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View Full Version : Standard Pressure 45 Colt for Deer?


IrvJr
November 13, 2009, 04:53 PM
Has anyone here used standard pressure 45 Colt cast lead bullets for deer hunting? I have a Ruger New Vaquero (in addition to my Super Blackhawk) and I was wondering if using a standard pressure 45 Colt load (250gr, approx 900 fps) would be sufficient for mid sized game, particularly deer.

Is this load adequate for deer or should I stick to the .44 mag loads only?

Thanks in advance.

Dr. A
November 13, 2009, 05:08 PM
I just love a good Keith 250gr. bullet ahead of 9gr. of Herco. It gives you just what you want and is very deadly. Easy to shoot and kills well.

2damnold4this
November 13, 2009, 05:43 PM
My friend Jason has taken several deer with his Ruger in .45 long Colt with standard pressure loads.

RMcL
December 31, 2009, 10:52 PM
While the New Vaquero is smaller than the older 45 frame models, it is still stronger than a single action Colt. How about a 280 grain SWC at 1050fps!

Check this article out for details:

http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL%20246partial.pdf

W. C. Quantrill
January 1, 2010, 07:26 PM
I have killed a number of deer out to 50 yards or so with my new model Blackhawk 7.5" loaded with 270 gr Keiths from Lead Head and 10 gr of Unique. It is a comfortable load to shoot, and it hits like a sledgehammer. Its about a thousand fps load. That is the upper end of Standard pressure but not a real hot load. Because it doesnt hammer you with recoil and muzzleblast, it is a very accurate hunting load.

algentry1
January 3, 2010, 11:40 PM
Some people use arrows.... :)

I just bought one of the dinky new Model 25-15 Smiths. I plan to try it out on some of them. I like big bullets. The Smith with its weight seems very mild, in comparison to my Cimarron Open Top. I'm sure they'll both work. OK, I'm not sure, but I believe big holes leak better than little ones (arrows).




Al

vanilla_gorilla
January 4, 2010, 01:06 AM
Brian Pearce did an article last year in which he detailed a hunt for mule deer. He used a S&W .45 Colt loaded with a 270 grain LSWC at 900 fps. Two shots and a few steps and the mulie was dead as a wedge. Neither bullet stopped within the animal.

I doubt you'd do any better by adding 200-300 fps to that.

Scorch
January 4, 2010, 12:35 PM
Is this load adequate for deer
Well, considering that deer, antelope, elk, etc, were pretty much wiped out in the late 1800s with cartridges like that, I would say it will work just fine. Just don't try to shoot the deer through the shoulder, go for a lung/heart shot and you should have no problems.

GeauxTide
January 4, 2010, 02:53 PM
I use a 275gr Hunters Supply under 10gr of Unique. It's listed as a 20k psi load by Brian Pearce and velocity is 1050 and very comfortable. 9gr is listed at 991, and 8gr will bring you to 14k psi. and about 900.