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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 34
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 34 |
Just bought an S&W Model 25, 6.5" barrel for target work and hopefully for a short range Whitetail deer gun.
What load do you use? Cast Lead or Hollow Point?
Powder type, charge, velocity, etc?
Scope or irons?
How was performance on the deer?
I'm thinking that 50 yard shots or less would be typical for me where I hunt in the thick stuff.
Thanks.
Marlin- only the best leverguns.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,949
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,949 |
I have only used by .45LC on pigs with hardcast LBTs but I would be inclined to go with a jackets HP or soft for deer. Two that leap to the front would be the Hornady XTP or the Barnes XPB http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/pistol/I know Barnes lists the 225 for the .45LC but the 185 at about 1300fps would do just fine on any whitetail and would be easy on your Smith. I prefer open sight on any pistol unless your vision is really compromising accuracy, if I want the bulk of a scope I would take a rifle.
Hunt hard, kill clean, waste nothing and offer no apologies.
"In rifle work, group size is of some interest...but it is well to remember that a rifleman does not shoot groups, he shoots shots." Jeff Cooper
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,955
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,955 |
I use Wide Flat Nose LBT's on all of my deer (iron sights). A friend and I usually shoot one apiece every year during gun season. I shoot 300-325's at 1,300 (H110, Lil' Gun, 2400); he uses 260-280 at 900 (Unique). They drop regardless(especially when bone is hit).
Very few hollow or soft points will always open at the speeds you need to hold your 25 at. None, to my knowledge, will open at 50, but have used SP's on deer and hogs and they work too, just hit the right spot.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,419
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,419 |
“Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils.” - General John Stark.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 20,896 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 20,896 Likes: 1 |
24.5 gr of IMR 4227 gives me 1300+ in my 7 1/2" Ruger Hunters with a 250 gr XTP & 3 shot 1 hole groups off the bench at 50 yards.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day that a U.S. president would raise an army to invade his own country." Robert E. Lee
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,739
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,739 |
....The Winchester model 92 or the Rossi copy currently in production makes a handy/dandy little deer gun for still hunting/stalking deer and has lots more pop with it's 16" barrel when compared to handgun wobblies (and costs little more than a quality handgun). I've killed deer with my Ruger .41 mag blackhawk, but honestly think of it more as stunt work that unnecessarily limits opportunities for most hunters who have limited time in the field.For a fellow like me, wife gone, family grown, handguns work since I've got lots of days over the course of a season when I can be in the wood, but for the guy who has only a few days each season to collect his venison, I'd recommend going with more barrel on your .45 Colt gun.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 889
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 889 |
What about Ruger Redhawks,can they be loaded to the same pressure as Blackhawks, and if not, why?
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,935 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,935 Likes: 1 |
What about Ruger Redhawks,can they be loaded to the same pressure as Blackhawks, and if not, why? Yes the redhawks are stronger than the Blackhawks
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 607
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 607 |
Took a large doe once with a 45LC. It did a number on her at 40 yards.
ALCOHOL TOBACCO & FIREARMS Should be a covenience store, not a government agency.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 835
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 835 |
By far most of my handgun kills on deer were with a .44 Mag. but I did use a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt to take a few some years ago. You can't use a Smith in .45 Colt with loads any heavier than factory which are pretty anemic. In the Ruger you can load the .45 Colt to .44 Mag. levels but DO NOT attempt this with the Smith. Still, safe loads should give you 850-900fps easily with a 250 cast bullet and that will be more than enough for deer.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 397
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 397 |
I carried a Ruger BH in 45LC while stationed in Alaska back in the early 70's. I used the 250 gr hard cast SWC Keith style bullets over (??)grs of 2400. I killed moose, black bear, caribou amd a ton of snowshoe hares with it. It is a great old cartridge and can be loaded to compare with a 44 magnum in the Rugers.
Retired U.S. Army LM-NRA,GOA,& MOAA.
Someone said, "Don't mess with old men, especially those who are veterans!!! They'll not fight you, they'll kill you"!!!
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