Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Linebaugh & the 45 Colt, experiences?

Linebaugh has some interesting viewpoints on the 45 Colt and Ruger SA revolvers. He has load data that he claims acceptable for the Ruger's strength levels (note: not New Vaquero). Has anyone attempted to shoot their Ruger/FA/TC with loads listed on his website? I appreciate any responses or personal experiences.

Recently, I acquired a new SS, BH, 45 Colt, 7 1/2" and have been upping the loads using 280gr GC with some amazing results. A big change was the switch to H110. I am chronographing 1,388fps, 12 SD with accuracy in league with my FA83. Impessive.

Linebaugh knows his stuff; I wouln't hesitate to use his load data. Just remember that all guns are a law unto themselves, so work up.

I've used some of his loads in the past, but discontinued the practice. I have other .45 Colt revolvers and I was worried that one of the Linebaugh loads might find their way into one of my classics and kB!

I'm searching for 300 at 1200. Not difficult to reach, but more than I want to accidently put in my Mountain Gun!

Dan

When I need more power than a .45 Colt load that gives 1000 fps with a 250 grain bullet, I switch to a rifle.
I have killed quite a few hogs, and not a small number of deer with such a load. I never felt I needed more.

I load the 325 gr WLN's in my 5 1/2" Bisley and they will not fit in my other 45's so I have no concern there. Though I have loaded hotter I now run them at 1200 fps. If I want more thump I move up to my 475 or 500 Linebaugh but still load under 1200 fps.

I use 270 leadheads in my redhawk, with about 10.5 grains of unique, my Vaquero which is the old model gets nothing but powder puff loads. Gonna try some bullets from Hawk1, 280's with a Monster Meplat, gonna start at 8.5 grs of unique and work up to 10.5, see how they shoot. les

The latest round of testing today saw the 280gr GC running 1,487 fps with near max volume of H110. Accuracy has improved slightly, however, I am approaching my recoil tolerance saturation point. Switching from the BH, 7 1/2" to the Vaquero 4 5/8" increased recoil and muzzle blast noticeably.

The testing isn't about any preconceived need on my part, rather an exploration of capacity and potential. Some have advocated that the 45 Colt in strong handguns outperform 44 Magnums while on the sidelines the expected naysayers advise that if one wanted more power the 44 Magnum, 454 Casull and above would be preferable. Linebaugh apparently disagrees and his data and reasoning seem valid from what I have seen and experienced with several decades of loading all three of the aforementioned rounds.

While I have no disagreement with the sentiment that a rifle is a good place to look for higher power levels, the reality is I often use a handgun only when hiking the backcountry. With slightly warm loads (11gr Unique, 280gr GC) I have taken two black bear and two big bull elk with the Vaquero 45 Colt. Whether there is an advantage to higher loading levels, at the distances I would attempt to shoot game or nasty critters with a revolver, the warm loads have worked fine. Extend the distance and the situation could alter.

You must be using the Vaquero and not a New Model Vaquero for your testing. Les

Strong handguns in 45 Colt outperform the 44 Magnum by bore size only, based on using solids of course. Loading a 45 to 44 pressure in the same make unaltered guns is just not needed for my uses anyway.

For deer sized game I've ran 325's at 1,320 and seen 260's at 800 do the same work at the same ranges. Throw 280's and 300's in there too. Shot placement is the determining factor. If shooting for lungs I'd go with as wide and fast as could be shot accurately; a shot in the front of the lungs is not so critical.
Even a Keith bullet kills well at pretty sedate speeds, if you hit what needs hitting.

You can run same bullet weights to the same speeds as 44 Mags safely because of reduction in pressure. While Linebaugh's testing demonstrates the safety of going to higher levels, I believe even he uses a pretty sedate loads for most of his game hunting, because it works fine. "Long range punch press" I believe are his words.

Loading to higher speeds is for two reasons: 1.Greater soft tissue displacement across the meplat. 2. Increased penetration with a reduction in meplat size (usually for DG). I can't comment on DG protection. I do know that most with experience would rather have hitting ability over sheer power.

A WFN 44, from what I've seen, wounds as large as a 45 LFN or Keith bullet when pushed to like speeds (1,200-1,300) and ranges. A WFN in 45 increases this ability that a 44 can't do without pushing even faster. Ironically, when the shots are placed properly the degrees of dead are moot.

The 44 with like weights theoretically penetrate deeper, but since every bullet generally exits its hard to quantify.

FWIW I currently run 45 325's at 1,150-1,200. That being said, I would easily run a 44 250 at 900 and not feel a real "need" for more, though in my corrupt mind a 45 is ALWAYS superior to a 43! (grins)

Handloader

I understand what you are saying. Where, and what I hunt also helps make my decisions on platform and load. In Florida, I don't see many long range shot opportunities, and of course, there is no real dangerous game.
There are certainly times when I take a heavy loaded Ruger SA or Smith DA revolver into the swamps or thickets, but the game I am after is perfectly willing to fall down when presented with a lesser load.