.45 Colt, 255 grain Missouri Bullet Company SWC Elmer K and 14 grains of Blue Dot.


In.




Out.




In between. Wish I’d hit him three inches higher, but I can “eat up to the bullet hole.”




He ran on impact. Saw not one drop of blood before finding him. He went about 60 yards, which was well out of sight in the thick stuff. I thought I heard the running stop, but it was hard to tell with my ears ringing. Felt like a good hit is the only reason I was looking.


Costs more, but the XTP makes a better blood trail. Anyone have another recommendation for little swamp whitetails?

Fine work! There are few things more satisfying than getting the winter meat with your sixgun.

I assume you're shooting something that will handle Ruger Only 45 Colt loads. If so, 27.0 grains of H110 under Sierra's 45/240/JHP sets them right down and leaves a blood trail Stevie Wonder could follow.

Expanding HP's will wreck a far larger hole than the SWC, thus leaving a bigger blood trail when hit right, and putting them down in shorter order, I've had good experiences with Noslers and Hornady at 44 mag speed.

I think 27 grains of H110 would leave me bleeding from the ears, but it looks like that Sierra is for 45 ACP and will open up at lower speed. Might have to try it. I'm shooting a blackhawk but want to find that nonexistent perfect compromise between easy on my ears and the meat and splattering red paint. I've thought the XTP was a little tough but it did do more damage than the SWC.

For a mid-range load, try 9-10 gr of Unique with something like that 240gr Sierra; it's a lot quieter than the slower powders like Blue Dot, 2400, and H110. I'd adjust the powder charge for ~1,000-1,100 fps or so.

+1 on the 9-10gr. of Unique with 240 grain bullet, sufficient power to get the job done without being unduly hard on the gun, shooter and his ears. If your ears are ringing you need ear protection that is unless you'd like that ringing to be permanent. I have had Tinnitus for more more than 40 years now as a result of an azzclown who thought it funny to shoot his .357 Mag. before I had my ear protection in place. Same jerk nailed me twice, first time the ringing went away the second time was forever.

I can't tell you how many full-snort 44 mags and 45 Colts I've fired off in the woods, not to mention a few line of duty events with service calibers. I have a little tinnitus but have learned to ignore it and I still hear pretty well. We are fortunate that today there are hearing protectors that kick on only when DB levels spike. If I was truly concerned with the few shots fired while hunting, I'd buy them before I'd water down a good hunting load. YMMV.

I'll bet that load works like a champ, but you've got tougher eardrums than me. I like the .45 Colt in part because it gets work done with less fuss and muss. Never liked wearing extra stuff when hunting. I'm thinking a swap back to Unique--I've hunted w. 8-9 grains before--and that Sierra might be the best of all worlds. I just hope it shoots accurately.

Id imagine SOMEONE makes that bullet in a softish hollow point or a HP 452424, 240 AR bullet.

14 grs. of Blue Dot isnt exactly a setter of velocity records (nor is a stiff charge of Unique)and depending on how far you shoot them, a lot if jacketed HPs may or may not open up. When they don't, they do a lot less damage than a flat cast bullet.

If your shooting them fairly close, the XTP 250 gets my vote as it will still expand around 900 fps. impact velocity. If forced to use a factory expanding bullet, Id want the impact speed north of 1,000 fps myself.

The range is real close.

250 grain XTP and around 16-17 grains 2400 some three or four years ago.

22-24 grains of 4227 under a 250 grain Deep Curl shoots good in my 45 Colts. Redhawk and a Bisley.

In the Colt, 270-SAA and season with 8-10gr Unique.

good shooting. I have used a .45 Colt for many years, hunting in N. FL swamps and thickets. 255 grain LSWC over Unique, for the most part. Always deadly on deer and hogs.