45 Win Mag

[Redhawk1]

Why did the 45 Win Mag not have a big following? It seems like a very powerful round. I am starting to reload it for my 454 Super Street Hawk to shoot with moon clips and see it is close to 44 mag performance. I think it would have been a hit in a simi-auto. What are your thoughts on the 45 Win Mag and why you think it never took off?  

[Mikey]

Redhawk1:  I think the reason that particular cartridge never received much of a following was because of the platforms it was used in.  As I recall, they were big semi autos, too big for the hands of most shooters.  One, I think, was the LAR Grizzly - a 1911 style handgun but big handful.  I think there may have been a couple of others, too but also a bit to large for the average shooter.  I can't recall how those things stood up to continued use but I think it may have been too heavy a cartridge for the 1911 platform.  

This is just my two cents worth however and I would be grateful to hear from anyone with better specifics and more knowledge about the demise of this caliber than I.  Just Mikey here.

[cookiemonster]

Well, I have read that it was exactly that...too much of a handfull for most shooters...the Wildey and LAR are rather big...the Wildey a touch too expensive. For hunting, the 44 mag, 480 ruger, and 454 casull are plentifull and common. For target shooting, you don't really NEED that much to knock down rams...I own one in a 10" TC barrel....And I can tell you it can be pleasant like a 38 to shoot. BUT....I have some loads using H-110 that make it a monster...kicks harder than my 16 1/4" 45-70!!!  
Only one manufacturer, Winchester, makes ammo for it. Thats about the limit to my knowledge of its history.

[Questor]

The things that kept it from taking off are:
1) Guns were expensive and prone to breakage
2) Guns were too heavy
3) Good hunting bullets were not available.
4) Rimmed, so it doesn't work in a revolver unless you use moon clips-- a real hassle if you're using it for target shooting.
5) 44 magnum was available and known to be a good hunting cartridge with good bullets available.
6) Revolvers are better field guns than autos.

[wheelgun]

I know nothing about the autos but i have a 14" contender in 45 wm and its is one of the best.It will out shoot alot of pistols I have.Its loves Blue Dot under just about anything.

[Dr64]

Was the Automag, there was a barrel and later guns in 45wm for the automag.  Most of the AUtomags are 44 Automag of course.

I have a LAR Gizzly Mark IV in 45 winmag and it is alot of gun but no more then most of the other big magnums.



Above is a not so good pic of Top a LAR Grizzly Mark V in 50AE, a LAR Grizzly Mark IV in 45wm, and a Kimber 1911 for scale.

The Grizzly's also had conversion kits to 10mm, 357mag, 45ACP, 45 WM, and 357/45 Grizzly.

Zero

[Duffy]

I thought of building a custom SBH WinMag but with the headspace on the case mouth you can't get enough crimp to hold the bullets under heavy recoil in a revolver. By the 4th round the other ones have moved forward at least .050 so you have diminishing vel. Seems to work great in the contender and even better now that there's heavier bullets available.

[fennell]

I have a Wildey and Lar in this caliber as well as a Lar 44mag. they are both very close in power and shoot very well. Part of the problem, From what I was informed was the heavy auto pistols and their expense as well as the only factory round was the 230 grain full metal solid jacket bullet. This did the cartridge in. However, it is a great cartridge and almost equals the 44 mag.

fennell :-)