45 Long Colt vs. 44 Magnum:Big Handgun Energy
Even the most cursory comparison between 45 Long Colt and 44 Magnum will reveal significant differences between the two revolver cartridges. Each cartridge has its pros and cons, which we’ll discuss in greater detail below.
45 Long Colt vs. 44 Magnum Comparison Chart
|
45 Long Colt |
44 Magnum |
| Also Known As |
45 Colt, 45 LC |
44 Remington Magnum, 44 Rem Mag, 44 Mag |
| Parent Case |
Original design |
44 S&W Special |
| Bullet Diameter |
0.452 in |
0.429 in |
| Neck Diameter |
0.480 in |
0.457 in |
| Base Diameter |
0.480 in |
0.457 in |
| Case Length |
1.285 in |
1.285 in |
| Overall Length |
1.600 in |
1.610 in |
| Case Capacity |
41.6 grains H₂O |
37.9 grains H₂O |
| Max Pressure (SAAMI) |
14,000 psi |
36,000 psi |
45 Long Colt and 44 Magnum Pros
| 45 Long Colt Pros |
44 Magnum Pros |
| Versatile round for cowboy action shooting and hunting; chambered in revolvers and lever guns |
Versatile round for target shooting, deer hunting and bear hunting |
| Reasonable stopping power |
Superior stopping power; capable of ethically harvesting bears due to excellent striking power and deep penetration |
| Manageable recoil |
Recoil so powerful that it’s not generally advised for personal protection |
| Nostalgia and historical significance |
Iconic, largely thanks to Dirty Harry |
| Easy to handload |
|
45 Long Colt and 44 Magnum Cons
| 45 Long Colt Cons |
44 Magnum Cons |
| Costly ammo |
|
| Less abundant ammo |
Heavy recoil |
| Weak relative to several contemporary handgun cartridges |
Significant potential for over-penetration in self-defense situations |
| Limited capacity |
|
Continue reading 45 Long Colt vs. 44 Magnum: Big Handgun Energy at Ammo.com
4 Likes
My 45 Colt hand loads are right up there with 44 mag loads. ONLY used in a Ruger.
3 Likes
H110 right to the base of the bullet.
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Just did a load up of 45 colt, 250gr xtp over 26.1grs of h110 running around 1285fps avg. It is very close to bottom of the bullet when seating.
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