250gr LRN 45 for hunting

[timothy]

Has anyone taken deer cleanley with a LRN? Right now I'm loading 22 grains of H4227 with a 250 gr LRN. I figure its going around 1100fps and was wondering if the bullet was adequate since its kinda my working load. If not I could use a hard cast or XTP. Thanks

[Lone Star]

A LRN bullet is about the worst possible choice for a non-deforming handgun hunting bullet.  Yes it can kill a deer, but simply changing to a better bullet design will make a notable difference in killing power.  Choose a 250-grain SWC (semi wadcutter), or other lead bullet with a large flat point, with the same powder charge for a much better hunting load.  BTW I've used the Hornady 250 XTP with great success on deer at similar velocities out of my .45LCs.

[Castaway]

Agree with Lone Star.  I'd go with a RNFP or SWC to get cutting around the wound channel.  Round nosed bullets tend to slip by tissue and not form a good wound channel while a SWC or a flat point will cut tissue out of the way allowing a bleeding hole from one side to the other instead of a lapped over hole that limits the amount of blood that flows to bleed out the critter and also provided a blood trail.

[sharps4590]

I agree with both previous posters.  The Keith type SWC is deadly as is the truncated cone design.  There is much to be said for a wide meplat for hunting bullets from handguns or lower velocity rifles.

Vic

[timothy]

Thanks guys I'm actually using a rnfp its a 250 grain Oregon Tail lazer cast not a lrn. Would this be acceptable for defense against black bear or mountain lion?

[Castaway]

Haven't shot either, but have shot my share of pigs.  A 250 grainer at 1,100 f/s will consistently make an inney and outey on a boar with gristle plate.  Don't see a bear as being any tougher.  I'd be leery of shooting it much faster as the increased recoil will limit your ability for a fast follow-up

[Lloyd Smale]

a round nose flat point will do fine on game. Lots of it killed with those old .45 colts!

[canonF-1]

All advice above is good.  LRN bullets just don't kill that well in my book.  A flat point with a large meplate is best and you don't need to run it fast either.

I've seen a 260gar or 310gr Keith style SWC cast bullets at 800fps bust both shoulders on big mulies and exit.    I once saw a 310gr Keith SWC @ 1000fps shoot through a buffalo and exit.  I would say it would handle a deer too.

John Linebaugh said it best and he knows more about the potential of the 45 colt than about anyone: a handgun is a big punch press, the bigger the hole you punch the better and velocity really doesn't matter as much as bullet weight and design.  Sometimes the animals fold and sometimes they run a short ways, just like with you 30-06 or 7mag.

My main load is a 310gr SWC from a NEI mold over 13grs HS 6 for 1000fps.  I could load the same bullet over a healthy dose of LILGUN or H110 (WW296 is the same) for 1200fps but I only beat myself up and the 1000fps load is plenty enough.

Pick a FP bullet at decent velocity and go forth and slay beasts with authority.

F-1

[myronman3]

i shot a porqy once with 250gr. rn lead bullets out of a 45 lc;  it took five to stop him.   a 22 is more effective.    then i shot one with a 310 rnfp out of a 44 @1000fps, one hit dropped him dead as hell.   porqy's are tough as nails.   use a rfn or a swc like said and youll see a big difference.

[Sverre A.]

"310gr Keith SWC @ 1000fps shoot through a buffalo and exit"

What kind of buffalo?  Shooting distance?

[canonF-1]

"310gr Keith SWC @ 1000fps shoot through a buffalo and exit"

What kind of buffalo?  Shooting distance?

American Bison.  The range was less than 20 yards.  It was a cull shoot out of a coraled herd.  One for the pot so to speak and not a hunt.

F-1

[Greeenriver]

The LazerCast bullets are a fairly hard cast bullet and the RNFP will do OK on Deer. I have used the same bullet several times on deer from both pistols and .45lc rifles with good results. I now use the 200grn RNFP from LazerCast ocasionaly and the Deer can't tell the diference if I do my part in shooting. Both have a generous flat on the end and open a decent wound chanel allowing good blood flow out both sides.  A semi wad cutter is also a good alternative. I avoid the complete round nosed bullets in cast design.

Greeenriver(Shot placement, shot placement, shot placement)

[Onty]

...My main load is a 310gr SWC from a NEI mold over 13grs HS 6 for 1000fps.  I could load the same bullet over a healthy dose of LILGUN or H110 (WW296 is the same) for 1200fps but I only beat myself up and the 1000fps load is plenty enough...F-1

Sir,

Did you measure velocity with one of the instruments? According to Marshall Stanton, see http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/59 , his load  was 300 gr with HS-6 11.3 gr and made 1011 fps from 4-5/8 barrel, albeit with .002 cylinder to barrel gap.

How heavy is muzzle blast, how it compares with rifle like 30-06 or 270?

Also, is that maximum load and where did you obtain it?

Thanks, Onty.

[canonF-1]

...My main load is a 310gr SWC from a NEI mold over 13grs HS 6 for 1000fps.  I could load the same bullet over a healthy dose of LILGUN or H110 (WW296 is the same) for 1200fps but I only beat myself up and the 1000fps load is plenty enough...F-1

Sir,

Did you measure velocity with one of the instruments? According to Marshall Stanton, see http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/59 , his load  was 300 gr with HS-6 11.3 gr and made 1011 fps from 4-5/8 barrel, albeit with .002 cylinder to barrel gap.

How heavy is muzzle blast, how it compares with rifle like 30-06 or 270?

Also, is that maximum load and where did you obtain it?

Thanks, Onty.

Sixguns seem to all be laws unto themselves.  They all seem to produce different velocities which is why loading data needs to be based on an individual gun basis.

13grs HS 6 runs a 300gr cast bullet roughly 1000fps from my Linebaugh Custom 4 3/4" 45 Colt.  This is max for HS 6 but not maximum potential for a 45 Colt to push a 300gr bullet provided in a sound sixgun.  Recoil is smooth and decently mild and report is not bad but one should use hearling protection anyhow.

Working up loads for a sixgun w/ straight walled cartridges by looking for pressure signs is bad practice.  I obtained to load from friends long ago who got me into sixguns.  It was not worked up and might verywell be at the max.  I bet several thousand such rounds and even hotter have gone down the barrel of that old 45 and I have some brass that has been loaded 30 times or more so I am just guessing but I think things are OK.

F-1

[Cottonwood]

Loads for the .45 Colt from Hodgdon

45 Colt Loads for Ruger, Freedom Arms and TC

Along with a good load and a good bullet from Beartooth Bullets with a nice wide nose meplat, you will do good.

[Mannlicher]

For years, I hunted hogs with my Smith 25-5, 6 inch barrel.  I used a 250 gr Speer LSWC over 9 grains of Unique.  Worked well, never lost a piggy.

I am working on a new load for my Bisley Vaquero, with the 4 5/8 barrel.  the bullet I am trying is the Hornady 250 HP/XTP, and I am working with 2400, Lil Gun, and BlueDot.