i am asking cuz several guys and myself were in a flyfishing meeting last nite and the discussion got to comparing 45,to 44, to 41, to 40, to 357. and put the 10 mm in the list. and we are here trying to find answers to the longest between these and which is the most powerful. please dont go to the 45/94 or the 600 nitro as they are not regular calibers. thanks for asking.
Of the ones you list, (common handgun cartridges!)
The 45acp case is not the shortest at .898" (the 40S&W is .850")
The 10mm case is next at .992" long.
The 357 and 41 mag cases are 1.290" long.
The 44 mag and 45 Long Colt cases are 1.285" long.
Bullets of different weights will determine overall cartridge length because heavier ones will be longer than others. Side by side, the 44mag will usually be the longest as a 300gn 44cal bullet is longer than a 300gn 45cal bullet. So if you could find a 180gn .357 bullet, loaded, it might just be a tad longer than a 44mag with it's longest bullet. Factor in a 41mag with a heavy 220gn bullet too. You're really (litterally) splitting hairs when you compare those four though.
-Steve