Add a caliber: 44 or 45?

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ridgewalker

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Hypothetically speaking, if a friend were to ask your advice, what would you recommend, adding a 44 or 45? Assume he has a collection of 38/357 revolvers of different types that cover all the bases. He wants to get into a new caliber and is probably going to get a few different guns in the new caliber. Mostly he just likes to shoot and wants it for fun. But hunting and self defense are possible uses as well.

Which new caliber would you recommend he get. 44 or 45? And why?
 
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If your hypothetical friend already has a .45 ACP pistol, a model 25/625 in the same chambering would be a good choice. If not, this may be a good new caliber to try anyhow. If he is after the full-bodied power experience, a .44 Magnum would be better; plenty of factory Special and Magnum loads to try. If he reloads all options are good, including the .45 Colt.
 
Are you looking at 45 colt or 45 ACP? I would assume you are looking at 44 Mag and 45 ACP because those are the most common calibers, but further clarification is necessary.
If I were you I would choose 45 ACP just for some variation in the guns options out there.
With that said, 44 magnum is also a good option and you can load light 44 special loads that are similar to 38 special or go full bore and create loads that leave .357 in the dust.
 
In S & W, .44 is historically significant. Seems they have been with us forever and they are wonderfully versatile. Milld to wild. That is from plinking loads to heavy weight magnums. They cover targets to big game.

The same spread of loads can be achieved from the .45, but for the dragon breath loads, I would prefer the big Rugers or Freedom Arms. The S&W cylinder walls get a little thin for the strongest loads. Just my two cents.

Jack
 
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Can't go wrong with either 44 (magnum or special) or 45 (ACP or Colt). I'd go with the revolver I found first at a reasonable price in any of those cartridges. My favorite for shooting in 44 special is a 696, in 44 mag a 29-2 6.5 inch, in 45 ACP a 625 (any of the dash models or barrel lengths) and in 45 Colt a 25-5 four inch. Of those my 625s are very accurate and fun to shoot and are currently my all around favorites; especially with 45AR brass. If your hypothetical friend doesn't reload, 45 ACP with moon clips works fine and ammo is more readily available and a little less expensive than the other three. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457
 
There's no wrong answer the 44mag and the 45 colt are both excellent cartridges
plenty of different bullets and molds available for both
either can loaded mild or obnoxious
Brass is plentiful but not cheap
Similar price to load
The 44 is faster but the 45 has a bigger bullet ... So it's just personal preference
45 acp is a viable cartridge as well, less expensive to shoot than the other two with just as many bullet and powder choices
You will reload if you don't already haha
Personally I have examples of each ctg and load for them all , but I seem to shoot my 44s way more
ymmv
 
kamloops67 said:
There's no wrong answer the 44mag and the 45 colt are both excellent cartridges
plenty of different bullets and molds available for both
either can loaded mild or obnoxious
Brass is plentiful but not cheap
Similar price to load
The 44 is faster but the 45 has a bigger bullet ... So it's just personal preference
45 acp is a viable cartridge as well, less expensive to shoot than the other two with just as many bullet and powder choices
You will reload if you don't already haha
Personally I have examples of each ctg and load for them all , but I seem to shoot my 44s way more
ymmv
Click to expand...

About what I have found and do....
 
reddog81 said:
Are you looking at 45 colt or 45 ACP? I would assume you are looking at 44 Mag and 45 ACP because those are the most common calibers, but further clarification is necessary.
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Click to expand...

Hi OP here. I was intentionally vague on this point. 45 colt or 45 ACP? You tell me. That's part of the question. But don't forget the 44's. :)
 
I had the same delimma. I have a 45 and 40 auto. But no large bore revolver. I tried a friends S&W 25-7 and fell in love. I reload so 45 LC was no problem. Was lucky with help from this forum, I found a 25-9. Non- fluted with a 5 in barrel. I'm in the process of load development.
 
Hasbeen1945 said:
I had the same delimma. I have a 45 and 40 auto. But no large bore revolver. I tried a friends S&W 25-7 and fell in love. I reload so 45 LC was no problem. Was lucky with help from this forum, I found a 25-9. Non- fluted with a 5 in barrel. I'm in the process of load development.
Click to expand...

Pictures of the 25-9 please. Everyone else too!
 
Everyone should have a .45acp 1911 from one of the better companies. I also believe the 4" .44mag 29/629 is an iconic S&W and at least one of those should be in the safe as well. :D

If my friend didn't reload I'd suggest the 1911 first as factory ammo is plentiful and varied in options. Factory ammo in either Special or Magnum for the .44 is a bit pricier.
 
While I am a 45 fan and think a S&W 45 Colt with the cylinder cut to fire 45ACP in full moons is really a sweet set up. But if you don't reload and want to cover a lot of ground with one gun something in 44 mag is hard to beat. Mild 44 specials to full bore 44 mags covers a lot of ground.

Do like me, have a couple 45colt/acps, a couple 45acps, a couple 44 specials, a model 69 44 mag and a 629 44 mag. Way easier than deciding on just one.
 
I was recently faced with this same dilemma. For what it is worth, here is my thinking on the subject. I really depends on your intended purpose.

I don't hunt, and 44mag is just too much for personal defense. I also don't reload, and 44mag ammo is super expensive. So I would pass on the 44mag.

While I don't own a gun that fires 44spec, I think 44spec is a very cool round for personal defense. But 44spec ammo is very expensive and does not do anything a 45acp can't.

Since I already owned a 1911 and have ample 45acp on hand, I bought a 625JM and could not be happier. Here is a typical group with cheap Federal Aluminum Cased 230gr Ammo from Walmart. 25' Double Action. Fired yesterday:

IMG_1258_zpsqcedzhh5.jpg
 
Definitely .45 ACP.

You can get:

625
S&W 1917 (or Brazilian)
Colt 1917
1911 (name your brand and variant)
945
745
4506
4513
Colt SAA (get one with both 45 Colt and 45 ACP cylinders)
and a whole bunch of other choices both S&W and other brands (Glock, H&K, Sig, etc. etc.).

There probably aren't many calibers that have been loaded into so many types of handguns (except .22 lr).
 
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Must buy both, or he (you) will be forever defending your decision on every caliber war thread on the internet.

If you have both you will appreciate both calibers pro's & con's & move on.

For example, the 45 Colt has excess case capacity when using less bulky powders that can effect accuracy. Shooting cast bullets a near max levels in the 44 will incur a cleaning penalty.

I have both and think everyone should have both a SAA 45 & mod 29 in their collections. Both are wonderful guns rich in history.

To pick one, it would probably be a 45 with both cylinders for maximum flexibility. Probably a Blackhawk that I could load the 45 Colt to +P and above pressures, or just shoot it with acp's for an easy day of plinking.
 
I Went The .45 Auto Route Myself.

The .45 ACP was my choice.
I added it to my .357 & .44 Magnum duo, it fit right in. The recoil is next to nothing, compared to the Magnums. And it is still a fearsome defense gun, when needed.
I have a Colt MKIV and I had a Ruger P97: the Ruger has a soft kick and is an easy shooting .45 Auto.
If you find one for sale, take a look at it. You can reasonably expect to pay $300-$350. That is pretty cheap for a ruggedly made gun.
I don't have it now, because I gave it to my girlfriend. She loved me for it.
P97 Security Arms.jpg



ridgewalker said:
Hypothetically speaking, if a friend were to ask your advice, what would you recommend, adding a 44 or 45? Assume he has a collection of 38/357 revolvers of different types that cover all the bases. He wants to get into a new caliber and is probably going to get a few different guns in the new caliber. Mostly he just likes to shoot and wants it for fun. But hunting and self defense are possible uses as well.

Which new caliber would you recommend he get. 44 or 45? And why?
Click to expand...
 
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N Frame Magnums for sure.

M29 in 44 Magnum.

And/Or

M57 in 41 Magnum.

Once he has these two which he will someday I'd get the m25 in 45 long colt last.
 
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Get them all!!! Get a 44 magnum, a 45 Long Colt and a 45 ACP!!! Get them all and shoot them all, you only live once... Just my 2¢…
 
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I've had several of each .45 ACP and .44 Special revolvers and still do. I'm a handloader, so it's about a toss-up for me. As above, the .45 is a mite cheaper in the brass dept., but the Specials have a kind of panache that the Magnum just overpowers. My fling with the .45 Colt was unfavorable and brief, so that one's out. I'm inclined toward the Special, but maybe my "friend" already has a .45 ?

Larry
 
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