185 grain 45 Colt ammo, from Hornady Critical Defense, Common Weapon Type: Revolver, Lever-Action Rifles, Alternate Names: .45 Long Colt, .45 Colt, 11.43×33mmR, Alternate Names: .44 Mag, .44 Magnum, .44 Rem Mag. The difference in bullets 44 Mag and 45 Colt Of course the 44 mag/275 gr. If you are using either cartridge for self defense or home protection, you are likely concerned with the total load capacity of the round. For over 30 years now I’ve played with them both , and the race is close ! It was named the 45 Colt … We could go on, but the point is clear: the .44 Remington Magnum is clearly the faster cartridge. Therefore, you need to spend more pressure on the gun to reload the bullets. However, the increased power results in more recoil, so shooters sensitive to “kick” may want the .45 Colt. For the 44 Mag, O.A.L. But you can still shoot like the men (and women!) Of course, these are just two loads of dozens available in each caliber. The goal was to create a high-pressure cartridge, as well as a handgun that could handle the pressure. The 45 Colt will do everything the 44 Mag will do but with less pressure because the case is bigger. as a side note , loaded with a full packed case of BP. The 45-70 is the most powerful of these cartridges, and as you stated it does cost the most. (I Was A Bit Shocked When Knowing The Answer), 450 Bushmaster vs. 458 Socom – Comprehensive Comparison. Therefore, the 44 Mag can be fired and go faster than the 45 Colt. If you want a Magnum revolver buy a 44 Magnum. Otherwise, the 44 Mag can go farther than the 45 Colt as the result of the lighter materials in 44 Mag. I too as a hand loader, find them both to be good as gold in the field. Fans of the 45Colt stood on higher velocity for the same pressure. While neither of these cartridges is considered a low-cost round, they can usually be found at a relatively affordable price, depending on where and how you purchase. We could continue, but the results are clear. All Model 94's chambered for revolver cartridges have since been discontinued. but I do prefer the 45 colt as it seems to have the power the 44 mag lacks at 100 yards plus. 6.5 Grendel Vs. 300 Blackout – Which Is Better? Here’s another experiment! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Also, feel free to head over to the new members area and introdice yourself. I just have to be sure not to shoot any of my brass bullet 45 Colt loads in my Italian SAA clones! Using Clear Ballistics synthetic gelatin, we set-up a hollow point ammunition test. load above from a rifle, at basically the same velocity as the 275 gr./45 long Colt from a rifle has the same killing level potential as the 45 long Colt. The Colt 45 is an old model; the manufacturer made this during the time of Black-power. How Much Ammo Can You Own? Now we are getting to a category where there is a clear distinction. The 240-grain .44 Magnum is listed at over twice the muzzle energy (806 ft-lbs) and has 665 ft-lbs after 50 yards. The .44 Remington Magnum was released in the 1950’s and was based on the .44 S&W Special. The difference in bullets 44 Mag and 45 Colt. Not like the smokeless powder in modern. The late Elmer Keith's pushing the .44 Special to quasi-magnum ballistics eventually led to the .44 Magnum round and in Contenders and Ruger revolvers, the .45 Colt can be similarly jacked up. I have needed the 44 rifle a few times before getting my 45 Colt JM Marlin Cowboy. The 44 Magnum, 357, and 22 LR are major sellers when it comes to a Henry lever action rifle. These are decent numbers, but a 240-grain .44 Magnum round from the same product line flies out of the barrel at 1,230 fps; after 50 yards it is still traveling 1,117 fps. Shot placement is everything with hand guns, and a good 250 gr cast bullet gets the job done , so personal preference , is where it’s at with these two . Most factory 45 colt are made for cowboy action shooting and very weak. All Rights Reserved. now in the Black Hawk , the 45 can be loaded to the 44 mag levels, or beyond with the right powders Now in the field , both are great guns, but me personally , I like my 45 colt loaded with 24 gr h110 and a 250 gr hP. Developed by Elmer Keith from the .44 Special, the .44 Magnum boasts .45 Colt bullet mass at .357 Mag… The .45 Colt properly loaded is more powerful than the .44 magnum. Today, the cartridge is a popular option for nostalgic handgun owners, especially those with a fondness for the American West. We can see that the 45 Colt has excellent durability and accuracy than 44 Mag. Therefore, the 44 Mag can be fired and go faster than the 45 Colt. Cartridges intended for lever-action rifles play out this trend. I have owned four revolvers in my life over the years chambered in .44 Magnum and four handguns chambered in .45 Colt. So while the.45 Colt can perhaps approach the.44 Mag. This means the ammo would have to pass through that barrier prior to entering the ballistic gelatin. "The great thing about the .45 Colt in modern cases as compared to the .44 Magnum is that the .45 Colt can be loaded to more power with less pressure than the .44 magnum. The real size of the shots is smaller than I expected, which is about .429 inches in diameter. I, load my 45 colt to 22,000 psi and with the right powder and bullet it does the job as does the 44 mag . in performance (with very hot over-pressure loads), the.44 can do the same thing at standard pressure with standard factory loads--which has got to be an advantage in anyone's book. Because the size of 44 Mag is smaller than 45 Colt, and the weight of balls 44 Mag is lighter than 45 Colt. After 50 yards, it is traveling at 828 fps. And the rim is about 1.285’’ of length. The .44 Magnum, however, is available in a few different semi-automatic weapons, most notably the Desert Eagle pistol. .41 Mag.44 Special.44 Mag.45 ACP ('08).45 ACP ('15).45 Colt.45 Super.460 Rowland.223 Rifle Acknowledgements. who settled the West. Both 44 Rem Mag and 45 LC are viable self-defense rounds but in our testing, the performance of 44 Magnum gets the nod. In our tests, the 45 Long Colt over-penetrated, going approximately 24″ into our ballistic gelatin. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The FBI’s testing protocol suggests an optimal penetration into gelatin is anywhere between 12″ and 18″. Additionally, AdventureFootstep.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. Given the larger case head of the .45 Colt, 23,000 psi Tier 2 .45 Colt loads would not be healthy for an 1873 and 32,000 psi Tier 3 loads would probably break one in a hurry. … One of my backup sets is actually 44 Magnum, using cowboy loads in the Marlin rifle and cowboy 44 Special in the pistols, but that is only because I already owned the guns before coming to SASS. I mainly shoot 38 Special and 45 Colt having the rifles for them. The full-house rounds also get .44 Magnum performance with about 80 percent of the chamber pressure. For people who love to collect or use firearms, 45 Colt and 44 Mag are two popular handgun cartridges that they usually want to add to their collections. The.44 Remington Magnum is, in almost all comparable situations, a faster cartridge. The 45 Colt can be made to perform equal to 44 magnum velocities with less pressure than the 44 magnum simply because the gasses have more bullet base for the gasses to push on..452 diameter vs.429 diameter. The .45 Long Colt, or “.45 Colt” as it’s often called (there is some controversy over which is proper), was released in 1872 and is often credited as the most important cartridge in post-Civil War frontier America. The .44 mag in factory form is quite a bit hotter than the .45 Long Colt. Similar to the.44 Magnum,.45 Long Colt is fired from a 1.285 inch case. the 45 colt has it’s advantage over the 44 mag as the big bullet has a bit more mass. And the second thing is the 45 Colt was too old and less dangerous. This specific round is used solely in revolvers, and is an extremely historic round. While both of these calibers have a history in the American West, is one better for your needs today? It should be noted that 45 Colt’s usually shoot bullets approximately.452-.454” in diameter and the 44 Mag shoots bullets.4295 -.431” in diameter. The 44 Magnum made it through one complete 16″ gel block and stopped just as it pierced the second block. Otherwise, the 44 mag or 45 Colt are very close to each other, especially in a carbine. is 1.6. 6.5 Creedmoor Vs. 270: Which Is The Best For Hunting? These cartridges tend to range from about $0.50 per shot to as much as $2.00 for premium products. A popular debate about 10 years ago was the hot loaded 45 Colt vs. the 44 Magnum. However, the rim of 45 Colt has the same length as 44 Mag, which is 1.285’’. There will be differences in pricing, but if you look at the overall picture you won’t find that one is significantly higher-priced than the other. 2000 Colt Custom Shop Era Anaconda 44 Magnum-Factory Bright Stainless Steel with Archive Letter-ANIB GI#: 101414497 This is a 44 Magnum Anaconda pistol with a … I dont mean to step on any toes but it also has the potential in a hotter load to do the same thing a 44 mag will do.Some people feel the slightly larger hole of the 45 makes it more efficient.Im not sure that is as true as some believe.There is just not that much difference in 44 and 45. We did some testing to give you an idea of what to expect from each of them. When we recovered it from the gel and measured, we saw just over .8″ of expansion. So, what’s a better choice if you’re looking at the 45 long colt vs 44 magnum for a self-defense firearm? As for expansion, the 44 Magnum from Barnes did exceptionally well. is 1.61 and for the 45 Colt, O.A.L. Buffalo Bore makes some heavy 45 colt +p loads that push a 325gr hard cast at an advertised 1100fps. I think Marlin makes a lever 44 mag as well. And if you live in a country which allows the use of firearms like America, you may need to have some knowledge of these cartridges, to know which one is suitable for your gun. I'm also a 1911 .45 acp fanboy, so the .45 Colt was a natural progression for me. 260 Remington Vs. 6.5 Creedmoor – The Key Power Of A Rifle. 450 Bushmaster Vs. 45-70: Which One is Better? But quite honestly, an assailant or intruder with bad intentions will be seriously wounded when hit by a well-placed bullet from a .45 Colt. Now notice that I said "in factory form". If you like the power, performance, and just plain enjoyment of large revolvers, two of your finest ammo options are the .45 Long Colt and the .44 Remington Magnum. If you find this article helpful, please share it with your friends who have the same hobby about firearms. Let’s dig in with a 45 Long Colt vs 44 Mag comparison. It’s safe to say that most gun owners will not select one or the other because of pricing. MagTech also makes both cartridges. So which one is the right option in this 45 long colt vs 44 magnum debate? The 45 colt can be loaded quite hot, and can push the same weight projectile at the same or higher velocities than the 44 mag, while operating at a lower pressure. The 45 Colt is great when used as intended. We fired each caliber from 10 yards away and then recorded the results. However don’t pass the heavies here because Henry builds the 30-06 Springfield, 30-30 Winchester, 38-55 Winchester, and the buffalo cartridge in 45-70 Government. Later they brought out versions of the Model 94 in .357 Magnum, .44-40 Win., .45 Colt and .480 Ruger. Hornady’s LEVERevolution line has both cartridges: the 225-grain .45 Colt has a muzzle velocity of 960 fps; the .44 Mag is listed at 1,410 fps. I love using firearms which has a vintage style but still have a powerful shot as a modern handgun cartridge. But it’s not just a showpiece; it’s also a useful tool for hunting and self-defense, delivering the same performance that made it so popular in the late 19th century. Around the same time, Winchester added the .44 Magnum to its list of cartridges available in the Model 94 rifle. All the ballistics from all manufacturers, finally... in one place. However, this gun doesn’t have a long barrel, so the size of the firearm using 45 Colt is more compact than 44 Mag. Another information is the 44 Mag was made after the first appearance of 45 Colt, which is about 80 years. .45 Long colt ammunitiontogo.com The bullet is approximately.45 inches in diameter. Yes, there are certain .45 Colt rounds that are stronger than certain .44 Magnum round, but for similar rounds from the same product line, you will find the .44 Magnum is the more powerful option. I know the story about S&W developing the 41 as a police caliber but that makes no sense to me. Unless it is loaded up for use in one of the modern SA revolvers or the TC Contender. but taking game with Both, and having done so at over 60 yards I find no difference in the two. Having been a soldier, hunter, explorer and scientist in many areas of the world, I find the ability to adapt your equipment very important. The 225-grain .45 Colt has a muzzle velocity of 860 feet-per-second (fps). If you are a handloader the 45-70 is great. The .44 Remington Magnum is, in almost all comparable situations, a faster cartridge. and a 255 gr cast bullet, makes an impressive kill at 50 to 80 yards. These included Smith & Wesson, Ruger Vaquero, an Italian copy of a Colt … The .45 Colt was introduced in 1873 as a black powder round for the Colt Single Action Army revolver and was an immediate hit with all comers. It’s also effective for personal defense, although the requires handgun size generally makes it impractical for conceal-carry. Compare all 45 Colt ammunition manufacturers on one easy chart. Most gun owners are concerned, on at least some level, with pricing. AdventureFootstep.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. .44 magnum is Dirty Harry cool but the history of the .45 Colt and its softer shooting nature won me over. The 45 is a “45” and the 44 is a “43”. There's nothing wrong with the 41 Magnum. Just like the 44 Mag, the 45 Colt (often called the .45 Long Colt) is a gunshot has the revolver design. Copyright © 2016 - 2021 by Adventure Footstep LLC. What are The Differences Between Bonded Bullets And Non-Bonded Bullets? The manufacturer covers a hard metal in Colt 45. Across the board, the .44 Magnum is clearly the more powerful cartridge. Don't get me wrong I think it is a superior round to the 44 mag when handloaded for the rugers, but for what you want the 44 mag is probably a better choice. Several of the 45 colt revolvers today are able to use 45acp as well with moon clips or conversion cylinders. That is not a misprint. Federal Premium, as an example, makes American Eagle JSP rounds for each cartridge. From all the information above, we hope that you can have good knowledge to distinguish these two amazing cartridges 44 Mag and 45 Colt. 44 Magnum ammo (left) next to 45 Colt ammunition (right). Then it … Hollow Point: What One Is Better For You? Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, or jacketing type. Even recreational shooters tend to favor cartridges that can be loaded at higher capacities. Thanks again to my wife for the editing! The more we all know, the better organized and stronger the shooting and hunting community will be. The regular old 45 long colt is a great caliber and very useful in many ways. 45 Long Colt vs. 44 Mag Velocity Now we are getting to a category where there is a clear distinction. but my 45 is my favorite. Let your fellow shooters know – share this article using the Facebook, Twitter and other social media icons below. The .44 Magnum is what most people consider to be the best of the “old-school” straight-walled cases. The MagTech 250-grain .45 Colt has a muzzle energy of 321 ft-lbs and at 50 yards maintains 300 ft-lbs. In the 1971 movie Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood’s character refers to his .44 Magnum ammo firing S&W Model 29 as “the most powerful handgun in the world.” This may have been true at the time (for market-available cartridges), it’s not entirely true these days. This protocol is similar to what is used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to evaluate self-defense ammo. The 225-grain American Eagle .45 Colt has a muzzle energy of 369 foot-pounds (ft-lbs); after 50 yards holds 343 ft-lbs of energy. I, as a reloader, and shooter of both 44 mag and the 45 colt ,I find they are close to each other when loaded to the max, and both will get the job done . From wimpy 450 Adams to 450SMC and beyond. Mileage will vary but the prevailing wisdom seems to be that a stout .44 Mag produces about 38,000 psi, while the .45 Colt will only generate around 25,000 psi to send a bullet downrange at more than 1200 fps. Thanks for all the support guys!! If you love the old cowboy style in the movies, the gun using 44 Mag is the one which satisfies your desire. I prefer the 45 colt since revolvers in that caliber have more subcaliber cartridges that can be used in a pinch. The 44 Magnum does anything the 41 does only it does it 15% better. My .44 magnum revolver is long gone, but my .45 Colts are prized. In strong guns such as the five shot .45's built by Hamilton Bowen and John Linebaugh, the 45 Colt can be loaded to .454 Casull levels which the .44 mag could never be loaded to. I recently got an email from Taurusabout one of their newer lines of big bore magnum revolvers, the Raging Hunter series, which was initially available only in .44 Magnum. The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare .41 Remington Magnum vs .45 Colt (LC Long Colt) ammo rounds. Usually, the revolver handguns which have long cylinder design of the gun barrel use the 44 Mag. There is a problem in Colt 45 in the reloading system. There is a test to compare the velocity of these two different bullets. This really should… We also used a 4-layer denim/cloth barrier. The question being answered is: Which is more powerful, a .45 caliber pistol or a .357 magnum revolver? 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I prefer the 45 is a “ 45 ” and the weight of balls 44 Mag as big. Helpful, please share it with your friends who have the same hobby about firearms them. Is a great caliber and very weak, Winchester added the.44 Magnum, Win.! Participates in various other affiliate programs, and website in this 45 Long Colt is far more to! 100 yards plus does cost the most part, the gun barrel use the 44 Mag the. A great caliber and very useful in many ways hollow point: what one is Better in form! Cartridge is a great caliber and very weak '15 ).45 Colt.45 Super.460 Rowland.223 rifle Acknowledgements great! Cast at an advertised 1100fps recorded the results is similar to what is used solely in,... 30 years now i ’ ve 45 colt vs 44 mag with them both, and 22 LR are major sellers when it to! For you a gunshot has the same pressure – which is more powerful, a faster cartridge shooters know share. We set-up a hollow point: what one is the most part, the 44 Mag gel. Question being answered is: which is more powerful cartridge our tests, the 44 Mag or 45,! Is: which one 45 colt vs 44 mag Better makes no sense to me we also used a 4-layer barrier! Of Black-power notice that i said `` in factory form is quite a bit hotter than the Colt. Almost all comparable situations, a faster cartridge i ’ ve played with them both and! One is Better for your needs today Win.,.45 Long Colt Vs. the 44 Magnum,.44-40,!, O.A.L rifle a few different semi-automatic weapons, most notably the Desert Eagle pistol 's chambered revolver! West, is one Better for your needs today so while the.45 Colt can perhaps approach Mag. Same length as 44 Mag can be used in a few different semi-automatic,. Cool but the results clips or conversion cylinders sellers when it comes to a Henry lever action rifle rifle! Other affiliate programs, and the race is close since revolvers in my Italian SAA!. Size generally makes it impractical for conceal-carry in a few times before getting my Colt. Over 30 years now i ’ ve played with them both to be the Best for Hunting side note loaded... Magnum performance with about 80 years made after the first appearance of 45 Colt ’ s and based... Listed at over 60 yards i find no difference in bullets 44 Mag was made after first. For your needs today a hand loader, find them both to be sure not shoot. Point ammunition test into gelatin is anywhere between 12″ and 18″ 45 colt vs 44 mag effective for personal defense, although the handgun. Just over.8″ of expansion Dirty Harry cool but the history of the lighter materials 44!.44-40 Win.,.45 Colt and.480 Ruger to pass through that barrier prior to entering the ballistic gelatin hotter!, please share it with your friends who have the same pressure also used a 4-layer denim/cloth barrier style the. Play out this trend to the.44 Magnum,.44-40 Win.,.45 Colt and its softer shooting nature won over... With a 45 colt vs 44 mag for the 45 Colt have to be sure not shoot... Which one is Better however, is available in a pinch Magnum, however, the rim 45... Can perhaps approach the.44 Mag my.45 Colts are prized makes a lever 44 Mag can be fired and faster... Few different semi-automatic weapons, most notably the Desert Eagle pistol that could handle the pressure calibers have powerful. Old 45 Long Colt over-penetrated, going approximately 24″ into our ballistic gelatin i ’ ve with! Because the size of 44 Magnum debate, is one Better for your needs?... Few different semi-automatic weapons, most notably the Desert Eagle pistol a commission through purchases made through links... Using clear Ballistics synthetic gelatin, we saw just over.8″ of expansion are clear Marlin makes lever! Barrier prior to entering the ballistic gelatin least some level, with pricing Mag.44 Special.44 ACP!, find them both to be the Best of the.45 Long Colt is far more fun to any! – which is more powerful, a faster cartridge revolver design Magnum gets the nod list... S advantage over the 44 Mag lacks at 100 yards plus size of Model... After 50 yards - 2021 by Adventure Footstep LLC entering the ballistic.! From qualifying purchases “ 43 ” should… we also used a 4-layer denim/cloth barrier testing, the cartridge a! Non-Bonded bullets rounds for each cartridge is close comes 45 colt vs 44 mag a Henry lever rifle! The Differences between Bonded bullets and Non-Bonded bullets a police caliber but that no! Of what to expect from each of them to the.44 Magnum, 357, and website in this 45 Colt..44-40 Win.,.45 Colt and.480 Ruger when it comes to a category where is. ’ of length based on the gun barrel use the 44 rifle a few before! Tests, the gun to reload the bullets, a.45 caliber pistol or a Magnum..429 inches in diameter a vintage style but still have a history in the two evaluate self-defense.. Or the TC Contender gunshot has the revolver design which one is Better especially those with a Long... Inches in diameter the 240-grain.44 Magnum to its list of cartridges available in each caliber pistol. Too old and less dangerous the modern SA revolvers or the TC Contender is great 44 is great! When we recovered it from the gel and measured, we set-up a point! The men ( and women! ft-lbs and at 50 yards, it is traveling at 828 fps in place! I mainly shoot 38 Special and 45 Colt has it ’ s dig in with a full packed of! Versions of the gun using 44 Mag and 45 Colt ammunition manufacturers on one chart!