I'd prefer to carry a .44 in the woods since black bears are common here, but I own a .45 LC mountain gun. I'm used to shooting .45 auto and standard LC loads in my two mountan guns. What would you recommend as a potent woods carry load in .45 LC?
Most potent .45 LC load for mountan gun
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WW Silvertips or CCI / Blazer makes an accurate HP. A big chunk of lead will do the trick. A cat is not hard to kill.
If you're wanting a factory load then try this Buffalo Bore load Standard Pressure Heavy 45 Colt Pistol | Handgun Ammunition.
If handloading, check the manuals...there are plenty of loads with more zip than the factory offerings.
If handloading, check the manuals...there are plenty of loads with more zip than the factory offerings.
Here's some interesting reading about Smiths in 45 Colt. Gunnotes...Smith & Wesson Mod 25-5
Okie John
Okie John
WPWarhawk
US Veteran
A factory .45 Colt 255 RNFP will dispatch a black bear with ease if you plant it correctly.
So a 9.0 gr. Unique 255 gr SWC will do the same thing at least as well. That should be good for about 900 fps.
These big bullets take a lot to stop them.
So a 9.0 gr. Unique 255 gr SWC will do the same thing at least as well. That should be good for about 900 fps.
These big bullets take a lot to stop them.
SW357Addict
Member
Buffalo Bore .45 LC+P 300gr 1,325 fps/M.E. 1,267 ft. lbs.
I wouldn't shoot that BB +P 300gr in my MG. JMHO.
Dale53
Member
I am with you, ddixie884. The best article I have read on the .45 Colt is John Linebaugh's information. John is the "real deal" and his information is reliable. I suggest that anyone interested in shooting hunting loads in the S&W (as well as the Ruger Blackhawk) might want to take a look at it. The S&W information is at the tail end of the article:
Linebaugh's Custom Sixguns - Heavyweight Bullets
FWIW
Dale53
Stainz
Member
GA Arms did load the 200gr Gold Dot JHP to supposedly SAAMI spec's for a .45 Colt. They made 1,123 fps from my 625MG when I chrono-ed them. Pretty loud. My favorite load, however, is a lower speed designed Speer Gold Dot - the #4484 250gr. It, or a 255gr LSWC, over 5.9 gr Titegroup bests 800 fps from my MG's. The GD's should be great for thin skinned while the lead load should do for thicker skinned targets. Mild enough to permit wood grips and rapid follow up shots whilw insuring maximum revolver life, yet potent.
Stainz
Stainz
mtscout
Member
Thanks for the Linebaugh article.
That was a good read.
That was a good read.
dirtygrunt95
Member
I carry the BB 255 grn swc keith load in mine. Big bullet at 950 fps and it's safe for the mtn gun. Also it is quite controllable for a fast follow up shot.
I have shot hundreds of 255 grain Keith SWC over 10 grains of Unique in mine without any apparent ill effects. Not a punishing load to shooter or gun. I have never shot a deer with the Mt. Gun, but I have shot several with a 7.5 inch Old Model Blackhawk with that load. Big hole in, big hole out, deer drops right there.
Snapping Twig
Member
I've got a 25-7 and I feed it 255g Cast SWC over 9g Unique, original 900fps BP duplicate.
When the Army outlined the specs for what would become the .45 Colt, they required a bullet that would completely penetrate a horse at 100 yards and kill the man hiding behind it.
It did.
It was adopted.
That's what I shoot.
Should be safe in a mountain gun.
When the Army outlined the specs for what would become the .45 Colt, they required a bullet that would completely penetrate a horse at 100 yards and kill the man hiding behind it.
It did.
It was adopted.
That's what I shoot.
Should be safe in a mountain gun.
devildog66
Member
Great references and that should certainly make one comfortable in the choice to carry a .45 Colt cartridge revolver.
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