.357 Magnum or .45 Colt, or?

Buckaroo Lou · August 31, 2019, 11:58:44 AM

I am considering buying a new Winchester 1873 rifle for target shooting and hunting. I am trying to decide if I should get it in .357 magnum or .45 Colt. I reload so can reload for either round. I am just not certain which round would be the most efficient for both target and hunting.

I have hunted hogs with the .45 Colt and had no problems. I once hunted deer with a .357 magnum S&W revolver and had no problems. Most of my single actions are .45 Colt but do have a Cimmarron Bisley in .357 magnum.

Just curious what you guys would suggest would be my best choice of caliber.

Or to throw something else into the equation do I need to consider the .44-40?

King Medallion · August 31, 2019, 12:51:25 PM

Well, 73 calibers are sposta have a dash in it, so,, 44-40, 38-40, 32-20, 25-20.

Trailrider · August 31, 2019, 02:53:28 PM

If it is a choice between just .357 Magnum and .45 LC, for hunting and target, I would go with the .45 LC. OTOH, if it was my choice, I would go with .44-40, which probably took more game in the Old West than anything but a buffalo cartridge.

Liberty4545 · August 31, 2019, 04:20:05 PM

Well. Lou, I would also highly recommend the 45 Colt, especially if you reload. I have an Uberti 1973 with 24.25 inch barrel and an Uberti El Patron with 5.5 inch barrel in .45. I use 11 grains of HS-6, taken as a starting load from the Speer Manual No.12, for the250 grain cast bullet, (Mine are .454 sized) This stays in the 14,000 psi standard pressure range for the .45 Colt. My chronograph shows 5 shot averages of 1200 feet per second at 10 feet, which delivers around 820 foot pounds of energy. By the way, the same load shot from my son's Model 94, 45 Colt with 20 inch barrel averages 1150 FPS. The same load from the El Patron averages 880 FPS. Anyway, the extra 4.25 inch barrel on my Uberti rifle gives me another 50 FPS using this slow burning powder .Bet it would be even better in a 30 inch barrel Accuracy for the 1873 rifles is around 3 inches at 80 yards. My rear sight elevator is set about midway. Have not shot it yet at 100 yards or more because of heavy timber where I was last shooting.
Also I experience almost no blowback in the rifle with this loading and it has proven safe for me.
Of course, we all must adhere to only using standard pressure loads from the reloading manuals when loading the weaker 1973 actions.
I do not know how this might compare with a .357, but you have the additional greater caliber of the .45 and the greater bullet weight in the old warhorse's favor. I do not have experience with the 44.40, but as others have said, it is both traditional and well proven. I would take a long look at it, particularly if you have a .44.40 six shooter. so there is my 2 cents. Best Regards,

Baltimore Ed · August 31, 2019, 04:55:37 PM

If you are going to deer or boar hunt with it the ?94 Marlin is stronger than a ?73 and so could be loaded hotter, of course in .45. If you really have your heart set on a Winchester to hunt with look at the big old ?76. If you want a plinker get a ?32 or ?38 1873. Cheap shooting. Here?s T.R. With his ?76.

Liberty4545 · August 31, 2019, 06:08:21 PM

Correction, meant to say 1873 , not 1973 in my post.

Coffinmaker · September 01, 2019, 11:29:07 AM

Most everything I shoot these days is 45 Colt. Some lustra ago, when I still hunted, I went out with a Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt, loaded with 265Gr cast Keith type semi-wadcutters. I divulge the load, because it was "stupid" hot. Those Keith type Semi-Wadcutters won't run in a Toggle Link rifle. However, in a lever rifle friendly bullet design, you can start heaver than a 357 and just go up in bullet weight. Beyond 350Gr if you so desire.

Blow-By could be a concern with 45 Colt. I have zero experience with a Miroku 45 chamber so I can't comment directly. Too address another concern .... Uberti builds their '73 to run 44 Magnum. I would think 45, loaded to 44 Magnum levels would be safe in a Miroku. I'd probably call the Winchester folks and ask that question, although I doubt you'd get an honest answer.

Buckaroo Lou · September 01, 2019, 04:41:59 PM

Thanks guys for all the input and suggestions. After tossing everything around in my muddled brain I have trashed the whole deal. I should stay off the internet gun sites. I found another 45-70 that I think I just have to have. The '73 is going to have to wait another year. It isn't as if I don't have one because I do in a Italian replica. I was just hankering for one of the new Winchesters. For now it is on hold.

nativeshootist · September 01, 2019, 10:58:45 PM

I would buy it in .357 due to it being cheap. but my delimma is that I have an antique winchester reloading tool in .44-40 and that'll make me want to buy one in that caliber so I can use it. but .357 is cheaper. cheaper is better. Though I do have a '66 carbine in .45 colt and I enjoy it.

Cliff Fendley · September 05, 2019, 05:06:19 PM

Quote from: King Medallion on August 31, 2019, 12:51:25 PM
Well, 73 calibers are sposta have a dash in it, so,, 44-40, 38-40, 32-20, 25-20.

Or a wcf in it.

PlowboysGhost · December 06, 2019, 01:59:18 PM

I went with .45 Colt...never been tempted to get a rifle or carbine in .357 Mag/.38 spec.

If I didn't have multiple .45 Colt revolvers and wasn't already loading .45 Colt, I might very well have chose .44 WCF...especially nowadays when i'm interested in .44-40.

.45 Colt over .357/.38 for me, though.