45LC vs 44mag

[Jamesconn]

I want a levergun and revolver combo. I was going to get a ruger blackhawk and a marlin. Which caliber offers the most versatility to the reloader/caster?

[btroj]

Man, this is the ultimate Ford/Chevy arguement.
Good points on either side.
I own a Marlin and Ruger in 45 Colt. I also have a Ruger in 44 mag. I find them all easy to,load for.
In the end it comes down to personal preference.

[Jamesconn]

I like dodge better

[felix]

Depends on the gun. The one with the smallest relative chamber to the loaded round is the one I would pick. The odds are in your favor with the 44mag. Either cartridge would be just as good as the other when having a custom barrel installed. ... felix

[Stick_man]

I'd have to say it is whichever combo you happen to have. They are so close to the same, as long as your revolver is one of the newer ones that can handle the high pressures like what the .44 generates, either caliber will work great for whatever shooting fancy has caught your eye.

Also, the .44s may be a little bit easier to find. Seems like everybody that makes revolvers offers them in .44mag, but not everybody offers them in .45LC.

[TheCelt]

I want a levergun and revolver combo. I was going to get a ruger blackhawk and a marlin. Which caliber offers the most versatility to the reloader/caster?

Well, I guess the best answer is "it depends" . They are both a lot of fun to shoot and cast for so I guess it's a matter of preference.

The 44s will be a little cheaper as the cowboy shooters keep the prices of the 45 Colts higher. I know the gamers have all gone to 38s/32s but a lot of them still prefer the 45Colt.

As for versatility I'd have to give the nod to the 45Colt. I cast and load 160gr RN, 180 gr PBHP, 200 gr RNFP, 225 gr RNFP, 225 gr TC, 255 gr SWC, 275gr SWC and 300 gr SWC from 600 fps to 1100 fps. I can shoot any of these loads in my Ruger 45s, Marlin 1894 or Winchester 1873 without a hiccup. It is an amazingly accurate and versitle round even if it's one of the first cartridges ever developed.

Now I'm sure there's an equal number of 44 molds available at an even greater velocity spread (it is designed for higher pressures) so you have a LOT to consider before making up your mind!!!!

After reading this I figure I haven't been much help at all!!!!!

[Potsy]

I've wanted a .45 Colt Levergun for years but have never found where Marlin built there '94 w/a 16.5"-20" Barrel for a light short carbine. Instead, they've built a long, heavy 26" octagon unit for the CAS crowd.
Had a Win. '94 Trapper .45 Colt, traded it, regretted it ever since.
Currently looking at Rossi.
Revolverwise, I love my 5.5" Bisley. I might consider a 4-5/8" gun on a little lighter frame someday (vaquero or USFA).
If BFR builds a .45 Colt (not real sure), you might take a look at them. Their chamber and throat specs will probably beat Rugers.
As far as the cartridges themselves, I do think in a Blackhawk, at the upper end of where you really want to take a production 6-round Blackhawk, a .45 Colt can do a little heavier lifting at lower pressures than the .44 Mag. But I can't think of anything I'd shoot with my .45Colt that I wouldn't with a similar load out of a good .44.
On the lower end with plinking loads, again, one is as capable as the other if you're casting and handloading.

Just some stuff to consider, no real firm opinions offered here.......

[bigboredad]

In this debate I think It really comes down to personal taste. In the real world their are very few that can shoot the upper end of either caliber. on this forum you'll find guys that not only shoot the upper end they also look for more than what can be offered and they go to the real big guns. think about what you want not anyone else and think about what what is easily available in your area. It sucks waiting for components to come in the mail especially when the components are readily available for the caliber you didn't choose.Jmho good luck

[TheCelt]

My Marlin 1894 has a 20"barrel. I had a 24" but prefer the shorter barrel. The 26" octagon barrel is on the Marlin 1895 which is a 45-70, but that's another thread altogether!!! both are fine shootin rifles!

[btroj]

It also comes down to what you can find in your price range. I like Marlin lever actions so I bought a Marlin CB with the 24 inch octagon barrel. Balances like a fine shotgun, just slightly muzzle heavy for a smooth swing.

I don't think game will even notice a difference between the two.

Buy what trips your trigger and never look back.

[Dennis Eugene]

Can't believe no one else has said this, but here goes. "Get them both" just trying to help. Dennis

[1bluehorse]

I have 45 colts, started on them years ago (about 20) because I thought I wanted to "play" cowboy action shooting. After going to several "shoots" decided it wasn't for me. No reason to go into why...if I had it to do over again (as in now) I'd go 44mag. The two are so close together in performance (if you handload the 45 colt, yeah I know you can buy hi performance 45 colt ammo but it's EXPENSIVE) that it's a wash for capability. It's also my opinion you can get a 44mag to shoot accurately "easier" than the colt. (actually I think the 44 is inherently a more accurate round to begin with) It's also easier to find 44 mag "stuff" and it's generally less expensive to boot.. YOMD (your opinion may differ)

[Thumbcocker]

My experience has been like Bluehorse's. In my experience 44's are more loader friendly. The colt can be equally accurate but, in my experience, it can be hard to get the accuracy.

[runfiverun]

it took me quite a while to find a 4-5/8ths bbl length 45 colt revolver that would fire the heavier loads.
14k pressure revolvers are easy to find,i just didn't want to mess up and drop 19 grs of 2400 in one of thier cylinders.
i needed one to carry with my levergun, [oddly] the 45 colt levergun was much easier to find.
[i have 4 of those]
i had to order the 44 mag rossi and wait for it to come.
so having gone through the trouble of pairing up a bunch of leverguns and revolvers i find that i favor my 30-30 lever gun,and my 41 mag [hunter model] revolver the most for hunting and general carry.
followed by my 45 colt 20" round bbl and my 30 carbine revolver.

[geargnasher]

I have no suggestions, but here's my experience.

.44 Mag tends to be a little easier to make accurate because, like Felix mentioned the chambers are typically a better match for brass and dies. .45 Colt chambers tend to run way large, and the poor loaded cartridge fit affects accuracy. .44 Rifles tend to have the wrong twist for heavy boolits, though. .44 Mag brass is generally cheaper and more available than .45 Colt, and lasts longer.

.45 Colt tends to be my favorite because I can get the same velocity per grains with less pressure. Simple physics, bigger diameter boolit. I also like .45 Caliber in general better than .44, just my personal preference.

Bottom line, they both work, good rifles, carbines, and revolvers are made in both calibers by a variety of companies, and boolit moulds are plentiful for both. Work up a load for the revolver first, and when you get it shooting straight, try it in the rifle.

Gear

[Char-Gar]

My experience has been like Bluehorse's. In my experience 44's are more loader friendly. The colt can be equally accurate but, in my experience, it can be hard to get the accuracy.

This would be my thinking and reasoning also.

[EDK]

Hi James, it's been awhile.

You have "opened the can of worms" once again. For starters, go over to lasc.us and read Glenn Fryxell's article on 1894 MARLINS. There are a lot of other articles that you will want to read...and the book that is there also. Glenn is THE MAN on castboolits.

There are articles and forum postings all over on this discussion. 45 COLT has some dimensional issues in various fire arms that can really drive you crazier! Brass is not as readily available as 44 Magnum or as cheap; likewise factory ammo for the most part is loaded low end because of extremely old (and not so old!) guns with varying tolerances and strengths...just consider RUGER NEW VAQUEROS versus Original Size VAQUEROS or BLACKHAWKS...consider the various SINGLE ACTION ARMY clones that are imported from Europe also. I watched a gentleman blow up a nicely engraved colt replica at a Cowboy Action shoot. POP...POP...KAPOW!!!! Look up RUGER ONLY loads in the extremely cautious LYMAN reloading manuals and see what I mean.

You're doing your homework AND other posters have given some good advice and opinions. If it cools off and doesn't start raining, I'm going to walk down to my little shooting range...with a pair of 44s and maybe the Cowboy rifle.



PS First truck was a 71 Ford; second was a 77 Chevy 4 wheel drive; third was an extended cab 96 Dodge RAM 4 wheel drive that 310,000 on it when the grandson rolled it!

[MikeS]

Well, considering that in the Ford/Chevy debate you chose to go with Dodge, then I know just the gun for you. I'm actually surprised nobody's mentioned it, but you might want to look at the 44WCF aka the 44-40. From your post it sounds like you want to get a traditional 'old west' duo, and while the 45Colt is I think the oldest metallic cartridge still in production, it was never chambered in a lever gun until modern times. The real duo of the 'old west' was the 44-40. I've never loaded any, but I understand they can be a bit challenging to load, although if you're using modern guns which are much stronger than the old timers you can load the 44-40 quite a bit hotter than it was originally loaded.

If I was going to get a combo (rifle & revolver), I would personally go for 45Colt, but that's because I already have 3 single action revolvers in 45Colt. Just my 2¢, and it's probably not even worth that much!

[44man]

Gear comes through again! The .44 can be better in a revolver but the twist is wrong in most rifles. There was an evil gremlin jumping from rifle maker to maker to come up with a 1 in 38" twist.
I think I would go to the .45 Colt in a Ruger, fix any throat issues and use the same loads in the rifle.
I understand some SBH Hunter models were made in the Colt, that would be ideal.
The BFR custom shop will make a .45 Colt.
There are no flies on a .45 and rifle twists are better.
Stay away from smaller guns like the new Vaquero, Colts or clones if you want hunting loads.

[Mal Paso]

I like dodge better

Dodge/Cummins here! Very happy with 44 Mag.