45 Colt hunting load

[RalphK22]

What is your favorite 45 Colt bullet weight and load for hunting? White tail a nd maybe black bear.

Sadly I don't own a S&W 45 but do own a 5 1/2 inch Ruger redhawk and a 4 5/8 inch blackhawk.

 

[smithra_66]

What is your favorite 45 Colt bullet weight and load for hunting? White tail a nd maybe black bear.

Sadly I don't own a S&W 45 but do own a 5 1/2 inch Ruger redhawk and a 4 5/8 inch blackhawk.

Keith style LSWC, 250 - 300 grains.

22 grains of 2400 with the 250, 19.5 with the 300.

Either will smack 'em hard.

I'd much rather shoot these out of the Redhawk than a standard blackhawk.

 

[steelslaver]

Keith style LSWC, 250 - 300 grains.

22 grains of 2400 with the 250, 19.5 with the 300.

Either will smack 'em hard.

I'd much rather shoot these out of the Redhawk than a standard blackhawk.

A S&W model 25 or 625 would not like those loads very long

I would not go about 19gr of 2400 behind a 250gr lead slug in a model 25 and that would be pushing it. They are way stronger than factory loads, But with big heavy bullets you do not need a lot of velocity

 

[smithra_66]

A S&W model 25 or 625 would not like those loads very long

I would not go about 19gr of 2400 behind a 250gr lead slug in a model 25 and that would be pushing it. They are way stronger than factory loads, But with big heavy bullets you do not need a lot of velocity

No doubt. These are Ruger-only loads. The OP mentioned that he's going to be shooting these out of Rugers.

And if it were me, I'd use the Redhawk for them or get a super blackhawk with the Dragoon grip!

One other note: Hornady lists 24 gr. of 2400 with a 240 gr. XTP jacketed as max in the 45 Colt in their Ruger/TC data section.

22 gr. is perfectly safe with a 250 lead bullet in a strong gun.

 

[loc n load]

Ruger 45 LC hunting loads.

I have taken several white tails with two Ruger BH’s.
A 4 5/8’s and a 7 1/2”.
I use two bullets in the 4 5/8”, a Hornady 250 gr XTP or my own hard cast 250 SWC, powered by a max load of Unique (Ruger only). I use a Unique in the shorter barrel, so that I do not have the horrendous muzzle flash that accompanies healthy charges of 2400 or 296 in short barrels.
In the 7 1/2” I load the 250 XTP or my own 300 gr cast SWC.
I power these with a close to max load of 2400 for each particular bullet.
These loads are “meat in the freezer” loads for deer. The XTP’s are excellent bullets.
Never shot a black bear with a 45 LC. i have taken three of them with a bow. I have no doubts that either of these 45 Colt loads would be quite effective on black bears.

 

[StrawHat]

The load I used on a dozen plus white tailed deer was the 454424, 260 grain SWC, over as much 3f black powder as would comfortably fit in the case with about 1/32” of compression. That load gives very good acccuracy AND complete penetration from any angle.

Never hunted bear but I would use that same load.

Kevin

 

[bigjeepman]

My camp gun is a 4 5/8" Blackhawk. My bear load (never hunted bear with it) came from slowly working up to this load ...

bullet ... 300gr Hornady XTP
powder ... 21.2 gr H 110
brass ... Starline
primer ... WLP

It is stout and of course a "Ruger only" load. I also have some Beartooth bullets for a hunting/camp load. I have some 265gr Keith bullets and some 280gr WFN but have not developed any loads using them at this point in time.

 

[Dale53]

Handloader #246 has an excellent article on the RCBS 45-270-SAA bullet in all three tier handguns. This is the Keith style bullet developed by Dave Scoville. It is a most excellent bullet for the .45 Colt in all three tiers of gun strength for serious hunting. The article is by Brian Pearce and should be in the hands of all who load and hunt with the .45 Colt IMO.

Handloader #246: April/May 2007.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[CH4]

250/255 hard cast over 8.5 to 9.5 grains of Unique. I use em in my Blackhawk, 625-6 Mountain Gun and Winchester 1873. 1.6” OAL

 

[dave1918a2]

Old friend of mine( now deceased) used a 250 cast SWC with 25.5 of H110 in His Ruger blackhawk. Had lots of meat on the table.

 

[crstrode]

I reckon just about any load in a 45 colt will do the job very nicely - considering that a 40 grain 22LR took several dozen mule deer that dared to enter Mom's vegetable garden over the years.

(yes - we had a permit)

 

[Greenjoytj]

From SAAMI standard to Ruger only power level, the most important aspect of your firearm system (which is comprised of you, your gun and cartridge load) is shot placement onto your target.
Practice with that “just in case load”.

 

[cowboy4evr]

A couple of loads not mentioned is : 8.0 grs of 231 , 13-14 grs of HS-6 . Both loads use a 255 gr cast bullet . The HS-6 load uses a magnum primer . Both of these loads came from John Linebaugh who , with his family members has hunted extensively using a 45 colt hand gun . He stated the 8.0 grs of W231 / HP-38 has taken antelope out past 100 yds very effectively . Regards Paul

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

A couple of loads not mentioned is : 8.0 grs of 231 , 13-14 grs of HS-6 . Both loads use a 255 gr cast bullet . The HS-6 load uses a magnum primer . Both of these loads came from John Linebaugh who , with his family members has hunted extensively using a 45 colt hand gun . He stated the 8.0 grs of W231 / HP-38 has taken antelope out past 100 yds very effectively . Regards Paul

That should be a pleasant/accurate load! I use 6.7 gr of WW231 in mixed Long Colt cases as a SASS Load with 230 RNFP, in 4 " & 5.5" Vaqueros. 200 shots in a session still leave feeling in your hand!

Ivan

 

[NJM15]

Not going over----

I use 8.0 gr. with hard cast 200 grain lead
that's slightly over max using power pistol
just for target shooting.
works good for me .