Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots 45 ACP in an Unconventional Precision Platform

Today I tested some loads with the Hornady 250 grain XTP, .452 diameter bullets in the 45 Super.

So far the average velocity of my favorite load was 1295 fps! I am choosing to stop there. No need for more than that.

I also started developing some 230 Grain Hornady HAP bullet loads. I managed to get 1410 fps out of my favorite load there.

All groups were inside my maximum 1-3/4" at 100 yards. Two groups at 1.100" and 1.250"

I shot a few bullets of each top load into some 2 liter water bottles at 100 yards (2 bottles Laid length wise in tandem), using a big box of tightly packed rags as a final back stop.
I covered the box in a garbage bag to basically eliminate getting the box wet from the spraying water. It worked awesome!

I managed to recover 2 bullets. The 230 grain Hap bullet expanded to .677" diameter.( this bullets is advertised to be designed "NOT" to expand). It retained 210 grains and mushroomed back into the base of it's massive hollow point. Looks like it performed well enough. It wasn't an even mushroom though. In this case a bullet that wasn't designed to expand at typical 45 ACP velocities "DOES"! I guess at speeds around 500 fps faster, it isn't too surprising. LOL!

The 250 grain XTP bullet mushroomed, as expected, BEAUTIFULLY! It was just under .750!" That 1295 fps velocity band is perfect for this bullet design!
The velocity of this bullet was 1030 fps (down range, at the 100 yard target) I believe (my notes are down stairs).

Now I know that this little rifle should be capable to take a deer sized animal effectively inside about 125 yards with little potential problem.

I am having so much fun with this!

Sounds like great fun. Wish I were there.

They are a bit expensive but look into Lehigh defense bullets. Solid copper defense intended bullet. Anyways they offer a 120 grain 45 caliber. But interesting to see what you could push those at. Out of 45 acp pistol loading data puts them at 1450.

Stuff like this is why I finally broke down and bought a Contender carbine, which makes it as easy as whipping out the old Visa and ordering a barrel. The list of chamberings on the MGM site is full of good ideas like yours. Haven't even shot the .44 mag barrel yet, and I'm already looking at others. Got most utilitarian purposes covered, so something fun seems like the way to go.

It's threads like this that keep me on the Campfire. Keep her going!

Put a can on it and have a more-modern DeLisle carbine.

In WWII, the Brits put a .45 ACP barrel with an integral suppressor on an Enfield action, for work with the SOE and other clandestine outfits. From all accounts, it was a roaring success.

I would love to install a can, but I live in a country where we are not all that free anymore! Our country is in trouble with our present leader!
He is dragging the west down into a depression far greater than the rest of the country, and has been on a war path banning guns and anything else he can! So much evil corruption in that Lie-beral party!

The advantage with this platform is that it is considerably stronger than any lee-Enfield type action.

Easily . We killed a truckload of deer with the 250 xtp started not much faster than that.