I am going to deer hunt this year with this rifle in Indiana. I have never loaded for it and I am looking for some info. I was able to get my hands on some Hornady 230 gr. XTP's, H110. CCI 350 primers and some Win. brass. The Hornady 230 gr. bullets was all I could find in my area. Does any one have any pet loads for this combination? How does it work on deer? Thanks in advance for your help.
PaPa260
PaPa, 26 gr of H 110 for that light a bullet.
I'd use a 300 grain Hardcast lead bullet with a flat metplat & 18 gr of H110 as it will penetrate any deer from any angle as nothing survives a 45 caliber hole through the heart lung area and two holes leaves a better blood trail.(It will shoot 5 shot 2" groups @100 with a low power scope even in Microgroove barrels.)
Be sure to use a hard crimp, especially in a tubular magazine.
Speed in big bores does not kill, penetration does.
Good hunting!
I like 2400 in the 45 Colt. Especially in rifles. I shoot a 255 grain bullet that I cast in my Low Wall. With a Winchester WLP primer. I load 20.0 grains of 2400. I like 2400 because it gives good case fill, and I prefer good case fill. Just make sure you use a heavy crimp. A heavy crimp give better powder burn. If you do not do a heavy crimp then you wil normally get a little unburned powder and residue in the barrel. Tom.
I appreciate the information. I can't use the Hornady 230 gr. bullets that I bought, as they don't have a cannulure to crimp into. In talking to Hornady, the 230 gr. XTP's bullets are for use in 45 ACP. So the search continues for bullets. Is anyone having trouble finding pistol bullets to load?
PaPa260
No, there are lots of excellent cast bullets available.
These are crushers !
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=973965
The 250 grain Hornady XTP is an excellent 45 Colt bullet. I use that bullet in my Marlin 1894. They should be readily available from a number of mail order firms. H110/Win296, H4227, and 2400 are all good 45 colt powders.
There are cazillions of loads for this round and rifle. One thing I would tell you is that BossLady seems to know her stuff. I shoot a lot of Marlins, and I've found that cast leads are about the best accuracy, effectiveness and cost wise, but many of the jacketed bullets perform well also. I personally would keep it at the 300 grain bullet area.
I use a lot of 2400, but it is a little smokey sometimes. Can leave some granuals in the gun. 110 might be better for hunting, but I have some great 44 Mag loads with both 296 and 2400. 45 Colt is a great round for most of Indiana, especially the hilly areas.
I live in Brown County, not far from where you are talking, inside yellowwood state forest. Lots of deer this year. Many will starve this winter as they are getting a little skinny from the drought.
Well, I finally got my hands on some Speer 260 gr. JHP's. I loaded them on top of 21.6 gr. of H110, ignited by CCI 350's in Winchester brass. I shot them over a chronograph and they were running 1510 fps out of the 24" barrel. The load was producing
2 1/2" groups at 100 yards off a solid bench with a front rest and a rear bag. I was seeing no pressure signs at all. I believe it would shoot tighter with a scope but I am going to use the open sights. Seems like 45 caliber bullets are hard to find around here locally. I appreciate all the help!
Good Hunting
PaPa260
That load ought to shoot through any deer. I'll bet it will make meat just fine.
I am going to deer hunt this year with this rifle in Indiana. I have never loaded for it and I am looking for some info. I was able to get my hands on some Hornady 230 gr. XTP's, H110. CCI 350 primers and some Win. brass. The Hornady 230 gr. bullets was all I could find in my area. Does any one have any pet loads for this combination? How does it work on deer? Thanks in advance for your help.
PaPa260
I load my Rossi .45 LC with ~ 250 grain Lee RNFP home cast bullets and 8 grains of Unique . If I want hotter , I shoot the Marlin .44 Mag . Or .45-70 .
God bless
Wyr
I'm perfectly happy with cast 250gr RNFP in mine. I use a lot of Laser Casts with Trail Boss. To me it's a 100 yard gun. Once you establish that you can make a .45 hole all the way through a deer, what's the need for anything beyond that?
When did Indiana start letting you hunt with centerfire rifles?
I remember what a big deal it was when they started allowing handguns. It wasn't just the lefties protesting that one.
It's one of the reasons I stayed in the N/W. Maybe I should have paid more attention to the other politics ...
I'm perfectly happy with cast 250gr RNFP in mine. I use a lot of Laser Casts with Trail Boss. To me it's a 100 yard gun. Once you establish that you can make a .45 hole all the way through a deer, what's the need for anything beyond that?
When did Indiana start letting you hunt with centerfire rifles?
I remember what a big deal it was when they started allowing handguns. It wasn't just the lefties protesting that one.
It's one of the reasons I stayed in the N/W. Maybe I should have paid more attention to the other politics ...
The legal cartridges for rifles in Indiana are restricted to pistol cartridges with a specification that has a loophole, in that the adventurous are necking up the WSSM case to .358 caliber and duplicating Whelan performance and staying within the definition of case length and caliber.
Stupid politics but when are politics smart.
JW
Early in my cowboy action shooting career, I bought a used 1894 CB in .45 LC with a slick action job. The reduced CAS loads blew powder in my face, as will most .45 LC rifles with reduced loads. I retired this gun from CAS and made a 'diller killer out of it. I removed the sights, put blanks in the slots, mounted a Bushnell Holosight and added a Brownell's stick on high comb. I loaded 300 gr. cast and jacketed bullets to the max with 4227. They shoot around 1500+ fps. Just put the Holosight grid on a 'diller, pull the trigger and stuff happens. Great twilight gun for when the little critters come out to play. As one can imagine, NO spitting powder here, as a full pressure load will seal the ctg. case against the chamber walls.
DF