44 mag vs 45 Colt

[rockquarry]

.44 Magnum vs. .45 Colt; usual thread meander...

 

[edjack]

I had always heard the reason winchester dident make a 45 colt lever gun during the hayday of lever guns was due to the rim of the colt case. I know they make them now but i dont know anyone who has one and if this is still an issue in modern times. I have a 44 lever gun it works fine. Just have to use a bullet that feeds and chambers.

I read that, way back then, Winchester refused to chamber their long guns for Colt ammo. Hence, the .44-40 became preferred.

 

[RebCop]

I've owned a .45 Colt carbine and it would shoot Ruger level loads just fine. A reliable accurate and powerful little carbine.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I load all my .45 Colt loads the same for convenience. What I get 800 fps with in my 4" M25-5, I get just under 900 fps in my 7-1/2" Uberti 1875 Remington, and 1175 fps in my 20" Henry lever action. I also have a 5-1/2" Uberti 1873 Colt in .45 Colt. I could go hotter in all of them, but there is plenty of energy in a 250 grain bullet at 800 fps and that much more in the rifle. Recoil is mild and they are very accurate from any of the guns I have, no reason to go any hotter, really. At 75 yards with the rifle, they darn near knock the gongs off their hangers.

 

[Imissedagain]

Despite the greatness of the 44Mag and 45LC, beyond greatness, was just around the corner.
I mainly use 460 Brass, but recently bought 100 45LC Starline Brass.
Only used the Chrony, for arrows and airguns, but I'll get a chance to shoot it soon.
Pics from Web






Have a Miroku/Winchester '92, in 45LC, 24" barrel, one of 5K with some engraving.
My boy likes that one, compared to the '94 16" Ranger.
Both shoot nice.
Ruger 45C Blackhawk 7.5", and recently put on a stainless grip frame.
Better balance on that tack driver.
Smith at Ruger, back around '81, made it a Bullseye shooter.

 

[Radny97]

The problem with the 460 S&W is it's only chambered in X-frame revolvers. Great guns but the longer barrel ones weigh as much as a rifle and you need a chest holster to carry them. And the snubbys shown above don't offer more in velocity than a 454.

But back to the topic. The two biggest practical downsides to the 45 colt is the lack of Tier 2 factory offerings (not a problem for hand loaders) and the fact that there are very few good carry options for 45 Colt in DA/SA revolvers. There's the S&W model 25 (4 and 6 inch barrels available) and the charter arms bulldog xl (2.5 and 4.2 inch versions available) that's it.
In the meantime there's tons and tons of options in 44 mag.

I own a 6 inch model 25. Just a work of art. I have a bulldog xl 4.2 inch coming to my dealer this week. We'll see if I am happy with it. If I'm happy then the bulldog will be on my hip during my elk hunt in a few weeks. If I'm not happy with it, then I'll be taking my S&W 329pd