45LC or 44mag - 16" rossi

[chickenstripe]

I am considering a stainless Rossi levergun with 16" bbl. I am considering either 45LC or 44mag. Neither, to me, has the upper hand.

Any considerations, or votes for either?

Does the 44 have the ability to shoot the 310 Lee accurately (currently have this mold)?

How's the recoil with the steel crescent buttplate?

This would be a packing rifle, with tasks from hunting to plinking to general trail duty.

[Boerrancher]

Get the 45LC, unless your 310 lee drops large enough that you can size it to 433 or 434 dia. I gave up on ever buying a 44 mag rifle when I found out the SAAMI spec is different for rifles and hand guns in the 44 mag. See thread http://www.gunloads.com/castboolits/showthread.php?t=144709 post #12. I have two Mod 92s in 45LC and both slug at 452 dia and shoot 454 dia boolits real well, which just so happens to be the same as my wheel gun. You won't get that option with the 44mag.

Best wishes,

Joe

[kliff]

I vote for the 45LC....been a fan of that cartridge since '69 in my Blackhawk Convertible. Pistol or long gun, "outta the box" stock cartriges or re-loads mild to wild, there is always something out there to do the job in 45LC. Then again, if I need that little extra, there is always my 45-70.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
To me the question is.. Do you already shoot either caliber ?
If I had to start from scratch I would always go with the bigger bore. But If I already shot 44 (actualy .43) I would go that route. Pop a corn cruncher or pig with either and they stay popped. I sold all my 44´s (minus 44 Russian) years ago and went 45 Colt with no regrets. But that was also because I decided 41 mag was going to be my other attraction.
MIke in Peru

[runfiverun]

i have both the 44 and 45 colt.
i use the same boolit styles in them and usually the same basic loads.
i can shoot both calibers blindfolded and tell you which gun is which even though i have two 45 colt and one 44 mag in the exact same [rossi] guns i could tell all three apart.
heck i could tell the browning 92 44 mag apart too if it were thrown into the mix.
on target,or hunting,or reloading no.. they all do the same thing, same accuracy,same results.
whatever components you can get easiest would be the decision maker.
see post number 2 about the newer bbl's [mine shoots 430 just fine] a lot of the newer ones need 432.

[HBAR2989]

I have had my 16" SS 44mag for about a month now. I haven't slugged the bore yet, but I did get a ragged hole @ 50yds today with the Lee 310, sized to .430, 18gr AA#9. the Lee 255 gr, shot as cast, tumble lubed with liquid alox/jpw, pushed by 10 gr of unique, shot equally as well.

[Doc.Holliday]

I'd vote for the 45 colt as well. I have the trapper and Ranch Hand in 45. If you reload you can make some pretty warm loads in that action.

Doc

[RobS]

Two Rossi's: A 45 Colt (braztech) and a 454 Casull (LSI) on this end. The 454 Casull has a larger groove diameter at .4523 and the 45 Colt at .4518 if my memory is right but I shoot .454-.455 boolits down both of them. All in all I like them quite well. I have the revolver/rifle combo going for the 454 and I'm looking at trying to find a reasonably priced in good condition Ruger Blackhawk for the 45 Colt combo.

I haven't shot really any stout loads from the 45 Colt but warm Colt loads don't bother me with the steel buttplate.

Considering the possiblity of larger groove diameters on the 44mag rifles my vote would be for the 45 Colt.

[TXGunNut]

If you shoot, load and cast for both you wouldn't be asking the question, 45 Colt is the answer. If you load and cast for one but not the other go with the one you are already working with. If you load and cast for neither I'd go with the 45 Colt. Lots more fun, better boolits, unbeatable "cool factor".

[Bullet Caster]

^what he said. I'd go with the .45 Colt. Bunch 'o' fun to be had from .45 Colt. I've got an Uberti 1873 SAA and a Winchester 94AE chambered in .45 Colt and they are my gruesome twosome. Siempre mi dos centavos. BC

[220swiftfn]

I guess that I'm the first to answer your other question..... In full house .44 or hot .45 (Ruger only, which the '92 handles with aplomb) loads, you're going to feel that crescent for a few days afterwards....... I have a slipon for load development now......


Dan

[Lonegun1894]

I dont have a .44 rifle, yet, so cant comment there. My .45 Colt handguns and rifles are comfortable for me to shoot regardless of load, from mild to, well, very warm. My only direct comparison would be in Ruger Vaqueros, as I have them in both .44 Mag and .45 Colt, and the .45 is more comfortable to shoot with equal loads, but the .44 isn't bad. Also, either one should easily do anything that the other is capable of hunting/accuracy wise, but the .45 will have a very slight advantage in power with the proper loads--but not enough that any target will ever be able to tell a difference no matter what kind of paper/flesh its made out of. I am eventually getting a .44 Rossi to be a companion gun to my Ruger Vaquero .44. I have the same combos in .357 and .45 and they work great together.

[robertbank]

I guess that I'm the first to answer your other question..... In full house .44 or hot .45 (Ruger only, which the '92 handles with aplomb) loads, you're going to feel that crescent for a few days afterwards....... I have a slipon for load development now......


Dan

I put a permanent end to the discomfort with my .44mag Rossi by installing a recoil pad. The curved butt plate is murder on your shoulder with any type of loads I used in my gun. Life is to short to walk around with an aching shoulder all day.

Take Care

Bob

[leftiye]

.454 Casull (yup, recoil pad!)

[btroj]

I am with the guys who want to know if you currently shoot either cartridge. If so, to with done where you have stuff already.

I have a 45 Colt Marlin and I really like it. Great gun, great cartridge.

[Gray Fox]

I have two in .45 Colt, one the 20" carbine and a 24" Octagon BBL rifle with the crescent butt plate. The latter does let you know it with a heavy load of 296/H110, but the longer rifle sure does balance nice. I put the Taurus copies of the Marble tang sight on both and the rifle has a red fiber optic dot front sight and is really quick to acquire through the tang with the aperture taken out like a ghost ring. Both are nice partners too my Rugers and the Smith Mountain Gun in the same caliber. Both long guns were slicked up by thousands of rounds shot during 10 years of cowboy action shooting and can be shot faster and more accurately than most folks would believe. My only regret is that the RCBS 270 SAA loaded in the crimp groove is too long to function through the action. I've had great results with the Lee 255 RNFP and the really wide LEE 300 RNFP. I'm still waiting to nail a hog with that one.

[220swiftfn]

I put a permanent end to the discomfort with my .44mag Rossi by installing a recoil pad. The curved butt plate is murder on your shoulder with any type of loads I used in my gun. Life is to short to walk around with an aching shoulder all day.

Take Care

Bob

Can't bring myself to do anything more than the slip-on, the crescent plate is just "right" looks-wise, and it doesn't bother me for just a few rounds. If there's going to be more shooting than carrying I put the pad on.....


Dan

[maglvr]

I have a 16" Rossi and a 16" Winchester, both in .45, I use 1 load for ALL my .45's be it carbines or revolvers(including Uberti SAA clones) that load is a 45-270-SAA over 9gr. Unique.
It is a hammer and I have never seen any need to go with anything heavier/faster.
Also, the 45-270-SAA feeds flawlessly in both carbines, and is incredibly accurate.
Go .45 and never look back ;)

[hicard]

My vote is for the 45 Colt. I have levers in both and the 45 seems more pleasant and accurate to me.

[Larry Gibson]

I've both cartridges in rifle (M94 in .44, Uberti M73 and Rossi M92 in .45 Colt) and handguns so I suggest the 44 magnum. Reason being is if you load the .44 Magnum to magnum levels in magnum cases it can only be used in a magnum handgun. The .45 Colt on the other hand, if loaded to heavier than standard .45 Colt levels, could find it's way into revovlers not meant for that level. Since I have Uberti SAA's in .45 Colt and the M73 I only load to the standard .45 Colt level and not any hotter loads for Rugers, etc. That of course limits the M92s potential.

The rifle in .44 Magnum simplifies the safety issue as it can be loaded to magnum levels (revovler data) and be safe in revovlers.

Larry Gibson

[runfiverun]

that's a good point larry.
i have a pair of usfa revolvers that would do okay wih 8 grs of unique.
but i'd sure hate to slide in 19 grs of 2400.
i keep the usfa loads well marked and on a different section of the ammo shelf,
from the heavy loads.
and make sure i only take the 14k loads if more than just those two are going.
i only use a 225 rnfp,or a 160 rnfp in them to have a visual also,but there is always that chance.

[BAGTIC]

If you roll your own it probably doesn't make much difference. If you use store boughts go with the .44 Magnum as there are so many more choises and they are available in more place.

Larry has a good point. When I started loading .45 Colt +P loads for my 94 Trapper I sold my S&W 625 to avoid the possibility of an accident. I now regret it as I seldom , if ever, have real need for 45 +P while I used to shoot the revolver a LOT more than I ever shoot the LA.

[Boerrancher]

Larry's idea and reasoning is very sound, but I have a slightly different take. I don't own a gun that won't handle high pressures. I will not allow a 38 Special across the threshold of my door, because I do use 38 special cases sometimes for not 357 mag loads, but hot enough that it would shake many 38 specials apart loads. The same thing goes with my 45LC, I shoot a load of 10gr of Unique on the 255 gr RNFP boolit, not an excessive load for any 45LC but a med load for my M92s and Ruger BH, and I can go up from there if I ever feel the need to do so. I guess it all depends on what you already have and what you plan to buy in the future.

Best wishes,

Joe

[chickenstripe]

Thanks for all of the input.

I do currently shoot 44mag, but it looks like I'll be going with the 45LC on this one.

[Larry Gibson]

No problem there. I've a Uberti M73 (20") and a Rossi M92 (24") in .45 Colt that I shoot standard loads in (165 - 260 gr bullets) so I can help with that sort of data along with data from numerous Cowboy Action type loads.

Larry Gibson