Would this be a good move....or regrettable. 44Mag -- 45 LC

[redhawk0]

Just want some opinions. I have a Ruger Redhawk in 44 Mag 5.5" barrel blued with Pachmayr grips.

I'm starting to feel some arthritis in my hands and was thinking of trading it in for another big bore but with a bit less recoil. I thought of the 45 LC.

Any thoughts on doing this...Anyone else ever make this switch. I would likely get another Redhawk.

redhawk

[kungfustyle]

You can always shoot 44 specials out of the 44 mag. I'd go that rout and you don't even need to get a new set of reloading die or bullet molds.

[toallmy]

If you load your own you can make them what you want , I'm with kungfustile - but by all means buying another handgun is fun .

[Grmps]

Both guns are very comparable.

I would suggest searching for the lightest accurate load for the 44 mag and keep it if you like the gun.

[ericandelaine1975]

Both guns are very comparable.

I would suggest searching for the lightest accurate load for the 44 mag and keep it if you like the gun.

Yes they are. Depending on how you load it will depend on the recoil. I have 45's that barely kick them I have my hunting loads that are a handful.

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[Thumbcocker]

The .45 Colt gave me fits trying to get the same accuracy as my .44s. I would look at a load of 9.0 of power pistol or 10.0 of Unique with standard weight boolits in a .44 before I jumped into a new caliber. I have one .44 that loves Keith boolits over 6.5 of red dot. You can use any standard pressure .45 colt load in a .44 magnum with the same weight boolit and never get into trouble. The .44 magnum is an extremely versatile cartridge. If your gun shoots well for you play with some different loads before you send it down the road.

[dverna]

I will be blunt....it would be a foolish decision. I had no problems getting accurate light reloads out of my .44 Mag. IMHO the .44 Mag is the best big bore revolver caliber available. Many good bullets for it and about as much recoil as most people can handle when loaded hot...yet retains accuracy even with lighter loads. And if for some reason someone is forced to buy factory ammo, it is widely available in both the Mag and Special loadings.
.

[jmort]

The .45 Colt is a beautiful thing. Operating at a lower pressure to get the same ballistics as the .44 mag is nice, and the history is epic. But in the end, if you are up to it the .44 magnum can produce more energy with its smaller caliber. I like big/heavy slow bullets. The .45 Colt is all I could ever ask for.
Some want more, .454, .475, .480, and .500. Use what works for you.

[John Ross]

This makes no sense. You are a handloader, judging from your other posts. Load your .44 to whatever lower recoil level suits you.

[jmort]

".44 Mag is the best big bore revolver caliber available."

Why???
You could never prove it is the best. Never. Ever.
There is no such thing.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

this would be fun big bore and easy on your hands but i would just keep it and down load it but if i was just looking to punch paper and use for
HD https://www.ruger.com/products/redha...eets/5050.html

[redhawk0]

OK....you've all convinced me.... (In the back of my mind...i was trying to get justification for a new revolver....but.....) I have some 210 WC and 240 RN loads that I've loaded with 231, RedDot in the past and they have been a lot of fun. My hunting loads have become...well...painful as of late. I think you're all correct when you say load them down and I'm going to agree. I'll shoot up the last of my high pressure hunting loads...then start finding a lighter charge that I can live with. The 44 Redhawk stays in the arsenal.

redhawk

[Thumbcocker]

I will never be a part of a man not getting a new revolver if he fancies it but I will do all I can to keep a good gun in a good home.

[ericandelaine1975]

I will never be a part of a man not getting a new revolver if he fancies it but I will do all I can to keep a good gun in a good home.

Amen brother.

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[Drm50]

I no longer have any Ruger DAs, have a bucket of S&Ws. In m29 & m24 shooting 172gr WC over
8.5gr Unique. You can shoot them all day long. I'm in the market for a 200gr range WC mold which
I plan to propel at approx 800fps. I have a few SWC & RN molds for 44s but don't use them much
anymore. My deer gun is a old 3screw SBH that I shoot 240jhp/ 22.5gr H-2400. My S&Ws are for
target & plinking. I did take a deer with a m25 45Colt with a 242gr WC/ 12.0gr W-630 at 750fps.
At moderate ranges you don't have to shoot barn burners. 44 & 45 cal bullets will drop the "oil
pressure" of man & beast just from the hole it puts in them. I have S&W 44 Russian brass that I
load up with RBs 120gr .430" dia/ 3.0gr Unique at 470fps. I shoot these in basement at about 20'
and even the SBH will dump them in one hole. Using 44sp brass I had to go 3.5gr Unique to get
same results.

[smkummer]

I think you would just do more work to where you are now. Often it takes more trial and error with 45 colt to get the out of box accuracy with 44 magnum. And I am a big fan of 45 colt owning more than I can count for now. But also a big fan of 44 special and one 44 magnum. It’s been at least 5 years since I fired a full power 44 magnum load, but 44 special ( plusP), I fire a lot.

[redhawk0]

I no longer have any Ruger DAs, have a bucket of S&Ws. In m29 & m24 shooting 172gr WC over
8.5gr Unique. You can shoot them all day long. I'm in the market for a 200gr range WC mold which
I plan to propel at approx 800fps. I have a few SWC & RN molds for 44s but don't use them much
anymore. My deer gun is a old 3screw SBH that I shoot 240jhp/ 22.5gr H-2400. My S&Ws are for
target & plinking. I did take a deer with a m25 45Colt with a 242gr WC/ 12.0gr W-630 at 750fps.
At moderate ranges you don't have to shoot barn burners. 44 & 45 cal bullets will drop the "oil
pressure" of man & beast just from the hole it puts in them. I have S&W 44 Russian brass that I
load up with RBs 120gr .430" dia/ 3.0gr Unique at 470fps. I shoot these in basement at about 20'
and even the SBH will dump them in one hole. Using 44sp brass I had to go 3.5gr Unique to get
same results.

Yeah...I just looked up my WC mold...its a LEE 208gr DC #90334....however, when I look up that LEE part number today its been reassigned to a Quick Trim die for the 25-06. I think I purchased this mold new back in the early 90s.

I bought a RB .445" mold (Lyman...single cavity) just for it's handles off Ebay a while back. I was just going to use it for parts but I might try to cast a few and give them a go in the 44 over the winter. If I have to size them down to .430" I can do that too....but given the surface area where it touches bore...I don't think I'll need to as long as I can get the loaded round to chamber in the cylinder.

redhawk

[osteodoc08]

No need for new. Either load 44 special loads, or light 180-200 gr 44 mag loads. If you’re having arthritis issues, get a model 27 and shoot 38 WC loads. So long as it goes bang, I’m a pretty happy camper.

[DougGuy]

If you just HAVE to buy something, buy a copy of QuickLoad and have fun conjuring up all the loads you could possibly tailor for the amount of recoil you can stand. Check your load data against published data and/or data on powder mfgr's websites to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary, and DON'T download W296/H110 below the starting charges.

I would keep the 44. I have loaded for both 44mag and 45 Colt for decades, I really haven't found anything that one will do but the other won't.

[redhawk0]

No need for new. Either load 44 special loads, or light 180-200 gr 44 mag loads. If you’re having arthritis issues, get a model 27 and shoot 38 WC loads. So long as it goes bang, I’m a pretty happy camper.

Thanx for the tip...I will have a Dan Wesson 357...but I have to wait for it...I gave it to my father back when I graduated college as a thank you gift for helping me get through....I won't get it until he passes...so I'm not in any hurry for it.

I do have a 38spl snubby...and that's a lot of fun to shoot. I primarily shoot 158 SWC or RN in it. I should break down and get a WC design for the 38 as well...Anyway.... for a mid-caliber...I do still have fun at the range.

I'll admit though...its pretty hard to beat the fun of a 22 LR pistol. You can really bang though a lot of ammo and it doesn't cost much. And with 22 ammo availability today...I don't mind grabbing a few boxes now that I've become a hoarder (and know I can replace it)...hahaha

redhawk