45 ACP in hunting revolver.

[totallycustom]

I am thinking about getting a stainless blackhawk in 45 colt and getting a 45acp cylinder also for more variety in ammo. :agree:

Does anyone have experience with the 45acp round for hunting, or in a revolver?  This would be my backup gun for hunting in the mountains here in Washington State while im am grouse hunting with my shotgun, it would maybe see use on Deer, Bear, Cougar, Bobcat, Coyote or anything else I feel like taking home.  I do sometimes carry slugs/buckshot but I dont really consider it a very useful option here, or with my shotgun setup.

Any thoughts on the 45 acp as a hunting gun/ revolver or the power vs 45 colt loads would be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance.
-Totallycustom-

[mbartel]

The .45 colt will easily outperform the .45 auto as far as max power is concerned. The .45 auto can be used for hunting the animals you described, but if you have the 45 colt, why not use the longer round, for more reloading potential, and more powerful factory rounds?

[Biscuits]

I agree
The .45acp was designed for stopping Germans and Viet Cong not deer and bear. Don't get me wrong it will do the job and it certainly has but the .45 colt is a much better choice. If I were you I would through in the ACP cylinder when at the range and if you don't reload you can buy Russian made Wolf for about $7 a box. When you are in the woods put the long colt cylinder back in and load with warm handloads or anything from Cor-Bon, Grizzly, or Buffalo Bore. Any thing that says "Cowboy Load" is at the same power level as the ACP. With the right loads it will easily perform to and a little beyond the .44mag. Excelent choice of revolver. I just got a 4 5/8" stainless Super Blackhawk .44mag and I am lovin it. What barrel length are you looking at?

Good luck huntin you aren't too far from my neck of the woods i'm in central Oregon.

[TScottO]

The 460 Rowland would work. You can shoot the 45ACP out of a revolver chambered for the 460.

Here’s a link: http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt460r.htm

Take Care,
Scott

[Redhawk1]

45L/C is a good round and can be used for hunting, forget the 45 ACP as a hunting round for deer and bear. Always carry enough gun.  

[Lloyd Smale]

I dont understand the reasoning here. I can load a 250 swc to 800- 900 fps in an acp case in my smith so im sure you could do the same in an ruger if not substantialy more.  Now if im not mistaken thats right up there with factory 45 colt loads and nobody here is going to tell me that a hard cast 250swc at 900 fps wont kill deer and black bear!! Ive done it and seen it done many times. Tell ya what it will do more killing then any load you can put in a .357. Ive personaly shot deer with 250s at 900 and hit them in the chest and had the bullet come out the rear and ive seen a few hogs wacked by simular loads and it has killed them every bit as good as any other gun and load. I guess all these years ive been under gunned lucky for me nobody told the animals.

[Redhawk1]

I dont understand the reasoning here. I can load a 250 swc to 800- 900 fps in an acp case in my smith so im sure you could do the same in an ruger if not substantialy more.  Now if im not mistaken thats right up there with factory 45 colt loads and nobody here is going to tell me that a hard cast 250swc at 900 fps wont kill deer and black bear!! Ive done it and seen it done many times. Tell ya what it will do more killing then any load you can put in a .357. Ive personaly shot deer with 250s at 900 and hit them in the chest and had the bullet come out the rear and ive seen a few hogs wacked by simular loads and it has killed them every bit as good as any other gun and load. I guess all these years ive been under gunned lucky for me nobody told the animals.

I don't think anyone said it would not kill them, hell I can kill one with a 22 LR, but there are better choices in my opinion. Also I would not use a standard 45L/C for hunting either. I would reload them close to or up to 44 Mag capabilities.  I also don't recommend a 357 Mag for deer or bear either, that is just my opinion though.

[casper_zip]

:grin:

Lloyd, well spoken. I love to hear and read about someone who really knows what he is speaking about. I agree 100% with you about the killing power of the 45 ACP or 45 AR. Ask me how I know.

I have shot for years loads that actually qualify for 44 Mag. loads, and my beloved S&W Model 55 looks and shoots like new.

I have the old Speer Manual #8, and the lawyers would sue if they had this book. They have SR-4756 driving the 200 grain Speer Soft Point at 1345 fps. AL-8, HS-6, AL-7, Herco and Unique lists this same bullet at 1175 to 1330 fps.  I'd list the powder charges, but some lawyer might want to sue me. All of this plus much more listed on page 389 of Speer Manual # 8. Also mighty loads listed for the 200 grain Speer SWC, and the 250 grain Keith SWC.

These loads are very powerful, accurate, and cases just about fall out of my gun, been shooting them for years, as I have a good supply of the Alcan powders still left. You can probably tell I've been a reloader for a while. Wish you could still get the old Alcan powders. They were the super powders of years gone by.

Lyman manual listed an Alcan AL-8 load for a 12 guage shotgun, and said; "this one will rattle the fillings out of your teeth." Yep, they were correct. I still shoot it sometimes, will penetrate 3/4" plywood at 50 yards.

Hope this helps anyone who doubts the power of the 45 ACP. I mostly load the 45 AR for my Model 55 S&W, but also shoot the ACP's in it, too, same loads.

For what it's worth, I have a special souped up 45 ACP in SS that has many "tough" features built in, and I shoot very hot loads in it. It will actually penetrate more wet news papers than my 30-06 factory loads.

All the best,

Casper_zip  :grin:  :grin:  :grin:

[totallycustom]

I whole heartedly agree that the good 45LC loads are a much more potent round for hunting than the 45ACP, but was just wondering what others thought. I would just like to have another option, and wanted to know how they compared out of a revolver.


Thanks -TC-

[palgeno]

TC----45 Super and 460 Roland will come close to 45 Colt, but no need to try it unless you just WANT to do it. I have used 45 Super loads in modified 1911 and S&W 625 and they will kill deer and hogs--- with the correct bullet---but the 45 Colt will do it more reliably----my reason to use the 45 Super was because I wanted to hunt pigs with the 1911.  :eek: Gene