.45 Colt or 3" .410 slugs for whitetail?

[Barely Tame]

A question for those in the know: with my limited savvy, it appears that a 3" .410 slug has about twice the knock down power of a .45 Colt.  Given that I shoot either one of them through my scoped, 15" .45 Colt/.410 Encore barrel, which is best.  Will either one of them do a good job at 50 yards?  Beyond?  Thanks

Ron

[Daveinthebush]

The .45 is the best bet under 50 yards.  Hand loads will greatly increase your range.  Leave the .410 slugs for fun shooting.  They are hardly worth anything  for hunting and in many states are illegal to hunt deer with.

[rickyp]

do not use the 410 slugs for anything bigger then a house cat.

You should handload the 45 colt with at least a 255 gr bullet a cast s.w.c. would be best

[baitwaister]

Have you shot either out of your barrel.  My 10" vent rib on my contender has a hard time hitting a paper plate at 25yds. with either the slug or 45 LC.  No consistency at all.  1 way high next way low then to the right.  You get the picture.  I have read where some people get consistency out of the 45 but to me there is too much bullet jump to trust hunting.

[Barely Tame]

BaitWaister,

Actually, I took Daveinthebush's advice and bought some .45 Colt ammo -- just factory stuff for now (I don't reload yet).  I have a 2X Nikon strapped on the .45 Colt/.410 barrel for this season and was able to regularly group 5" @ 50 yards.  I woudn't shoot at game further than that.  I don't know how to tell if it's hitting hard enough at 50 yards for an ethical shot?!  Standing broadside shots will be a must!  That's what I know so far!

Ron

[spinafish]

the best "normal" pressure factory round I have found for the 45 LC is the Winchester Silvertip..It is meant to be a self-defense round, but I would have great faith in it out to fifty yards on whitetails or smaller game.  I expands wonderfully and is very accurate in my barrel.

[Barely Tame]

So there it is -- great information from the guys at GBO once again!  Winchester silvertips it is.  I'm set for this year's hunt.  Next year, a .375 JDJ or something similar.  Is there a 15" Encore barrel available in 7mm Mag?  If so, is it manageable?  Thanks guys!

Ron

[Lawful Larry]

Your problem is that you have the .45/.410 barrel.  The .45 Colt will never maintain any consistency with this barrel.  

The .45 Colt is a line caliber in any other gun but the one you have.  I have an original .45 Colt TC barrel and it is very accurate out to 100 yards.  I also hunt with a Ruger Blackhawk Hunter in .45 colt and it is sighted in at 100 yards.  

I would see about using this barrel for trade and get something that you can go out into the woods with.  Look to get a .44 mag barrel and go hunting.

As with anything in life this is IMHO and should be taken as such.  Have fun in the woods.   :eek:  :wink:

[Barely Tame]

Thanks Larry!

I agree that I need a barrel that I can take into the woods and hunt big game.  I won't be tradin' the .44/.410 barrel though.  I have had a ball hunting small game with it.  Can't believe how well it takes squirrels, rabbits -- even on partridge on the fly.  What a hoot!  It shoots .45 Colts in a 5" circle at 50 yards regularly and that will have to do for whitetails this year.  I'll just hunt heavy cover and shoot 50 yards or under.  I appreciate your help.

Ron

[ilv2hnt]

I don't know about a pistol barrel!!!  But the  21" carbibe barrel can and will put slugs, into about a 3" circle @ 50 yards, never tried any farther and never tried in my pistol barrel, although I would not be afraid to try it , and have actually thought about a brush gun, and keeping shots within 40 yards or so.

As for having knock down power I have a son that shot a 6pointer at about 45 yards last year quartering toward him ( not the perfect broadside shot) and slug went through the spine at the base of the neck and was lodged in the shoulder in the off side, so don't knock a slug until you try it!  It was one of those kills where the  rear legs folded up and its but knocked a hole in the ground when he fell!!!@   :grin:  :wink:  :shock:

[rickyp]

[quote="ilv2hntAs for having knock down power I have a son that shot a 6pointer at about 45 yards last year quartering toward him ( not the perfect broadside shot) and slug went through the spine at the base of the neck and was lodged in the shoulder in the off side, so don't knock a slug until you try it!  [/quote]
No one said it couldn't be done, but that it shouldn't be done! most states do not allow the use of the 410 slug for deer. I know of many deer that have been taken with a 22 long rifle. So  does this mean a 22 L.R. should be considered as a deer gun?

[Mack in N.C.]

here in nc you can use a 410 slug.... though it will kill deer out to (guessing 35 yds) i would not use it......i have 3 barrels i use for deer ...45/410......10 in 30-30...14 in 30-3o........both 30-30s are super accurate.....but i have some hot 45 loads that have dropped every deer on the spot....i admit that all were shot uder 40 yds......everyone says that the 45/410 barrel is not accurate.....compared to my 30-30s it isnt....but my 45 will shoot deer all day long out to say 60 yds.....i wouldnt want to try it any farther.......the 45 will kill em...mack

[Barely Tame]

Thanks for all your input, guys!  Next weekend will tell the story -- that is, if Bambi shows up.

Ron

[dakotashooter2]

Is it legal to use the 410 in MN? I remember my folks using it in a pinch back about 30 years ago but I thought it was illegal then.

[Barely Tame]

Thanks Dakota!

I remember the stories my dad told about northeren Minnesota in the "way-back-years" and I know, for sure, some of those things were not legal!  :-D