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Old October 14, 2012, 08:03 PM   #26
rep1954
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I own both and enjoy both equal. My 45's are all of a medium frame and so performance is about par for both. Living in Mid-Western Michigan I would pick the 357 because of availability of assorted ammunition on a local basis even thou I reload for both. Another factor is that I own a Bowen Classic Customs Ruger 357 Anniversary that is my most accurate of the two calibers.
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Old October 14, 2012, 08:04 PM   #27
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45 Colt for me. Mild to wild.
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Old October 14, 2012, 08:39 PM   #28
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It would be the 357 for me. The guns can be smaller than for the .45. The main reason is the Ammo, there is a wide variety of ammo available for the .357, very few loads for the .45 so if you don't reload it's the .357 hands down.
This is one reason the .357 is much more popular than the .45 Colt.
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Old October 14, 2012, 08:54 PM   #29
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^ There is plenty of .45 Colt ammunition available. Cowboy to insane. Obviously, much more .38/.357 but there is no insane power level .357 ammo. I can get .45 Colt at Walmart and everywhere else I go, not to mention my reloads which blow the doors off anything ever loaded in .357.
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Old October 14, 2012, 10:14 PM   #30
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bigger hole says it all
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Old October 15, 2012, 04:35 AM   #31
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My Walmarts never have .45 Colt, wish they did. I see you are in California which might be the difference.
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Old October 15, 2012, 09:25 AM   #32
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I made my choice just recently. Between .357 and .45 Colt I chose the latter in a New Vaquero. I can load this to Tier II levels (280 grain bullet at over 1000 fps) but settled on ~850 fps with a 255 grain bullet.

In Elmer Keith's "Six Guns" he stated that the .45 Colt with a 255 grain bullet loaded to 1000 fps was strong enough medicine for anything in North America. When he asked Smith and Wesson to design the .44 Mag he wanted ~250 grain bullet at 1000 to 1200 fps but Smith and Wesson loaded it even hotter to over 1400 fps. Elmer used the Colt SAA in .45 Colt with loads just over 1000 fps.

The New Vaquero, with a 4 5/8" barrel is really quite sleek compared with the Black Hawks and this is why I chose it.
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Old October 15, 2012, 03:11 PM   #33
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Um... depends

1st off... should this have read... " what is the better all around revolver cartridge" ??? neither cartridge a revolver makes...

2nd... Um... I can fit my 45 in my pocket ( though I prefer a holster for a more secure carry )



if you are "one gunning it" & not a handloader... I think the 357 more versitile, as you can practice with 38 Specials, & there are lots of 357 Mag options, & both single & double action revolvers...

if you are a handloader, I think the 45 Colt is every bit as versitile, & can go maybe a little further in the big / dangerous game catagory... I load 45 Colt at 3 levels, cowboy, self defense, & hot hunting loads... my hot hunting loads I'm sure are going to offer more stopping power on big game ( & probably humans ) than the 357...

if you are buying ammo locally only... 357 may be the only practical way to go...
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Old October 15, 2012, 06:43 PM   #34
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If I could have only one: it would be a .357. An S&W 686 or Colt Python (if you can find a good deal). It's just so versatile. It will take all kinds of .38 ammo as well.
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Old October 16, 2012, 04:38 AM   #35
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i would have say .357 mag too, i have nothing against the 45 colt(long colt), there are a lot more .357 mag in wheelgun and semi-auto(coonan) than 45 colt(long colt), and on the mild to insane 45 colt(long colt) i remember reading something about a .357 mag loaded to almost .357 max in terms of fps, but can't remember where though.
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Old October 16, 2012, 07:06 PM   #36
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I am a 100% certifiable 357 magnum fan boy. That said I can see the value in the 45LC. For my self I would pick the 357 magnum because it fits what I all ready have.But if I had to recommend to others I would say the 45 LC if you reload and the 357 if not.
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Old October 17, 2012, 09:38 AM   #37
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Put me down for the .357 magnum as well. I am more than confident in the abilities of the round in both my 6" GP100 and 77/357.
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Old October 17, 2012, 09:50 AM   #38
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I think the 357 is a great cartridge but I will give up my last 45 LC after I give up my 357's.
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Old October 17, 2012, 12:02 PM   #39
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.357 Magnum here too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by arch308
the ammo being much lighter and easier to carry.
Both will do the job.
This factor should not be underestimated. You can carry more rounds per pound of .357 than .45lc. And if you use HP ammo the expansion can cause just as big a hole. I also don't have a reloading bench so all my ammo is commercial. And that makes the .38/.357 round much more economical for me. I do love the nostalgia of the .45lc round and if I ever get that New Vaquero I've been wanting, it will be in .45lc.
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Old October 17, 2012, 01:11 PM   #40
Magnum Wheel Man
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Quote:
And if you use HP ammo the expansion can cause just as big a hole.
errr...well if you use a good hollow point in the 357 & a non hollow point in the 45 Colt... the Gold Dot 45 Colts I use can expand up to 1"... much more than any of the 357 Mag hollow points I've recovered out of the same type media
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Old October 17, 2012, 01:40 PM   #41
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The 45 LC drops deer A LOT faster than the 357mag. All my deer were chest shot and out of the 5 deer taken, all the 45LC dropped faster than the 357mag. Lets put it this way, I dont hunt whitetail deer anymore with a 357mag. There are too many better choices. I reload both calibers.
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Old October 17, 2012, 08:58 PM   #42
Super Sneaky Steve
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This is a silly argument. Every man should have one of each.

I just wish there were more double action platforms to choose from in .45 Colt.

Still waiting for Ruger to make my RH.
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Old October 17, 2012, 09:09 PM   #43
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robhof

I would have to agree with one of each. The 45Colt is hard to come by sometimes, which is why I have a convertable, 45acp's are as common as 357 if not even more so and surplus ammo almost makes reloading unnecessary. The 357 is a lighter recoiling and lighter carry gun and has proven through the years to be a man stopper.
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Old October 18, 2012, 08:07 AM   #44
kdrf636
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Magnum Wheel Man
errr...well if you use a good hollow point in the 357 & a non hollow point in the 45 Colt...
Yes, I was comparing a good expanding .357 hollow point to .45 non hollow point. But I have to wonder about the .45 hollow point not having enough velocity to expand all the way. I admit, I don't have any data on the .45 HP. Can anyone shed light on this?
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Old October 18, 2012, 08:41 AM   #45
Magnum Wheel Man
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Just as an FYI... I have 45 Colt Gold Dots at the size of a quarter, shot out of my 45 Colt snubbie... IMO, they would have no problem expanding nicely in any number of normal production guns

since this is a CCW gun, I'm using Buffalo Bore ( standard pressure ) factory loads
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Old October 18, 2012, 09:04 AM   #46
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The .45 Gold dots will expand to .73 at 700 plus fps. Does not take much speed to open up the Gold Dot .45 Colt. I hadn't really considered the carry factor, and if that is a concern, the .357 is the better choice. Smaller gun for smaller power. If you want serious power you go with the .45 Colt.
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