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

[mbt2001]

corbon 185 grain hollowpoints

 

[GP100man]

rantingredneck
where you located?
if you wait for the rite shot placement 45acp is fine,but as you said after the restriction change its legal to hunt bear with 25acp,didnt say i was ,just legal.
i shot a doe with my 625 &200gr xtp went clean thru busting 2 ribs,roasted up fine!!!

GP100man

 

[jeepmor]

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_34&products_id=156

I've found this stuff to be quite a gas to plink. Should put a deer down without issue. Note I selected a FMJ round, not a JHP. If I selected a JHP, I'd probably pick the Hornady XTP, those things seem to expand really easy relative to other JHPs I shot into dirt/gravel backstops.

 

[rantingredneck]

GP100man. I'm in Alamance County, South of Burlington/Graham. I do most of my hunting in Orange and Caswell Counties though.

 

[Desert Dog]

In a Ruger P90, yes all that is needed to shoot .45 Super is a Wolff 16 lb. recoil spring. Full house loads are quite "vigorous" though, and if you want to play in this realm, it is best to handload.

My choice for what you are after is using a hardcast 250gr. RNFP normally loaded in .45 Colt, seated to 1.16" so the ogive will allow the case mouth to seat in the barrel properly, over a healthy dose of AA#9. It is a compressed load.

Very low sigma in the 1100 FPS range.

Good luck...

DD

 

[rantingredneck]

When I started this thread I said I don't handload, and that is still true for the moment. I am planning to start soon though. I've been poring through the net for info and have PM'd a few questions to some folks here and at TFL asking for info and have received great responses. I've also got a buddy at work who reloads. I'm probably going to order the Lee Classic Turret Kit this week before the sale on Midway ends. I noticed in one of the books I picked up that Speer (I believe) offers a .451" 240gr JSP bullet that may be a good choice in this role. Anyone used that particular bullet before or know anyone who has?

 

[Kilgor]

Handloading sounds like a good idea for you and the 240 JSP should work for your purposes, though I have no direct experience with that bullet.

 

[Trojan6]

I've shot two deer with my Kimber CDP Custom using 230gr Gold Dots loaded to +P. 45 ACP has been a great caliber based on those experiences. No tracking, deer fell within 10 yards of where shot. It really is a fun experience and to me combines the best of bow-hunting (limited range) with the effectiveness of a firearm. ( I should preface that statement with the fact that I cannot hit poop with my bow - I practice and practice, getting consistent fist sized groups out to 30 yards, but when I've dropped the hammer on deer or hogs, I always find my arrow with no blood on it sticking in the ground, having choked yet again!) Full energy dump in chest cavity, did not penetrate far side. Neither were very big deer.

 

[eldon519]

I'd go with a 230 gr. SWC if you can find them. I know Magtech makes 230 gr. FMJ SWCs, don't know if they sell it as loaded ammo or not.

If you know somebody who will handload it for you, you could use 255-grain SWCs and come pretty darn close to .45 Colt killing power.

 

[Richard.Howe]

My experience on S. Texas deer with Double Tap 230gr. Gold Dots moving at 1010 fps from a Sig P220 was very positive.

 

[nvcdl]

I'd go with a heavy cast bullet. I've seen guys shot 255 gr cast bullets in 45acp for bowling pin matches - may be a good option.

 

[P97]

I'll put it this way. I wouldn't want to use anything to try to stop a 250 lb. BG that wouldn't stop a 250 lb animal. I know my .45 ACP will stop a hog, but haven't tried it on a deer. I suspect if it is hit in the vitals it would also stop it.

 

[trueblue1776]

I know my .45 ACP will stop a hog

really? I sure as hell wouldn't try that.

 

[RubenZ]

.45 on a hog ? I'd never try that. I'd rather throw the gun at it LOL. It won't get as pissed.