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Author Topic: .445 SM for pronghorn?  (Read 621 times)

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Offline quasne.inc

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.445 SM for pronghorn?
« on: April 12, 2012, 03:14:29 PM »
So I just got a Charter Arms Bulldog in .44 spl. and now I am wanting a handi in .44 mag. and am considering whether or not to ream it to .445.  I know the .44 mag is sufficient for deer and elk if I do my part, but am wondering how much distance the .445 gives you.  How close would I have to get to take a pronghorn cleanly?

Don't even have the money to get the handi yet but I am always thinking of my next purchase.  This bulldog has me excited to finally take up reloading. 

So what say you?  Is it worth reaming?  Are the .44 mag worth getting? (have read some negative things about accuracy)
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Offline petemi

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2012, 03:32:54 PM »
I can't answer your question the way you'd like.  It depends on you, the shooter and what distance you're comfortable with.  It depends also on the load and the bullet.  My .445 would miss out on an antelope hunt.  I have other rifles better suited to the job.

Pete
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Offline quasne.inc

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2012, 05:15:52 PM »
I know it is far from ideal.  And I do have a .308 as my everything gun.  I just wondered, if I do get the .44 mag handi, if reaming would make it even plausible as a pronghorn round or if I am just kidding myself.  Where I hunt deer and elk its thick enough brush that if I am patient and pass on unrealistic shots I could take the .44 mag along.  Obviously I would have to get a lot closer than with the .308. 

I just get excited about new things but can't ever afford what I want as soon as I want it.  Which is good, because then the build up of it makes the gun that much more fun when I finally do get it.  I thought about selling the .308 so I could get the .44 and ream it to .445.  But I know the .308 is much more practical and I hate selling guns.
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Offline bikerbeans

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2012, 06:21:59 PM »
quasne,
 
I have a 18.5" Handi chambered in 45ACP/45Super.  45 Super is same external dimensions as a 45 ACP round but loaded to about 33 percent more pressure.  A friend of mine took my 45 ACP to Wyoming last year using 45 Super factory ammo, 200 grain @ +1,500 FPS and killed a speed goat.  Distance was less than 100 yards, he knew where to hunt to find a close in shot.  IIRC, this gun/cartridge had a PBZ of about 125 yards, a 445SM with the right load should add some distance to the PBZ but not a lot.
 
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Offline OldSchoolRanger

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2012, 06:23:26 PM »
The 44Mags are worth getting, but I agree with petemi, unless your a really good shot or a really good stalker, the 44Mag isn't really the caliber for the job (pronghorn).  I don't have any experience with the .445, so I'll leave that question for the more experienced hands to comment on.
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Offline quasne.inc

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2012, 06:50:39 PM »
Thanks for the replies.  Sometimes I just need someone to tell me my ideas suck so I'll think more practically.  It's always my first instinct to come up with off the wall ideas that "might" work, but if someone tells me otherwise my practical side will kick in sooner than if I just wait for it to on its own.  I will still get the .44 eventually, but not going to sell the .308 to do it.  The question then is, to ream or not to ream?
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Offline petemi

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2012, 11:51:48 PM »
I'd hate to have one show up at 300 yards, flip me off, and gallop off into the sunset. ::)   That happened a few years ago on a nice whitetail buck while carrying the .44 mag.  Take the .308.

Pete
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #7 on: April 13, 2012, 12:02:19 AM »
First off, there is nothing difficult about killing a Pronghorn. They body size is on par with southern whitetails and thin skinned.

The 445 is a great improvement in ballistics over the 44Mag. But in reality the distance it improves is minimal. Specfically because you are shooting a bullet that lacks BC. Its on the cusp of having enough powder cap for the longest bullets and good longer range preformance. Thing is you are at the max size avalible for the 429 bullet. Best bet is to consider it a close range power house.

So yes absolutely its a speedy goat killer, same as the 44Mag is... with in range limitations. It has the power to do it out to say 200 yards... Problem is thats alot of drop, so practice practice practice and you will have antilope in the freezer.

Elk... again with in its range sure, but on a animal as big as a Elk thats a short chip shot. again the 445 is a much better choice! ::)


CW
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Offline tom548

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #8 on: April 13, 2012, 03:24:33 AM »
If I lived in an area were they lived I would have no problem trying the .445 SM. on a hunt. I have one and so far have not had much luck getting good groups at 100 yd. Business keep me going so have not had time to devote to it. I like a 30 cal. bullet, much better ballistics than the .429 brick. There is so much arch on a 300 yard shot you could hit one of the eagles over head, then your in trouble!!!!
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Offline kawie

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #9 on: April 13, 2012, 03:54:44 AM »
this isnt a handi but in the cva forum you will find some good reads on the 445.
read this ditchdigger has some good results with this round in his cva scout.
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,248328.0.html
this is the rifle im going to buy in the next month or so an ream to 445 to go with my
44mag m92
Kawie
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #10 on: April 13, 2012, 05:21:08 AM »
I've got a 445 SM Handi, shoots pretty good at 100yds, but it shot good as a 44mag too, haven't shot 44mag in it since the rechamber tho.  ;)

FWIW, Digger was shootin a 445 SM Handi long before CVA even thought of making a centerfire rifle, he donated the 445 reamer to GBO!  ;D

Tim

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Offline quasne.inc

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2012, 06:29:57 AM »
I will keep my eye out for a deal on a .44 mag barrel.  Then I could put it on my pardner frame and take them both, on the off chance I get close enough to use the .44.  Would I be right in assuming that the .445 would be too much pressure for a SB-1 frame?
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #12 on: April 13, 2012, 06:32:58 AM »
Correct keep the 445 on a SB2. Many of the loadings are within the design preameters for the SB1 BUT. Being the majority of guys are reloaders and go 445 to gain velocity and energy... It's a very safe bet the pressure levels will be up near maximum making the SB2 rec a safer choice.

CW
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Offline Ranch13

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #13 on: April 13, 2012, 06:51:20 AM »
One of my favored ways to hunt antelope is with a 44 magnum handgun. The extra velocity gained from that cartridge being fired thru the rifle barrel and the security of a rifle will in itself make hitting the vitals of an antelope to 150 yds or so more certain thing.  Reaming to 445 will gain you some velocity, but as we're talking rifles the 444 is probably a better way to go, easier brass and loaded cartridge and reloading data availability.
 Antelope are pretty soft animals and it doesn't take much of a bullet to do a complete passthru on a rib cage or even go lenghtwise of the little buggers.
Get the 44 mag barrel and enjoy it first, then see if you want to bother with dealing with more expensive brass.
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Offline dpe.ahoy

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #14 on: April 13, 2012, 01:56:06 PM »
I agree, with the 444 being available, I just don't see much sense in going the 445 route.  444 Rem. brass is available and cheaper than the 445 brass, which can be hard to find.  Plus you will get more powder room for more velocity in the 444.  Plus you will get a barrel with the faster twist allowing you to explore the heavier bullets.  If you want some info on the 444, wander on over to www.marlinwoners.com, drop down to the 444 section and do a search on posts done by a fella name of Flat Top.  With some throating in the Handi barrel, you can acheive some unreal power out of the 444 with bullets up to 405 gr.  He is about to embark on testing even heavier bullets, and all out of the Marlin action.  In the Handi, those pressures could even be exceeded safely.  Tread lightly on thin ice!!!!!  I bumped 2 articals to the top for ya, one on heavy weight bullet testing, you REALLY NEED to read through that one and Flat Tops thread on 2 more articals on the 444 where he goes through testing on 2 different Marlins he built, ALSO MUST READ.  DP
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Offline quasne.inc

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #15 on: April 13, 2012, 04:47:36 PM »
I hadn't really thought about the .444.  I was mostly thinking of being able to have handguns and rifles that take the same ammo. For some odd reason I have always wanted a handgun rifle combo.  I know that I would end up compromising with one gun or the other but it still has some appeal.  Guess it comes from growing up wanting to be a cowboy. 
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Offline bucco921

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Re: .445 SM for pronghorn?
« Reply #16 on: April 13, 2012, 05:02:52 PM »
Heres my two cents, tons of pronghorns are killed every year by bowhunters so if you are skilled enough and patient enough the range limitations of a 445 sm arent a problem. The attraction of the 445sm for me was the added power with the ability to still shoot regular 44 mag loads and plinking loads. Also no one on my block has a 445sm so that makes it even cooler to me. FWIW I live in pennsylvania and if i were to go on a pronghorn hunt I wouldnt take a 44 caliber anything! If it were a species I hunted every year I wouldnt hesitate to dedicate a few days to the 445 sm.
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