Just found an old, but very interesting post from Terry Murbach, well known shooter, handgun hunter and writer:
"...I DO KNOW I CAN RUN 300gr BULLETS AT 1100FPS FROM ALL MY 45COLT SIXGUNS INCLUDING THE COLT AND S&W M25-5 GUNS OF VARIOUS BARREL LENGTHS WITH LOADS THAT ARE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE LAST FEW SPEER MANUALS.
A 45 CALIBER 300gr LFN BULLET AT 1100 WILL COMPLETELY PENETRATE ANY ANIMAL IN NORTH AMERICA AND YOU NEED NOTHING ELSE. MORE SPEED MAY FLATTEN THE TRAJECTORY A BIT-- darned LITTLE TOO AS A MATTER OF FACT-- BUT ALL YOU ARE DOING AT 1100 OR 1300 IS POKING A 45 CALIBER HOLE IN AND A 45 CALIBER HOLE OUT.
THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF THIS TO ME IS THE FACT THAT A 454424 KEITH BULLET AT THE SAME SPEEDS--1050 TO 1100-- DOES THE SAME WORK AND DOES IT AT EVEN LOWER PRESSURES. THIRTY SIX YEARS AGO I PUT FIVE TONS OF MEAT ON THE GROUND WITH THE KEITH LOAD FROM A RUGER 45COLT 4 5/8" SIXGUN [ 1075FPS FROM THIS GUN ] AND NEVER RECOVERED A SINGLE BULLET. THEY WENT COMPLETELY THROUGH FROM EVERY CONCEIVABLE ANGLE INCLUDING FROM STRAIGHT ABOVE.
THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY HEAVIER BULLETS OF ANY KIND IN THE 45COLT CARTRIDGE"
https://www.levergunscommunity.org/viewtopic.php?t=19554 , posted Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:31 pm.
Also, James Gates wrote: When we get to this point, it is the Meplat Area that counts. Whole long thread about meplat https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?48098-Gates-Extreme-Meplat-Bullets
I sincerely believe that for big game, larger caliber and heavier bullet are better. However, if 454424 (255-260 grains) bullet, at about 1100 fps will do anything 98% handgun hunters require, is any need for more of "good things"?
Assuming that velocities are 1100 fps, and bullet weights are 255-260 grains: "The diameter of the wound channel produced by a proper hard-cast bullet is far more a product of the diameter of the meplat than the diameter of the bullet." Randy Garrett, Garrett Cartridges Inc., https://www.garrettcartridges.com/meplats.html , so effect on the game, with same meplat and same velocity, should be very similar regardless of caliber.
Let examine 454424 bullet:
Since we have on the market molds for 44-250/260 bullets, with.320"-.330" dia meplat and if lunched at same 1100 fps velocity, effect will be the same as with 454424; good size hole, and complete penetration. Such load should be easy to get from any modern 44 Special revolver, like Ruger Flattop, or S&W 24/624. And in many cases, this will be just starting load for 44 magnum revolvers.
And that brings me to another interesting bullet; MP 413-265 WNFP for 41 Magnum
I have no exact meplat dia, but when I scaled drawing, looks like it's .320". BTW, bullet shown here is FP, plain base, but is also available as GC, HP, and combination, see https://www.mp-molds.com/product/mp-413-265-wnfp-41-cal-hollow-point-mold-multichoice/ .
To lunch this bullet from 41 Magnum revolver at 1100 fps should be no brainier, even at moderate pressure. OK, meplat is not .330" as on 4544242, rather .320", but I doubt that will be any difference in effect on deer or hog. On top of that, since bullet dia is .41", and more streamlined than larger bullets, especially SWC, velocity loss on longer ranges should be bit less than with 44 or 45 bullets of same weight.
"...I DO KNOW I CAN RUN 300gr BULLETS AT 1100FPS FROM ALL MY 45COLT SIXGUNS INCLUDING THE COLT AND S&W M25-5 GUNS OF VARIOUS BARREL LENGTHS WITH LOADS THAT ARE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE LAST FEW SPEER MANUALS.
A 45 CALIBER 300gr LFN BULLET AT 1100 WILL COMPLETELY PENETRATE ANY ANIMAL IN NORTH AMERICA AND YOU NEED NOTHING ELSE. MORE SPEED MAY FLATTEN THE TRAJECTORY A BIT-- darned LITTLE TOO AS A MATTER OF FACT-- BUT ALL YOU ARE DOING AT 1100 OR 1300 IS POKING A 45 CALIBER HOLE IN AND A 45 CALIBER HOLE OUT.
THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF THIS TO ME IS THE FACT THAT A 454424 KEITH BULLET AT THE SAME SPEEDS--1050 TO 1100-- DOES THE SAME WORK AND DOES IT AT EVEN LOWER PRESSURES. THIRTY SIX YEARS AGO I PUT FIVE TONS OF MEAT ON THE GROUND WITH THE KEITH LOAD FROM A RUGER 45COLT 4 5/8" SIXGUN [ 1075FPS FROM THIS GUN ] AND NEVER RECOVERED A SINGLE BULLET. THEY WENT COMPLETELY THROUGH FROM EVERY CONCEIVABLE ANGLE INCLUDING FROM STRAIGHT ABOVE.
THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY HEAVIER BULLETS OF ANY KIND IN THE 45COLT CARTRIDGE"
https://www.levergunscommunity.org/viewtopic.php?t=19554 , posted Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:31 pm.
Also, James Gates wrote: When we get to this point, it is the Meplat Area that counts. Whole long thread about meplat https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?48098-Gates-Extreme-Meplat-Bullets
I sincerely believe that for big game, larger caliber and heavier bullet are better. However, if 454424 (255-260 grains) bullet, at about 1100 fps will do anything 98% handgun hunters require, is any need for more of "good things"?
Assuming that velocities are 1100 fps, and bullet weights are 255-260 grains: "The diameter of the wound channel produced by a proper hard-cast bullet is far more a product of the diameter of the meplat than the diameter of the bullet." Randy Garrett, Garrett Cartridges Inc., https://www.garrettcartridges.com/meplats.html , so effect on the game, with same meplat and same velocity, should be very similar regardless of caliber.
Let examine 454424 bullet:
Since we have on the market molds for 44-250/260 bullets, with.320"-.330" dia meplat and if lunched at same 1100 fps velocity, effect will be the same as with 454424; good size hole, and complete penetration. Such load should be easy to get from any modern 44 Special revolver, like Ruger Flattop, or S&W 24/624. And in many cases, this will be just starting load for 44 magnum revolvers.
And that brings me to another interesting bullet; MP 413-265 WNFP for 41 Magnum
I have no exact meplat dia, but when I scaled drawing, looks like it's .320". BTW, bullet shown here is FP, plain base, but is also available as GC, HP, and combination, see https://www.mp-molds.com/product/mp-413-265-wnfp-41-cal-hollow-point-mold-multichoice/ .
To lunch this bullet from 41 Magnum revolver at 1100 fps should be no brainier, even at moderate pressure. OK, meplat is not .330" as on 4544242, rather .320", but I doubt that will be any difference in effect on deer or hog. On top of that, since bullet dia is .41", and more streamlined than larger bullets, especially SWC, velocity loss on longer ranges should be bit less than with 44 or 45 bullets of same weight.
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