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.44 Special somewhat equivalent to .45 acp?

KenK/84Bravo
Based upon my somewhat limited research, that seems to be the case, or at least others seem to say so. (Right, wrong?)

Although all seem to agree, that the .44mag easily bests them both. (Not in contention.)

Purchased a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44mag about 2-3 weeks ago. Currently have it loaded with .44 Special SJHP. Personally I believe that it would top a .45 acp.

Perhaps I am wrong?

Thoughts?
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Comments

12 comments

Date Votes
  • navc130
    There is not enough information to make a comparison. Either caliber can be "better" than the other by varying bullet weight, bullet type and muzzle velocity. When you change the factory specifications of a cartridge you enter the world of theory and unknowns. The .44 Special can be loaded pretty hot. The .45 ACP not so much. Also depends on the strength of the gun.
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  • truthful
    In standard factory loads yes, they might be comparable. But the .44 Special is much more versatile in terms of loads. Your revolver will handle anything from light target loads to loads pushing close to .44 Mag territory. Unless you have a .45 ACP wheel gun, that cartridge is generally fired from an autoloader that needs to be setup for the load being used, proper recoil spring, etc. The one advantage the .45 ACP has in an autoloader, is that it typically holds a few more rounds than your revolver, and is waaaaaay faster to reload.
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  • KenK/84Bravo
    Currently loading 200gr. Fiocchi SJHP. (.44 Special.)

    .44mag load, is 240gr. Magtech FPSN
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  • varian
    read The 44 Special - A Reappraisal by Charles (Skeeter) A Skelton very good info and entertaining.
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  • Mobuck
    The 44SP has the advantage of handling a bullet with a wide flat meplat
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  • Rocky Raab
    In standard loadings, you have a 230-gr bullet at about 900 fps versus a 240-gr bullet at about 900 fps. That's virtually identical.

    Any other discussion of diameter, metplat, etc is merely picking nits.
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  • llama
    Mobuck wrote:
    The 44SP has the advantage of handling a bullet with a wide flat meplat

    Any revolver should be able to, assuming you can find a bullet in the proper diameter.
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  • buschmaster
    44SPL and .45ACP are very close, however 44SPL has lower PSI and higher case volume making a longer barrel necessary to get the same power as 45ACP. (it was designed for a revolver) it should be smoother shooting and not as loud.

    45LC demonstrates the same effect, with more case volume. 40SW has less case volume and more PSI than any of those, obviously designed for short barrels and resulting in the most energy. 44MAG is thrown in for reference.

    energy rating= case capacity x PSI / 10,000

    .44SPL
    dia...0.429"
    case capacity, grains H2O...33.5
    PSI...15,500
    energy rating...52

    .45ACP
    dia...0.450"
    case capacity, grains H2O...26.7
    PSI...21,000
    energy rating...56

    .45LC
    dia...0.454"
    case capacity, grains H2O...41.6
    PSI...14,000
    energy rating...58

    .40SW
    dia...0.400"
    case capacity, grains H2O...19.3
    PSI...35,000
    energy rating...68

    .44MAG
    dia...0.429
    case capacity, grains H2O...37.9
    PSI...36,000
    energy rating...136
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  • ruger41
    The .44 Special is a wonderful cartridge. I use it a lot in a 1990?s era Winchester Model 94 .44 Mag and in my Lipsey?s exclusive Flattop Bisley Blackhawk .44 Special. For factory loads I love the soft shooting Black Hills Cowboy loads and for defense the Hornady Critical Defense. For some real fun especially for kids is shooting .44 Russian in these guns.
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  • KenK/84Bravo
    buschmaster wrote:
    44SPL and .45ACP are very close, however 44SPL has lower PSI and higher case volume making a longer barrel necessary to get the same power as 45ACP. (it was designed for a revolver) it should be smoother shooting and not as loud.

    45LC demonstrates the same effect, with more case volume. 40SW has less case volume and more PSI than any of those, obviously designed for short barrels and resulting in the most energy. 44MAG is thrown in for reference.

    energy rating= case capacity x PSI / 10,000

    .44SPL
    dia...0.429"
    case capacity, grains H2O...33.5
    PSI...15,500
    energy rating...52

    .45ACP
    dia...0.450"
    case capacity, grains H2O...26.7
    PSI...21,000
    energy rating...56

    .45LC
    dia...0.454"
    case capacity, grains H2O...41.6
    PSI...14,000
    energy rating...58

    .40SW
    dia...0.400"
    case capacity, grains H2O...19.3
    PSI...35,000
    energy rating...68

    .44MAG
    dia...0.429
    case capacity, grains H2O...37.9
    PSI...36,000
    energy rating...136



    Thank you Sir. The breakdown I was looking for. I appreciate it.
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  • Ricci Wright
    Own both calibers and I consider 45acp to be a defensive and target cartridge while the 44 spl while just as accurate is more suited to a hunting role. If I wanted to shoot a whitetail or a hog while a 45 acp would work I would always pick the 44 spl for that task. I seem to recall reading in one of Mr. Keith?s books that he thought the 44 special the best killing cartridge ever made and he killed a whole lot of stuff. That 44 loaded with a hard cast Kieth style bullet running along at a decent velocity will drop most anything if the shots are placed appropriately.
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  • toad67
    The joys of shooting either one out of an N framed S&W.... don't get much better than that there IMO...
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