Author Topic: 45 Colt Hunting Questions (Read 3877 times)

vanbuzen9 · « **on:** December 12, 2008, 02:08:01 AM »

Hey guys,

I was wondering if any of you use standard pressure 45 colt loads to deer hunt with. I am talking 250 gr. lead bullets at a max. of 800 to 900 fps. The reason I ask is that I recently bought a pietta cap and ball 44 cal. revolver, and I am contemplating on buying the 45 colt conversion cylinder for it.

I am curious if this would be enough gun to humanely kill a deer. If you have used this round and found unsatisfactory results, please let me know, as I don't want to be going out and wounding any deer.

thanks,
vanbuzen9

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2008, 03:14:40 AM »

Quote

The reason I ask is that I recently bought a pietta cap and ball 44 cal. revolver

Your .44 swages a .456 ball down to .440 or so meaning that you will also get a new barrel for the .452 .45 Colt as part of the conversion?
I took my first deer with a load deemed safe for the SAA revolvers but this one crony'd @ 1,000fps out of their 4-3/4 barreled test gun and I shot it out of a 7-1/2bbl old model Vaquero.
The result was complete penetration but the yardage was just 35 or so.

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #2 on:** December 12, 2008, 03:51:39 AM »

You would be much better off searching for a used Ruger. Load it with a little stronger load than you describe with LFN, WFN, or JHP bullets, rather than the standard .45 Colt pointed FN bullets with the small diameter meplat.
While the load you describe could work at short distances with good marksmanship, I'm not sure what you'll get from an accuracy standpoint with the cartridge conversion and crude sights of the Pietta.
In other words, I wouldn't spend MY money on such a project for hunting.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #3 on:** December 12, 2008, 04:30:01 AM »

Quote from: vanbuzen9 on December 12, 2008, 02:08:01 AM

standard pressure 45 colt loads to deer hunt with. I am talking 250 gr. lead bullets at a max. of 800 to 900 fps .... I am curious if this would be enough gun to humanely kill a deer.

Glad you asked this question. It's been discussed as an aside to other topics on occasion but, as far as I know, never asked or responded to flat out. From previous statements made, I think we will find that most of those that have more experience then we do will say it will easily anchor a white tail.

The reason I am interested is that I have a craving for a '73 Winchester clone in 45 Colt. The strength, or more correctly weakness, of the toggle link action was discussed and the consensus there was pressures should be kept to the single action level. Like Bill (GB) told me, if I want to load it hotter I should go with a M92 clone. But darn those '76's are purdy and the actions are sooooo smooth!

StrawHat · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2008, 05:02:15 AM »

I have used the 255 SWC over a full case of black powder to harvest white tailed deer. Previously I was a biug fan of the 44 Magnum and was hunting with an old friend who used the black powder 45 Long Colt load. I watched as he got complete pentration on a white tail. I chalked it to luck until he shot another deer and got complete penetration from sternum to ham. It took a while but I made the switch and have never looked back.

As for using a converted cap and ball, never done it and wouldn't recommend it. Originally the were NOT converted to 45 Colt. Colts made the conversion and used the 44 Colt cartridge and when Remington made the conversion they used a 46 caliber rimfire.

Neither one considered there frame strong enough for the 45 Colt cartridge.

Also, the rifling on replicas is not set for the 255 grain bullet. It might work but it might not. I would suggest getting the c&b and a Model P clone.

Something to consider.

Autorim · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2008, 04:53:22 PM »

I would not invest in a conversion cylinder. I vote for a used Ruger. I am now testing loads for a .45 Ruger Bisley. It is currently with Alan Harton for more work. The cylinder has been reamed, new front sight, trigger and trigger stop. It is a real shooter with nearly anything I stuff in it. I have not shot a deer with it, but I plan on trying and I fully expect a 270 grain SAA Keith at about 900 fps to be plenty.

vanbuzen9 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2008, 04:48:28 AM »

Ok guys,

Thanks for all your input. After shooting my cap and ball a few times, I found out a few things:

1. They are really fun to shoot, and pretty accurate with round balls.

2. I found a used blackhawk in 45 colt at a local store yesterday for 269 bucks, which is about what a new conversion cyclinder costs. I think I'll buy a whole gun instead of the cylinder!

3. This forum is bad a**.

thanks guys for all your help.

-vanbuzen9

cwlongshot · « **Reply #7 on:** December 27, 2008, 04:51:47 AM »

Good choice!!

That Black Hawk will handle loads that will do anything you could need form a hand gun!! Get a good 300gr bullet going 1300fps and youll never need any more!!

CW

S.B. · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2008, 05:46:10 AM »

Why not ask an expert?
http://www.customsixguns.com/index.htm

Lone Star · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2008, 06:31:50 PM »

One good thing about the BlackHawk is you don't have to run 30,000 psi loads in it - but it will easily exceed the power of the C&B. For deer hunting a 250 grain HP at 1000-1100 fps is more than enough, unless you want to shoot past 100 yards.... I used a BH on long range silhouette for several years and even though I was International Class shooter (with a Dan Wesson) I'd never shoot medium game with a BH past 75 yards - even when I could see the sights!

.

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2009, 03:35:25 PM »

A 270 grain Leadhead Keith style SWC over enough of your favorite powder to push it at 1100 FPS will kill a just about anything that walks this land provided you keep the distance down.

I use the same bullet out of my 4 5/8" Blackhawk in .45 Colt and use either 10.5 grains of Unique (or 24 grains of H110). I have to say that these days I do not use a chrono like I used to but the last time I passed this load thru the screens it was putting out around 1050 to 1100 FPS. It moves faster out of a 7.5" barrel but at the expense of a clumsier gun.

Over the past 20 years I have killed enough white tail deer, feral hogs, and black bear with this load to tell you it cuts a clean .45 hole, penetrates deeply and bleeds out nicely, usually from entrance and exit holes.

I have hunted with the .454 Casull pushing 300 grain gas checked bullets at uber velocities and it did not perform any better except at longer distances.

If you want to see tissue damage try one of the XTP or Nosler SJHP's in the same weight range and speeds.

S.B. · « **Reply #11 on:** January 22, 2009, 05:26:27 PM »

Quote from: glanceblamm on December 12, 2008, 03:14:40 AM

Quote
The reason I ask is that I recently bought a pietta cap and ball 44 cal. revolver

Your .44 swages a .456 ball down to .440 or so meaning that you will also get a new barrel for the .452 .45 Colt as part of the conversion?
I took my first deer with a load deemed safe for the SAA revolvers but this one crony'd @ 1,000fps out of their 4-3/4 barreled test gun and I shot it out of a 7-1/2bbl old model Vaquero.
The result was complete penetration but the yardage was just 35 or so.

Randy, 35yards is typical for Illinois whitetail deer, isn't it? Where I hunt it may be a rather long shot?
Steve

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2009, 02:58:43 AM »

Quote

Randy, 35yards is typical for Illinois whitetail deer, isn't it? Where I hunt it may be a rather long shot?
Steve

Very true on the first Steve, the shot that I took this year was even closer at a paltry 23yds. As far as your long shots go I figure that a .45 cal 250gr going 1,000fps is going to do a lot of killing out to 100yds.
In all honesty I did bump my load on up to the 1,200fps range by the time my second handgun season came around because the accuracy held & The Ruger said I could do it. I took two more with that .45 Vaquero
At 49 & 42 yards respectively.

S.B. · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2009, 05:44:59 PM »

Quote from: Ken ONeill on December 12, 2008, 03:51:39 AM

You would be much better off searching for a used Ruger. Load it with a little stronger load than you describe with LFN, WFN, or JHP bullets, rather than the standard .45 Colt pointed FN bullets with the small diameter meplat.
While the load you describe could work at short distances with good marksmanship, I'm not sure what you'll get from an accuracy standpoint with the cartridge conversion and crude sights of the Pietta.
In other words, I wouldn't spend MY money on such a project for hunting.

Why would you suggest this? Don't you believe the 800-900 fps would kill a deer? Have you ever hunted with the loads in question? Please list your experiences with the .45Colt? Yours and John Linebaugh's opinions differ greatly! Are you on a level with him, in your experience?
I would suggest this material for reading to the poster.
http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/heavyweight_bullets.htm
Steve

Mohawk · « **Reply #14 on:** January 30, 2009, 10:16:32 AM »

A standard .45 Colt, Remington 225 gr SWC factory loading, will kill a deer deader than snot. It may run 40 yds but who cares. It will go thru and thru. Drive one through the lungs and you have venison.

jar-wv · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2009, 04:44:19 AM »

Another interesting and informative read on the 45 Colt

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2009, 02:03:27 AM »

ive shot deer black bear and pigs with 250s at 900 out of both the 45 colt and 44 special and have never found them lacking. Put one in the boileroom and you can fire up the grill.

mantihunter · « **Reply #17 on:** February 02, 2009, 04:05:49 AM »

I load a 260 gr. Keith style bullet to about 980 fps for my 4 5/8" Blackhawk. My nephew shot a cow elk with it last fall and it penetrated thru and thru. Elk went about 30 yds. and piled up. No need to "Magnumize" the 45 Colt in a Blackhawk, although it's possible. Often used Blackhawks are available on Gunbroker for around $300.00.

BigMuddy · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2009, 04:20:54 PM »

The bore size on that Pietta (I assume is a Remington Repro) will be either .454 or .457. There is no swaging down to 44. I am not sure why they called them 44's. I have two guns with R&D cylinders and it defies all logic, but they shoot very well. Accuracy at short ranges..50 yards, would be sufficient to hunt with if they hit to poa.

The velocity you mention, 850 to 900 would absolutely handle a white tail deer. I think if you check though, those cylinders are not really meant for that velocity unless you use black powder. They are for black powder or "cowboy" level smokeless. That usually means more like 750 fps. All in all a cool idea, but not one I would try.

When you found a Blackhawk for about the price of a cylinder, that became a no brainer. As others have said, you don't need to load that Ruger up hot to kill a deer. Now THAT is a hunting revolver, one of the best IMO.

Masterblaster1 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2009, 03:08:53 AM »

While reading through Mr. Linebaugh's website he says that the Ruger Bisley and Blackhawk single actions are the strongest stock .45 colt guns available. What about the old frame Ruger Vaquero? Not the new one scaled down to SAA size, but the bigger one. I have one of these bigger ones and have been doing some careful handloading for it with no problems. Is the Vaquero on par with the blackhawk from a strength standpoint or not?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2009, 04:36:05 AM »

The older Vaquero and Vaquero Bisley are the same frame as the Blackhawk. It is only the new Vaquero that has the weaker (smaller) frame.