Fully powdered up .45 ACP

You ask if it is possible... the answer is yes, anything is possible...

What powder did you have in mind? Bullseye? Compressed?

A grizzly bear could be killed with a .22 given proper shot placement... how quickly do you wish to dispatch this bruin?

You have introduced too many variables for an accurate answer... fix some variables and maybe we can help you.

Regards...

Its already been done...45 Super.

And yes...a 230 grain bullet @ 1,200 fps is pretty good bear medicine.

Slow powders are required (I have had the best luck with Alliant's Power Pistol)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.45_Super
http://www.realguns.com/archives/020.htm

There are a lot of powders. You can fill a .45 ACP up with black powder and it will be equivalent to an 1870 .44 Webley. Fill it up with Bullseye and I doubt there is a pistol that will hold it.

Pick the RIGHT powder and you can drive a standard 230 grain bullet to 950 fps. Enough to kill a grizzly, but not enough to fight a grizzly, as John Taylor said about hunting elephants with a medium calibre.

As usual, well said by Jim Watson, hey O.P. and anybody else
want to look at a Grizzly up close? At Wash. State University at the
east end of Grimes Way there's a Grizzly enclosure usually about
3 or 4 of them. Go look at them tween the heavy fencing

Handgun phfft, where's the 458 Win Mag.

that said... I have a 625 S&W .45 ACP / .45 Auto RIm
I've read of some .45 AR loads of 250 gr. SWC with 12.5-13
grains of #2400 - chrono it and let us know

Double Tap .45 ACP+P - 230 gr. Speer Gold Dot @ 1,010 FPS

Randall

I've seen a few grizzlies (been to Yellowstone a few times).

The 45 Colt has been known to successfully dispatch grizzlies...It stands to reason that a 45 Super could do it too, provided the right bullets are used.

I agree though...a decent rifle would be best, but they can be hard to wear comfortably in a holster.

Maybe a crew served weapon would be best...

Look up ".460 Rowland". Ballistically similar to .44 Magnum, but with a larger diameter bullet like a .45 Colt. Fired from a slightly-modified 1911 (heavier springs, different barrel w/ compensator)

45 super can't be handled in lots of guns. The 460 rowland was made 460 on purpose so idiots with 45's can't try to shoot them. I wish my piece could handle a 45 super, I would carry those all day.

My 45 Super is a Springfield XD 45...bone stock, out of the box. (but a heavier recoil spring would be OK...not required, but probably not a bad idea either)

For the O.P.
SAAMI spec.pressure levels
.45 ACP 21,000 PSI
.45 ACP +P 23,000 PSI

I think .45 Super is in the 27,000 range

MOst recommend a heavier recoil spring
in a 1911 if it gets a steady diet of +P

Personally I wouldn't fire it in my S&W 1911
nor my 625 Perhaps in a Ruger Blackhawk with the
.45 ACP cylinder or a T/'C Contender.

If I wanted to push a heavy bullet downrange
I'd get a .41 Magnum minimum. or stay with the
RUger Blackhawk Conbertible and use the .45 Colt
cylinder for +P loads. I do have an 1894 Marlin
chambered for .45 Colt and Double Tap as well as
Buffalo Bore offer enough bullet weight and velocity
in +P for that cartridge for a camp gun for the cook
but Griz, long gun and Belted Magnum

WSU vet school Along with Idaho Fish & Game
study Bear diesease is why they have the Grizzlies.

Randall

Ask and you shall receive...

Also converted with original barrel to 45 Super. You really need to put the flat bottom slide stop on for the Super.

http://www.realguns.com/archives/106.htm
http://www.realguns.com/loads/460Rowland.htm

Big Boomer -

How is that Gold Cup holding up to the .460 Rowland? Any signs of frame damage?

I have an "extra" 1911 laying around that I've considered converting to .460 Rowland, but I don't want to break it. (It's a steel frame Commander.)

First, is it possible to design a .45 ACP handgun that can withstand a full powder charge? I mean fill the casing up completely with powder. If so, how much power do you estimate that cartridge to have? Enough to kill a grizzly?

Click to expand...

I suppose it could be done.
But I would rather have standard or +P loads and be able to make rapid and accurate follow-up shots.
After all, if I'm being charged by a bear, I'm not going to try a one-shot-stop....instead I would unload the entire magazine in to bear as fast as possible.

First, is it possible to design a .45 ACP handgun that can withstand a full powder charge? I mean fill the casing up completely with powder. If so, how much power do you estimate that cartridge to have? Enough to kill a grizzly?

Click to expand...

Without reference to what KIND of powder, that's a meaningless question. Different powders have different volumes, burning rates and other qualities.

There are in fact powders which will fill most of the usable volume of a .45acp case while maintaining safe pressures.

Buy yourself one of the name brand reloading manuals (Sierra, Hornady, etc.) and a copy of "Cartridges of the World".

Bah its been done, I wanna see a gun that can take a .45 acp case full of C4.

Without reference to what KIND of powder, that's a meaningless question.

Click to expand...

Zactly!

Many powder that would completely fill the case would not give enough power to get the bullet out of the barrel.

Others would blow up a gun, any gun, not just a 1911.

rc