Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Best .45 LC in a rifle

I just got a Marlin in .45 long colt, what is the best factory ammo for deer hunting.

I'd look long and hard at some of the +P offerings by Buffalo Bore, Double Tap or Grizzly. Most of the over the counter factory stuff is pretty anemic for hunting purposes.

Thank you

SC's right if you're looking for commercial ammo.

Otherwise, 25 gr's of Imr 4227 pushes a 250 XTP to 1250 fps in my 7.5" barrel handgun.

Does Hornandy make a Flextip load, that might be an option.

buffalo bore.

Cool rifle.....

I'm not an authority on 45LC ammo so no help but if it's a pre safety I'm green.

Buffalo Bore makes a 325 WFN that scoots around 1300+ out of a revolver. I don't think you'll find a deer that'll catch one.

45 LC going from a handgun to a rifle is significant. Really turns that cartridge in to something amazing. Even the standard 250 Round nose will be a substantial bullet. Be careful as some of the Marlins only take a certain OAL of cartridge. 325 may be a little long for it. Wish I still had my 45 LC Marlin Cowboy back.

The 225 gr Lever-Evolution is rated at 1000 fps out of a rifle. Might be a decent option for a readily available factory load. The "Boutique" loads, while expensive, are certainly better options.

This is the rifle, the fancy Limited Edition. Should I shoot it or just hang it on the wall.

Dang,it's purdy. I would hunt it but just not take it on the roughest hunts.

yep...she is purty............

but they were built to shoot.............

I second that motion!

+3. You gotta shoot that rifle!

Use something with a stout bullet. A carbine-length barrel will get you 2-300 fps more velocity than a revolver does, and lightly-built bullets can fail.

I shot a deer with a Marlin lever gun in 44 Magnum using American Eagle factory ammo, which normally does about 1,250 fps out of a 6" revolver. It was doing close to 1,500 fps out of the lever gun and made a complete mess of the little blacktail that I shot with it.


Okie John

Shoot it,that is what they are made for.

Buying a rifle to hang on the wall just to look at would be like getting married just to look at her.....crazy

Handload..............I like Trailboss plinker loads.........

6 grs Trailboss.......Titegroup.......or Universal........

200 gr RNFP Dardas cast boolit..........

bang some steel..........

Here's a safety delete from Beartooth...........

Really cleans up the receiver looks..........

https://beartoothmercantile-2.mysho...fety-replacement-pin-basic-safety-delete