Tell me why .44 Special in a Charter Bulldog is better than .45 in a Charter Pitbull

[roashooter]

.45 Colt is better than .44 Special in every way.

if thats true...why do all the pros respect the 44 for its accuracy...and never mention the 45 colt?

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt44spec.htm

http://www.darkcanyon.net/The%2044%2...er%20Keith.htm

In 1927 I abandoned the .45 Colt for my own use in favor of the .44 Special, and have seen no reason to change back. I soon found that I could load much more powerful cartridges for the .44 Special than for any other revolver. Elmer Kieth

[Model12Win]

That's easy...Revolvers prefer a rimmed cartridge.

+1

Also, the .44 Special can be had with factory loads with bullets with large meplats designed for revolvers, not autos, as well as full and semi wadcutter loads and a wide range of effective and devastating hollow point ammo. .45 ACP is limited to what will feed in an auto.

Also, the .45 Pitbulls are wider than the .44 Bulldogs. Not by much but the Bulldog is the more concealable option. Cylinder thickness is the most important thing for revolver concealability and it's just a thinner gun over the fatter .45 Pitbull, no way around that.

Also, try and get an effective speedloader for the Pitbull. You can use a 1911 mag for a reload I guess but the .44 is going to be much easier to reload with a proper speedloader or speed strip.

Add all that in, and the .44 Bulldog is a MUCH, MUCH better defensive revolver over the Pitbulls. That being said for recreational use the .45 ACP Pitbull has the edge in cheaper factory ammo and the slower reload speed doesn't really matter for recreational use. But when reloaded the .44 is just as cheap if not cheaper than factory .45 ACP, especially if you cast.

[TruthTellers]

Originally Posted by Super Sneaky Steve

.45 Colt is better than .44 Special in every way.

I agree, but I've long given up on somebody coming out with a 5 shot .45 Colt snubbie that is not also a .410

[TruthTellers]

Originally Posted by roashooter

if thats true...why do all the pros respect the 44 for its accuracy...and never mention the 45 colt?


http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt44spec.htm

Might want to read that quote again. It says "as loaded by the ammunition factories."
I would imagine that .44 spl and .45 colt, handloaded, have the same accuracy.

[Cheapshooter]

.45 Colt is better than .44 Special in every way.

And is NOT the 45ACP being mentioned in this thread, nor chambered in any of the Charter Arms revolvers mentioned as well.

[roashooter]

I would imagine that .44 spl and .45 colt, handloaded, have the same accuracy.
__________________

imagine all you want...in reality...and in experience...the 45colt will NOT be more accurate than the 44special....and those much wiser than I have known that for years

[roashooter]

all my 44 specials ARE hand loaded....much more accurate than factory...I have much higher quality control

[TruthTellers]

ROA, while I like and respect accuracy from a gun, I don't expect something that's going to be shot offhand, with factory ammo (cuz Massad Ayoob says handloads r a no no), under stress, at distances of 3 to 15 yards is going to make much difference compared to groups tighter by an inch during a calm, relaxed range session, with .44 handloads.

Even if the .44 is markedly better, it would just make me want to train harder to get better and as good as possible with the .45

Call me a masochist, call me inexperienced, but I'm not bothering with another cartridge that I would have to reload to get the most out of it. I don't mind and actually want to reload the .45 Colt or ACP because I have guns already that shoot it, even if they're not the size of the Bulldog.

Again, I like the Bulldog revolver and I think .44 Special is nice, but it's not my cup of tea.

[roashooter]

call me inexperienced,

ok

[chaim]

I agree, but I've long given up on somebody coming out with a 5 shot .45 Colt snubbie that is not also a .410

You could join me (and many others) on the never ending quest for a Taurus 450. It was a terrific little 2" 5-shot .45LC they used to sell on their "Compact" frame (617, Tracker). Some were steel and others were titanium. I had the pleasure of shooting a range buddy's 450 a few times and it was a terrific little gun. Unfortunately, after producing it for just 2-3 years, they discontinued it around the time they brought out the Judge revolvers. They do sometimes show up on Gunbroker and other sites, but the prices reflect the low supply and high demand and they sell for about triple the one I held at a gun show just after they were discontinued (but I hadn't heard yet) and I decided to hold off because it was titanium (I wanted the steel version) and I was a little low on cash and decided to wait a month or two, that was the last one I ever saw in person.

[Dave T]

First thing that came to my mind is, the 44 Special Bulldog is available with a 3" barrel. The 45 ACP Pitbull has a 2" or 2.5" barrel. Three inch barrels get you more performance out of either cartridge and a longer sight radius, if your one of those people who bother to aim.

Second thing that came to mind was, the big advantage of 45 ACP revolvers is the option to use Moonclips, which provide the fastest reload in the revolver world. The 45 Pitbull eliminates this, and consequently eliminates one of the best reasons for 45 ACP revolvers.

YMMV,
Dave

[arquebus357]

Just to add fuel to the fire. For those of us who cannot afford to crap away $100-$200 in ammunition every week, the cost of .44 Special ammo is meaningless.

[mj246]

A couple people already touched on this but there are 2 big reasons to get the Bulldog in 44spl over the Pitbull in 45acp.

1) The 45acp cylinder and frame are slightly larger, possibly affecting your ability to comfortably conceal it.

2) The rimless extraction tabs prevent the use of speed loaders.

The effectiveness and accuracy of both rounds will likely be similar out of the short barrels, so if neither of the above points are a concern, by all means get the Pitbull and save money on ammo. If planning on concealed carry and/or loading quickly, I would strongly suggest reconsidering the 44spl version.

And these are the exact reasons have not sold/traded my Bulldog towards a 45acp Pitbull. I really like 45acp as a round, but the Bulldog is just a better fit for my intended uses.

[tipoc]

From what I can see the Pitbull is only in 45acp. It is not in 45 Colt. The latter is both a longer cartridge than the 45 acp, it's also potentially more powerful. So I'm not sure why so many have referenced the 45 Colt.

Anyway, like others it seems that the 45 acp Pitbull is a bit larger than the 44 Spl. Bulldog. CA website only lists the weight and not the width of the cylinder.

To the OP. I can't tell you why you should get one over the other. You decide that.

I'll pick up a Bulldog when I can just to give it a try. If I want a small carry piece in 45 acp. well I have the excellent Colt Defender for that.

tipoc

[Nanuk]

44 special is a handloaders proposition. I load Rimrock's 185 grain LSWCHP to about 1000 FPS ( loading manual data) in 44 Russian cases and Titegroup.

[Nanuk]

.45 Colt is better than .44 Special in every way.

A similar bullet at a similar velocity will perform in a similar manner. Nothing you ever shoot will be able to tell the difference in .429 VS .452 - .23 of an inch.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

A similar bullet at a similar velocity will perform in a similar manner. Nothing you ever shoot will be able to tell the difference in .429 VS .452 - .23 of an inch

.

More case volume in the .45 Colt can do the same work with less pressure.

Back in the day people liked .44 spl revolvers for powerful loads because most .45 colt revolvers were SAA's which didn't have much meat left on the bone. The same platform in .44 proved to be stronger.

Today there are many beefed up .45 frames which can handle higher pressures.

[tipoc]

More case volume in the .45 Colt can do the same work with less pressure.

Since CA doesn't chamber a gun in 45 Colt it's kinda moot for this thread.

tipoc

[Nanuk]

More case volume in the .45 Colt can do the same work with less pressure.

I would not load hot for a Charter Arms. At 19 oz it is brutal with even full power 44 specials, I would say on par with my ScTi 357 magnum J frame. If I need more power I use one of my 44 magnums. I do not care about pressure as long as it is within specs for the gun/cartridge.

[the Black Spot]

If you dont handload, I think the 45 acp would be better proposition cuz of ammo availability.
I handload for both, and i would pick the 44 special.