New Blackhawk...help!

[huntswithdogs]

I just got a new(to me) BH .45colt with a 7 1/2" barrel. I got some 200gr RN bullets with it. I think these may be marginal for hunting. Are there any factory loads that can be bought, without going MailOrder,that would be better. I do reload,but didn't get any dies,and such just yet.

So far I'm pretty happy with it. At 25yds, I'm  shooting 2" groups. For me,that's pretty good,as I'm not that good without a piece of glass mounted on top.

Thanks
HWD

[BlkHawk73]

What ya hunting?

[huntswithdogs]

Duh! Color my cheeks pink!

Sorry,fellers. I was hopefully gonna deer hunt with it. Our deer up here in the mountains don"t run that large. Maybe up to 115-120 lbs for a doe. Bucks run up to about 150lbs. I'll be hunting from a treestand and will limit my shot to bow ranges,maybe out to 50yds. I'll be carring a rifle also and I don't like pushing the envelope too much. Too far? USE RIFLE!

Thanks again,

HWD

[Catfish]

In factory ammo should be good with about any Jacketed bullets, soft point or hole point, in the 250 gn. range, plus or minus 30 gns.

[Gregory]

In factory ammo should be good with about any Jacketed bullets, soft point or hole point, in the 250 gn. range, plus or minus 30 gns.

Here in Illinois handgun ammo must make  500 ft-lbs of muzzle energy as a min. for deer hunting.  Most standard factory 45 Colt loads won't do this.  
http://www.federalcartridge.com/default.asp?pg=27

[DakotaElkSlayer]

In factory ammo should be good with about any Jacketed bullets, soft point or hole point, in the 250 gn. range, plus or minus 30 gns.

Here in Illinois handgun ammo must make  500 ft-lbs of muzzle energy as a min. for deer hunting.  Most standard factory 45 Colt loads won't do this.  

Greg, silly question...  How in the heck would one of your conservation officers know if the above law was being adhered to, or not?

Jim

[Gregory]

In factory ammo should be good with about any Jacketed bullets, soft point or hole point, in the 250 gn. range, plus or minus 30 gns.

 
Here in Illinois handgun ammo must make  500 ft-lbs of muzzle energy as a min. for deer hunting.  Most standard factory 45 Colt loads won't do this.  

 
Greg, silly question...  How in the heck would one of your conservation officers know if the above law was being adhered to, or not?
 
Jim

 
 
According to the law the ammunition used must be available as a factory loaded round with published ballistics showing the min energy requirement.
Hey....I didn't write the law.  But I wouldn't hunt with anemic factory loads either.  The 45 colt is a fine hunting round when loaded to it's potential, standard factory loads are not great deer rounds.  
I've got a 44 Special that with handloads (250 gr SWC at 1000 fps) would be more than adequate for deer, but I must find a factory load to show ballistics over 500 ft-lbs to be legal if I choose to hunt deer with it.   Even though I would hunt with my handloads.

[swiftman]

Federal makes a soft lead 225 grain semi-wadcutter hollow pt that should work at short range it is not a hot load but shoots good in my 4 5/8 inch BH. This would not be legal here in Ill, but should do the job. If you get some dies you can look in most reloading manuals to find loads for ruger and Thompson center 45colt loads that will supe it up quit a bit.
I would go with a 250gr bullet of jhp or lead semi wad cutter and what ever powder and load you can get to shoot the best in yourgun.
I have a ruger 45 colt BH that is suped up some don't know if CO would think it is legal unless he touched it of then he would know once his ears stoped ringing and hopefully he still has a hold of it.

[Tom C.]

Here in Maryland, the requirements are 6" barrel and 700 ft. lbs. energy. In .45 Colt, that means something from Corbon or Buffalo Bore and a few others. Not too factory loads make that power in .45 Colt.