Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Orangeville, Pennsylvania
    (Columbia County)
    Age
    33
    Posts
    478
    Rep Power
    35858

    Default 45 long colt on deer?

    ive heard that the 45long colt would work for deer but only if they are loaded very hot and used in a ruger i dont have a ruger and i do have the H&R hartford single action some say that they wont handle "hunting" loads others say they will i was goin to use a mild load like a 230 cast flat point at or around 1100fps goin to be shots under 50yds before goin out and buyin every thing just thought id ask
    ZRT: SECTOR 3(SNIPER) Among othe tasks...

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    State College, Pennsylvania
    (Centre County)
    Posts
    205
    Rep Power
    17

    Default Re: 45 long colt on deer?

    according to wikipedia moderate .45 LC loads (not weak ones) are good enough for deer and black bear at short ranges.

    P.S. a little punctuation might make the post easier to read.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    (Westmoreland County)
    Posts
    363
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: 45 long colt on deer?

    Here you go:

    I've heard that .45LC would work for deer if they are loaded very hot and used in a Ruger lever action rifle. I don't have a Ruger, but I do have an H&R Hartford single action. Many say that this rifle won't handle hunting loads and others say it will. I was planning to use a mild load like a 230 cast flat point at, or around, 1100FPS. Most shots will be within 50 yards. Prior to purchasing the ammo, I would like any input that may be available.
    I own guns!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Apolacon Township, Pennsylvania
    (Susquehanna County)
    Age
    77
    Posts
    5,797
    Rep Power
    21474859

    Default Re: 45 long colt on deer?

    A rule of thumb for pistol hunters that I remember seeing so long ago that I can't recall the source was: .40/200/1000, that is a minimum .40 caliber bullet of 200 grains traveling at 1000 fps. Your 230 gr. 1100 fps .45 Colt should do fine for whitetail deer at the ranges you mention. Just use a good bullet and pick your shots.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Adams County, Pennsylvania
    (Adams County)
    Posts
    21
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: 45 long colt on deer?

    No need to really push the 45 Colt over what it was designed to do.

    I just went down this road over the past few months. I thought I needed Ruger loads in the 45 Colt to make a go of deer hunting. Seems that isn't the case. This was a welcome wake up call for me since I don't like pushing loads and I'm not a big fan of big recoil.

    The bottom line from the experienced:
    A 250-260gr cast bullet designed for hunting (large meplat or driving band) @ 900 fps will sail right through deer.

    Check out Bear Tooth Bullets. They have some good hunting bullets for the 45 Colt that can be loaded to standard pressure and work just fine.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Orangeville, Pennsylvania
    (Columbia County)
    Age
    33
    Posts
    478
    Rep Power
    35858

    Default Re: 45 long colt on deer?

    thank. now to load a couple batches.
    ZRT: SECTOR 3(SNIPER) Among othe tasks...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Mountain Top, Pennsylvania
    (Luzerne County)
    Age
    53
    Posts
    11,944
    Rep Power
    632700

    Default Re: 45 long colt on deer?

    If you limit your shots to the ranges you can hit accurately the 45LC standard loads (AKA, not hot "ruger" loads) will be more than sufficient.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Brookville, Pennsylvania
    (Jefferson County)
    Age
    51
    Posts
    20,076
    Rep Power
    21474874

    Default Re: 45 long colt on deer?

    Quote Originally Posted by toadyoforangeville View Post
    ive heard that the 45long colt would work for deer but only if they are loaded very hot and used in a ruger i dont have a ruger and i do have the H&R hartford single action some say that they wont handle "hunting" loads others say they will i was goin to use a mild load like a 230 cast flat point at or around 1100fps goin to be shots under 50yds before goin out and buyin every thing just thought id ask
    230gr @ 1100fps is probably over the threshold for that firearm. Thats 41-44mag energy territory. And to push a slug that fast, you'd have to be pushing the pressure limits.

    A 250gr at 700-900fps (std 45LC loads) will take down a deer.

    There are way too many people out there preaching that it takes uber-magnums to hunt deer. A std 250gr 45LC slug will probably pass through a deer just like a 44mag will. (remember, heavy bullets retain energy better than lighter ones) If the bullet has enough energy to pass completely through, then any remaining energy that the bullet has is a waste. Energy only matters when 100% of it is transfered(requires bullet to stop within target), otherwise you are working on hole damage to stop the critter.

    Just load up some 240-250gr JHP's that expand at low velocity and get them at the mid-top end of the standard pressure levels for the 45 LC. Aim for the heart & lung area just like you would with any "deer" rifle. Keep your shots at short range.
    RIP: SFN, 1861, twoeggsup, Lambo, jamesjo, JayBell, 32 Magnum, Pro2A, mrwildroot, dregan, Frenchy, Fragger, ungawa, Mtn Jack, Grapeshot, R.W.J., PennsyPlinker, Statkowski, Deanimator, roland, aubie515

    Don't end up in my signature!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Palmyra, Pennsylvania
    (Lebanon County)
    Posts
    273
    Rep Power
    444029

    Default Re: 45 long colt on deer?

    if you want a .45 caliber that is 'magnumized' then use a .45-70...

    seriously, the .45LC and .44-40 were taking game animals long before modern spitzer bullets and magnum handgun rounds were fathomed; you'll be fine (even with moderate cowboy loads) with something in the range of 225 gr to 250 gr solid lead for penetration and a large diameter hole;

    you'll have the advantage of having your hearing intact, unlike your hunting buddies that insist on .44 magnum or .454 casull...you can always tell those guys when they start shoutin 'what!!! can ya speal up?!? I can't hear ya!'

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Danielsville, Pennsylvania
    (Northampton County)
    Age
    67
    Posts
    70
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: 45 long colt on deer?

    Might I suggest that you use a hard cast lead flatnose gas checked bullet with a wide .350" metplat area. This Cast Performance Bullet should work great on deer: http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...778&t=11082005
    Try this bullet with about 10.0gr. of Hodgdon's HS-6 and it should give you around 900FPS. Let us know how you make out!
    Don

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Hunting deer w/ a .50 BMG
    By species0113 in forum Hunting
    Replies: 96
    Last Post: February 4th, 2014, 12:48 AM
  2. Are there any deer??
    By sureshot43 in forum General
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: November 24th, 2008, 11:29 AM
  3. Deer decoys
    By Montell C. Williams in forum General
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: October 18th, 2007, 11:28 AM
  4. Possible Truce On Deer War
    By bluetick in forum General
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: May 19th, 2007, 01:21 AM
  5. Deer herds....
    By Member0001 in forum General
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: April 13th, 2007, 11:23 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •