I am working on having Tom at Accurate Molds design me a wide flat nosed bullet for my ROA that will be for bigger or more dangerous critters, so penetration is important.
Kaido had Lee redesign their 255 grn FN 45 Colt bullet for use in the ROA, but I think I'd prefer a heavier bullet as in this role it will likely be a secondary weapon in case some tracking is in order for potentially large hogs or even black bears.
I don't want to take up too much powder capacity, though I do intend on eventually buying a Classic Ballistix cylinder or two. I see that for Mike Beliveau's testing of Kaido's bullet with a reduced (~16%) charge of 3F Triple 7 netted him 920 fps with 479 ft/lbs of energy. I don't believe a ROA needs any reduction of powder, and I might likely be using 3F Olde Eynsford anyway. Kaido's bullet measures 0.638" OAL. Judging by the similar bullet designs I'm thinking I can take up the room of the powder reduction by an additional 25 grns of lead giving me a 280 grn bullet. But I kinda think I'd want to get closer to 300 grns if bears may be trying to eat my leg off!
So would you go for a 280 grn projectile or reduce your charge for a 300 grn bullet? I'm trying to achieve 500 ft/lbs or more, and I'm concerned that dropping the charge for a 300 grn bullet would likely drop my velocity/energy too levels not good enough. But would the penetration levels exceed that of what that 280 grn bullet would likely do at 25 yds or less? I wish I understood where the threshold for performance lay.
I notice that you don't generally see any standard pressure 45 Colt loads using 300 grn bullets. Those I'm aware of are the hotter loads. I'd assume there's a good reason for that.
Out of curiosity are any of you with a Classic Ballistix cylinder or a Dragoon/Walker using heavy bullets to good effect?
To draw a clearer picture I'd likely be hunting with a .50 cal rifle with a PRB unless I was specifically hunting bears that I knew to average a good size in which I'd likely use a 320 grn REAL. I'd only use my pistol upon tracking.
So what say you?
Kaido had Lee redesign their 255 grn FN 45 Colt bullet for use in the ROA, but I think I'd prefer a heavier bullet as in this role it will likely be a secondary weapon in case some tracking is in order for potentially large hogs or even black bears.
I don't want to take up too much powder capacity, though I do intend on eventually buying a Classic Ballistix cylinder or two. I see that for Mike Beliveau's testing of Kaido's bullet with a reduced (~16%) charge of 3F Triple 7 netted him 920 fps with 479 ft/lbs of energy. I don't believe a ROA needs any reduction of powder, and I might likely be using 3F Olde Eynsford anyway. Kaido's bullet measures 0.638" OAL. Judging by the similar bullet designs I'm thinking I can take up the room of the powder reduction by an additional 25 grns of lead giving me a 280 grn bullet. But I kinda think I'd want to get closer to 300 grns if bears may be trying to eat my leg off!
So would you go for a 280 grn projectile or reduce your charge for a 300 grn bullet? I'm trying to achieve 500 ft/lbs or more, and I'm concerned that dropping the charge for a 300 grn bullet would likely drop my velocity/energy too levels not good enough. But would the penetration levels exceed that of what that 280 grn bullet would likely do at 25 yds or less? I wish I understood where the threshold for performance lay.
I notice that you don't generally see any standard pressure 45 Colt loads using 300 grn bullets. Those I'm aware of are the hotter loads. I'd assume there's a good reason for that.
Out of curiosity are any of you with a Classic Ballistix cylinder or a Dragoon/Walker using heavy bullets to good effect?
To draw a clearer picture I'd likely be hunting with a .50 cal rifle with a PRB unless I was specifically hunting bears that I knew to average a good size in which I'd likely use a 320 grn REAL. I'd only use my pistol upon tracking.
So what say you?
