44spl vs 45lc in winchester 1866?

nativeshootist · December 17, 2016, 06:54:58 PM

About a month ago I put a 66 carbine on layaway and i'll be the proud owner of it in about a month or two.

It is chambered in 45lc and I can't wait to get it out.

But the gun store I go too also had one in 44spl thats gathering dust, (it really has dust on it.) so I was wondering which caliber do you guy prefer for a beginner and why. Where i live both cartridges run about the same amount for a box of 50, I know that I could swap my layaway for the other and still owe what i owe. But i was curious what the benefit of one cartridge is over the other. I know in a 44spl i can shoot 44colt and 44 russian if i wanted and in 45lc I can shoot 45 schofield and 45 cowboy (is that what it's called?) I'm not really looking into trying to recreate the 44 henry as I don't own any reloading components yet. I am comparing both at the moment and wondering which would be better in the long run. I know that i'm probably leaning towards the 45lc but never know.

Dusty Boddams · December 17, 2016, 07:02:54 PM

What caliber of pistol ya have? That's the deciding factor! At least it would be for me

. Dusty

Coffinmaker · December 17, 2016, 09:16:52 PM

Yes and ... NO. You have it somewhat over simplified. A 44 Special rifle will NOT run 44 Russian without a special Carrier Block. 44 Colt can be Iffy. There is no free lunch here.

A 45 Colt rifle WILL NOT run 45 Cowboy without a special carrier block. Running 45 Schofield requires a bullet no shorter than a 200Gr RNFP. No free lunch here either.

Both calibers are capable of generating copious amounts of blow-by. Both rifles are capable of generating copious amounts of FUN. Both calibers are capable of generating copious frustrations when you depart from the original cartridge.

Coffinmaker

nativeshootist · December 17, 2016, 10:22:02 PM

I forgot about the carrier....my bad

the only pistols I have are a asm 44 cal 51 navy and a pietta 51 navy 36 cal.

Long Johns Wolf · December 18, 2016, 02:57:51 AM

I'd go with the .44 Special and hope it will be reliably be feeding .44 Colt (if it doesn't I would check back with Coffinmaker) ... to be kind of period correct.
Long Johns Wolf

Major 2 · December 18, 2016, 06:27:57 AM

mine in 44 Spec. runs 44 Colt , it a 73 though

Pettifogger · December 18, 2016, 09:37:46 AM

.44 Special is a very TINY niche caliber. Few are sold because few people shoot them. .45 is a universal CAS caliber. Easy to get brass and easy to resell if you want to get rid of it. The .44 Special has dust on it for a reason.

Will Ketchum · December 18, 2016, 10:51:01 AM

The 44 spl. might hold it's value since there aren't many of them. It would be my choice. As for being different than your pistols, It's easy to see the difference at the loading bench.
I had one but foolishly let it go when a friend wanted it really bad.

Will Ketchum

Mike · December 18, 2016, 11:14:16 AM

I would have the 44 over the 45 any day. 44WCF would be better but have both.

I not going to get into why not 45 other than prefer 44.

Tascosa Joe · December 18, 2016, 11:17:21 AM

I have a Henry in .45 Colt and a 66 in 44 Spl. The 66 is my 2nd one in 44 spl. Like Will I sold my first one to a friend and then had to replace it. My 1st 44 Spl would not extract .44 Colt. I had the shop, from which I purchased the new one, modified it to insure extraction of the .44 Colt. Works like a champ. My Henry functions with .45 Schofield without any modification or messing with OAL. I guess I have been lucky. I like them both, but I usually shoot my 73 in 38-40.

T-Joe

Major 2 · December 18, 2016, 12:10:11 PM

No dust on mine .... and I have two Henrys in 45 , and 2 in 44/40 , the 73 in 44 spec. and a Marlin in 32/20

Had a Marlin in 45 and in a moment of weakness allow it to pass to a pard ....

contemplating a 73 in 32/20 ....

Coffinmaker · December 18, 2016, 12:22:39 PM

Were I to make a personal recommendation (Looks like I are), I would have to suggest the 45 Colt. With a Caveat. We are talking about an 1866 here, where Uberti improved the Ladle (loading gate) from on that never broke, to one that is guaranteed to break. First purchase after acquiring the rifle is to replace it with an after-market ladle and then re-inforce that. Next purchase is the really cool Carrier Block from "The Smith Shop" with it's nifty cartridge stop for shooting Cowboy 45 Special. Maximum untidy. 45 Colt, 45 Schofield, C45S.

A 45 is also easier to "sell on" if you tire of it. 44 Special will move kind of slow. Unless you run into some loon who just "has to have yours."

Coffinmaker

Major 2 · December 18, 2016, 12:33:21 PM

guess ....I'm some kind a loon

I actually went looking for mine ...posted my query, and Bingo Bob was my Uncle.
.... and now want a 32/20 ....it's the different drummer, I dance to

Mike · December 18, 2016, 03:59:12 PM

Got a 73 with a 308 barrel chambered in 32WCF, shoot very well. Built on a short block 73. I shoots in the 80's all day long.
Still love my 44 better.

Coffinmaker · December 18, 2016, 09:14:56 PM

Yep. Major 2 be one of those "Loons." Marches to a different drum. Which is good. So does I. Mostly, what I recommend for folks is a bit more main-stream than what I actually do. Like Mike's stuff too. I actually prefer playing with things that are a little off bubble.

If one is just starting out in this game, it's easier to get into the swing of it with things that don't fight back. I really don't think you should have to fight your equipment. Unless, of course, you deliberately choose equipment that will, on occasion, fight back. Like competing as a Gunfighter with Cap Guns, shooting a Henry Carbine for a rifle and a Coach Gun as short as the FEDS will let ya carry.

There was A time when I was looked at as a stark raving radical when I took up the C456S and started building guns for it. Some, who only recognize something begat in the 19th Century, still think I'm a stark raving radical. OK. When heavy into competition, my main match handguns were short barrel (imagine that) Uberti Open Tops in either C45S or 38 Spl, a '73 set up for C45S and a '97 with a just barely legal barrel. Almost fun.

Now, Gunfighter Cap Guns, Hammer doubles and Henry rifles. SUPER FUN. Viva Le Difference!!

Coffinmaker

nativeshootist · December 18, 2016, 10:42:04 PM

I'm not really into the game of CAS, i like to come here for the history and other interesting things here. One day i might try a match out, never know. But right know, i'm interested in the guns and the 66 winchester is the rifle i have on layaway. The thing I'm worried about in the 44spl chambering is which factory loads would be good to shoot in it, i know for the 45lc as almost everything sold in my area is the "cowboy" load. While 44spl i can't recall.

Will Ketchum · December 19, 2016, 08:33:45 AM

I don't think you have to worry about factory loads in the 66. It has been proofed with loads heavier than you'll buy. In CAS people shoot many more rounds than a typical shooter will shoot in years. Also the 44 spl isn't loaded hot from the factory. There are too may old guns out there chambered for it.

Will Ketchum

Jake C · December 19, 2016, 09:51:08 AM

I tend to like guns that aren't the same as what everyone else is carrying, so I say the .44, but I'm sure both will treat you fine.

Major 2 · December 20, 2016, 09:06:51 AM

Just heard of a 66 in 44 Special offered @ $600

It's a CAS gun , older Uberti that has the new Bolt parts ...

It's local , I haven't seen it , but I doubt it will stay for sale long $:-\$

matt45 · December 20, 2016, 09:28:31 AM

Chiming in with a cautionary note- logistics are a b*&Ch. Spare parts, brass, etc... On the historical side- none of our centerfires are accurate as to the 66.