45 Colt or 44-40 round has Bigger Kick

[NorwichCadet]

I have fired a 45 Colt SAA but never a 44-40. Which round in a Colt SAA is the more powerful i.e. has the bigger kick when fired? THANKS

[porsche]

That is going to depend mostly on the load and gun. Standard old time loads used black powder and both cartridges used about 40 grains of powder and similar weight bullets with the 45 Colt bullet going heavier at 255 grains compared to a 200 grain in 44-40. Loads of course varied so you could see a 200 grain bullet in each caliber. Now modern 45 Colt is a different story with a buffalo bore load going over 1200 foot pounds of energy compared to about 650 for a 44-40 in a rifle. Given the same type of gun and standard loads I don't think you would find too much difference in recoil.

[Oyeboten]

All I can do is repeat what porche has said -

With standard or traditional Loadings, and in the same model Arm, not much difference, though the .45 Colt would be just a little more kick, but not necessarily enough to be conspicuous.

[Kid Sopris]

Just buy the .44-40 and be done with it...You'll thank me later.

[Shack]

Maybe I can help a little as I've bought and shot with current factory loadings Colt 3rd Generations in both 45LC and 44-40. First of all, good luck on finding 44-40 factory ammo. I tried W-W but it's $50 or so a box of 50 rounds. I settled on Black Hills and bought it direct from the factory for roughly $35 a box and I will reload it.

As for recoil, don't worry about either. Neither have significant recoil. The recoil is just about equal and no big deal.

Now, the "original" loads as of the '50s were these: 250 (or 255) grainer in the 45 @ 850 per, and a 200 grainer in the 44WCF @ 950. So, this is pretty much a wash. The recoil will basically follow those ballistics.

At this point W-W produces a factory 45 load that duplicates the original. But nobody does in 44 WCF, the reason being they are worried about liability concerns with so many old guns out there.

The Black Hills is way below the 950, and probably between 700 and 800. Check their website for the exact figure or call them. They're nice people and easy to talk to.

I hope that answers your question. If it doesn't just let us know. Good luck.

[Frank V]

I've shot both quite a lot & for me the .44-40 has less recoil.
I'm with Kid, buy the .44-40, you'll love it.
Frank

[Coltlover]

Maybe I can help a little as I've bought and shot with current factory loadings Colt 3rd Generations in both 45LC and 44-40. First of all, good luck on finding 44-40 factory ammo. I tried W-W but it's $50 or so a box of 50 rounds. I settled on Black Hills and bought it direct from the factory for roughly $35 a box and I will reload it.

As for recoil, don't worry about either. Neither have significant recoil. The recoil is just about equal and no big deal.

Now, the "original" loads as of the '50s were these: 250 (or 255) grainer in the 45 @ 850 per, and a 200 grainer in the 44WCF @ 950. So, this is pretty much a wash. The recoil will basically follow those ballistics.

At this point W-W produces a factory 45 load that duplicates the original. But nobody does in 44 WCF, the reason being they are worried about liability concerns with so many old guns out there.

The Black Hills is way below the 950, and probably between 700 and 800. Check their website for the exact figure or call them. They're nice people and easy to talk to.

I hope that answers your question. If it doesn't just let us know. Good luck.

Here is some 44-40 about the same price as 45LC.

Cabela's: Handgun Ammunition

[Shack]

If you narrow that Cabela's search to the 200 grain there are only three offerings of which Black Hills is one. The prices look not that different from what I got factory direct. The minimum order was 500 rounds, but they paid the shipping.

The only thing is, you're on your own for disposing of the brass. Selling it here has been suggested or to a local gun club, but I'm planning on having my smith reload it.

Btw, all the Cabela's appear Cowboy Action. I still don't see in factory loadings anything that duplicates the old 950 fps ballistics. I would however like to start homing in on a correct handload for that.

2nd btw, when I say I don't think the Cowboy loads in either 45 or 44-40 have recoil to concern one self with, that's in comparison to what I think does have recoil. And like many, many others here my standard 44 Mag deer factory loads obviously run higher and are what I'm used to. My favorite is the Hornady 240 @ 1350. But you don't even feel that when actually shooting at something to take home for dinner. Once you get up over that, like the 454, 475, 480 and 500, then those are way on past my "pain thresh hold" and I don't mind admitting it...

[Kid Sopris]

Hey Shack, have you ever heard of the term "Warthog" ? That is what us bigger than life cowboys are called for shooting the .44-40 and .45 Colt the way they were meant to be loaded and shot. LOL

[Hopalong]

I see that Georgia Arms has 44-40 200 grain round nose at $28.00 per 50 rounds. Has anyone tried it?