Alpo Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 You're back in the old west. Late 1870s, early 1880s. Would you carry a 45 Colt revolver, so that you had to carry two different kinds of ammunition, or would you carry a 44 Winchester revolver, so that you could use the same cartridge in your rifle and your pistol? This is one of those things that never comes up in westerns. If you're in the middle of a range war, and you kill one of the guys on the other side, and you take his gun and his cartridge belt, it always matches up with yours. I'm currently rereading HELLER WITH A GUN. Not one of my favorites. I think I've only read it once. The gunfighter is saving this troupe of traveling players from some bad guys and some renegade Indians. The leader of the actors has a double barrel shotgun. The ingenue has a Colt revolver, that belonged to her father before he was killed. But all she had was the five rounds that was in it, and it has been fired twice. And I just idly wondered if the gunfighter's ammunition would fit in Daddy's pistol. There is no mention of caliber in the book. Just my mind wanderings. If it matters, I would use 44s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 I once read that most of the .45's were sold to the army, and civilians mostly bought .44's. I'd likely get a .44. I got 2 of them now and no .45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 44's for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. James H. Callahan Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 It would seem to be a no brainer. .44 JHC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted October 9, 2021 Author Share Posted October 9, 2021 Sometimes I did. Other times I would go up there with a 44 Winchester on one hip, a 44 Russian on the other hip, carrying a 38 Winchester rifle. Just because. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 1 minute ago, Alpo said: Sometimes I did. Other times I would go up there with a 44 Winchester on one hip, a 44 Russian on the other hip, carrying a 38 Winchester rifle. Just because. Well, you're Alpo. In answer to your original question, I would probably carry a .45 pistol with a .44 rifle. That way, if I DO pick up somebody else's rig, which ever HE has, I've got a gun for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramblin Gambler Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 I'm not very bright. I'm not sure it would occur to me to have the same ammo. I lean towards 45 colt in the pistol and a big boy rifle cartridge like 40-60 or 45-70. Unless I'm in a heavily wooded area, then maybe I'd have a pistol caliber rifle. Or a lever action shotgun. I know I went off book, but your title saying there are 2 choices only applied to the pistol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot, SASS #13748 Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 30 minutes ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said: Well, you're Alpo. In answer to your original question, I would probably carry a .45 pistol with a .44 rifle. That way, if I DO pick up somebody else's rig, which ever HE has, I've got a gun for. I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 "These qre your only two choices --- please" qre??????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted October 9, 2021 Author Share Posted October 9, 2021 How many times y'all got to see this - - otto can't spell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulp, SASS#28319 Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 In a pinch you can shoot .44WCF through a .45. Might not hit anything though. That’s with today’s .45. Back then the thicker rim of the .44 might not fit in a .45. I don’t know for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 Posted October 9, 2021 Share Posted October 9, 2021 10 minutes ago, Alpo said: How many times y'all got to see this - - otto can't spell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 .44 for me. And this is my favorite Heller tale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slapshot Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 .44, if I need to get the other mans ammo I'll just take the gun also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeaconKC Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Matching calibers, if not 44WCF, then 38WCF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted October 10, 2021 Author Share Posted October 10, 2021 3 hours ago, Pulp, SASS#28319 said: In a pinch you can shoot .44WCF through a .45. Might not hit anything though In a pinch you can shoot 44 Russian in a 44 WCF revolver. You can also shoot it through a 44 WCF rifle, but it wouldn't be FEED THROUGH the magazine. Have to single load it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 44WCF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 My grandad had a .45 Colt and a .38 WCF. and a .38 WCF Rifle . And a SXS 10ga. For hunting he had a single Shot Sharps . Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 i currently shoot 45 revolvers - also 45 rifle , so i would have selected the 44s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Bullweed Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 .44 WCF in the 1880s. In the 1870s, the .44 Rimfire in a Henry 1860 or Win 1866 and a Colt conversion would have been more common in the west. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Real Cowboys Seldom had Two Matching Handguns , My Grandad started out with a .36 Navy colt and a Hawken,,,, To which he added a SXS 10 Ga. ,,,,, Then he added a SAA in .45 Colt ,,,,,, Then he added a 73 in .38 WCF. Then he got a Sharps,,,, Then some 23 years after he got his Navy He got a SAA in .38 WCF. but kept the Navy , Which he gave to my Grandmother ... To keep vermin at bay Two legged of otherwise.. He never did have a matching set of guns even when He became quite prosperous. He was a Rancher that got into all kinds of businesses'... Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawhorse Kid Posted October 10, 2021 Share Posted October 10, 2021 Given the parameters of your question......44 WCF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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