I must confess.......

[osteodoc08]

My first and only revolver love was the 41 Mag. It's what I first learned a big bore to be. From its soft shooting lighter weight lead loads with 231 to rip snorting, full house 296 loaded to the gills, flattened primered loads that tempted fate that while were still in recommended loads, obviously were hot in that gun. Most of my loadings are of moderate and low powered. I've had and shot various smith, Rugers, marlins, etc. Loved them all, but.....

I find it harder and harder to find what I want in my favorite caliber. Lately I find myself not only attracted to my back up, my dear 45 Colt, but also her red headed step sister, the 44 Magnum. Yes, that's right. The caliber I vowed to never deal with has been leaving me.....intrigued. This little vixen, notably in the Smith M69, has me rather perplexed and at a cross roads. Do I tempt fate with this she devil or stay at home on the range with my 2 girls the 41 and 45? This 44 temptress is available in so many configurations from so many vendors that finding that nice stainless lever action is not only an actual reality but not as costly as my grail, the Marlin SS Ltd.

Of course this would mean buying her all her little accessories such as new dies, brass, molds. And I'm sure she's an expensive girl only wanting the finest life has to offer. Goodness. For once, this man may see himself mixed up with the wrong type.

So I must confess. For this vixen occupies my mind daily now for weeks. Lead me not into temptation and banish all these fleeting thoughts of lust from my body.

[TenTea]

Oh boy... [smilie=6:

[62chevy]

Are you asking for permission or just trying to work up the nerve to buy one.

[jbake3]

I have a .44 mag ruger superhawk. The gun is a beast and a blast to shoot, not for the faint hearted though. My father in law gave it to me though so I didn't have to buy it. I wish I could let you borrow it to see if you really want one. Although I know if you shot it you would get one!

[a.squibload]

44, mild to wild, what's not to like? Go for it!
I like medium loads, they still smack stuff real good.
Friend is trying to talk me into 45s, LC and acp.
I confess a certain degree of lust for them too.

[Tatume]

I grew up with the 44 Rem Mag and didn't know what I was missing in the 41 Rem Mag until this century. With good guns in the 41 chambering there is nothing I feel I'm missing. Right now my favorite is the little 4-1/4" FA M97, but my 4-5/8" Blackhawk and 4" M57 Mountain Gun both get lots of attention too.

On the other hand, I wouldn't let go of my 44 Mag handguns either, so there you have it: a definitive answer.

Take care, Tom

[kens]

Alas, I too am falling to similar temptations.
.44 mag is more than necessary, but it can be loaded to 44 special for plinking.

Since you already have 45 Colt, then you might look at 454 Casull.
Casull can be loaded down to 45 Colt; or 45 Colt+P; or 45 Colt+P+
or, heaven forbid, Full House loads!!!!

[osteodoc08]

I tried the 454 for a while. Ruger SRH. Loved the full house stuff. 30gr 296 with a 305gr WFNGC. Impressive. Accurate. Loved it. My wrists.....not so much. Gave it up for fear of carpal tunnel. Something my father suffered with and I need to protect my hands and wrists.

Full tilt Ruger Only 45 Colt loads are my enjoyable long session comfort limit. Thought about a 480 Ruger though.

I just keep thinking of the firearms I'm missing out on by pigeon holing myself. That 69 is sweet

[Cherokee]

The grass is not always greener on the other side, it just may look that way til you get there. For me, I discovered the 45 Colt in this centery and my 44 Mags havent been shot in a long time. 45 Colt does all I want these days. I also have 41's but they don't "do it" for me; they were mainly to see what they were like, not impressed vs the 44 or 45. To each his own.....

[Hannibal]

44 Rem Mag. When I shoot one it makes me feel like a dog with it's head out the truck window at 70 MPH, tougue rollin' around and spit strung out for a quarter mile!
It's been said many times before. 'From my cold, dead hands! ' :Fire:

[osteodoc08]

44 Rem Mag. When I shoot one it makes me feel like a dog with it's head out the truck window at 70 MPH, tougue rollin' around and spit strung out for a quarter mile!
It's been said many times before. 'From my cold, dead hands! ' :Fire:

LOL. That's how I feel about my 57. Now a 5 shot L frame in 41 would definitely scratch this itch.

[Cowboy_Dan]

First off a caveat, I do shoot both .45 Colt and .44 Magnum andlove them both. Although for my revolver, it's called .46 Colt (.458 groove, I use light .45/70 boolits).

But, if you are looking for a reason to justify not getting a .44, then just remember that the Colt will do anything the .44 will do with lower pressure. Assumng your .45 Colt is a strong action. Mine was made to switch between .45/.410 and .45/70 (thus the .458 groove, I want the .45/70 cylinder).

[kens]

First off a caveat, I do shoot both .45 Colt and .44 Magnum andlove them both. Although for my revolver, it's called .46 Colt (.458 groove, I use light .45/70 boolits).

But, if you are looking for a reason to justify not getting a .44, then just remember that the Colt will do anything the .44 will do with lower pressure. Assumng your .45 Colt is a strong action. Mine was made to switch between .45/.410 and .45/70 (thus the .458 groove, I want the .45/70 cylinder).
Many quotes here say the .45 Colt will do anything the 44mag will do.
My question is, does the 45Colt require +P pressures to get there?

[Tatume]

... a 5 shot L frame in 41 would definitely scratch this itch.

Same here. While I'm tempted by the M69 44 Mag, if S&W offered it as a 4" 41 Mag I would have ordered one already.

[Digital Dan]

Sold my RSB years ago though it was my first CF cartridge gun, and the first I reloaded. Replaced it with a rifle. I paper patch it. It rocks. Anyone seen any dinosaurs of late? Don't have much use for pistols anymore.

[osteodoc08]

Many quotes here say the .45 Colt will do anything the 44mag will do.
My question is, does the 45Colt require +P pressures to get there?

Youve got to keep in mind the 45 colt was developed at a time where metallurgy and operating pressures are not what they are today, or even when the 44 was born. Original and current 45 data for the SAA reflect that. Now, load it up to its true modern potential at similar pressures, the colt with it's larger case capacity will win at the numbers game. Both are very formidable

[dilly]

Does anyone have firsthand experience comparing HIGH PRESSURE 45 colt case life to full house 44 magnum case life? I have heard 44 magnum lasted much better at magnum velocities and that may be worth considering with availability so limited and prices so high. I have no experience with 45 colt so I am really asking not telling.

[NVScouter]

A Ruger 45LC will do anything and more than a 44 mag. The 41 does anything and more than a 357 and scratches the heals of 44 mag moderate loads. Unless you want a pistol not offered only in 44 no real point. But I have a gun safe thats full, another small case in the beadroom, an overflow wall rack in my reloading room, pistols in all 5 vehicles and in the camp trailer. So I may not be the person to take advice from about whats needed VS wanted.

[NVScouter]

I have some cases that have been reloaded 15 times full house 45LC. If your chamber is good then the brass will last. All my high pressure loads are in Starline brass too and after 7-10 loads go to my practive bin for lower pressure loads or field use where losing them is likely.
Does anyone have firsthand experience comparing HIGH PRESSURE 45 colt case life to full house 44 magnum case life? I have heard 44 magnum lasted much better at magnum velocities and that may be worth considering with availability so limited and prices so high. I have no experience with 45 colt so I am really asking not telling.

[Tatume]

My 45 Colt and 44 Rem Mag cases have the same life expectancy. Both are routinely loaded to magnum levels for Ruger Blackhawk, Ruger Super Redhawk, and Freedom Arms revolvers. Don't let case life influence your choice.

[Harter66]

Don't let the magnumitus get to you. If your Colts is a BlackHawk I can't imagine wanting anymore. A Colts carbine I shot last May went 16'' ,12'' and 30'' through hogs at 17,46 yd and 10 ft w/262 gr Lee SWC (452-252) w/no recovered boolits. from the RBH they mosey along about 1050 so they were probably well into the 1300s the hearts were wrecked along w/the lungs and hit ribs in and out of 166,145 and 135# boars . The 135# hog actually had 2 ribs cut going in and the femural artery going out on the other side of the other end. To each their own ,I never needed a freight train when Volks Wagons will do,says the owner of only 2 cartidges created since 1955 .

[David2011]

I've had a Ruger SBH in .44 Mag in the past, currently have a Contender in .44 Mag and a 7-1/2" Ruger in .45 Colt. I feel like the .45 Colt will develop energy competitive with the .44 and at the same time you can shoot Cowboy loads that have little recoil. I have not found case life to be an issue with either cartridge shooting stiff "Ruger/Contender only" loads in both.

David

[TXGunNut]

With a courtship like this the honeymoon's going to be fun. ;-)
No good reason to buy a 43 mag if you already have a 45 Colt and a 41 but I gave up on that line of thinking a long time ago.