Deer hunting with a .45ACP.......Which Ammo?

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Let me start off by saying I'm not asking for an ethical debate on the use of a .45ACP as a deer cartridge. Also, yes this is legal in NC. What I am asking is IF you were going to handgun hunt with a .45ACP, which commercially available ammo would you select? (I don't reload)

Right now I'm looking at the 200-230gr. +P loads from companies like Hornady and Doubletap. Are there others I need to evaluate? Should I be looking at some of the 185 +P's? Standard pressures (non +P)?

My shots will be 30 yds or less. (Bow range basically). Yes I can keep a full magazine inside the killzone at that range. My weapon will be my Ruger P90.

Think of this thread like a shopping list. With summer coming on I'll be putting in some range time with my hunting weapons (bow, shotgun, muzzleloader, rifle, handgun.) I'm putting together a list of ammo that I need to aquire to evaluate in the .45ACP. I've got my pet loads already in all the others, this one is new to me in this role. My carry ammo is Hornady TAP, so that's one I'll be testing. Looking for other suggestions.

Suggestions?
 
Think about .45 super loads from Buffalo Bore*. 230 gr. JHP @1100 fps (618 ft. lbs.) is just a recoil spring change away in a hoss of a gun like the Ruger P90. I would make sure that the JHP they are loading will stand up to the speed and penetrate enough, so you should find out what it is from them. Just call them.

Barring that, I would look towards the Hornady XTP +P 230 gr. JHP @ 900 fps (413 ft. lbs.).

You want penetration, so stay with 230 grain, slow expanding bullets. Perhaps ideal would be a good hardcast 230-255 grain flat point with a metplat of 0.310+, but I don't know anyone that loads that commercially. Do you handload?

*I would have said Texas Ammo too, but they seem to be out of business.
 
Shooting .45 Super would be only a recoil spring change? Wouldn't a new barrel be required?? I would think the OAL of .45 Super cartridges would be too long to chamber in my .45ACP barrel. Am I wrong there?
 
No, they have the same outside dimensions. The difference is that super brass is thicker at the base of the cartridge thus giving it a slightly smaller case volume, but allowing it to run a little higher pressure.
 
Instead of .400 corbon, just buy a 10mm and use double tap's 200 grain hardcast 1300 fps (750 ft. lbs.).
 
The older speer manual has 250 grn SP loads for .45 ACP. IIRC at about 750 to 800 fps. The manual stated that the bullets would not expand at those velocities but would penetrate like no tomorrow. My take on this is with a 45 who needs expansion:eek: if a .45 caliber hole clean through the vitals won't kill a deer then nothing will. By the same token any hard cast 230grn load should be up to the challenge.

Contrary to a lot of the above advice STAY AWAY from and personal defense style loadings you will not get the necessary penetration required for hunting.
 
In factory loads, I'd look at the Winchester Ranger SXT 230 JHP +P . . . claimed velocity is 990 ft/sec, which is pretty good for a 230.
 
I used handloaded 185 xtps at around 950fps,got full penetration breaking bone and all.Dont worry about using +p ammo,you dont need it,just keep shots around 100 or less and you will be fine.
 
Ditto Country Rebels advice. The 185gr JHP's have worked very well for me. Also, the 200gr SWC loaded up to about 1,000fps did well.

Shot placement is the most critical element. On broadside shots, all the above loads gave complete penetration. DRT if shot hits spine, but will not completely penetrate, but, then whats the point if deer is DRT ???

The .40s&w works equally well with 155-180gr JHP bullets. So does the 10mm.
 
I shot a 400 pound hog and a 200 pounder another time with the old Speer 200 grain 'flying ashtray' and it worked pretty darn good at 7 yards or so.That was 25 years ago years ago :scrutiny:
 
I have a cousin who hunts only with .45 ACP in a custom Llama 1911. He handloads only, and uses lead, hard-cast rounds...230 grains. He sights in for, and limits his shots to 100 yards. He bags at least one deerevery single year.

He was a competetive shooter in the Air Force years back in the early 1980s. I actually witnessed him fire 5 rounds into a sub-MOA cluster, off the bench, with iron-sights. May God strike me down now if that is a lie. I could not believe it. I would never never believe such a story if I hadn't seen it. With a scope? Okay. But, with a 5" 1911? With iron sights!!!
 
I just did a little penetration test useing wet newsprint compressed, my 1911 with 6.8 grains of winchester 231 pushing a 200 grain Hornady combat target FME penetrated 14" with zero deformation of the bullet, it looked like it could have been loaded again. A .44 magnum pushing a 240 grain XTP only made it 25" in the same test. Both loads were shot at 25 yards.

FWIW, I've found the remigton golden sabre to be a very tough bullet but did not include it in my little home boy test.:D
 
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I agree with Krochus. Non-expanding bullets are best for hunting. Expansion will limit penetration.

I have taken a couple of deer using 200 gr SWC and it penetrates well and works good. My loads chronograph at just under 1100 fps. I had one bullet go all the way through a small whitetail once.
 
I can verify that a Speer 230gr +P Gold Dot will penetrate a doe broadside behind the shoulder @ 30 yards. An exit wound the size of a half dollar and an excellent blood trail as a result.
 
let us know how long you have to track the animal.

I was wondering how long it would be before that came up.

As I said in the OP the thread's not about the ethical questions. I've resolved those for myself. I'm looking for the best commercial loads for the job. Thanks to all who've replied with suggestions. Keep 'em coming. I'm keeping a list.
 
My vote

In 45ACP would be the Remington 185+p's. They are excellent performers. That said, I have never tried any of the Buf Bore stuff.

A note on the 45 Super: If you wish to go this route you can push a 200 grain slug to about 1200-1300 fps, which will give you muzzle energy in the 640-750 range, or a 185 at 1300-1350 will give you about 700ish, which is up there with some heavy 357 loads. The 357’s will have a higher sectional density, resulting in greater penetration, but with in 25-30 yards, as long as you do your part that deer will be DTR.
 
Ya I figured someone had to speak up,For your info kelly the 185xtp at 950fps dropped him where he stood.NUFF SAID
 
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