41 spl vs 45 Colt

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

Given equal velocities of about 900fps and cast bullets in the 210(41) to 250gr (45 Colt).

Which might be the more effective stopper of a 6'4" male weighing in at about 230 pounds of mostly muscle mass?

I am familiar with shot placement part of the story.....

I was just wondering which one would be the better one? If any.

Just wondering what kind of interesting responses will show up.

 

[Evil One]

Well, my thoughts on this...
You have a round of acceptable mass and sectional density in both calibers, perhaps a slight nod to the .45.
You have them going at a speed fast enough to possibly have full penetration with LSWCs.
So, it looks like it will come down to the fact that one makes a bigger hole... to let blood out and air in... than the other.
I dont see either one as a bad choice.
In your average steel framed service size revolver both will be comfortable and controllable.


Jim

 

[s&wchad]

Which might be the more effective stopper of a 6'4" male weighing in at about 230 pounds of mostly muscle mass?

You'll get in big trouble if you shoot Mr. Ranger Sir... That picnic basket ain't worth it.

I must say, you had me worried (I'm 6'5").
I was relieved when I got to the 230# part... I haven't been that light in years (but I carry it well).
When I read "mostly muscle mass", I knew it wasn't me!

Who loads .41 Special?

 

[redlevel]

Theoretically, the .45 would be the better stopper because of larger diameter, more ft. lb. of energy, etc.

In reality, a good center mass hit with either would most likely be a fight stopper. As the feller said, though, "you just cain't never tell what's gonna happen 'till it does."

 

[Mule88]

If I had to choose between the two id pick the .45

 

[Missionary]

Good morning
Big holes are always better.
I own and shoot both calibers.. 41 mag and 45 Colt. I would always take the larger caliber with all other things equal.
Shoot a one gallon paint bucket (plastic) full of water with a 265 grain swc Cal 41 cast of 50/50 WW & lead at 1000 fps. Then shoot another 1 gallon water bucket with a 265 gr swc Cal 45 cast of 50/50 WW and lead moving at 1000 fps and you will see impact difference plus more damage to the 45 hit bucket.
I did not try 900 fps as that seemed sort of like going backwards in my desire to test modern cartriges. I did try 1100 fps also.. much more dramatic.
I do not want to get smacked by either caliber BUT .454 does more damage.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Same velocity. Bigger heavier bullet wins out.

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

I kinda thought I'd get those answers.

The reason I asked is because I am/was a big fan of the 41.

UNTIL I got a Mountain Gun in 45 Colt. It's just as accurate as any 41 that I have and with the bigger cast bullets that I can get to reload, it's softer shooting than my 41.
Not 41 spl cases, but the loading I use, I fugure is close enough to a 41 spl.

Also, I have 2 Marlins in 41 mag and a Winchester 94 carbine in 45 Colt.
Sad to say, the 41 has a More snappy recoil than the 45 Colt. The Colt shoots like really soft. NOT letting the Wife shoot it. Last time I let her shoot my Winchester 357 carbine, she said, "MINE", and I ended up "loosing" it to her. I really don't want to loose my 45 carbine to her

I have 2 ex-PD Used M-58s, which I was thinking of redoing for CCW, IF and When Hawaii became a "shall issue" state. Leaving them in the original 41 magnum. Hers n His guns

Since shooting the 45 Colt, I am seriously ReThinking and considering redoing the 2 M-58s to 45 Colt for CCW, IF and WHEN.......

What do you guys think?????

Since Hawaii isn't a shall issue state, I may have way too much time to think.......

Thanks for the comments

 

[USAF385]

Well since you have them both at the same velocity.... the .45

The 210 gr .41 at 900 ft/sec = 378 ft lbs
The 250 gr .45 at 900 ft/sec = 450 ft lbs

 

[flop-shank]

I must say, you had me worried (I'm 6'5").

I'm 5'7" and safe as hell. That bullet is going over my shrimpy little head!

Seriously though, with non expanding bullets either should work fine, but with a slight nod to the .45 because of the bullet's greater diameter and weight.

As far as converting the 58s goes, I wouldn't. They're valuable guns and their value will increase better if left in their original, and plenty potent caliber. Heck you could sell the two of them and get a pair of nice used .45s with money left over, instead of spending more to get them turned into .45s.

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

Aloha,

I kinda thought I'd get those answers.

The reason I asked is because I am/was a big fan of the 41.

UNTIL I got a Mountain Gun in 45 Colt. It's just as accurate as any 41 that I have and with the bigger cast bullets that I can get to reload, it's softer shooting than my 41.
Not 41 spl cases, but the loading I use, I fugure is close enough to a 41 spl.

Also, I have 2 Marlins in 41 mag and a Winchester 94 carbine in 45 Colt.
Sad to say, the 41 has a More snappy recoil than the 45 Colt. The Colt shoots like really soft. NOT letting the Wife shoot it. Last time I let her shoot my Winchester 357 carbine, she said, "MINE", and I ended up "loosing" it to her. I really don't want to loose my 45 carbine to her

I have 2 ex-PD Used M-58s, which I was thinking of redoing for CCW, IF and When Hawaii became a "shall issue" state. Leaving them in the original 41 magnum. Hers n His guns

Since shooting the 45 Colt, I am seriously ReThinking and considering redoing the 2 M-58s to 45 Colt for CCW, IF and WHEN.......

What do you guys think?????

Since Hawaii isn't a shall issue state, I may have way too much time to think.......

Thanks for the comments

I'm curious as to what agency in Hawaii issued 41's.

In either case, there is more versatility and availibility with the 45 Colt (at least CONUS wise) and not too much difference in most cases.

I WOULD NOT modify a classic revolver like a 58 to a 45, though. I'd leave them as 41's.

Just my 0.02 cents worth.

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

AFAIK, no agency in Hawaii issued the 58s. Having said that, I have heard stories of one local cop who did carry one for a short time. How he stuffed it into his issue M-15 holster is beyond the persons who heard the "story".

Most of the gun guys in town know me as the 41 mag guy. Even my Wife is telling me to Stop buying Smith 57s and 58s.

The 2 58s I have are from mainland PDs. I got them thru a friend who is a local cop who knows what kind of guns I like. Big n heavy. He is responsible for all my Mountain gun purchases.

Right now he is thinking about selling(to me) a Stainless 45 Colt Mountain Gun(Ididn't know they even made that one) and a 25-9(?) also in 45 Colt.

The 2 58s that I want to convert are not in great shape. Lots of external wear, end shake, sloppy trigger pull etc. I wouldn't shoot them unless it had been inspected first.
Which is why I was thinking(toying) with the idea of converting them to 45 Colt. For IF and When Hawaii ever becomes a "shall issue" CCW state. Not holding my breath......

 

[ddixie884]

I'm a big .41spl fan, but if gun size doesn't matter, an 8lb Hammer beats a 6lb hammer, every time.

 

[1066]

I'd hate to get shot with either one!

 

[David Sinko]

I used to live on Oahu. If you think HI will ever become a "Shall Issue" state, you are delusional.

If the two Model 58s you have are in the condition you describe, I would convert at least one to .45 Colt in a heartbeat. A pre-lock, pre-MIM .45 Colt with a thin 4" barrel, fixed sights and proper clyinder throat/groove dimensions would be too much to resist. You would not be able to hotrod such a revolver, but the brass you fire in it would last forever (S&W never knew or cared how to cut a proper .45 Colt chamber) and you'd have the finest .45 Colt revolver(s) ever made. I had Hamilton Bowen convert a Redhawk for me years ago, and I'm starting to think that the 58 would've been the better candidate for conversion. Another option could be to simply have him re-chamber the cylinder and then have a .45 Colt barrel installed, rather than re-bore the original barrel. But for something truly unique, I'd have the barrel re-bored as well.

And yes, the bigger .452" bullet is always better than anything smaller, velocity being equal.

Dave Sinko

 

[tcc1953]

My two cents worth - a decent cast bullet from the old 45 Colt will more than likely, even at 900 fps, shoot completely through a normal size person front to back or vice versa. Most of the 210 gr. cast 41's I've fooled around with would as well. They are great reassurance if you need to shoot through a car door or auto glass or stop a large toothy critter but create problems with over-penetration otherwise. Law enforcement stats show most shootings under 7 yards. Most rooms in most houses make 5 to 7 yard shots the extreme..and sheetrock doesn't slow bullets down much if you miss. I may owe you a penny. I don't believe that's 2 cents worth.....

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

tcc1953: We used to live in a less than ideal part of town. The Wife wanted to learn how to handle the 41, my comment was that she'd be down in round count from her Beretta 92/96. Since we lived in an area noted for gang activity of the asian(skinny and thin) variety, she said, "I'll tell them to line up 3 deep......"

David Sinko: Leave an old man with his delusions.....FYI SB358, gov't not takeing firearms in an emergency(re: Katrina) passed 1st reading with no opposition in the state legislative committe. Who knows, Pigs may yet fly here in Hawaii

OT: Planning on getting Herrett's Jordon Trooper grips for my N frames