45 LC
- Thread starter vega
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smokemaker
Member
What kind of gun are you planning on useing the .45 LC in? That answers the question some.
S&W 25, nope
Dan Wesson or Ruger revolvers, yup
Of course our Canadian friends might pipe up about Whinny the Pooh and declare that a derringer using .22 shorts is enough.
OK Mr. Moderator, just kidding about the last line... really.
S&W 25, nope
Dan Wesson or Ruger revolvers, yup
Of course our Canadian friends might pipe up about Whinny the Pooh and declare that a derringer using .22 shorts is enough.
OK Mr. Moderator, just kidding about the last line... really.
Greybeard
Member
With the better loads out of the built-like-a-battleship Rugers, the 45 Colt will stop about as well - or about as poorly - as a 44 mag.
TJC
Member
I assume you are talking about a black bear. If so, the .45 LC will stop one. I would also feel very comfortable using my reloads in one of my S&W 25's for bear. No douby in my mind they would work.
I've only shot 2 black bears in all my years of hunting and both were shot with .44 mag reloads from a handgun. The .45 LC with the right reloads will do just as well as the .44 with no trouble.
I've only shot 2 black bears in all my years of hunting and both were shot with .44 mag reloads from a handgun. The .45 LC with the right reloads will do just as well as the .44 with no trouble.
Harve Curry
Member
Vega,
45 long Colt will kill black bears as long as you place your shots accurately.
One or two summers ago a Arizona camper killed a attacking black bear that mauled him in his sleeping bag with a Ruger Vaquero 45LC. He was sleeping on a cot under the stars and the bear came in and tore him up. In the dark he couldn't find the gun he'd had near him or see what was attacking him. He hollered for his brother to turn on the truck lights, wiped the blood from his face and saw the bear a few feet in front of him. He shot the bear dead. As I recall this guy's a cowboy action shooter from southern Arizona.
I used an original 1873 Winchester that was well worn and shot out so I had it converted from 44-40 to 45LC and also cut to a short rifle. It was barely ready to use and I had just sighted it in with 225gr SWC lead bullets over 7.5gr of Unique, a pretty light plinkin load. This 300 pound black bear was killed with it. The bear was coming down a tree head first, left front leg extended ready to smack me or a dog. Since he was above me the 1st shot was put into the base of his throat and went upward into his chest area. The bear turned on the tree and I put the 2nd shot into the armpit, he went to a limb and I couldn't see anything but his butt so I hit him in the right hip. He fell and hit the ground dead. I think it had taken about 7 to 10 seconds for the 1st two bullets to take effect.
I think a charging sow, with cubs who is bent on getting to you, that would require something substantial. Like a heavy loaded 44/45 or better a 12 ga slug, or a 20 ga slug put in the right place and another quick shot for good measure.
The Cabela's Millenium is a Italian copy of a Colt SAA and will not take the loads of a Ruger which is a magnum frame. If your not stuck on the 45LC cartridge a better choice for reloaders is the 44 special. It's case is not as fat and therefore the cylinder has more strength. In a Colt SAA size gun it's not as large to carry around as a Ruger and still give you 1000+ FPS.
45 long Colt will kill black bears as long as you place your shots accurately.
One or two summers ago a Arizona camper killed a attacking black bear that mauled him in his sleeping bag with a Ruger Vaquero 45LC. He was sleeping on a cot under the stars and the bear came in and tore him up. In the dark he couldn't find the gun he'd had near him or see what was attacking him. He hollered for his brother to turn on the truck lights, wiped the blood from his face and saw the bear a few feet in front of him. He shot the bear dead. As I recall this guy's a cowboy action shooter from southern Arizona.
I used an original 1873 Winchester that was well worn and shot out so I had it converted from 44-40 to 45LC and also cut to a short rifle. It was barely ready to use and I had just sighted it in with 225gr SWC lead bullets over 7.5gr of Unique, a pretty light plinkin load. This 300 pound black bear was killed with it. The bear was coming down a tree head first, left front leg extended ready to smack me or a dog. Since he was above me the 1st shot was put into the base of his throat and went upward into his chest area. The bear turned on the tree and I put the 2nd shot into the armpit, he went to a limb and I couldn't see anything but his butt so I hit him in the right hip. He fell and hit the ground dead. I think it had taken about 7 to 10 seconds for the 1st two bullets to take effect.
I think a charging sow, with cubs who is bent on getting to you, that would require something substantial. Like a heavy loaded 44/45 or better a 12 ga slug, or a 20 ga slug put in the right place and another quick shot for good measure.
The Cabela's Millenium is a Italian copy of a Colt SAA and will not take the loads of a Ruger which is a magnum frame. If your not stuck on the 45LC cartridge a better choice for reloaders is the 44 special. It's case is not as fat and therefore the cylinder has more strength. In a Colt SAA size gun it's not as large to carry around as a Ruger and still give you 1000+ FPS.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
I have a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt. I worked up a hot load, using 300-grain JHPs. Quite controllable, and one heckuva thump on a target. It's a tossup with my Redhawk .44 Mag with a similar load.
I imagine either would do okay within the usual limitations about ability to hit the right place and trajectory and all that, for most anything huntable in the 48 states.
But I'd stay with handguns built for the higher pressures...
Art
I imagine either would do okay within the usual limitations about ability to hit the right place and trajectory and all that, for most anything huntable in the 48 states.
But I'd stay with handguns built for the higher pressures...
Art
Smoke Rizen
Member
45LC
I worked up a load for carry when fishing in Ak. that uses a 335gr.hard cast lead with a bunch of H110 at about 1300fps. Not excessive in my Ruger Vaquero's but may be to much for the lighter framed Millinium revolver. I'm confident the 45LC would drop the big bears if I put it in the right place,just pray I never have to! S.R.
I worked up a load for carry when fishing in Ak. that uses a 335gr.hard cast lead with a bunch of H110 at about 1300fps. Not excessive in my Ruger Vaquero's but may be to much for the lighter framed Millinium revolver. I'm confident the 45LC would drop the big bears if I put it in the right place,just pray I never have to! S.R.
Selfdfenz
Member
I have a Millenium and I agree with this statment.
"The Cabela's Millenium is a Italian copy of a Colt SAA and will not take the loads of a Ruger which is a magnum frame."
The Milleniums is a great gun and mine is very accurate but I want mine to stay tight so that means my cowboy reloads only. They keep going up in price. I would buy a second one in a second but just for the fun factor. On the other hand, I think it would be a fair nightstand gun if you consider revolvers good for that job and I do.
The Vaquero is only a tad more $ and in addition to having the strength to handle hot loads I think it has a transfer bar and is a bit saffer to carry around out in the woodlot where you just might drop the thing.
JMO
S-
"The Cabela's Millenium is a Italian copy of a Colt SAA and will not take the loads of a Ruger which is a magnum frame."
The Milleniums is a great gun and mine is very accurate but I want mine to stay tight so that means my cowboy reloads only. They keep going up in price. I would buy a second one in a second but just for the fun factor. On the other hand, I think it would be a fair nightstand gun if you consider revolvers good for that job and I do.
The Vaquero is only a tad more $ and in addition to having the strength to handle hot loads I think it has a transfer bar and is a bit saffer to carry around out in the woodlot where you just might drop the thing.
JMO
S-
Sunray
Member
"...declare that a derringer using .22 shorts is enough..." Shorts??? Geezuz, are you made of money? CB's are all you need. "...just kidding..." Me too. And it's "Winnie The Pooh" Not Whinny.
Winnie was the mascot of the the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, left in the London Zoo in 1914. Here's a picture of her. http://www.pooh-corner.com/pooh.html
vega, depends on the flavour of bear. A griz you'll likely just annoy him unless you use a good bullet, place the shot and get lucky. A blackie, it'll drop like a ton of bricks. IF, you place the shot like Harve says and use a good bullet. Mind you, shot placement is critical on any game. Even a ground hog.
Winnie was the mascot of the the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, left in the London Zoo in 1914. Here's a picture of her. http://www.pooh-corner.com/pooh.html
vega, depends on the flavour of bear. A griz you'll likely just annoy him unless you use a good bullet, place the shot and get lucky. A blackie, it'll drop like a ton of bricks. IF, you place the shot like Harve says and use a good bullet. Mind you, shot placement is critical on any game. Even a ground hog.
Captain: I urge you to consider the consequences of using those loads in firearms which are not designed to handle them. The ammo and firearm manufacturer will confirm the danger of pushing the firearm beyond its' limits. Nuff said.
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