Hi

I'm writing from Italy.

I'm going to buy a trails end 94. Help me to select between .44 magnum and .45 long colt.

The main use will be plinking with a few wild boar hunting.

Where i hunt the boar are under 220 lbs with an average of 150 lbs. The range are really short, no more than 60/70 yards.

The boars are followed by hounds.

I'm a reloader.

Given the same lenght betwen the two caliber, i believe bullets of same weight (240 grains for example) at same pressure should go faster from the .45LC than the .44mag but i've read in reloading manual that for really high speed the .44 is better.

Am i missing something?

Thanks Giovanni

P.S. sorry for the English

Hi, nice to have you on the forum!

For the non-reloader, the .44 mag will have much better ammo available.

Since you reload it is just your choice - whatever you can find brass and bullet easier for.

Having used both I would say either meets your need. Although I did shoot my first two pigs with a .45 Colt..... Ruger Bisley.

The 'high pressure' .45 Colt loads are normally just a bit under the standard pressure of the .44 Mag loads. So it will normally be too close for any practical difference when hunting.

Both are should be very good for hunting.

Good luck with your hunting.

Amen Mike, Giovanni if you are shooting factory rounds then the 44 mag is only way to go much more punch in factory rounds, and easier to find at least in the US. Now if you reload then toss a coin to decide they are both fine for Wild Boar. Over the last 28 years using my Marlin 94 in 44 magnum I have shot countless boar with the largest going over 300 pounds with absolutely no problem, never had to shoot a boar twice.

Giovanni,

You might find this enlightening;
DISSOLVING THE MYTH, DISCOVERING THE POTENTIAL by John Linebaugh (http://www.sixgunner.com/linebaugh/dissolving.htm)

Giovanni, since you reload i'll also say go with the .45. I bought a 94 legacy last year and couldnt be happier with it. I have loaded and shot light plinking loads with 200gr bullets that felt like a big .22, and some 325grn that really get your attention. on leverguns.com Paco has an article "the .45 colt in leveraction rifles" that is an absolute must read. good luck. Jim.

Giovanni
If you can get components for the 45 LC, that would be my vote though both the 44mag/45 LC will do the job your asking them to do. I own a Trails End 45LC and it is a sweet shooter to boot!
The 45LC will let you shoot a heavier bullet then the 44 Mag will but since boars are the game 240 -300 gr should do the trick as those black russian boars can be tuff to put down. Good luck and good hunting!!

Thanks to everyone.

I will buy a .45 LC.

I like expanding bullets and really like the speer gold dots.

I believe that the gold dot HP 250 grs with Win-296 should be a good load for boar.

Have you experience with this bullet?

Thanks you again

Giovanni

Giovanni
No I haven't shot any of those Gold Dots but I here they perform quite well! Shot many 250 XTP's and they would be prefect for boar! As with any HP bullet stay away from shoulder shots!

Gun nut

We hunt boar with dogs and when they arrive they are relly fast.

It's difficult to choose where to send the bullet.

Until now i've used a rem 7400 in 30/06 with excellent results.

The Win 94 it's a play.

Ciao Giovanni

Giovanni
Yea that lever gun will give you fast follow up shots when needed. Since your shooting over dogs -head shots shouldn't be a problem!

My vote is for the 45 trapper.

My 94 Trapper/Ranger is great in 45 Colt.

Since you handload, I would suggest you purchase RCBS steel (non-carbide) dies. You will get many times the life out of the cases. The steel sizing die is tapered just like the chamber. Much less expanding and sizing down.
Jeff

From what I have read the 45 colt comes into play and will pass the 44 Mag when you get into the 300Gr. + bullets.

In a good strong gun you can get more from the colt.

Think If I had the chose all over again I would go for the 45 colt instead of the44 Mag.

Either cartridge would do a very good job. I think if I were hunting with factory ammo I'd go with the 44 Mag with hollow points . If you were rolling your own either 44 mag or 45 colt could be loaded to about the same levels.John

Either cartridge would do a very good job. I think if I were hunting with factory ammo I'd go with the 44 Mag with hollow points . If you were rolling your own either 44 mag or 45 colt could be loaded to about the same levels.John

When the colt is loaded to 32,000 CUP, it surpases the 44 Mag.even when the latter is loaded to the 40,00 cup. For example the 45 colt will drive a 260 grain, Kieth stye cast bullet to a higher velocity than the .44 Mag. can drive a 250 gr. , Keith -stye bullet from the same barrel lengh. As bullet weight is increased in each cartrige , the differance seems to increase.( Quote) Hand loader reloading journal june 2002 No.217.
It list loads up to 50.000 from 325-335 cast loads using H110&W296 in modern arms.
That means do not load these in your colt peace keeper or other arms that have an average pressure limit of 14,oooPsi
If you care to read the article .
Now Cor bon and Buffalo Bore get you into 300 Gr. jacketed soft points @ 1300 + fps IN A RUGER OR FREEDOM ARMS REVOLVER . yOU COULD SMOKE MORE THAN A DEER IN YOUR RIFLE. :D

From what I have read the 45 colt comes into play and will pass the 44 Mag when you get into the 300Gr. + bullets.

In a good strong gun you can get more from the colt.

Think If I had the chose all over again I would go for the 45 colt instead of the44 Mag.

I chose the 45 to match my Smith Mountain Gun and Blackhawk revolver.

Marshall's 300 grainers are leaving the pipe at close to 1400fps from the short rifle in my loads.

I could email them to you as a reference if you deciede on the 45.