Hog Hunting with 45 Colt

[Mr.Revolverguy]

The 45 Colt is the foundation of many debates occurring daily on the internet and in gun shops around the world. The top 3 debates seem to start with 45 Colt vs. 45 Long Colt, 45 Colt is better than 44 Magnum especially if reloading and last but not least, should 45 Colt be used for hunting. These debates are much like religious debates of which I prefer to avoid, though this is the start of me documenting my journey of hunting with the 45 Colt. I have decided after many hours of reading that the venerable 45 Colt in the right hands with the right loads are capable of meeting my needs. For those looking for same information, Brian Pearce's article on the 45 Colt in Handloader Magazine #246, John Linebaugh's -- Gun Notes: The .45 Colt - Dissolving the Myth, Discovering the Legend and Paco Kelly's 45 Colt in Lever Action Rifles are all great reads and may be a good start.

A Rossi 45 Colt Lever Action will be accompanying me on this hunt for hogs. I intend to limit myself to shots 75yards and under, at this distance 255gr cast lead or heavier traveling at 1200fps should get the job done humanely. There are many boutique shops out there like Corbon, Double Tap, Buffalo Boar, Georgia Arms and many others that will produce fine ammunition for this task. Being a reloader for more than 2 decades drives me to roll my own. I intend to load in the low 45+P range or often seen in the reloading manuals as Ruger/TC Contender only loads. I will be shooting these loads across the chronograph and also utilizing the quickload software to tweak my loads to keep them under 20,000psi which will be a breeze for the Rossi 92 action.

Stay tuned for updates! Dayattherange.com

For the situation I have described what would be your choice of bullet, I plan to also try and get my hands on some Hornady 250gr XTP’s. I am leaning to the cast lead to alleviate any questions about penetration.

 

[Patocazador]

The .45 Colt works well on hogs. I got this one with a Ruger Blackhawk and handloads of 250 gr. XTP with 20.0 gr. of 2400.

I shot it from a stand at 45 yards.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Awesome picture and great job. I hope I can capture something like that.

 

[H&Hhunter]

The .45 Colt and the .44 mag are ballistic twins for all field purposes with the correct loads. One is not "better" than the other. If you want some fire breathing, super capable loads for your .45 Colt or your .44 Mag look no further than Garrett Ammo of Texas. http://www.garrettcartridges.com/45.html

Along with Ashley's hard cast .44 mag loads. These .45 Colt loads will punch through and through any size hog ever born. And they'll do it length wise too.

 

[Choctaw]

Yep, your Rossi will easily digest the "Ruger Only" loads. 255 grain cast lead bullet is very good hog medicine.

 

[JohnnyFlake]

I have a Rossi 92 in .454 Casull, a bit of a different animal than a straight .45 Colt Rossi 92, However, The .45 Colt Rossi will easily handle the so called "Ruger Loads". My favorite .45 Colt load, that I shoot often in my ,454 Rossi 92 is a Hard Cast 255gn Flat Nose SWC (Oregon Trail) over 10.0gn of Unique, it runs at a little over 1250 fps and should be right where you want yours to be.