Not everything said on the internet is based on reason, but you know that. I think that many are really looking at the available factory loads. In factory loads the .44 Mag is really just the .44 Mag even though there is a Remington medium velocity loading. Handloading can give any cartridge a wide performance range (within reason).
Sincerely,
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by olyinaz » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:06 pm
Well I think you're mostly right Steve. .44 actions have the benefit of a bit more steel and .45 loaders have the benefit of a bigger bullet to push so there's that consideration (it theoretically takes a bit less pressure to push a .45 bullet of the same weight to an equal velocity) but I have a question: Does the .45 have better heavy bullet availability and load data? That's about the only area I can think of where the .45 might have an edge.
Oly
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by Hobie » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:20 pm
A good point. I think the .45 Colt (in the rifles at least) USUALLY has a twist rate that better handles heavier bullets. 45Stomp (what's your handle now?) used 335 gr. cast over 26 gr. H110 (IIRC) while the 300 gr. is about tops for the 1:38" twist .44 Mag barrels. Not a lot of the .429-.431" commercially swaged ball out there either.olyinaz wrote:Well I think you're mostly right Steve. .44 actions have the benefit of a bit more steel and .45 loaders have the benefit of a bigger bullet to push so there's that consideration (it theoretically takes a bit less pressure to push a .45 bullet of the same weight to an equal velocity) but I have a question: Does the .45 have better heavy bullet availability and load data? That's about the only area I can think of where the .45 might have an edge.
Oly
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PisgahSenior LevergunnerPosts: 1728Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:01 pmLocation: SC
Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by Pisgah » Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:07 pm
One big advantage to the .45, particularly at the upper end of the load scale, is that .44 Mag performance can be equalled, even slightly exceeded, with lower pressures. This makes the use of heavier bullet a good deal less complicated, assuming the action you are using can handle the longer bullet. A handloader, with a strong firearm, can do more with the .45 than he can with the .44, even though the .44 is no slouch, and if I had to choose between the two the .45 would be my shoice.
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JohndeFresnoAdvanced LevergunnerPosts: 4559Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:52 pm
Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by JohndeFresno » Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:16 pm
I don't know that the 45 Colt is MORE versatile - that would be setting my limited experience against a serious handgunner like Elmer Keith and others. However, as the owner (and a handloader) of two .44 Mags and a .45 SA convertible, I suspect that it is more versatile for MY INTENDED USES. I am impressed with the .45 for these reasons, within the limits of what I expect out of a large bore revolver:
1 ) The .452-.454 caliber versus the .429 caliber
2 ) Less pressure for similar loads, less muzzle blast
3 ) Less wear and tear on the handgun and barrel for most loads (due to less pressure)
4 ) Larger caliber with light loads appears to have the edge as a manstopper, with proper bullet
5 ) Adequate penetration and range for what I would use it for (no scope)
6 ) Good enough for hogs, deer, two legged vermin
7 ) Its history - nostalgia factor is a huge plus when shooting for fun!
8 ) Convertible cylinder in same gun fires all .45 ACP rounds - great survival factor
9 ) Related above - can practice cheaply with .45 ACP handloads, lead bullets!
10) Shooting standard to medium high pressure .45 loads, gun should outlast a .44 Mag with its standard "factory" pressure loads. I am using a Ruger New Model Blackhawk convertible with 4.63 inch barrel.
My favorite fun shooting load has been a 240 gr. Magnus #701M SWC-BB moly coated .44 mag bullet over 9.0 grains of Unique for a chronographed 1,078 avg. fps MV in a 6.5 in Taurus Model 44 Stainless (double action); it is very accurate (from my hand and as tested by my brother-in-law) and a joy to shoot. But the .45 Colt will probably romance me away from my pet load, once I develop my "perfect" .45 plinking load.
Last edited by JohndeFresno on Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:27 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by Blaine » Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:35 pm
Since I've decided that a .44mag with either a 240, or a 300 grain @ about 1100fps each will more than cover my needs, I've taken myself out of that arguement. If I need to open a can of serious whup-butt, I'll get some Garretts stuff...Randy's .44 stuff seems to be able to traverse a bear full length, so that's more than I'd ever need.
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CatshooterLevergunner 3.0Posts: 984Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:19 pmLocation: South East South Dakota
Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by Catshooter » Wed Mar 16, 2011 4:44 pm
"Why some claim the the 45 Colt is more versatile than the 44 Mag?"
'Cause it is Steve.
I don't know that it is actually more versatile, but you can get more power out of it. The case is bigger, and in vehicles of the same strength if you load both to the same pressure levels of course you can get more out of bigger.
The Winchester 94 is chambered in both. And you can load both to the same levels easily. I don't load to the very top, but the top is pretty impressive. Go to the articles section of this site and read what Paco has to say about the Colt in the 94.
There are guys shooting 450 grains out of the Colt in sixguns. I don't, and don't see any need, but you ain't gonna do that in the .44.
In a short sixgun, it holds quite a bit more shot for shotshell loads.
In something like the H&R single shot you can load bullets as long as the throat will allow. It would take some work, but I could get as big as 550 grains in mine.
Now why one would want to be able to do all this in one caliber is a seperate question and should be exaimined seperatley. I'm just answering the OPs question, don't throw rocks at me.
Cat
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86erAdvanced LevergunnerPosts: 4703Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:58 pmLocation: Republic of Texas
Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by 86er » Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:02 pm
I've shot a dozen animals with each from a handgun and rifle respectively (48 total). The 45 Colt with the same weight bullet, or within 10 grains, makes a greater visible impression and over the course of all the animals the 45 has proven to cause more terminal damage. However, each animal was in incident unto itself. There were multiple hits with both, DRT's with both, etc. All the shots in the right place were fatal regardless of which, so there's no clear winner there. Probably the visible difference and terminal difference is there for the same reason a 300 Win Mag with a 180gr has a greater visible effect and overall terminal effect than the 7mm Rem Mag with a 175 grain - the .024" bullet diameter difference, the same difference between the 44 Mag and 45 Colt. That doesn't make one stand out as better than the other. I've also shot a bunch of animals with a muzzleloader that fired a .429 or .452 diameter bullet at 1650 -1885 fps. This is similar performance that you would get with the metallic cartridge version from a rifle. Again the difference was negligible. I always put my faith and trust in the 45 with 300gr and even 335gr bullets because if the chips were down I wanted the most terminal performance I could muster from that platform. It really was a personal choice based on observations and speculation. You could give me either one for an intended task and I would tackle it with the same confidence. The only caveat here is that for human predators with 44 Spl or 45 Colt "defense-type" loads I'd choose different bullets and weights for each, where for big game I'd pick the same bullets in either the same weight or some of them come with 10 grains difference in the different diameters. So, to me they offer the same versatility.
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by AmBraCol » Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:26 pm
Take a gander at this article, "The .45 Colt - Dissolving the Myth, Discovering the Legend" from someone who knows a little bit more than the average guy about high performance six (and five) guns... If, after reading the article, you "still don't get it", that's OK. We won't hold it against you.
//www.customsixguns.com/writings/d ... e_myth.htm
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by AJMD429 » Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:41 pm
I don't think either has a definitive advantage; both have decent 'vintage'-style firearms for the nostalgic shooter, both have super-strong 'modern'-style firearms for the power shooter, and with the cast lead and jacketed bullet selection, many useable powders, and reloading, you can do about anything you need to do in North America with either cartridge. Both are available in 'hunting' handguns as well as 'concealed-carry' handguns.
There ARE some minor differences, and for a particular individual, perhaps some of those differences could seem 'decisive':
- The .45 caliber guns could possibly use easily-available sabots in a pinch, to fire other projectiles,
The ".45 Colt" just sounds less 'violent' that the ".44 Magnum", if a jury is deciding a self-defense case,
The factory-made 'light loads' for .44 Mag are mostly in shorter .44 Special cases, and could gunk-up chambers,
While a ".45" shooter has to stock .452" bullets for handgun and carbine, the big rifles in ".45" (so far) use .458"
- Rifle length Levergun - Marlin 336 in .444 Marlin with 4-16x scope
Carbine length Levergun - Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum with Williams FP/Firesights
CCW - Charter Arms Bulldog Pug in .44 Special with Crimson Trace grips
Farm/Hunting - Ruger Redhawk in .44 Magnum with aperture sights
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rimrockLevergunner 2.0Posts: 420Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2007 8:48 pm
Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by rimrock » Wed Mar 16, 2011 6:53 pm
I have to say if you don't reload, .44Mag or .44special ammo is much easier to find locally. I like my .45C Bisley Vaquero. If I had bought the .44Mag instead of the .45C I think I would be just as satisfied. The lower pressure, lower recoil for mid range loads is why I bought the .45C. I do admit I forgot about .44 Special when I was learning. No turning back now as I've got the stuff for reloading .45C and too stingy to also buy a gun and stuff for .44Mag.
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2X22Levergunner 3.0Posts: 933Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:08 amLocation: Salmon Creek, SW Washington
Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by 2X22 » Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:53 pm
We think alike on this for sure.BlaineG wrote:Since I've decided that a .44mag with either a 240, or a 300 grain @ about 1100fps each will more than cover my needs, I've taken myself out of that arguement.
I use'ta kill a lotta deer and a few dozen big heavy Roosevelt elk with .44's and cast bullets from 240 to 330grs with zero losses or problems.
I imagine the same thing could be done with a .45. But anymore, I tend to run things at 255's at 900-1100fps from revolvers and 1250-1400fps from rifles and that gets the job I need done for me nowdays.
2x22=?
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by AJMD429 » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:17 pm
...and don't forget the Ruger's...!Old Time Hunter wrote:Why does everyone state this twist rate, neither my '94 Trapper or my '94 BlackShadow have a 1:38. One is 1:24 I believe and the other 1:20, bought both because of this.
I'm pretty sure that both the 96/44 lever-action, and the 77/44 bolt-action, have 1:20 twists.
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by Griff » Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:31 am
I say it ALL the time. For all the reasons stated above, plus the biggie for me, in my bullet cabinet, I have .452 bullets in the followings weights & styles (which ain't a near complete list of all available):
155gr SWC
160gr Big Lube™ TC
160gr SWC
180gr WFN
200gr SWC (short nose)
200gr SWC (long nose)
200gr RFN
200gr JHP (2 different styles & mat'l)
225gr TC
225gr JHP
230gr RN
230gr ball
240gr JSP
240gr JHP
250gr RN
250gr RFN
250gr JHP
260gr JHP
300gr JHP
300gr JSP
325gr JSP
In my book, that equates to a whole lotta versatility; how's that .44 do in bullet selection? Yep, pretty close, Hodgdon's lists loads from 165gr to 355gr, vs. the Colt's 155 to 360. And, as far as loads go:
.45 Colt:
240 GR. SIE JHC Hodgdon H110 .452" 1.600" 27.2 1483 27,900 CUP 28.0 1532 30,000 CUP
.44 Remington Magnum:
240 GR. NOS JHP Hodgdon H110 .429" 1.600" 23.0 1413 25,200 CUP 24.0 1522 36,200 CUP
Whoever sez, "..pretty close...", is short changin' the Colt.
Griff,
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buckeyeshooterSenior LevergunnerPosts: 1167Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:57 pm
Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by buckeyeshooter » Thu Mar 17, 2011 5:22 am
the fact a lot of people like the old time 45 colt. I shoot 44 mags. I do own 2 45 colts-- one unfired and the second bought to shoot blackpowder in sass. I have been shooting 44 mags too in sass-- rifle and handguns, but i don't want to dirty my nice 44's with black. I think the 44 is as versatile and I like it better.COSteve wrote:Everyone here seems to agree that the 45 LC is a more versatile caliber than the 44mag. They cite that it can be downloaded to puff loads or loaded heavy to 'near 44 mag levels'. I don't understand why you don't believe that a 44 mag can't also be loaded lightly.
It seems to me that because the 44 mag has a higher pressure capability than a 45 LC and both can be downloaded so low that the bullet won't make it out of the barrel, that the 44 mag is more versatile. I understand that a 45 cal can be loaded really hot but it's called a 45-70.
What am I missing?
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by gundownunder » Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:33 am
Old time hunter wants to know where those twist rate figures come from and I think he may find them in Glen Fryxells article on the 1894 Marlin and they probably don't apply to the Winchester.
As everyone else has already said, they can both be loaded down till the bullet only just falls out the end, or both be loaded up to max loads which will probably be pretty much alike. This would then give the advantage to the 45 because of bigger diameter, lower pressure, and the ability to load heavier bullets.
At the end of the day I wouldn't think one would kill something that the other wouldn't, given equal conditions, but if you don't already have a 44 and you're tossing up between the two, you might as well get the better one.
Bob
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by Hobie » Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:41 am
Because for YEARS that was the standard. While there are others (such as the Rugers and Winchesters) they simply aren't as widely distributed. You can't get a 96/44 and we're only just starting to move some 77/44s (have sold 6 and have 2 in the racks) and the Winchesters just aren't as common as one would think they would be. One very seldom sees one. I had one back in 1973 but it was one of THREE I've seen in a gun shop in all these years (although I wasn't looking for one for years either). I don't know what twist rate the Rossis have but one sees more of those or the Marlins by a wide margin. So, right or wrong, this is the common perception and affects the way most (not necessarily the well educated shooter such as yourself) view the two cartridges.Old Time Hunter wrote:
Why does everyone state this twist rate, neither my '94 Trapper or my '94 BlackShadow have a 1:38. One is 1:24 I believe and the other 1:20, bought both because of this.45Stomp (what's your handle now?) used 335 gr. cast over 26 gr. H110 (IIRC) while the 300 gr. is about tops for the 1:38" twist .44 Mag barrels.
Then again you'd likely be somewhat surprised at all the folks who feel that a .300 magnum is necessary for deer hunting.
Sincerely,
Hobie
"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend." Robert Louis Stevenson
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rognLevergunner 2.0Posts: 306Joined: Sat Sep 04, 2010 1:26 pmLocation: ES of MD
Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by rogn » Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:48 am
My personal preference is for the 45Colt, probably just because at this point in my life(?) Ive become interested in larger calibers(??). Right now I think a 300 magnum might just be adequate, but barely, for woodchucks. And as my eyesight works its way south it's so much easier to see the bigger holes in the target paper. As far as larger game goes, Ive only shot one deer with a 45 Cal and it was a frontloader. The nervous animal turned as the trigger broke and my shot was NOT AS INTENDED. In fact is was lousy. But the dooe only went a 100 yd before expiring. I think the real reason I like the 45 over the 44 is just nostalgia from all the westerns I watched as a kid. would a 44 caliber bullet have made any difference in the above bad example, sure maybe about 2 more yd. Its kinda like comparing a Chebby 3/4 ton to a Ford 3/4 ton, where ones rated at 300# more capacity than the other. The load still gets there and nothing's broken. So in the overall analysis, ignoring the academic differences, the conclusion is so what?
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fisheadgibLevergunnerPosts: 38Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2010 10:19 pm
Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by fisheadgib » Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:37 am
AmBraCol wrote:Take a gander at this article, "The .45 Colt - Dissolving the Myth, Discovering the Legend" from someone who knows a little bit more than the average guy about high performance six (and five) guns... If, after reading the article, you "still don't get it", that's OK. We won't hold it against you.
//www.customsixguns.com/writings/d ... e_myth.htm
Thank you for that link. The article is now printed and has a home in my reloading binder.
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by AmBraCol » Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:19 am
fisheadgib wrote:
AmBraCol wrote://www.customsixguns.com/writings/d ... e_myth.htm
Thank you for that link. The article is now printed and has a home in my reloading binder.
You're welcome. What John doesn't know about powerful, packable, practical sixguns isn't hardly worth knowing.
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by Blaine » Thu Mar 17, 2011 3:39 pm
I need another BFR....the 45-70 is better than the Colt or the .429 mag.....greater or same power, much less pressure and noise. I personally promise that if you can shoot full house .45s, you can handle a 525gr .459 out of a BFR, in fact it's not as painful, IMHO.
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firefuzzSenior LevergunnerPosts: 1350Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:17 amLocation: Central Oklahoma
Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by firefuzz » Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:58 am
I think the .44 mag vs. the modern .45 Colt debate is like the .444 vs. .45-70 debate, either one will generally get the job done....it all depend on which one either party has. (in this one I'd lean toward the .44 caliber, of course the .45-70 just kicks the snot out of that wannabe .444
Rob
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by Old Savage » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:07 am
These are 360 gr at 1350 out of my rifle. Record show that Cowboytutt also brought me some other loads that went over 1500. Pretty tough to equal that in a 44.
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CatshooterLevergunner 3.0Posts: 984Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:19 pmLocation: South East South Dakota
Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by Catshooter » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:48 am
Indeed. That the .45 can be loaded to some serious power doesn't mean it has to be. I mostly run nine grains of Universal Clays in the Colt for both sixgun & rifle. runs about 1200 feet out of the Trapper. Pretty much does it.
Now if I were using the Trapper for silhouette that'd be different. Those Rams are heavy and at 200 yards out you need the power the Colt can delilver.
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by Old Ironsights » Fri Mar 18, 2011 9:10 pm
Why is .45 Colt more versatile?
'Cause not only can you load it UP to stupid levels (Hi, Ross Seifreid) you can shoot it out of more/older guns & conversion units as well.
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JohndeFresnoAdvanced LevergunnerPosts: 4559Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:52 pm
Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by JohndeFresno » Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:33 pm
For the first time, I have really studied this article, and I am concerned that one might just glance over it and assume that, because Mr. Linebaugh extolls very high pressure .45 loads, that they can safely shoot "magnum" type loads accordingly.AmBraCol wrote:Take a gander at this article, "The .45 Colt - Dissolving the Myth, Discovering the Legend" from someone who knows a little bit more than the average guy about high performance six (and five) guns... If, after reading the article, you "still don't get it", that's OK. We won't hold it against you.
//www.customsixguns.com/writings/d ... e_myth.htm
Unless I misunderstood Mr. Linebaugh's writings on the subject, it is NOT SAFE to push the limits of the .45 loads too high, unless you have TIGHTER CHAMBERS in your cylinder than the ones that come with your Ruger or most other high strength, modern revolvers. Mr. Linebaugh talks about the Seville in .45 Colt that worked well, but he also states that its chambers are tighter.
Just as a note of caution, before some reloader goes hog wild with a Colt .45 Load, please review these sections of the above cited article:
(From Linebaugh's article)
"'weak'. The only thing weak is their limited research on the subject. The cartridge case in any firearm is simply a gasket to seal the hot gases away from the shooter and the firearm. Yes, it's critical that this component be of best quality and design. But overall the firearm itself contains the pressure. The reason the .45 Colt case bulges is the chambers in NEARLY ALL modern .45 Colts are grossly oversize. The case simply has to stretch beyond its elastic limit to reach the support of the chambers of the firearm. The modern .45 Colt case measures .476 diameter at the case head web area. Most modern chambers run from .486 upwards to .490. This means the new case has to expand from .010 to .014 to seal the chamber and be supported by the firearm. It is then resized and the process repeated till the case fails. And fail it will, and more than likely prematurely due to overworking..."
"Our next test vehicles were the fine old Abilene models in .45 Colt. Only about 500 of these guns were made in this caliber by the New York firm. It went bankrupt and what was left of this outfit became Seville and El Dorado. When the Seville arms became available we soon went to work on these. The Abilene and Seville both were bored with minimum Industry standard chambers. the diameter being .483 but the chamber throats were still oversize at .457 diameter. This was a help with proper size chambers and the strength the guns offered over the Colts was the biggest breakthrough we had so far. Before in all other loadings the chambers and throats were so oversize that our powder charges, (especially H-110 and WW 296) would not even begin to burn properly with the recommended charges the load manuals printed. The tighter guns helped this somewhat but performance was still at best 3rd rate...."
"Since this load data and report is about Ruger Single actions lets take a look at these. The Rugers are undoubtedly the strongest most well thought out modern sixguns in the world. They are an engineering marvel but why they won't tighten up their tolerances and chamber proper size charge holes in the cylinder is beyond me. Ruger .45 Colt chambers are BIG. I have seen and measured hundreds of them and they are .486 to .490 in dia. This is the maximum allowed by the industry. The camber throats are .457 to .458. Recently the new Bisley models had .455 throats but the chambers are still oversize..."
* * *
Now, correct me if I'm wrong. But it sounds to me like you face disastrous consequences if you get too enthusiastic with some of the listed high pressure loads unless you change out your cylinder for a tighter-than-factory cylinder.
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by J Miller » Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:35 pm
John,
I've read "The .45 Colt - Dissolving the Myth, Discovering the Legend" a couple times. And I've loaded some smokin loads for my Old Model Blackhawk with it's .... umm, lets say generous chambers, from the Hodgdons #26 manual. These loads produce 30,000 CUP according to the manual and are a good handful.
Not one case failed, no splits, no cracks, nothing. As a matter of fact, I've reloaded all of them several times since the heavy loads and none have failed.
I do not load Ross Seifreid level loads, I thought that was insane years ago when I read his article, and I still do. But he used a specially constructed custom revolver and that's the difference.
Much is made about the pressures generated by these loads, the long disproved legend that the .45 Colt case was weak, and the big chambers. I don't find those things to be a problem at all.
The one thing I do acknowledge is that with heavy loads approaching 30K CUP, brass life will be shorter, and the wear and tear on the gun ~AND~ your wrists and elbows will be greater.
What it comes down to is that the .45 Colt and the .44 Mag are both very versatile. But in opposite directions. To get added high performance loads from the .45 Colt, you have to load it "UP". To get milder loads from the .44 Mag, you have to load it "DOWN".
I'm of the opinion it's a wash, they're equal.
Joe
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Re: Why The Claim That 45 LC is More Versatile Than 44 Mag
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Post by AJMD429 » Sat Mar 26, 2011 11:08 am
Yep. Lots of the 'problem' is simply that so many .45 Colt firearms have oversized chambers, so the brass is 'worked' quite a bit more.J Miller wrote: Much is made about the pressures generated by these loads, the long disproved legend that the .45 Colt case was weak, and the big chambers. I don't find those things to be a problem at all. The one thing I do acknowledge is that with heavy loads approaching 30K CUP, brass life will be shorter, and the wear and tear on the gun ~AND~ your wrists and elbows will be greater.
J Miller wrote:What it comes down to is that the .45 Colt and the .44 Mag are both very versatile. But in opposite directions. To get added high performance loads from the .45 Colt, you have to load it "UP". To get milder loads from the .44 Mag, you have to load it "DOWN". I'm of the opinion it's a wash, they're equal.
Why is a .44 Mag more powerful than a 45?
The 44 Magnum might be firing a slightly thinner bullet, but its case can hold 11.2 gr more propellant compared to the 45. The 44 cartridge has a case capacity of 37.9 gr compared to 26.7 gr for the 45 ACP. The added case capacity allows the 44 Magnum to fire heavier bullets at higher velocities compared to the 45.Why is the 44 Magnum so powerful?
The . 44 Magnum is based on the . 44 Special case but lengthened and loaded to higher pressures for greater velocity and energy. Famously called "the most powerful handgun [cartridge] in the world" by Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry, the .Which is bigger .45 Colt or .44 Magnum?
Overall length of a loaded 45 Colt cartridge is 1.600″ (40.6mm) where a . 44 Magnum is only about ten thousandths of an inch longer at 1.61″ (41mm). So, in terms of diameter, the . 45 Colt is “bigger” and in terms of overall length, the .Which gun is more powerful a 44 Magnum or 357?
The 44 magnum will leave a bigger hole in your target because it shoots a bigger bullet. So if that's what you're after, the 44 mag has more stopping power than the 357, which isn't lacking in stopping power.What's more powerful a 44 Magnum or a 10 mm?
10mm vs 44 Magnum: Stopping Power The 44 Mag's 240 grain bullet consistently outpaces the 10mm's 180 grain bullet, even at 100 yards. And because it is so much heavier, it carries significantly more energy at all distances as well.Is a 45 Long Colt more powerful than a 45 ACP?
The 45 ACP and 45 LC are very similar in terms of total foot-pounds of energy. There will always be load to load variability, but in general the 45 ACP is slightly more powerful. This is primarily due to its use of smokeless powder and higher pressure limits.