.45 acp hunting loads

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rxspeed88

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when i got my Hornady LNL i got 500 free bullets so i chose the hornady xtp in 185 grain. My hornady book lists a max of 6.8 grains of bullseye. The gun really likes my warmer loads of 6.4-6.5 grain under a 185grn rainer. Im gonna try to take a whitetail this year from about 40 yards (bowstand). Im shooting a 6" taurus tracker. I was just curious if anyone had any experience with loads like this before i start pushing it a little.
 
rxspeed88,

I've shot deer with both the .357 Magnum and the .45LC, and I can tell you, that bullet weight and construction is EVERYTHING. No way I would hunt deer with 185gr bullets in a .45ACP. Just MHO.

Don
 
ive just got a lot of those. which is why i just figured that i would try em out. Thanks for the heads up. ive got a few of the 230 grn golden sabers left. I guess ill work those up first. Im new to this pistol hunting stuff. Thanks for not flaming me off the thread.
 
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I'd have no fears of punching one thru the ribs with a 185 grainer. Most likely not out to 40 yards though. More like 25 would be tops for me.
 
A .45 caliber hole through the vitals of a deer has been putting meat on the table for centuries.

I personally would leave the hollow points at home and select a nice hard cast SWC that the gun likes.

Defense bullets are intended to expand rapidly and thus limit penatration and maximize wounding in a human torso sized target. This differs from hunting in that an exit wound is greatly preferred as they're much more likely to bleed enough to lead you to your deer after its been shot.

Also you have the potential to shoot through much more muscle n bone than is likely with what the designers had in mind for their SD projectiles
 
It's funny to me how the .45ACP is so often touted as "the ultimate man stopper" but yet is "too small" or "not effective" for whitetail deer. I would guess that the average adult male and the average whitetail deer weigh pretty much the same. It will do the job if the shot is placed correctly.

I would suggest you find the most accurate load in the upper half of the charge range and begin practicing. Make sure you can hit an 8" plate at the farthest distance you will take a shot and then practice some more.

Good luck!
 
birdshooter said:
It's funny to me how the .45ACP is so often touted as "the ultimate man stopper" but yet is "too small" or "not effective" for whitetail deer. I would guess that the average adult male and the average whitetail deer weigh pretty much the same. It will do the job if the shot is placed correctly.

I would suggest you find the most accurate load in the upper half of the charge range and begin practicing. Make sure you can hit an 8" plate at the farthest distance you will take a shot and then practice some more.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

That's because you're not grasping that a cartridge bullet combination to be used on humans only has the goal of making a person STOP what they're doing. You don't care if they run off and bleed out behind a dumpster, get arrested, go to the hospital or die on the scene.

Hunting on the other hand you're goal is to KILL something and limit its mobility to the point you can find and retrieve the carcass.
 
I would be iffy on using 230gr JHPs on deer sized game out of a tiny 45 ACP. 185gr would simply be out of the question. Get a real gun to hunt deer, bonded 240+gr 44 mag or 454 is a MUCH better place to start if you like pistol cartrages. I have seen someone shoot a deer with a 45 ACP and the results would be laughable if it were not so tragic.
 
I've used .45 ACP to shoot numerous wild hogs, but unless I had no other choice, I wouldn't even consider using it on deer. Unless the brain or spine is hit, hogs shot with the .45 can travel a long way, even with a solid hit that penetrates both lungs and exits the far side. My best results have come from using the Lee 230 grain truncated cone bullet cast very hard, since it usually gives complete penetration and a decent blood trail, 230 grain fmjs have the needed penetration through meat and soft tissue, but don't do near as much damage to the lungs and often get caught under the hide on the far side. I gave up on jhps because they seldom gave an exit wound, making recovery problematic. Most of the experience with jhps was with Federal 230 grain Hydra Shoks, admittedly not the greatest bullet ever made, but considered good in its day.
The difference in killing power between the .45 ACP and .44 Magnum is HUGE, I have no qualms with the use of the .44 out to 50 yards on deer, but the .45 in my opinion, lacks the power to be considered a humane, effective caliber for hunting any big game animal.
 
I am all for a quick clean kill on wildlife. I was going to hunt a deer with a 45 Colt just to do it like they did it in the old days. after a long time thinking about it and trying different bullets I opted for using one of my 44 MAG's instead. I am sure you can take a deer with a 45 ACP, I would prefer a solid lead bullet or FMJ also -----with good shot placement mandatory. I personally would not attempt this and if you do I wish you luck.
 
That's because you're not grasping that a cartridge bullet combination to be used on humans only has the goal of making a person STOP what they're doing. You don't care if they run off and bleed out behind a dumpster, get arrested, go to the hospital or die on the scene.

Hunting on the other hand you're goal is to KILL something and limit its mobility to the point you can find and retrieve the carcass.
Click to expand...

Good post, R.W.Dale. I used the .357 Magnum on deer for years. With the right bullet it will work, but personally I find it to be a marginal deer cartridge. Now, the .45LC firing 255gr or heavier SWC's at 1000+fps, that's like the hammer of Thor and puts them down with authority. IF I were to use a .45ACP on deer, it would be using a heavy, hardcast SWC going as fast as I could push it.

Don
 
The 230 gr xtp is a good bullet If your going to use a JHP I think its const.makes it one of the best,How ever I only soot 25 yds and in.
And pass on any marginal shots or bad angles,I also carry a 12 gauge in case
I have a trophy buck come in.
 
40 is the maximum that i can even see from my stand. 30 yards and in is pretty much where i would feel comfortable taking a shot. Ive taken deer with just about everything except a pistol. I considered trying to take one with my g29 10mm with a 6" lone wolf barrel but i shoot the taurus better at distance. Thanks for the advice, it will be well used.
 
To the OP and other considering the ideas presented here:

Be sure to check the laws in your area. 45 ACP is not legal to hunt with in my state.

Stay safe, shoot straight, have fun.

Dan
 
That's because you're not grasping that a cartridge bullet combination to be used on humans only has the goal of making a person STOP what they're doing. You don't care if they run off and bleed out behind a dumpster, get arrested, go to the hospital or die on the scene.

Hunting on the other hand you're goal is to KILL something and limit its mobility to the point you can find and retrieve the carcass.
Click to expand...

^ this!
 
The 45 acp is not a power house cartridge. It was developed as a stopping machine/ knock them down type round. It's not a high penetration round as would be the 45 LC and this is because it is a very low pressure cartridge, which doesn't produce the velocity to produce high penetration. My choice if I were going to use it for deer would in fact be the light 185 gr. XTP with a slow burning powder to push velocity up as much as possible. SWC's would work wekk also as long as you keep the powder slow burning and the bullet light, 185's are great for this. I think Power Pistol would be a premium choice powder with this combination.

It will never do what 45LC or .357 mag do, it wasn't designed for that type of performance.
GS
 
I agree with the wad cutters,but my state while it allows 45acp,we must by law use expanding bullets.I use the 230 gr xtp pushed to just shy of 900fps
and choose my shots carefully.They are a tough accurate bullet and expand as advertised.
 
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