Ruger Redhawk Choice: .45 Colt--4.20" barrel OR .44 Magnum--5.50 barrel

[Southern Shooter]

I am about to purchase one of these two guns. A Redhawk .45 Colt with the 4.20" barrel and the Hogue Monogrip OR a .44 Magnum with the 5.50" barrel and the hardwood grip.

My choice is limited to these two guns.

I want this to be my backwoods gun for both the Southeast, where I live, and the times I spend camping or hiking in upper Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho ( Which, I am sure has much larger, dangerous animals ).

My choices of ammunition used in these areas would be Buffalo Bore, Grizzly Cartridge, Double Tap, or Cor-Bon. None of the generic stuff.

Which one would ya'll choose and why?

Thanks

[dig4gold]

First off . . . this post would be better served in the "Guns" or shooting forum(s).

But, I am actually going to go with the .45 Colt myself in that same Ruger. Several reasons . . . less recoil, small enough for conceal, cheaper ammo, great for plinking, I can shoot .45 Auto with a moon clip, and there are several ammo's in the +P specs that will provide legal knockdown for big game hunting here in Wyoming. ("500 foot pounds at 100 yards"). So that gun does a lot oof different, usable things for me. More so than the .44 Mag.

[MinnFinn]

I don't understand why only these 2 models. I've got a Ruger Redhawk .44 Mag 4" barrel with Hogue grips from the factory. I'd recommend this pistol to anyone for a hunting backup sidearm.
The Hogue grip helps a great deal in control and comfort of shooting heavy loads which you'd want for the purposes you describe. I use 300 gr. WFN hard cast bullets with 21 gr. of H110 powder behind it to push it around 1400 fps at the muzzle to carry as a backup sidearm hunting Elk in large predator country out West.
If you don't load ammo yourself, consider Corbon with these hard cast bullets.
http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-Redhawk4.htm
http://www.gunblast.com/Cast_Performance.htm