Author Topic: 45 Colt hunting bullet  (Read 1154 times)

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Offline pathfinder

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45 Colt hunting bullet
« on: August 06, 2007, 06:08:58 PM »
I've been using commercial cast bullets for hunting with good results.  Now I'm casting my own and would like to start using those.  The two bullets I'm casting are:

 255 grain RNFP ~.300" meplat that shoots well in my Blackhawk up to 1100-1150 fps.  Excellent accuracy especially farther out. 

300 grain WFP(casts closer to 310) with about a .360" meplat and I get the best accuracy at around 900-950 fps.  It is a muscular looking bullet that looks like it would perform well on game.  Not quite as accurate as the RNFP, especially at 50 yards and beyond.

Which would most likely produce the best wound channel and penetration?   

Offline Graybeard

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Re: 45 Colt hunting bullet
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2007, 04:44:21 AM »
The heavier bullet even at the slower velocity should out penetrate the lighter one and due to the larger meplat might make a "slightly" wider would path but both will do just fine for most any chore you're likely to call on them to handle.

You don't mention what you're hunting with them but short of the really big stuff like brown/grizzly bear or moose I don't think it would matter which you choose. If I were gonna use the gun on the big bears or moose I'd likely push that heavier one a wee bit faster and not worry about being under gunned.


Bill aka the Graybeard
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Online Lloyd Smale

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Re: 45 Colt hunting bullet
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2007, 11:55:40 PM »
like bill said for deer either load would work fine. If you ever think about buying another mold a good compromise mold with be the rcbs 270saa. Couple other good ones are the rcbs 255 swc and the rcbs 300swcgc. Ive taken game with all three of these bullets and they do real well. They are also 3 of the most accurate 45 bullets ive come across.
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Offline COR

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Re: 45 Colt hunting bullet
« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2007, 01:44:04 PM »
A 255 gr hit is always better than a 300 gr miss.  If we are talking about deer sized critters that 255 will do it's part, if you do yours. I've never recovered a 260gr .44 bullet since I started using cast bullets. Depending on the gun my loads are never going faster than 1000fps.  If we are talking Elk or above I'd rather get that 300 wfn shooting as good as I could at 1000fps or above.  Though I have no experience with a bull know for a fact 300 grs will cleanly kill a cow elk. Remember a pie plate is "minute of elk" for all practical purposes. All that and 4.00 will get you a fancy coffee.

Offline pathfinder

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Re: 45 Colt hunting bullet
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2007, 02:37:58 AM »
Sage advice.  Thanks pards