Choose between 45 colt or 44 mag accessory barrel

[revbc]

If you were buying one accessory barrel and had the choice between these two, which one would you choose and why?  The 45 can be reamed to 454 and the 44 reamed to 445, would these make a big difference in the choice?

Thanks for the input,
Bobby

[Oldshooter]

Not a proponant of reaming myself, As to the 44/45 choice. Not one as far as I'm concerned 44 is the one!

That a $1.50 will get you a coffee someplaces!

I forgot why. For me its the availability of 44 mag ammo and the power of 44 mag factory loads.

[45-70.gov]

the  44 mag  i  have a few.....i  like the new scope ready  ones
because  i have several  44mag hand guns...the matching ammo thing

i  also have a few  45-70  if i need to shoot  a 45

if  i had  the 454 in a hand  gun  i might consider  it
or 45 colt hadgun

take  the money saved on the reem job and buy a 458 mould for the 45-70
they even make a 45-70 revolver if  you have  to do that matching ammo thing

even  a 357  is pretty powerful in a rifle

[mitch132]

If you reload, I would say the 45 LC. If you don't, the 44 Mag, however if you plan on shooting either of these much, you will soon find yourself reloading faster than you think. A hot loaded 45 LC in a strong action can come close to a 454 without having to use a reamer.

[LaOtto222]

If you are already set up for 45 caliber then I would get the 45 Colt, if for the 44 then the 44 Mag. If you reload, it does not make much difference if you are not set up already. Remember the 45 Colt takes .452" bullets and 45 cal rifles .458" bullets so there is no exchange between those of any kind, not even the primer. If you are going to buy your ammo, no question get the 44 Mag. While heavy 45 Colts are available to buy, they are mighty pricey; even more pricey than 44 mags which are not cheap. As far as reaming one out, I personally do not see the point. Get a 444 Marlin or 45-70 Gov barrel to start with. Again 454 ammo is pricey as is 445. The 445 is not widely available unless you reload. Unless you want the different factor, I would not consider those options. Unless you hand load I would not consider those options either. As far as knock down power for hunting either one (45 or 44) will get the job done, with in their limits which are similar. Fun factor, either one. I guess I did not help a whole lot, it really comes down to which one you want the most. I gave you some things to consider. Good Luck and Good Shooting   

[Steve P]

If you have to buy ammo, 44 mag all the way.  It is tough to find hot loads in 45LC.

If you handload, flip a coin, either will get you where you want to go.

Steve

[lcdrdanr]

I shoot both calibers in handguns, reload for both, shoot neither in rifles and am pondering the same question you asked.
  I've decided the 44 mag for the following reasons:
1.  I have orders of magnitude more 44 mag brass than I do .45 colt.
2.  44 Mag brass is easier to come by and cheaper
3.  I cast my own bullets and can interchange bullets with the .44, I think the .45 needs a heavier bullet in the rifle though.
4.  I own 4 .44 mag revolvers, all but one of them is modern design while one is a Colt SAA Clone.  I only have 2-.45 colt revolvers, both are Colt SAA clones.  The .45 rifle would be hot loaded but I wouldn't want to put a lot of it through the relatively weak revolvers; I don't think I can load hot enough to hurt a Ruger Redhawk in .44 Rem Mag though so I would be less concerned about mixing up ammo between rifle and pistol.

And, yeah, for some reason I still want a .444 Marlin but in a lever action and while I'm doing the pistol/rifle ammo thing, I just gotta get a .500 S&W to go with the 500 and then theres........................................  Well, you know what I mean

Dan R

[ONE HOLE 4570]

You probably did the right thing you would not want to mix the 45 ammo up.

I went the other way with the 45 colt to go with my winchester & blackhawk
good luck

[PHATINJUN]

45COLT [b hands down the funnest rifle to shoot since the 357mag. Kurt

[Gohon]

Remember the 45 Colt takes .452" bullets and 45 cal rifles .458" bullets so there is no exchange between those of any kind, not even the primer.

Since the 454 is not a rifle caliber it uses the same bullets as the 45 Colt.  If reamed to 454 then both the 45 Colt and 454 can be shot in the same gun.   

[XxLT250RxX]

I don't really have an opinion on the caliber for you.  My advice is to forget about the damn barrel accessory program and buy a complete rifle in your chosen caliber.  I have been waiting on them to fit my receiver with a 44M barrel since the first week in September 08.  This bunch will never get another penny of my money.  Sorry customer service.

[45LCshoooter]

What they said, except...

If you ever want a .444, already having the .44 would give you a light/heavy combo and bullets would interchange (though .444 would probably like the heavier range of bullets). I shoot .45's, so my choice is the other way.