.44 mag vs. the .45 colt

[rawhidekid]

The handgun pictured is a 5.5 inch SS Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt.  The Bisley grip gives less flip with recoil so is better with hotter loads.  This particular handgun will shoot the Hornady XTP 300 grain bullets more accuratly than anything else.  I find the 5.5 inch barrel easy to carry as well.  I highly recommend it to all.   Rawhidekid

[Ak.Hiker]

I have two Ruger Blackhawks that are 4 5/8 inch. The 44 Magnum is the Super Blackhawk that has the steel grip frame. What I like about the blued 45 Colt is the lighter weight of the aluminum grip frame. It is 8 oz. lighter than the Super Blackhawk with the same length barrel. Even the blued 45 Colt with the 7.5 inch barrel only weighs 40 oz.  If you like heavier guns than the stainless steel model Blackhawk in 45 Colt has a steel grip frame and weighs about the same as the Super Blackhawk. I like to shoot 300 and 320 grain loads in my Super Blackhawk and pretty much stick with the 255 grain Keith load in the 45 Colt. The Blackhawk in 45 Colt can handle the heavyweight 335 grain loads as well. A big fat 335 grain cast bullet at between 950 and 1000 is a good load.   

[Blackhawker]

If the grip is a problem, steel or aluminum, one can buy grip frames from Midway, even brass to dress things up. 

[Scibaer]

 would the brass frame be any stronger then the aluminum ?
 

[SHOOTALL]

The problem i had with the alum. frame is the screws that held it to the frame would get loose . After time the holes would wallow a bit . I don't see brass resisting the wallowing out any better . With a steel frame it was a matter of retighting and replacing screws every so often. I have gone to the Redhawk and not had screws get loose . BTW why shoot a Bisley when a DA has the better grip to start ?

[rawhidekid]

Why shoot a Bisley?  It gives the recoil of a DA with the better triger of a SA.  Also still has a Western flavor some of us prefer.  As for loosening screws, use blue locktight and that problem is fixed.

[Scibaer]

ok time for an update.
  after reading thru all the opinions and advice, i went and picked myself up a ....

wait for it ...
 

a new model blackhawk .in .45 colt  ... see the pic

[Ak.Hiker]

Very nice pick.

[GH1]

HAve you considered the .454 Casull?
GH1

[Scibaer]

i have actually, concidered the .454
 i have shot one, and they have one heck of a muzzle blast, it dont bother me but i decided i'd move up to a .454 if i needed more then the .44 mag could deliver. the truth is, i had 3 .44 mags and figured i need something else.
 i asked about the 44 vs 45 thing to see if i wanted to just move to the .454 and it sounded like i  wanted to try a .45
so yesterday, i went to the gun shop and seen what they had.
i picked up this .45 for $400 plus tax. its the big brother to the .357mag vaquero i have.
its all steel and with the adjustable sites, it should work well for taking hogs and whitetails, or the ocasional paper target lol

[SHOOTALL]

Nope the loctite didn't work well as one would think . I understand the western like . But for hunting or protection in the woods a DA seems a better choice . And if heavy loads are the order of the day the REDHAWK is stronger than even the SUPER BLACKHAWK.

[rawhidekid]

When using loctite it is important to clean both areas before applying then let it set for an hour before use.  As for strength it is more inportant to have tight chambers, but that is another topic.

[SHOOTALL]

i have no problem using loc-tite , understand how to use it . we used red as we knew the gun would be taken apart later . If you shoot volumes of very hot loads the screws loosen . its just what happens . With alum the holes wallow out . I have seen people switch grip frames to ss on guns shot like i noted . I found the SRH to work better and no loose screws .

[Redhawk1]

First as to safety. Ive been loading heavy 45s for rugers for probably 20 years and theres many many others who also have done this. It is completely safe as long as you have any semblance of common sense. If your dumb enough that you wont mark ammo that is gun specific then you dont belong handloading period. I used to run 45s to levels i wont even say here. Well above what even is recomended for large framed rugers and never had a problem. Anymore i dont load even 44s up to the hilt. Mostly my heavy loads in 45s and 44 are something like a 300 at 1100fps. Its not that i dont think the guns are capable its just i never seen where loads heavier then that killed any bettter. Personaly i prefer a 44 and the only reason is ive had better luck in accuracy with all the 44 guns ive owned compared to the 45colt guns. If i had to go down to one revolver it would no doubt be some kind of a 44 mag.

Lloyd, you got it right on all accounts. I personally like the 45 over the 44. My Super Blackhawk is at Reeder's Custom guns being turned into a 5 shot 6 inch beast 45 Colt. If I wanted I could hot rod this way up there like you properly already have, but the reality of it all is, it is not really needed, you and I know that to be fact. Any good handguner would know that as well.

If someone wants to out run the 44 Mag, jump into a 454 Casull...

[SHOOTALL]

I have the 454 and like the Redhawk better for carry in a holster . The 454 to me is a true hand gun not a holster gun . I also like to push the limit some with in reason . I always say if no one pushed the limit we would still be shooting low power rounds with little effect . Keep in mind if no one wanted to best the 44 Colt we would not have a 44 mag. ( Elmer hot rodded the 45 first but switched to 44's as there was more metal in the cyl.). Now we have better metal and can push the 45 to higher limits so why not ? On game I keep my loads for the 45 near the 44 mag. But on the range shooting at distance i like to crank them up a bit .