Author Topic: 41, 45LC or 44? (Read 1418 times)

hunting1 · « **on:** February 20, 2005, 11:51:01 PM »

I want a good 4' revolver to carry in the woods and debating betweent the 3 calibers. The 44 would be best I guess if Alaska was in the works soon, but is kind of heavy, so what do you think between the 41 and the 45LC? I have had Rugers in 45 and 44, but no experience with the 41. Use would be black bear or deer maybe. Looking at the Taurus Tracker right now, but open to advice. I reload if it matters. Thanks! :grin:

LMM · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2005, 12:36:57 AM »

For your intended use..... flip a coin. Any of the three will get the job done. Boils down to personal preference. And your about to hear about all kind of personal preferences.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2005, 12:39:28 AM »

if you dont reload a .44 mag if you don any will work.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2005, 12:42:22 AM »

Well now it is a matter of preference. All 3 round would work very well for your application. Me, I prefer the the 44 MAG out of the choices you gave. I like the 500MAG myself. :grin: Like I said it is just personal preference, the 45 L/C can be loaded to match the 44 MAG and the 41 MAG is very close. Now for the gun itself, I would not buy a Taurus, I do not like them and think the Ruger or S&W would make a better choice. But that is just my personal opinion.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2005, 05:27:13 AM »

In a similar brand gun there will be no appreciable difference in weight regardless of which you get. I'd avoid the Taurus guns like the plague they are. I wouldn't have another of the Titanium guns if it were free. I've had just too much trouble with them and customer service is a joke.

I've owned the .41s but don't share the love of them some folks around here have. You might like them however as it's a personal thing. If you reload then there is not much reason to chose one over the other. If you don't the .44 is hands down the way to go.

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2005, 08:58:18 AM »

I would recommend the ruger Blackhawk. It is a single shot pistol and is very good for a back up carry in the woods. I ended up getting the Blackhawk Bisey in .45 Colt.

I carried this beauty in the woods this past deer season. You can load it light or heavy, depending on your situation.

I have a S&W 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt that is also a good woods gun to consider.

The only main difference in the two above is that the Ruger can be loaded to heavier and stronger loads for those trips in brown bear country. :wink:

The .44 Rem. Mag. is a very good round and should be considered in the above two guns. I might add that my main hunting pistols are both .44 mags.

Mikey · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2005, 11:11:25 AM »

hunting 1: my first choice would be a 4" S&W 29/629 in 44 magnum. The same revolver in 41 weighs more.

I just hefted my 4" 29 - it isn't heavy at all. In fact, it feels sort of leight compared to a 3.5" 357 on the same frame. The heaviest thing about the gun is the half dozen 295 gn semiwadcutters it carries. I prefer the 44 over the 45.

For what you intend to hunt, the 44 is an excellent choice. If you encounter something larger it is still an excellent choice. HTH. Mikey.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2005, 12:05:33 PM »

Hunting1

Some one mentioned above that it was a toss up which is about right. The only thing i would ad to this post is to echo the part about the choice of manufactures, I would strongly pick one of the big three made in the USA.
Ruger, Colt, S&W. If you ever have a problem with one of the three you are more likely to get better and faster service.

As far as the pick of cal.s Any of the three will work fine and if you do load you can make any of them do about the same thing. Take care and be safe neighbor............Joe...............

hunting1 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2005, 05:58:23 PM »

A question on your Ruger single actions? I had a Super Blackhawk in 44, 2-Vaqueros(1357, 45LC) and when ever you shot heavy loads the pin that holds the cylinders would come loose. Does this happen to anyone else? If so what was the cure? I sold them for this reason.

hunting1 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2005, 09:18:30 PM »

Allright you guys have steered me straight! I am going to get the S&W 4" 629 I think in 44 since it will be strictly for the outdoors purpose. Thanks! :grin:

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2005, 01:54:04 AM »

Quote from: hunting1

Allright you guys have steered me straight! I am going to get the S&W 4" 629 I think in 44 since it will be strictly for the outdoors purpose. Thanks! :grin:

Very good choice.

pastorp · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2005, 10:16:33 AM »

Lawful Larry, not trying to nit-pick, but to be correct you ruger is not a single shot revolver. It is a single action revolver.

The base pin working loose on new model ruger single actions seams to be a problem for many. The older flat top & three screw blackhawks did not, at least in my experience, have this problem. Ruger will send you a new base pin or you can send the gun in under warranty. The best fix IME has been the after market base pins, or drilling and tapping a screw through the base pin into the frame like John Linebaugh does.

Regards, Byron

newhh · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2005, 09:45:05 AM »

If you want a small frame find a heavy walled five shot 45. With hand loads they all will do the job. If you are going in brown bear country or want more range then the only answer is a ported 5" S&W 460. Good for deer to 200 yeads, black bear to 150 yrards and browns at 100 yeards. You can also shoot 45Colt for light loads.

SingleFan · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2005, 10:00:30 AM »

FA 97 in 41 maggie; 5-1/2 bbl. Unless you want to buy another gun only to wish you'd bought the FA at a later time

This same gun in 44 special is a great choice also for a 'packin' gun.

Dand · « **Reply #14 on:** March 01, 2005, 07:59:23 PM »

hunter1, don't know if I properly sent you an email but if you are having trouble with your cylinder pin, get a Belt Mountain base pin. I have one in my Bisley 41 and its great - worth every cent. Get it direct or through some of the mail order houses sponsoring GB. Try this link:
http://www.beltmountain.com

longwalker · « **Reply #15 on:** March 02, 2005, 10:51:55 AM »

I would recommend the 44 Magnum. I use a longer barrel than you want but that is a subjective thing. The benefit of the 44 is availability and power. You can buy it anywhere in your choic hof bullets and weights. It is recognized for what it does so well. Hits with authority! Single action vs double action your choice. Double action is just an other skill to challenge you with.

Buy the best gun you can afford. If you have to wait an other couple of months to get it, do so, you will be happy you did. My first Hunt gun .357 magnum was a disappointment. It just could not handle the 158 grain bullets I wanted to hunt with. It was a brand X, cheap, but not worth the price. It started spitting lead the cylinder would hang up, ect. I sent it out for service and got it back nice and clean, but still had the trouble.

My Ruger has swallowed many more rounds of greater power and still shoots like new, maybe better.

longwalker

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #16 on:** March 04, 2005, 06:25:02 AM »

Quote from: pastorp

Lawful Larry, not trying to nit-pick, but to be correct you ruger is not a single shot revolver. It is a single action revolver.

The base pin working loose on new model ruger single actions seams to be a problem for many. The older flat top & three screw blackhawks did not, at least in my experience, have this problem. Ruger will send you a new base pin or you can send the gun in under warranty. The best fix IME has been the after market base pins, or drilling and tapping a screw through the base pin into the frame like John Linebaugh does.

Regards, Byron

I stand corrected sir! How did I let that one go.

As to the base pins coming loose, you can go to Brownells and get replacement pins that fit much better and will stop this problem from happening. Can't remember the name of the company though that markets the pins!

KYODE · « **Reply #17 on:** March 04, 2005, 06:39:28 AM »

belt mountain..............belt mountain base pin :wink:

JOE MACK · « **Reply #18 on:** March 04, 2005, 11:24:03 PM »

What I'd have to say is pretty much a forgone conclusion.

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #19 on:** March 06, 2005, 07:11:55 AM »

Quote from: KYODE

belt mountain..............belt mountain base pin :wink:

That's it. Thanks guy. It also has a set screw that helps to secure the pin. Have yet to have any problems. :grin: