if someone put that 45 in my hand and the price was anything like reasonable it would go home with me.
 
If you're looking to collect, get both. I said, before I purchased my 686, "This will be the last gun I'll need to buy."

And I was right. But then I bought another and another...you get the picture.

I think that any firearm is better than no firearm. So yes, 45lc is viable for SD.
 
Personally, I favor the big slugs. While most of the guns that fire them are not as easy to conceal and pack around as some of those that fire 357, the 45s and 44s are extremely effective man droppers. The military used the 45ACP for a long time for a good reason. The 45 Colt fires a heavier bullet at the same speed the ACP fires the 220 ball ammo

Yup, I love my 45 and I don't stop at the factory ballistics when I reload either.
 
No doubt the 45 colt is plenty effective for self defense, but IMO the 357 mag is a whole lot more practical and probably just as effective. There are just SO many more good carry options in 357 mag, as mentioned, ammo is cheaper and more plentiful, you can shoot 38 specials (also a stellar SD round), and you have the option of 5, 6, 7, or 8 in the cylinder. I'm happy to own both, but if I had to choose just one, it would be a 357 mag!
 
BCDWYO said:
No doubt the 45 colt is plenty effective for self defense, but IMO the 357 mag is a whole lot more practical and probably just as effective. There are just SO many more good carry options in 357 mag, as mentioned, ammo is cheaper and more plentiful, you can shoot 38 specials (also a stellar SD round), and you have the option of 5, 6, 7, or 8 in the cylinder. I'm happy to own both, but if I had to choose just one, it would be a 357 mag!
Click to expand...

I agree with all of the above, plus your reloads will be more bulky, and harder to carry around. Whether on speed strips or speed loaders. Also if you don't reload, the .45lc is more $$$$.

For me to go with .45lc, the revolver would have to shoot .45acp too. Either cut for moon clips, or a single action convertible.
 
I have S&Ws in both calibers and like both rounds. The .45ACP is well regarded as a SD round and the 45 Colt fires a slightly heavier bullet at the similar velocity. I would say the .45 Colt would be an effective SD round.

Another advantage of the .45 Colt is mechanical. It's easier to put bigger cartridges in bigger charge holes under stress when fine motor skills are overcome by adrenaline
 
Thanks for all the excellent replies!

There are couple more questions you sparked, how does the lower chamber pressure and heavier bullets affect recoil compared to the .357? I have some great buddies that have let me practice on .22's for a while so would a cowboy action load .45 be ok to step up to?

I will eventually reload and cast my bullets but for now I will just be buying the ammo until I have enough brass left over to reload. Maybe about a 1,000 rounds.

Thanks,
John.
 
First off the 357 is my all time favorite revolver round. I have 45's too and love them. The 45 Colt performs a lot better in use than the rather modest ballistics would indicate. Factory ammo is pricey but reloading takes a lot of the hurt out of it. I would not want to be without either the 45 or 357.
 
"how does the lower chamber pressure and heavier bullets affect recoil compared to the .357?"

To me the sharp violent crack of the 357. is less comfortable, than the slow thunderous roll of the .45. (Yes, exaggerated for effect, but don't know how else to describe the difference of felt recoil)
 
Years back the .357 Magnum (125 grain) was rated #1 at one stop shots but IMHO the .45 Colt cartridge (that was not watered down) would be a neck & neck competitor for the title. One of the reasons that the cartridge is not more popular for SD is that the weapons it is chambered in are very heavy and bulky and are not popular with EDC guys. There are also very few people actually carrying a 45 Colt chambered weapon for this purposes these days. If you feel that you want to tote around such a large and heavy gun, then I would think it would do very well as a SD weapon.

The .44 Magnum is just over kill for most SD situations and over penetration would be a big factor in NOT using it. If the bullet travels through the body, the energy transfer is NOT being accomplished and hence the lack of real stopping power even though the .44 Magnum has much more foot pounds of energy,
 
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I know I would be very reluctant to use a .357 Mag charged with stout loads for home defense. I would sure hope I didn't have to shoot inside the house without hearing protection! If such a shot was fired in conditions of semi-darkness, it could be a long time before you could see or hear again. :eek:
 
My original FTO back in the 70's carried a 45LC. His reasoning was "Lets out more blood, shoves in more crud".
 
A member here, retired LE, has described the success his agency had, himself included IIRC, with 45Colt revolvers. For all around use, the .357 has more flexibility, including the use of various .38 loads. Ammo is a lot cheaper, and FAR easier to find. Most of us would be happier with the .357 for those reasons.

That said, I would not be unwilling to carry a 45Colt as a duty revolver. Any discomfort I have with the idea has more to do with the realities of my training with revolvers not being up to what it should be than the round. If ever get a .45 Colt, I already know what model etc. I want. Not practical, but desirable.
 
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Doug M. said:
If ever get a .45 Colt, I already know what model etc. I want. Not practical, but desirable.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much how I feel about that m25 I held, it sure is tempting at $700 including all transfer fees and such. But I'll hold out for a four inch version if I want to go with .45lc.

You guys have been awesome!
 
Everyone is correct about ammo costs and availability. The one place I'd give the 45 Colt the edge is home defense. You can load the 45 Colt up pretty hot, but mild factory loads still pack a punch with such a big bullet and you don't need the screaming velocity and muzzle crack and flash that go along with it that the 357 magnum depends upon to get it's high praises.
 
It's at Yeagers in Bellingham WA. You can give them a call if you like.

John.
 
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