Easier to find: .45 LC or .44-40 ?

Wobble · December 5, 2009, 09:52 PM

I'm about to buy a new SAA pistol and can choose either .45 or .44-40. I already have a .45 LC SAA and have found it difficult to find ammo for. Is .44-40 any easier to find?

bobn · December 5, 2009, 11:07 PM

hmm, 45 is about as easy as it gets. with all the cowboy loads around i am enjoying the rebirth of 32 20, 45 and 44 40. while i shoot all three, the 44 40 is definately my favorite. bobn

Model-P · December 5, 2009, 11:39 PM

No.

Oldfalguy · December 6, 2009, 12:52 AM

IMHO 44-40 is a whole lot harder to find than 45LC-

And remember, with 45LC cylinder one can also shoot 45 Schofield and a few months ago Cheaper than Dirt had those little 45LC inserts to let you shoot .22LR for about $50.

However, since you already have a 45LC then do yo thang

Fingers McGee · December 6, 2009, 01:30 AM

I don't have any trouble finding 44-40 rounds. Just open my gun safe & there they are - of course, I reload my own - waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy cheaper that way.

As far a commercially available ammo is concerned, neither is widely stocked unless the store caters to Cowboy Action Shooters; and it usually isn't cheap when it is. Mail order or special order through your local toy store is the easiest way to go.

FM

hickstick_10 · December 6, 2009, 01:42 AM

orrrrrrrrrrr, get a 44 special

Model-P · December 6, 2009, 04:38 AM

Quote:

I reload my own - waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy cheaper that way.

No joke. I went to the gun store after burning through 95 rounds of my .45 Colt reloads, and saw the .45 Colt on the shelves in 50-round boxes for $50 each. It was the first time I realized just how much I save reloading, not to mention the benefits of tailoring my ammunition for groups and leading-free shooting. That morning of shooting cost me under $10, but had I been obligated to buy factory would have run $95! If I didn't reload, I wouldn't shoot.

Uncle Buck · December 6, 2009, 10:57 AM

I had some serious trouble finding .45LC ammo. I do not own a .44- anything, so I did not look for the ammo.

I started reloading and brought my costs per round from .85 cents each to
.23 cents each. Reloading is not really that expensive once you get all the equipment you need. (BUY AND READ the reloading manual, or a couple of them!) It also does not really take up that much space.

I would imagine the cost savings could be comparable with the .44-40 if you decided to reload.

Reloading components have become more readily available and you won't have to worry about being gouged on them as much as you did a few months ago.

Also, this forum has an EXCELLENT reloading section and these guys will help you out tremendously when you have a question.

Crosshair · December 6, 2009, 11:44 AM

45 Colt is far easier. My uncle lent me his Original 1875 Remington in 44-40 to load him some ammo because he has trouble finding it for a reasonable price.

OLDPUPPYMAX · December 6, 2009, 05:14 PM

The store I frequent offers some 300-400 shotguns alone. I couldn't tell you how many pistols and rifles. But I bought their last 2 boxes of 50 count 45LC cowboy loads. They had plenty of 20 round boxes for 19.95 though.

Model-P · December 6, 2009, 06:22 PM

Amazing! It wasn't all that long ago that .50 cal. BMG rounds were a buck a pop.

Wobble · December 7, 2009, 11:48 PM

OK on the answers about availability. But what are the pros and cons of a gun chambered in .45LC versus .44-40? Any real differences that would help me make a decision?

toolslinger · December 8, 2009, 12:23 AM

Not just a whole bunch. The .45 colt uses a heavier bullet . Running both rounds at 750 to 950 feet per second the 44-40 with give less recoil. Since you already have a .45 get the .44 .You can always trade it if you don't like it.
One suggestion, if possible mic the chamber throats on the gun you plan to buy. Oversize or undersize throats can cause bad accuracy.

MJN77 · December 9, 2009, 12:21 AM

The first single action I ever owned was a .45 colt. Loved that gun. That was about 17 years ago. I bought my first .44-40 13 years ago. I have since bought 5 more .44-40 firearms. I have seen no difference between the two. I have taken several deer with my .44s. Rifle and revolvers. I have never had a hard time finding >44-40 ammo. Besides you can always order it. Sorry for the long post but I love my .44s

eastbank · December 9, 2009, 03:28 PM

here are my two 44-40 rifles,a rem 14-1/2 carbine and a 1892 win. i wanted to start reloading for them but had always heard how hard it was with alot of ruined cases,so i didn,t reload for them. how ever in the last years i started and i have lost maybe 5 cases out of 100,s of reloades. i load 17grs imr 4227 with a 200gr lead .429 bullet for plinking and 23grs imr 4227 for hunting with the same bullet. i have a old model vaqcuro in 44 mag and i am looking for a extra ruger 44-40 cylinder for it. eastbank.

bobn · December 11, 2009, 09:39 AM

the bottle neck shape of a 44 40 allows it to feed and chamber slightly faster. it is slightly more difficult to reload than a 45. my marlin is a cowboy competition model. its chamber is on the loose side so the brass expands more. it splits occasionally.
...just what i have encountered while playing with both. bobn

Crosshair · December 11, 2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

OK on the answers about availability. But what are the pros and cons of a gun chambered in .45LC versus .44-40? Any real differences that would help me make a decision?

I like the 45 Colt vs the 44-40 and here is why.

You can use carbide dies on the 45 Colt. You need to lube the 44-40
45 Colt cases are thicker, stronger, and will last longer.
You really have to work hard to bulge a 45 colt case when seating the bullet. You can bulge a 44-40 case by looking at it funny.
Wider selection of bullet styles and weights.

Wobble · December 29, 2009, 12:03 AM

Thanks guys. I'm about to make my move on the .45 versus .44-40 purchase but, since I don't plan on reloading anytime soon, my question is really about factory ammo.

Will I be able to find .44-40 factory ammo any more easily than .45 LC? Less so, or about the same? Cost difference is not a concern.

Sabot · December 29, 2009, 12:22 AM

Only a few stores in my area carry .45 LC ammo, and on rare occasions I will find .45 LC brass lying around at the outdoor range where I shoot, which helps me with my reloading. I have never seen .44-40 brass at the range or ammo available anywhere.

eastbank · December 29, 2009, 09:25 AM

i load 45lc and 44-40, and i have no trouble with either. but from a standpoint of just going to a store and buying ammo, the 45lc is what i would get. but i do like the 44-40 and shoot it more. the cost of store bought 45lc and 44-40 is allfull, 50-60 dollars a box. you must reload to realy save money. i just bought 500 lead 200gr 44-40 bullets for 45.00, 500 primers cost 17.50 and a pound of imr 4227 cost 26.00. to load 500 rounds(10 boxes) cost, bullets 45.00,primers 17.50, powder 43.00 (useing 23grs) total cost 105.00 for 10 boxes plus your time, for the 45lc your bullets may be a little more but not much. eastbank.

sundance44s · December 29, 2009, 10:02 AM

My favorite a 45 LC case full of real black powder topped off with a .250 gr cast bullet . Real fire power .

WatongaJim · January 5, 2010, 12:21 AM

Walmart's in my area stock the 45LC, and it's fairly easy to find at other outdoor stores. I don't recall ever seeing 44-40 in retail stores. I have some 44-40 BP loads for an old Colt SAA that I rarely fire.

tomh1426 · January 5, 2010, 12:34 AM

If you wanna really shoot .45 colt you need to reload, if you do that they are very easy to find!!
If you dont plan to reload save your brass, people will line up to buy it!

Catfishman · January 7, 2010, 01:19 AM

Bass Pro in Pearl, Mississippi keeps .44-40s on the shelf

Noz · January 7, 2010, 11:14 AM

To answer the question. The 45 Colt is easier to find and generally cheaper than the 44-40.
Because of the straight case, the 45 Colt is easier to re-load.
There are many choices of bullet configuration for the 45 Colt, few for the 44-40.

That said, you couldn't pay me to shoot a 45 Colt.

44-40 is the proper Cowboy cartridge.

December 5, 2009, 09:52 PM	#1
Wobble Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 163	Easier to find: .45 LC or .44-40 ? I'm about to buy a new SAA pistol and can choose either .45 or .44-40. I already have a .45 LC SAA and have found it difficult to find ammo for. Is .44-40 any easier to find?

December 6, 2009, 11:44 AM	#9
Crosshair Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2004 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 5,333	45 Colt is far easier. My uncle lent me his Original 1875 Remington in 44-40 to load him some ammo because he has trouble finding it for a reasonable price. __________________ I don't carry a gun to go looking for trouble, I carry a gun in case trouble finds me.

December 6, 2009, 05:14 PM	#10
OLDPUPPYMAX Member Join Date: October 29, 2009 Posts: 20	Pretty scarce The store I frequent offers some 300-400 shotguns alone. I couldn't tell you how many pistols and rifles. But I bought their last 2 boxes of 50 count 45LC cowboy loads. They had plenty of 20 round boxes for 19.95 though.

December 5, 2009, 11:07 PM	#2
bobn Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,120	hmm, 45 is about as easy as it gets. with all the cowboy loads around i am enjoying the rebirth of 32 20, 45 and 44 40. while i shoot all three, the 44 40 is definately my favorite. bobn

December 5, 2009, 11:39 PM	#3
Model-P Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Posts: 727	No.

December 6, 2009, 12:52 AM	#4
Oldfalguy Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 126	IMHO 44-40 is a whole lot harder to find than 45LC- And remember, with 45LC cylinder one can also shoot 45 Schofield and a few months ago Cheaper than Dirt had those little 45LC inserts to let you shoot .22LR for about $50. However, since you already have a 45LC then do yo thang

December 6, 2009, 01:30 AM	#5
Fingers McGee Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2008 Location: High & Dry in Missouri Ozarks Posts: 2,113	I don't have any trouble finding 44-40 rounds. Just open my gun safe & there they are - of course, I reload my own - waaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy cheaper that way. As far a commercially available ammo is concerned, neither is widely stocked unless the store caters to Cowboy Action Shooters; and it usually isn't cheap when it is. Mail order or special order through your local toy store is the easiest way to go. FM

December 6, 2009, 01:42 AM	#6
hickstick_10 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2009 Posts: 477	orrrrrrrrrrr, get a 44 special

December 6, 2009, 10:57 AM	#8
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	I had some serious trouble finding .45LC ammo. I do not own a .44- anything, so I did not look for the ammo. I started reloading and brought my costs per round from .85 cents each to .23 cents each. Reloading is not really that expensive once you get all the equipment you need. (BUY AND READ the reloading manual, or a couple of them!) It also does not really take up that much space. I would imagine the cost savings could be comparable with the .44-40 if you decided to reload. Reloading components have become more readily available and you won't have to worry about being gouged on them as much as you did a few months ago. Also, this forum has an EXCELLENT reloading section and these guys will help you out tremendously when you have a question.

December 6, 2009, 06:22 PM	#11
Model-P Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Posts: 727	Amazing! It wasn't all that long ago that .50 cal. BMG rounds were a buck a pop.

December 7, 2009, 11:48 PM	#12
Wobble Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 163	OK on the answers about availability. But what are the pros and cons of a gun chambered in .45LC versus .44-40? Any real differences that would help me make a decision?

December 8, 2009, 12:23 AM	#13
toolslinger Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Posts: 102	Not just a whole bunch. The .45 colt uses a heavier bullet . Running both rounds at 750 to 950 feet per second the 44-40 with give less recoil. Since you already have a .45 get the .44 .You can always trade it if you don't like it. One suggestion, if possible mic the chamber throats on the gun you plan to buy. Oversize or undersize throats can cause bad accuracy.

December 9, 2009, 12:21 AM	#14
MJN77 Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2009 Location: on a hill in West Virginia Posts: 789	The first single action I ever owned was a .45 colt. Loved that gun. That was about 17 years ago. I bought my first .44-40 13 years ago. I have since bought 5 more .44-40 firearms. I have seen no difference between the two. I have taken several deer with my .44s. Rifle and revolvers. I have never had a hard time finding >44-40 ammo. Besides you can always order it. Sorry for the long post but I love my .44s

December 11, 2009, 09:39 AM	#16
bobn Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 1,120	the bottle neck shape of a 44 40 allows it to feed and chamber slightly faster. it is slightly more difficult to reload than a 45. my marlin is a cowboy competition model. its chamber is on the loose side so the brass expands more. it splits occasionally. ...just what i have encountered while playing with both. bobn

December 29, 2009, 12:03 AM	#18
Wobble Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 163	Thanks guys. I'm about to make my move on the .45 versus .44-40 purchase but, since I don't plan on reloading anytime soon, my question is really about factory ammo. Will I be able to find .44-40 factory ammo any more easily than .45 LC? Less so, or about the same? Cost difference is not a concern.

December 29, 2009, 12:22 AM	#19
Sabot Member Join Date: October 23, 2008 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 34	Only a few stores in my area carry .45 LC ammo, and on rare occasions I will find .45 LC brass lying around at the outdoor range where I shoot, which helps me with my reloading. I have never seen .44-40 brass at the range or ammo available anywhere.

December 29, 2009, 09:25 AM	#20
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,511	i load 45lc and 44-40, and i have no trouble with either. but from a standpoint of just going to a store and buying ammo, the 45lc is what i would get. but i do like the 44-40 and shoot it more. the cost of store bought 45lc and 44-40 is allfull, 50-60 dollars a box. you must reload to realy save money. i just bought 500 lead 200gr 44-40 bullets for 45.00, 500 primers cost 17.50 and a pound of imr 4227 cost 26.00. to load 500 rounds(10 boxes) cost, bullets 45.00,primers 17.50, powder 43.00 (useing 23grs) total cost 105.00 for 10 boxes plus your time, for the 45lc your bullets may be a little more but not much. eastbank.

December 29, 2009, 10:02 AM	#21
sundance44s Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2006 Location: Hernando , Ms. Posts: 579	My favorite a 45 LC case full of real black powder topped off with a .250 gr cast bullet . Real fire power .

January 5, 2010, 12:21 AM	#22
WatongaJim Member Join Date: December 20, 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 21	Walmart's in my area stock the 45LC, and it's fairly easy to find at other outdoor stores. I don't recall ever seeing 44-40 in retail stores. I have some 44-40 BP loads for an old Colt SAA that I rarely fire.

January 5, 2010, 12:34 AM	#23
tomh1426 Senior Member Join Date: September 17, 2005 Location: Youngtown Arizona Posts: 1,135	If you wanna really shoot .45 colt you need to reload, if you do that they are very easy to find!! If you dont plan to reload save your brass, people will line up to buy it!

January 7, 2010, 01:19 AM	#24
Catfishman Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2009 Location: Mississippi Posts: 729	Bass Pro in Pearl, Mississippi keeps .44-40s on the shelf

January 7, 2010, 11:14 AM	#25
Noz Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2009 Posts: 643	To answer the question. The 45 Colt is easier to find and generally cheaper than the 44-40. Because of the straight case, the 45 Colt is easier to re-load. There are many choices of bullet configuration for the 45 Colt, few for the 44-40. That said, you couldn't pay me to shoot a 45 Colt. 44-40 is the proper Cowboy cartridge.