Posted: 11/2/2007 6:06:59 PM EDT
| I'm told that with current models of the .45 Colt, you can load to **almost** .44 Magnum pressures. Is this correct? Is this even desirable? |
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I do not reload, But I have a buddy who loaded me some very very hot .45 lC rounds to shoot out of my Winchester Trapper carbine. He worked up the loads a little at a time until he saw signs of overpressure & then backed off a little. The 45LC can be loaded very very hot for use in modern carbines or heavy (.454 casull) wheel guns, Yes hotter than the .44 mag. Factory loads are kept light to prevent damage to the many old 45LC chambered guns out there. |
The 45 Colt has the case capacity to be loaded to 60K chamber pressures, the 44 Mag is not in the same league. The gun you are putting it in determins the pressure it can be loaded to. In Rugers (with the exception of the New Vaqueero) the 45 Colt can be loaded to around 35K, the 44 mag to a litlle over 40K when loaded to max pressures for the Rugers there is not much diff.
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Please show some data with identical bullet weights where the 41 out performs the 44 or 45LC. You're in dreamland! |
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.45 Colt has the ability to outperform the .44 Magnum, however, there is very little hot factory .45 Colt rounds out there. So unless you reload or want to shell out the money for BuffaloBore and the like, .44 Mag is probably the better choice. That said, I love the .45 Colt. |
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.45 Colt in SOME revolvers can be loaded up as hot at .44 Mag, but certainly not in all. The Dan Wesson is one. The Ruger Superblackhawk would be another. Try it in one of the Ruger New Vaqueros and you are asking to break something. Single shots like the T/C Contender/Encore are completely different, and you can safely load those fairly hot. (which is why reloading manual have seperate sections for these pistols) |
The 454 Casull was originally worked up using 45 LC cases, where's the 44mag load that compares favorably with the 454 Casull?  |
It's called a 445 Super Mag. and it works really well.  I've never been a big 45LC fan but I like this thread. Could any of you 45LC hot loaders please give some of these 454 built in 45LC brass loads. I'd love to see them for comparisons to some of my 44 mag loads. Thanks |
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SkagSig40 let me know how far behind the 44 Mag a 45 Colt runs with a 335 cast at 1600 fps in a 6" gun. Jflowers I have used a 335 cast at 1600 fps in a 6" F/A Model 83. 31.5 Grs. W296 in a 454 Csull case, just under 29 Grs. W 296 in a 45 Colt case. Both loads crowd 60K and have no biz anywhere other than the Model 83, the Magnum Research or a good 5 shot conversion. If you really want to know and understand the 45 Colt go to www.customsixguns.com and read the writings by John Linebaugh. There is a great deal of information on the 44 Mag as well as the 45 Colt. He does a good job of cutting through the Bull Shit.
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Thanks. That's the kind of usefull info I was looking for. Real loads, not just guessing. I use to have a 454 years ago and enjoyed it. Didn't want to totally stock up on reloading components for it so I sold it after a few months, no regrets. I love my 44's and my 445 SM. My loads are considerably hotter than anything I've read although I've never chrono'd them. Think for the 454 I was using 35gr of H110 with a Hornady 300gr JHP. Apply that type of loading to my 44's and you see what my deffinition of "real 44 magnums" really are. Ya'll shoot safe!!
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In all honesty I am quite fond of the 44 Magnum, I have run the 320 cast to 1320 fps in the 5.5" S/A Rugers and 1420 fps in the 7.5" SRH. Anytime someone asks about stepping up to one of the larger Revolvers they just can't live without I always suggest they shoot a 44 Mag loaded to max pressures so they have an idea as to how strong the recoil can become as you move up. I often carry a 475 Linebaugh which I am losing interest in (I like the cartridge, but don't care for the Revolver), I find myself carrying my 454 Casull more often as I like the Revolver and backed off to around 1500 fps it is very manageable (loaded to max pressures this is the most vicious Revolver I have ever fired.), and to this day I still carry a 4 5/8 S/A Ruger chambered for the 45 Colt with the 335 cast loaded to 1250 fps more than any other gun.
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44mag and 45 LC can quite comparable as long as you are using a firearm that can handle the power. (Think Redhawks pr Freedom Arms loaded to the max and maybe a bit more). I have made up some really hot loads for my redhawk. Some of them off the top end of the charts but still safe for this gun. Why? well, I ain't the only one interested in this. Check out John Ross and his research into the .44mag and other big (huge?) bore handguns. It really boils down to what you can shoot and what your particular gun can handle. And no, the 41mag can not keep up with the 44mag on the top end. BTW, 41Mag bullet diameter=.410" 44mag bullet diameter=.430" (source hornady handbook of cartridge relaoding, 4th ed.) that makes the 41mag a .41 caliber and the 44mag a .43 caliber. Unless you are using groove diameter which is; .41mag=.409 .44mag=.429 (source Lyman reloading handbook 46th ed.) So, according to the definition that equates a .44mag to a .42 caliber, the 41mag is now a .40 caliber. So, should we all refer to the "40 magnum now??? |
Hello I have seen loads reccomended for Ruger and T.C. Only in this Caliber due to them being Built Heavier and being able to withstand the Hot Load Pressures. It was originally designed to be around 900 F.P.S. using lead bullets. I have a S&W model 25-5 in this caliber and have been told to not load it hot due to the fact it is not heat treated to the level of a magnum handgun and can not take the excessive pressures of loading hot. I also have a model 29 in .44 Magnum so load that with what I want in hotter loads leaving the .45 Colt revolver to shoot what it is supposed to shoot. I dont try to make a magnum out of a non magnum Handgun and do not feel it is good practice as it may ruin a fine revolver dioing this. Regards, Hammerdown-7 |