44 Special vs 45 Colt

[KWK]

So, I've time to kill while Taylor's waits for their next shipment of '66 carbines...

I've requested a 45 Colt but see Uberti also makes them in 44 Special. Checking Hodgdon's data, both cartridges are well backed with reloading data. Checking with Missouri Bullet, both can get a wide variety of bullets, soft or hard, coated or lubed. Checking with SAAMI, I see the Colt has a comparatively loose chamber, suggesting shorter case life.

Any other considerations--beyond that Taylor's may not be able to acquire a 44?

[Abilene]

I got one of the first 44 Spcls when Uberti started making them for Cimarron in 2000.  Actually, the first shipment was 4 rifles.  I got one from the next shipment.  I was already shooting a 44 spcl Colt so it was perfect.  I see Taylors carries the 20" 44 Spcl rifle and Cimarron carries the carbine and 20 and 24" rifles, but neither has any in stock right now.  I don't shoot mine much these days, I need to get it back out.  I stripped the Urethane and gave it an oil finish and let the frame patina with black powder.  Now, the real holy grail is the 44 Special Henry.  They made nine of them.  I think a few people have tried to special order one since but I don't believe they made any more.  I do know a few people who have shot 44 Russian in a 44-40 Henry.  Probably hard on the brass but they seem to work (needing a modified carrier for the short round).  Coffinmaker has a 44 spcl '66 as well, a trapper I think.  Here's mine.

[Coffinmaker]

  KWK 

Yepper!!  Abilene be correctamundo.  Well, sort of.  I built a really swell 1866 .44 Special Trapper.  Then I sold it (Sob, snivel).  End of the week it's coming back (Horray!!!).  I also built a second .44 Special, an 1873 Deluxe.  Also a "Trapper."  Both rifles have Sixteen and a Half inch barrels.  Very quick handling for CAS Play. .44 Special rifles are NOT real common.  Patience is required to score one.  I was once commissioned for an action job on an Iron Frame Uberti Henry.  At the initial discussion, I was unaware it was a .44 Special.  I tried my Damm'dest to separate him from that rifle.  Made some really ridiculous offers.  Wouldn't budge (Sigh).  Sadly, it walked out my shop and I never saw it nor heard from it again (whimpers sadly).

Now.  Some Tid bits.  Like 45 Colt, 44 Special cases won't expand to seal the chamber and Uberti chambers are generous.  Blow-By WILL occur.  It isn't that big a deal with most smokeless (yech) but can be a real problem with Black Powder and Subs.  With either 45 Colt or 44 Special, I do recommend annealing the cases to prevent Blow-By problems with BP and Subs.  My propellant of choice is APP.  Along with "that" recommendation, I DO NOT recommend annealing of cases to be used in handguns.  Handgun chambers are much snugger and annealed cases will tend to be hard to eject. 

[Ranch 13]

I have 45 colt cases from Winchester and Remington that are 50 years old, that have been fired with black, smokeless and the smokeless stuff with fake smoke added ,in rifle and pistol.
 Have WRA head stamped 44 special cases although they haven't been fired in a rifle, only colt saa
 If it would seem in a 66 either the 38 or 44 wcf would be a better choice , and yes I have both in rifle and pistol

[King Medallion]

44-40 all day everyday.  44 spl and 45 colts are for handguns. The end, I win. 

[Coffinmaker]

  Ranch 

Well, Depends (no not the ones inna plastic package).  If one already possesses rifles and handguns chambered in 44 Special, it becomes an easy choice.  Especially if one were to consider today's cost of acquiring a "new" rifle or handgun in 44-40 to make a switch from 44Spl.  If one already possesses rifle or handgun in 44-40, the switch to 44Spl doesn't make lots of sense.  44Spl and 45 Colt can be made to run just as clean in rifles as 44-40 with some annealing.

  King

Thibbit thibbit thibbit thibbit    Mostly I agree but I shoot lots of rifles and handguns in .45 and .44   It's funzies don'tcha see.

[Ranch 13]

Did I mention those50 year old 45 colt cases have never been annealed😜 even tho I long ago lost track of the number of times they've been reloaded😁
 Thing is buying more guns is always fun, maybe get the 66 in a wcf chamber and a hog keg to go with it for the volume discount😜

[Coffinmaker]

  Ranch

I don't anneal 44Spl and 45 Colt for case life.  I have cases I have run for 30+ years.  I only anneal the cases I'm going to run in toggle link rifles I play with for CAS.  Shooting Black Powder and APP thru Uberti rifles results in enough Blow-By to foul out the chamber in 6 - 8 rounds.  With annealing, there is no fouling at all.  Clean, Free Running and Sanitary you betcha.  Oh, most forgot, I are the Poster Child for APP.

[KWK]

I'd considered the 44-40. The reloading data is limited, but one could get close enough with the 44 Spl data. The 44-40 seems the best choice for BP, but I don't see myself running BP often. I want to keep my loads subsonic for noise reduction.

If Uberti chambers tend to be oversize, I'll stick with the 45. Thanks for the feedback, gents.