44 Special vs 45 Colt vs 45 CS

Hobble Creek Al · March 11, 2018, 10:26:23 AM

New guy here. New to CAS. Not new to reloading. Already load for both 44 Spl and 45 Colt, but to higher, hunting levels with heavier bullets. Haven't bought any guns yet. Was thinking 44 Special, 200 gr bullets but see 45 colt can do same, with 200 gr bullets.

My train of thought after doing about a month of reading and asking questions of a former Utah state champ (He's the one who pulled out his CAS guns and allowed the bug to bite me!)

I have 2 Cimarron MP681 Pre-War 5.5" barrel , 44 specials, on order and it will take 90 days to ship to me. Also, a Cimarron CA285, 20" barrel straight stock, 44 special. It won't arrive until end of the year.

Or

I can find suitable guns in 45 Colt, NOW! and have at it! Play with the 45 CS a bit.

Read a lot about blow by/back of fouling with the 45 Colt in the 1873 but it might be gun/chamber specific since my friends Uberti 1873 doesn't have that issue he says. His Marlin does.

Thoughts?

Thank you for allowing me to come on here and start another chapter of my shooting life.

HBA

Four Eyes Henry · March 11, 2018, 01:34:07 PM

For me, blowback is no issue in my 45 Rossi.
I use Magtech brass and I have my sizer die reamed out a little.
Magtech brass is "softer"or thinner then Starline (which is also good brass, but not for MY rifle)
With 18 grains of blackpowder and a 200 grain BigLube bullet no problems...

Abilene · March 11, 2018, 03:52:16 PM

Well, I love the .44 Spcl. Have Colts and a Thunderer. Got your heart set on it being a '73? I see one '66 20" in stock (that's what I have, got one of the first .44 Spcl's in the country in 2000, have about 8K rounds through it now). Also 44 Mag carbines available, equally good for the Spcl.

OTOH, nuthin' wrong with .45.

Coffinmaker · March 11, 2018, 04:17:44 PM

Gotta Love It. Love this QUESTION!! First a CAVEAT: I'm a retarded .. er retired .. yea, that it .. retired .. CAS Gunplumber. Other than basic knowledge, no rooster in this fight. SO:

If your shooting straight walled pistol cartridges (.38, 44Spl, .45) your going to get blow-by. Just a matter of degrees. .38Spl/357 very little. 44Spl/44 Russian/44Mag some and maybe problematic. .45 Colt/45 Schofield/C45S probably a lot and problematic. Some of the problem will depend on whether you choose that Heathen, Fad boring smokeless stuff ..... or Original Gun Powder and it's Subs.

If your choosing Uberti built rifles in .44Spl or 45Colt your going to get blow-by. Put that inna bank. The blow-by can be mitigated. With the 44 Special or 44 Russian, anneal your cases and Blow-By will go away. With 45Colt, anneal your cases and Blow-by will go away. Or, with 45Colt you can form 44-40 cases to 45Colt and Blow-By will go away. 45 Schofield and C45S may need to be annealed. "Others" will suggest a "Heavy" load and a big 'ol "heavy" bullet .. which may or may not help with Blow-By but will help lighten your wallet.

No matter. Your going to have FUN. Eventually, you will also probably end up with both calibers anyway. Or more. Resistance is Futile. You will be assimilated.

PS: For 45CS ... Actually it's Cowboy 45 Special or C45S, you'll need to play with your reloading die selection for best results. Regardless of what your read, hear, are told or suspect, 45ACP dies DO NOT produce good C45S loading.

Hobble Creek Al · March 11, 2018, 10:55:41 PM

I appreciate the input. Think i'll order a pair of Ruger SASS 5.5" 45 Colts and the Navy Arms 1873 with the French Grey finish and upgraded wood; by Turnbull. Also in 45 Colt.

HCA

Coffinmaker · March 12, 2018, 07:54:46 PM

AS soon as you get your Rugers, have the cylinder throats checked. 98% of Ruger .45 throats are .448 or .449 opposed to .4525.

Rooster Ron Wayne · March 22, 2018, 06:43:32 PM

All my Cowboy guns are 44 special.
You can down load them too 44 Russian and up load to 44 Light magnum.
I like a 200 gr. Bullet and a Full load of APP for.
Shoots great.
Rooster

Bibbyman · March 23, 2018, 07:57:28 AM

Just some food for thought...

If I were to start out flat footed (no guns) and was thinking about shooting black powder and worried about blow-by, skip the straight walled cases and go right to 38WCF or 44WCF, if you want to go large bore. I shot 45 Colt and C45S for two years in Uberti and Marlin before switching over to 44WCF. Nice, clean fired cases and clean actions of guns sure make me smile.