Author Topic: What .45 colt load for deer? (Read 2694 times)

Masterblaster1 · « **on:** January 28, 2008, 06:22:40 PM »

Hey guys i'm new to handgunning for deer. I have an old large frame vaquero 4 5/8th bbl. I am an avid handloader. Can anyone suggest a pet load for me? I was thinking of a 300 grain xtp at about 900 fps but all the Ruger/tc data says min. load is around 1100 fps. I figure a .45 300 xtp at 900fps would put any Michigan deer on the wall and still keep the recoil manageable. I have fired the buffalo bore 260 jhp's at 1450 and they are to much for me. Last season i carried it with 200 grain corbon hollowpoints but want something with a little more oomph but not uncomfortable to shoot. Any suggestions would help out alot. thanks in advance.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2008, 12:34:35 AM »

I use cast at 900 but i personaly wouldnt fool with xtps at those speeds. Your probably better off going back to the 260s and running them at about 1200 fps to lower recoil and blast a bit. If you want to run a 300 at 900-1000 fps youd be much better served by a hard cast bullet with a good wide meplat.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2008, 04:19:42 AM »

My Sierra data list the accuracy load for the .45 Colt 300gr as being 9.4gr Unique with a CCI 300 primer for 900fps/539 ft.lbs
I have loaded and shot these at the range and the result was like a pleasant Little pop-gun to shoot, even out of my Birds head.
They were accurate enough but I Have Not Taken A Deer With Them.

I have to agree with Lloyd on either getting those 260gr slowed to around 1,200 fps (which has worked very well for me)
Or to choose that hard cast with the wide Meplat at lower velocity's which will guarantee you an exit hole on deer.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2008, 04:39:02 AM »

A 250-280 cast bullet at anything from 900 to 1100 fps is more than adequate for your use as a deer killer. There is no need for more. If you'll keep the velocity down to under 1000 fps even the Speer and Hornady swaged lead bullets would do an excellent job. For deer there is no need for 300 grains althou it hurts nothing to go to the heavier bullet it just increases recoil.

Get a 250 KT or the 270 SAA that RCBS is making moulds for and push it 900-1000 fps and you'll kill any deer that walks.

44 Man · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2008, 07:42:22 AM »

I use a 270 gr SWC at 975 fps as my deer load, and it shoots right to the sights on my 4 3/4" 'New' Vaquero. I don't really feel I need anything more for whatever I'd like to hunt. My everyday load is a 255 gr cast with a wide meplat over 9.0 gr Unique at 925 fps. That would probably be enough but I have all of these 270 gr bullets to use up! I'll try to get a pic tonight. 44 Man

Ole Man Dan · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2008, 09:59:49 AM »

I've got hung-up on loading the 10 gr. of Unique for my hunting loads. (7.5 New model Blackhawk and 4.6 New Model) My favorite is 265WFN/GC and 10 Gr. Unique. It slams them down, and bores a large tunnel thru them. In the Off-season I use the same charge with 250SWC to punch thru everything I run into. I load a little heavier than I need too, but the possibility of a shot on a large hog keeps me loading heavy. Alabama Whitetails certainly don't need quite that much 'Punch'.

Greeenriver · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2008, 03:32:33 PM »

A lot depends on the range you want to shoot Deer at. With a handgun, I limit myself to about 75yds on a good day. At 75 yds, from a 5&1/2 in 45 colt (Clone), about any 200 grn hard cast bullet at 900 fps or more will go completely through both shoulders. Anything more is just depending on how far you want the bullet to go after it's gone through the deer. A 200 grn bullet at 900 fps is doable with BP, and a multitude of modern smokeless powders.

If you have adjustable sights (Yuck!!!!!) on your revolver, you can set them for whatever load you pick. Mine has fixed sights and I try to load to the sights as they are set for my normal loads.

Use enough gun for the job, but no sense pounding your hands and arms for more when it's not needed. Many people find the heaver bullets to shoot more consistently to point of aim. One of my revolvers won't group the 200 grn as well as the 250 grns out past 50 yds. Something to think about, anyway.

Greeenriver

Cayoot · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2008, 04:37:15 PM »

Quote from: Masterblaster1 on January 28, 2008, 06:22:40 PM

would put any Michigan deer on the wall

What part of Michigan ya from?

There are quite a few of us from the Mitten State here.

Masterblaster1 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2008, 04:41:51 PM »

I am from Macomb county but do most of my hunting in the U.P. I have a large frame vaquero 4 5/8th inch barrel, only looking to shoot out to a max of 50 yards, i was looking at montana precision 260 grain wide flat nose, any thoughts?

Cayoot · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2008, 05:24:40 PM »

Quote from: Masterblaster1 on January 29, 2008, 04:41:51 PM

I am from Macomb county but do most of my hunting in the U.P.

Excellent! There are a couple of us from Michigan's Frozen Nortwoods (da UP) here.

What part do you hunt in?

I live between the Soo and Brimley

Masterblaster1 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2008, 06:04:15 PM »

Sagola area, lots of good hunting in Dickinson County....

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2008, 10:28:28 PM »

yupper here. Munising

Skillet · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2008, 09:12:00 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on January 29, 2008, 04:39:02 AM

Get a 250 KT or the 270 SAA that RCBS is making moulds for and push it 900-1000 fps and you'll kill any deer that walks.

Ditto that...

I've been loading 250 KT SWCs to about 1000 fps in a .44 Spl for years, 18 deer, coupla' hogs, few Javelina and still counting.

Skillet

okie john · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2008, 08:31:26 AM »

Anything that gets a 250-grain bullet going 900-1,000 fps will be fine. 231, Unique, Bullseye, etc. Lots of good choices.

Okie John

StrawHat · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2008, 08:54:52 AM »

What the others have said, 255+/- bullet at 900 fps.

Hard to beat the original ballistics.

warrior1 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2008, 12:29:59 PM »

masterblaster, you use pontiac lake range at all? sure do miss maplegrove. dan.

Masterblaster1 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2008, 01:45:39 PM »

Nope, Warrior 1, I am a member at Perch Point conservation club in casco twp

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #17 on:** February 03, 2008, 09:10:34 AM »

What is this old home week in Michigan??? Only foolin'.

Don't forget the Hornaday XTP/Mag bullets. I shoot the 240gr and love it. I load it to around the 1200 fps range and shoot it from my Ruger SBH. This cartridge is good out to 100 yds. Not that I have taken any game out that far yet here in Virginia, but it is good to have that options.

I find the jacketed bullets to more accurate then the lead.

Camel 23 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 04, 2008, 12:25:31 PM »

another yooper here

killer · « **Reply #19 on:** February 04, 2008, 01:20:43 PM »

masterblaster do you know ray shurter? he belongs to perch point .

ONE HOLE 4570 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 05, 2008, 03:35:03 AM »

I'm using 10 unique with 255 swc or 260 wfn in a black hawk & winchester 94,. Shoots well Just curious if anyone knows the pressure for this load. won't be at home for awhile to chk my manuals, can't even remember which one I got this load out of Iv'e been using it that long

Cayoot · « **Reply #21 on:** February 05, 2008, 06:09:05 AM »

The more Yoopers the better chance of someone bringing beer and fishing bait!

That is why the old saying "The More Yoopers The Better" is so true!!!

jaybird · « **Reply #22 on:** February 05, 2008, 02:45:50 PM »

Add one more yooper...

nilescoyote · « **Reply #23 on:** February 06, 2008, 11:07:11 PM »

Quote from: Masterblaster1 on January 28, 2008, 06:22:40 PM

Hey guys i'm new to handgunning for deer. I have an old large frame vaquero 4 5/8th bbl. I am an avid handloader. Can anyone suggest a pet load for me? I was thinking of a 300 grain xtp at about 900 fps but all the Ruger/tc data says min. load is around 1100 fps. I figure a .45 300 xtp at 900fps would put any Michigan deer on the wall and still keep the recoil manageable. I have fired the buffalo bore 260 jhp's at 1450 and they are to much for me. Last season i carried it with 200 grain corbon hollowpoints but want something with a little more oomph but not uncomfortable to shoot. Any suggestions would help out alot. thanks in advance.

I have been using 250 XTP's loaded to 1200 for a ruger bisley. A 300 grain going at 900 is more than enough to do the job, though.