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Which Is The "Best" All-around Cartridge?

9084 Views 48 Replies 28 Participants Last post by  slim 60, 
T
As far as general use is concerned, which of the following
cartridges do you believe is the best all-around: 45 Colt,
44-40, or 357 magnum? Why?

Thanks for all replies,
Timberwolf
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jmortimer
.45 Colt loads from mild to max at lower pressure. Also it is pre-expanded at over 11 mm. You could hunt anything on the earth with it.
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Gil Martin
They are all good cartridges

It depends on what you want to do with it. All the best...
Gil
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J
jmortimer said:
.45 Colt loads from mild to max at lower pressure. Also it is pre-expanded at over 11 mm. You could hunt anything on the earth with it.
Click to expand...

+1.............
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Whitworth
Of the options listed, .45 Colt all the way -- it can be loaded from mild to wild and do more than the others on tis list.
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B
That question is far too open-ended to provide any meaningful response to. If you define a purpose, such as self-defense, hunting or plinking, you have a basis for a discussion. As is, the topic is too broad.
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T
O'kay, we can refine the question a bit and ask it this way, "Which
of the listed cartridges do you deem to be the best all-around,
that is, more suitable for hunting and defending?"

Thanks,
Timberwolf
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jmortimer
Same answer - .45 Colt
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unclepaddy
I like the .44 mag chambering, if we can look at this from the "gun end", rather than the cartridge. I say that just because of the flexibility in power level with the .44. You can load it from 600 fps and 180 grains or even lower in the .44 Special, all the way past 400 grains in the mag and hot enough to take nearly anything. I've never had the .45 Colt, but I suspect I'd like that too from the comments I see here from time to time. I suspect the .44 mag has a broader spectrum of loadings though.
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Whitworth
unclepaddy said:
I like the .44 mag chambering, if we can look at this from the "gun end", rather than the cartridge. I say that just because of the flexibility in power level with the .44. You can load it from 600 fps and 180 grains or even lower in the .44 Special, all the way past 400 grains in the mag and hot enough to take nearly anything. I've never had the .45 Colt, but I suspect I'd like that too from the comments I see here from time to time. I suspect the .44 mag has a broader spectrum of loadings though.
Click to expand...
For the same reasons you have given in support of the .44 magnum, you can apply to the .45 Colt, but the Colt on the upper end of the loading spectrum (heavy bullet loads) completely outshines the .429 magnum. It truly is an outstandind all-around cartridge. Now, if one only ha the option of using factory loads, then it i hard to beat the .44 for the wide selection of ammo........
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dmsbandit
45Colt wins hands down. 250 grain bullets from 700 fps to 1500+ fps with a big wide nose are hard to beat.
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B
TIMBERWOLF said:
O'kay, we can refine the question a bit and ask it this way, "Which
of the listed cartridges do you deem to be the best all-around,
that is, more suitable for hunting and defending?"

Thanks,
Timberwolf
Click to expand...
TW,

Thanks for narrowing the scope a bit. :)

Of the three cartridges listed, I would rank the 44/40 and 45LC, regardless of whether they are both using their original, or "hot" loads, as a dead heat. The smaller .429 bullet has a higher SD and the .454 a larger frontal area which, for all intents and purposes, cancel each other out. So, you're left with a study of their velocity potential, which again, is too similar to give one a real advantage. Whether hunting or used in self-defense, there will be little discernible difference between these two, and the numbers back that up. (Yeah, I know all you 45LC lovers out there are going to argue with me, but look it up...)

As for the .357Magnum, I think it's a great choice for home defense, primarily because of the selection of 38, 38+P and full-throttle mag loads available for it. Looking at the hunting perspective, I think it loses out, by 25-50 yards of effective range, to the two bigger rounds. I know it operates at higher pressure and has better MV, but that simply doesn't equate to greater terminal performance, especially as the range gets out there past 100 yards.

For those of you who hijacked the thread a bit and threw the 44Magnum into the mix, well...it's head and shoulders above all three of the rounds the OP mentioned, but that should be readily apparent. When you consider it operates at much higher pressure than the first two and launches heavier bullets than the .357Mag. it's no surprise it is a better hunting round. The only liability it would have, for self-defense, is the likelihood of shooting through the bad guy and any number of things behind him. In that respect, the 44Mag might not be as wise a choice for self-defense, which is why mine is a 14" Contender and my CCW is a 9mm. (Though I would really prefer a .40 S&W)
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O
357 for SD or revolver carry, 44/40 to finickity in reloading, 45LC wins, versatile, big enough to do whatever you wish, somewhat limited in CCW and in a frame house with standard loads it will penetrate several of your neighbor's houses if you miss! However, I would take the 45LC(and do!) as the most flexible, reloadable, shootable of the three. the 44SPL is a close second. I have a Ruger Bisley in 45LC partnered with a Colt Lightening slide action rifle and they make a great pair from plinking to deer/hog hunting. I don't feel undergunned when the Ruger sits on the bedside table instead of the 40SW.
PS. The 45LC case loaded with RB's makes a great in house defense load that won't overpenetrate!! That's my opinion, what's yours??
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T
Just a big fan of the .44, all that I say applies to the 45lc. Both can be loaded from mouse to moose. Both have a Huge variety of bullets available for reloading. WWII and Korean war vets will tell you that the 45acp WILL stop a determined intruder, Iraq vets will tell you it takes a few shots with a 9mm to stop a human. With the .44 and the 45lc, bullets can had to keep from killing your neighbor in a defense situation. The .357 is an excellent cartridge, maybe not a one shot kill. Deer-good to 60yrds. But frankly, high end loads are REALLY loud in a revolver(BH).
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zb338
The .357 Magnum is the best all around gun. If I could
only have one pistol (perish the thought) it would be a
.357. You can use it in the .357 configuration for hunting
or defense and you can load .38 Special full wadcutters
and have a great target gun.

Zeke
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S
that wadcutter will suffice as protection rnd pretty well also..jmo slim
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Whitworth
broom_jm said:
TW, Whether hunting or used in self-defense, there will be little discernible difference between these two, and the numbers back that up. (Yeah, I know all you 45LC lovers out there are going to argue with me, but look it up...)
Click to expand...
I've taken a bunch of game with both the .44 mag and the various .45s (Colt, Casull, .460.....), and I can say with certainty that the .45 is higher up on the food chain than the .429.
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Whitworth said:
I've taken a bunch of game with both the .44 mag and the various .45s (Colt, Casull, .460.....), and I can say with certainty that the .45 is higher up on the food chain than the .429.
Click to expand...
Must be some kind of "magic" in your 45LC if you feel it is any more effective on big game than a 44Mag. Now, the Casull and 460 are a whole different ball of wax...they drive bigger bullets just as fast, or faster, than the 44, so I'm with ya there.
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Whitworth
broom_jm said:
Must be some kind of "magic" in your 45LC if you feel it is any more effective on big game than a 44Mag. Now, the Casull and 460 are a whole different ball of wax...they drive bigger bullets just as fast, or faster, than the 44, so I'm with ya there.
Click to expand...
I never load the .454 very hot. Take enough game with both and there is a difference. I have never been impressed with the .44 on game. Sure, it will do the job, but not like a properly loaed .45. I don't know how you load, but I'm talking about heavy for caliber, flat-nosed hardcast bullets.

The .460 never really impressed me either.....but that's just me. I had to use one for a test last year and with Corbon's 395 grain WFN loads, I took a couple of hogs with it.
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J
broom_jm said:
Must be some kind of "magic" in your 45LC if you feel it is any more effective on big game than a 44Mag. Now, the Casull and 460 are a whole different ball of wax...they drive bigger bullets just as fast, or faster, than the 44, so I'm with ya there.
Click to expand...

There was a time many may years ago that I felt the same as you about the 44 MAg, but after use both on big game (larger than Deer) it apparent to me that a 45 is definately higher od the food chain than a 44 mag.

The better 45 Colt loads out penetrate the better 44 mag loads consistently at the Linbaugh seminars. The larger meplat on the 45 bullets leave larger wound channels than the 44. The larger entry hole is readily apparent.
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