Best factory defense loads in .45 Colt?

[DHart]

Looking for recommendations on top defense loads (against nasty two-legged vermin) for rifle use (current production Marlin 1894 Cowboy Competition in .45 Colt). CorBon has a JHP, but at rifle velocities, would there be concern for explosive expansion and insufficient penetration? Thanks...

 

[LIProgun]

CCI loads the 200 grain Gold Dot JHP bullet in its Blazer line. At the time I tested it (almost 2 yeras ago), the published velocity was 1000 fps (5.5" barrel) and I chronographed it at an average 1180 fps (for 617 ft-lbs) out of a 16" Winchester Trapper carbine. Checking the current catalog, they have it listed at 900 fps. I don't know if that reflects an actual reduction in the loading, or just a reappraisal of the ballistics from a handgun. Regardless, this load should be a very good personal defense load against two-legged varmints, and the Gold Dot bullet should hold together well at carbine and rifle velocities. I have had no problems with the Blazer's aluminum cases feeding through rifles.

Another decent choice would be Federal's 225 grain LSWC-HP. This used to be part of the "Classic" line and is now part of the "Champion Target Handgun" line (go figure). Nominal velocity is 900 fps (5.5" barrel) and I chrono'ed it at 1030 fps (for 530 ft-lbs) from a 16" Trapper. Again, no feeding problems.

 

[steveno]

Winchester 225 grain(?) Silvertip

 

[jmcc11]

How about the new 250 grain Gold Dot ?
http://www.speer-bullets.com/default.asp?s1=7&s2=26

 

[DHart]

LIPro... I sure would have guessed that the longer barrel would offer a fair bit more performance. With the magnum loads the difference from a pistol barrel to a carbine barrel is dramatic - often doubling the speed and energy. But I guess the .45 Colt is such a mild load that such improvements are not to be expected.

jmcc11... I did buy a couple of boxes of the Speer 250 gr. Gold Dot .45 Colt. They look really good. Big gaping hollowpoint (not so likely for a chain-fire in the mag tube). Haven't tried them yet, but at 900 fps and 450 ft.lbs energy from a 5.5" pistol barrel, I would guess that from a 20" Marlin 1894 they might be in the neighborhood of perhaps 1200 fps and about 700 ft. lbs.? Don't know for sure.

Anyone have any idea how to project ballistics from a 5.5" barrel to a 20" barrel - roughly anyway?

 

[zeke]

Speer 250 gn 45 gdhp, from 5.5 in Ruger Bisley and 16 in Win Trapper.

Pistol = rifle, not max loads

960 fps=1100 fps, Unique and N110

1100 fps=1390 fps, N110

Firing into medium (moistened and packed sand/loam mix) that easily plugs up hp's, couldn't get the bullet to expand till 1100 fps. Would suspect expansion at lower velocitys when tested in gelatin or water.

The higher velocity loads produced very nice mushrooms approching 1 in., with the bullet staying together very well despite expanding right down to the base.

 

[DHart]

zeke... any idea what the factory-made cartridge Speer Gold Dot 250gr. .45 Colt produces in terms of speed from the Trapper? Do you think it would make a good defense round (two-legged critters) at close range... good enough penetration without overexpanding?

 

[JShirley]

Georgia Arms will be offering a 260 grain .45 JHP that should be about perfect for the Smith and Wesson model 25 Colt, and work well for rifles, too, while still being much less pressure than the "magnum" offerings from Corbon and such.

John

 

[Mannlicher]

I sure like those 225 grain Winchester Silver tips, but I also use the CorBon 200 grain JHP

 

[DHart]

Based on the chronograph data provided by LIPro and zeke... if we assume a moderate gain of 150 fps for a .45Colt factory round when fired from a 16" Trapper vs. a 5" pistol, I come up with the following stats for four very promising defense loads for the .45Colt Trapper:

CorBon EST ballistics with 16" barrel (est. increase in vel. of 150 fps over 5" barrel)
45C200/20 45 Colt 200 JHP Vel >>> 1225
45C200/20 45 Colt 200 JHP Energy >>>694

Georgia Arms GoldDot JHP EST ballistics w/16" barrel (est. vel increase of 150 fps over 5" barrel)
G45LE 45 Colt 200 GoldDotJHP Vel >>>1225
G45LE 45 Colt 200 GoldDotJHP Energy >>>694

Speer Gold Dot EST ballistics with 16" barrel (est. increase in vel. of 150 fps over 5" barrel)
23984 45 Colt 250 GoldDotJHP Vel >>>1050
23984 45 Colt 250 GoldDotJHP Energy >>>612

Winchester Super X - EST ballistics w/16" barrel (est. increase in vel. of 150 fps over 5" barrel)
X45CSHP2 45 Colt 255 SilverTipHP Vel >>>1070
X45CSHP2 45 Colt 255 SilverTipHP Energy >>>648

The numbers look really good! Now, what about bullet performance? I would think that the 250 gr. Gold Dot (being bonded) would hold together nicely, but the Silvertip might tend to expand a bit more quickly than desired. Not sure about the CorBon... I don't know if it's bonded or not. And as light as it is (200gr.), it may tend to expand a little too quickly and *possibly* not penetrate enough. But this is just guesstimation on my part. The Georgia Arms load looks pretty hot, but with the lighter weight bullet, might possibly expand too rapidly?

With this limited analysis, it would seem that the factory Speer GoldDot 250gr. .45Colt cartridge would make a great defense round from a 16" Trapper. (Not that I'd want to stand in front of ANY of them!)

My estimated 150 fps gain from the 5" pistol to 16" trapper might be a little conservative. If anyone can chrony these factory cartridges from a 16" Trapper, that would be awesome information to have.

 

[JShirley]

The new GA Arms offering should be 260 grains at about 1,000 fps. Add fps for the additional barrel length. Should be about ideal for home defense- check your penetration in water.

John

 

[JShirley]

Okay, listed velocity for the 260-grain JHP .45 Colt is 1200 fps. I'm guessing that's out of a 5" barrel.

It's not as inexpensive as some other GA offerings, but it's still only .$50/round.

John

 

[roscoe]

Are you looking to maximize terminal effectiveness? DoubleTap sells a 250 grain hollowpoint that gets 1450 out of a 7.5" barrel and 1775 out of a 16" barrel. If you are worried about penetration, you can certainly also get their wad cutters that are about the same weight and speed. Out of a rifle, recoil is not too much of a factor in my Trapper.

I have some of those Georgia arms loads - the 200 grain and 260 grain. Out of a pistol, the 260s are pretty hot. I would much prefer to use the 200 grain / 1100 fps rounds for self defense against people: they are easy to control, and the performance is plenty. I would anticipate more like 250 or 300 fps gain from a rifle, based on extrapolation from the DoubleTap and Buffalo Bore loads.

I like the Georgia Arms 200 grain loads mostly because they are a high quality load in .45 Colt that is not either a totally maxed bear blaster or a wimpy cowboy load. Out of my 5.5" Blackhawk they are very accurate - I kept them in the 9 ring at 50 yards today, off a rest, using open sights. I personally think they seem like a very good self-defense load.

But, if you are trying to stop a runaway cement mixer, the DoubleTap loads are the way to go.