357Magnum or 45LC?

[LRShooter]

I'm thinking about adding a Ruger Single Action to the collection, but haven't decided on the caliber yet. 357 or 45LC are the choices. Leaning towards the Vaquero. Eventually, would like to get a lever action in the same caliber.

I reload my own stuff, and currently shoot autos in 40SW and 45ACP.

What would you suggest? 45LC seems more western, 357 should be cheaper.

[BigDogatPlay]

.357 would also be more versatile since you can shoot .38 special in the revolver for practice. Some .357 levers are iffy on feeding the shorter .38 round FWIW.

You'd get more pop out of heavy (180 grain) bullet in a .357 Mag than I think you'd ever get out of any .45LC given that the .45 tops out on the SAAMI spec at 14,000 PSI, while .357 Magnum tops out at 35,000 PSI.

[Oceanbob]

.357 will do it. And plenty of lever guns. Ammo is less expensive but since you reload probably a mute point...

Something interesting got me thinking the other day. I saw a Ruger Vaquero in .45 ACP.

Now that might be fun.

Take care
Bob

[toby]

.357 would also be more versatile since you can shoot .38 special in the revolver for practice. Some .357 levers are iffy on feeding the shorter .38 round FWIW.

You'd get more pop out of heavy (180 grain) bullet in a .357 Mag than I think you'd ever get out of any .45LC given that the .45 tops out on the SAAMI spec at 14,000 PSI, while .357 Magnum tops out at 35,000 PSI.

If you want BOOM!!!! rather then pop! you can buy or load 45 colt's with 300 grain bullets at a modest 1200 fps if you have the disire. I think thats a bit over the old notion of the 14,000 psi.....But I never checked on it, I just shoot-em.

[Thomas1190]

Im a big fan of the 45 Colt. I too plan on getting the Ruger New Vaquero. To me its the only round to shoot through these cowboy guns. Plus the 45 Colt is very versatile if you reload. In my Marlin 1894 Cowboy i can shoot wimpy 45s up to some really hefty 45 loads like what toby mentioned above. Besides, there were know 357s in the cowboy days

[bohoki]

38s are cheap

[milotrain]

I think it depends on what you want to do with it. I don't like scopes so I won't hunt beyond 100yards. For me that makes a .357 a great plinking and hunting cartridge. Being able to shoot .38 is not much of a boon to me as I think you'll stop reloading .38 and just load .357 to 38 powder weights.

It's what I did (although I'm still looking for the lever gun). I have a blackhawk in .357 and I love it.

[21SF]

In some revolvers .45 lc can he loaded to modern pressures, .44 mag velocities.

[five.five-six]

normally i like apples, but oranges are nice sometimes

ETA, .357 is a more authentic cowboy round

[mjmagee67]

357 is my choice, it makes a nice powerful pistol and a nice rifle round. The option for shoot 38 spc is nice and my lever gun has never had an issue eating 38 spc.

[jewboy929]

Since you reload the cost is difference is minimal. Go with the 45LC. More fun to shoot, more traditional cowboy load and if you get into the CAS low velocity lead RNFP the 38s have no pop and are boring. For protection, hard to argue about a 200-300gr 1000fps 45cal.

[1JimMarch]

Toby's "data" is severely unsafe in a New Vaquero or other gun similar in size/heft to a post-WW2 Colt SAA. You can run loads like that or a tad hotter in a large-frame Ruger SA - not a mid-frame.

[ih8ca]

If you are gonna get a matching lever gun. I would go with a 45 LC. Lever action .357 lever guns are near imposible to get.

[Fishslayer]

I'm thinking about adding a Ruger Single Action to the collection, but haven't decided on the caliber yet. 357 or 45LC are the choices. Leaning towards the Vaquero. Eventually, would like to get a lever action in the same caliber.

I reload my own stuff, and currently shoot autos in 40SW and 45ACP.

What would you suggest? 45LC seems more western, 357 should be cheaper.

.45 in the old Vaquero would be a sweet setup. The older model has a stronger frame so you coud load those .45 like they were for a Ruger.

[robcoe]

I'm thinking about adding a Ruger Single Action to the collection, but haven't decided on the caliber yet. 357 or 45LC are the choices. Leaning towards the Vaquero. Eventually, would like to get a lever action in the same caliber.

I reload my own stuff, and currently shoot autos in 40SW and 45ACP.

What would you suggest? 45LC seems more western, 357 should be cheaper.

Since you reload I would go with 45LC