Contender in .45 Colt

[ftlupton]

May buy a Contender frame and was thinking about a .45 Colt barrel (14") for woods deer hunting. I have the dies, molds and lots of brass. Was thinking 255 grain swc with heavy load of 2400 would be just the ticket. What do you guys think? Low power scope or red dot? I'm new to this single shot stuff.

[243dave]

Don't get the 45colt/410 barrel, they are hard to make accurate IMO. Because the chamber is extra long to accomadate the 410 gauge the colt has a long jump to get to the rifling. Now if the barrel is chambered for the colt only, go for it, its a great round. As for the sight I prefer a low power scope over a red-dot.   Dave

[ftlupton]

Thanks, 243Dave, makes sense to me. Being an old trapshooter I know a thing or two about forcing cones etc. Will take your advice. thinking of 2X on the scope if I go that way.

[Cheesehead]

45 Colt is a good deer cartridge, loaded hot with cast bullets.

Cheese

[doc-and]

Not sure if you need a 14inch barrel, since your working with a closed breech will greatly add to the balistics of the 45Colt.

Here's a picture of my 10incher


You may also want to consider a 12incher, not as handy as the 10 but diffenatly a step up from the 14
Just my opinion

docand

[ftlupton]

Wow, docand, beautiful wood and good advice!

[Lone Star]

The 10" barrel will be handier to carry and will give plenty of power.  The 14" will increase power with top loads quite a bit, but it is uneeded for your intended use.  A 240-300 grain bullet - cast or jacketed - at 1100-1300 fps is plenty for most NA game at woods ranges.  2400 is not my favorite .45LC powder but if it works for you....    I prefer AA9 or IMR4227 for heavier loads, BlueDot for mid-level loads.

The holsters for a 12" barrel are as long as those for a 14" so there is little advantage to the shorter tube for holstered carry.  I find the 14" tubes offer improved stability when shooting offhand scoped, but I prefer to use a rest whenever I can.  I shot pretty well in IHMSA standing classes with a 10" barrel so that length does work.

I used a 2X scope for years but now use 4X exclusively.  I found that the 4X gave better overall accuracy and view of the target in darker woods than the 2X did, and if I had a longer shot the 4X was definately better.


.

[ftlupton]

Always looking for advice, I'm old enough to realize I don't know it all. 2400 is an old powder for sure so will check out some more modern ones.

[243dave]

Docand that is a beautiful gun !!!! If I had one like that I post pictures every chance too.   

[securitysix]

If you're wanting to hot rod your .45 Colt a bit, try Hodgdon Lil'Gun powder.  It was designed for the .410 gauge shotgun, but it also works for magnum pistols.  I've never shot .45 Colt from a Contender, but Lil-Gun pushes 250 grain XTPs out of my Ruger Blackhawk well enough.

[Camp Cook]

Best powder I have found for top 45 Colt loads is H110 I get 1280fps with 300gr Hornady XTP's from my 5.5" Ruger Bisley Vaquero's.

[mcwoodduck]

I did the same thing only went 44 mag as I have a Schofield in 45 colt and do not want to get loads mixed up.  I did get a 45/410 in 10" for hunting as a side arm for small game on the way back to camp.  Figured it would e easier to hit the ruffed grouse with the 410 when they fly than with the 22 pistol.  But i only load for the shcofield speeds.
If you have a SAA or other old west copy I would look to get something else and not worry about a mix up with a hot load and ruining the SAA.
you may already have a rifle or pistol that in the house.
30-30 would work nicely.
44 mag,
357 mag or Max ( the 14" adds a lot of speed to what you 4 or 6" Smith can generate)
35 Rem. ( again if you have a Rem M8or 81 stay in factory specs)
45-70
Need I go on?

[Josp]

I'm interested in what you decide. I just bought a 16 " 45 Colt barrel for my T/C Carbine to use as my primary woods deer gun. It wears a bushnell 1.5-4.5 that seems about perfect. Now to build a load....
Any ideas?

[243dave]

Josp, My woods deer gun is a winchester trapper(16"barrel) chambered in 45colt. It also wears the 1.5-4.5 bushnell banner. Very nice scope for the money. I shoot 300gr xtp mags on top of lots of h-110. I don't own a chrony but I'm sure 1500fps is no problem. With this load I shot thru a deer length-wise this fall. The 300gr xtp mag is not like the regular 300gr xtp, when pushing the regular xtp this fast it mushrooms too big and doesn't give complete penetration when the deer is quartering or shoulder is encountered. The 300gr xtp mag and h-110 combination is awesome for 150yds, it has the power and accuracy to go farther but not the trajectory. If your planning to maximize the 45 colt give the 300gr xtp mag and h-110 a try, you'll like it.     Dave

[Josp]

Dave,
  Thanks for the info. I was looking at a 300 grain lead gas check bullet for this. Never knew about the mag XTP. Where I like to hunt, my shots are under 100 yards.
John

[Lone Star]

Bucking the heavy bullet trend for deer, I have good luck with the 250XTP in my various .45LCs.  Penetration is ample, just as good as the 300 XTPs (not MAGs) I tried.  Recoil is less and the trajectory is slightly flatter.  I shot one deer with the 240XTPMAG and won't do so again.  The bullet exited but expansion appeared minimal at 1300 fps.  I don't need 1600 fps for deer.

The best cast bullet for my Trapper is the Lee 250FN.  This is a short bullet that mimicks the factory LOA, feeds flawlessly, and has a big meplat to slap hard when it hits skin.  It also has about the longest bearing surface of any .45 bullet of similar weight save a true WC, so loading density is high, accuracy is great and leading is minimal.  I don't care for CBs for hunting game since the XTPs came out, but this one is IMO the best of its weight.



.

[Josp]

OK Lone Star. I was looking at the 300 grainers since the 250's look so stubby in length they look as if they won't have the retained punch for penetration. But hey, I've been wrong before....
Thanks for the info.