44 Mag vs 45 Colt vs 44 Special: Not Close At All?

Published on April 26, 2024
Duration: 14:59

This video compares the ballistic performance of .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, and .44 Special through various barriers including lumber, sand, concrete, and ballistic gel. The .44 Magnum consistently demonstrated superior penetration and energy transfer, especially against harder materials like concrete. While .45 Colt and .44 Special showed decent penetration in softer mediums, the .44 Magnum's power was significantly more pronounced.

Quick Summary

The .44 Magnum significantly outperformed .45 Colt and .44 Special in barrier tests, shattering concrete and penetrating deep into ballistic gel. While .45 Colt and .44 Special showed decent performance, the .44 Magnum's superior energy and penetration were evident, except in sand where its higher velocity caused faster bullet deformation.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Lumber Test Setup
  2. 00:34.45 Colt Lumber Test Results
  3. 01:10.44 Special Lumber Test Results
  4. 01:39.44 Magnum Lumber Test Results
  5. 02:31Sand Penetration Test
  6. 06:33Concrete Block Test
  7. 09:21Ballistic Gel Test
  8. 14:14Technical Data Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the .44 Magnum perform against concrete compared to .45 Colt and .44 Special?

In the concrete block test, the .44 Magnum completely shattered the pavers and left a significant mark on the plywood backing. In contrast, the .45 Colt and .44 Special only managed to crack the concrete blocks without penetrating them.

What were the ballistic gel penetration depths for .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, and .44 Special?

The .44 Special penetrated 25.25 inches with no expansion. The .45 Colt (heavy load) penetrated 21 inches with massive expansion. The .44 Magnum penetrated 26 inches with full expansion and a substantial wound channel.

Which caliber had the highest muzzle energy in the tests?

The .44 Magnum demonstrated the highest muzzle energy, recorded at 1142 ft/lbs with a 240gr Hornady XTP bullet. This significantly surpassed the .45 Colt's 935 ft/lbs and the .44 Special's 319 ft/lbs.

Did the .44 Magnum always penetrate the furthest in all tests?

Not always. While the .44 Magnum excelled in lumber and concrete tests, it was surprisingly stopped more effectively by sand than the .45 Colt and .44 Special. This was attributed to its higher velocity causing faster bullet deformation.

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