I am looking for a self defense round in 45 Colt to be used in a Ruger New Vaquero with 4 3/4" barrel. I would carry this gun when on the farm and in the woods in Georgia. I would not be shooting at stumps, jugs of water. steel plates, or deer. It is unlikely if I needed it in self defense that winter clothing penetration would be an issue since it is not cold here most of the year.Too many variables in your question as stated.
What brand JSP? What speed are they intended to be driven at? What lead hardness do they use?
What are you shooting? A stump? A steel plate? A milk jug full of water? A deer? A person wearing winter clothing?
I can't say specifically for a .45 colt,
But as someone who casts and reloads, unless a JSP uses dead soft lead with a very thin jacket it won't expand significantly, if at all, when hitting flesh at any distance beyond point blank.
They will penetrate though
Anticipate a lot of gunfights?I can find Winchester PDX, but at $3/round, I am not going to be using that.
I am looking for a self defense round in 45 Colt to be used in a Ruger New Vaquero with 4 3/4" barrel. I would carry this gun when on the farm and in the woods in Georgia. I would not be shooting at stumps, jugs of water. steel plates, or deer. It is unlikely if I needed it in self defense that winter clothing penetration would be an issue since it is not cold here most of the year.
Its purpose would be self defense against people mostly. Occasionally there are wild hogs and coyotes on the property. I would only be interested in shooting a hog or coyote if it decided to mess with me first. About the only other thing I might shoot with it is a rattlesnake, copperhead, or water moccasin, but they of course are easy to kill so that is not what I am asking about.
Maximum expected range I would use it would be around 25 yds, no more than 50 yds.
Not a lot of ammo is easily obtainable in 45 Colt. I can find cowboy loads with lead round nose. I can find Winchester PDX, but at $3/round, I am not going to be using that. I can find CCI Blazer 200g JHP's but not sure how they would penetrate if I shot a hog. The Federal AE 225g JSP seems like a decent compromise of price and performance.
What would be an example of a commercially available round like that?One the better rounds for the 45 Colt is a250gr Keith semi wadcutter at moderate speeds. Good penetrator, no expansion needed.
I like the heavier bullet...What would be an example of a commercially available round like that?
I like to think of the 45 Colt loads like this….a “cowboy” load is going to hit like an empty school bus. A stepped-up load from any of the modern manuals is going to hit like a loaded cement truck.Rethink those cowboy loads. They are already making nearly half inch holes, and a 250 grain bullet has plenty of oomph.
My handloads make about 750'sec, ring steel, and knock big chunks out of dangling bowling pins.
Remind yourself that original .45 Colt was meant to kill a man, or the horse he was on. Isn't there a saying sorta like that?
Moon