45 auto using Speer 230gr. Gold Dot bullets?
- Thread starter 700xcr
- Start date
GC
Well-known member
coleridge,
Man can't be too careful...
Like you I've shot a pretty fair number of critters with the old .45 ACP warhorse and never had any trouble. That was actually the first center fire pistol cartridge I started shooting in a Colt 1911 of my dad's around the farm. Our little farm wasn't too far out of the city limits and it was a popular place for people to dump their strays. We had stray dog troubles with mutt's killing chickens and in general being a pest around the place. Same for cats and we had grey fox, coons, possums, groundhogs, ect. always around in good numbers.
At first I shot Dad's slab side with 230 gr. hardball. And a lot of it too! It knocked stuff down but it wasn't unusual for some of that stuff to get back up or need another coup de 'grace shot. Then I started hand loading and the 200 gr. SWC was an improvement over the hardball. When I got my hands on some 200 and 230 gr. hollow points things were better yet for the most part.
Later in life as a LEO I packed a .45 ACP off and on when I could. I used it quite a bit dispatching wounded dogs and deer from vehicle collisions. Some of those were still pretty lively and I was always interested in a quick autopsy to check out the results of the shot and the terminal performance of the bullets I packed on duty. Pretty much any of the various 230 gr. hollow points ended things quickly and with little fuss. I’ve only shot one unwounded deer with the .45 and that was about a 100 pound doe. I hit her right in the little spot just behind the elbow at 35 - 40 yards with a Winchester Ranger T 230 gr. +P hollow point. She kicked and sprinted about 50 yards and piled up. Simple enough…
Man can't be too careful...
Like you I've shot a pretty fair number of critters with the old .45 ACP warhorse and never had any trouble. That was actually the first center fire pistol cartridge I started shooting in a Colt 1911 of my dad's around the farm. Our little farm wasn't too far out of the city limits and it was a popular place for people to dump their strays. We had stray dog troubles with mutt's killing chickens and in general being a pest around the place. Same for cats and we had grey fox, coons, possums, groundhogs, ect. always around in good numbers.
At first I shot Dad's slab side with 230 gr. hardball. And a lot of it too! It knocked stuff down but it wasn't unusual for some of that stuff to get back up or need another coup de 'grace shot. Then I started hand loading and the 200 gr. SWC was an improvement over the hardball. When I got my hands on some 200 and 230 gr. hollow points things were better yet for the most part.
Later in life as a LEO I packed a .45 ACP off and on when I could. I used it quite a bit dispatching wounded dogs and deer from vehicle collisions. Some of those were still pretty lively and I was always interested in a quick autopsy to check out the results of the shot and the terminal performance of the bullets I packed on duty. Pretty much any of the various 230 gr. hollow points ended things quickly and with little fuss. I’ve only shot one unwounded deer with the .45 and that was about a 100 pound doe. I hit her right in the little spot just behind the elbow at 35 - 40 yards with a Winchester Ranger T 230 gr. +P hollow point. She kicked and sprinted about 50 yards and piled up. Simple enough…
GC
Well-known member
Originally Posted By: 700xcrLoaded some up in my Target load that is traveling 650fps to 700fps. Just wondering if enough velosity to work on thin skined animals?
That's pretty slow, they are normally running 150 - 200 fps faster. I don't know if you'll get any expansion, they might act more like a FMJ at that slow speed. The good news is they are still .45 caliber and weigh 230 grains!
That's pretty slow, they are normally running 150 - 200 fps faster. I don't know if you'll get any expansion, they might act more like a FMJ at that slow speed. The good news is they are still .45 caliber and weigh 230 grains!
Originally Posted By: GCOriginally Posted By: 700xcrLoaded some up in my Target load that is traveling 650fps to 700fps. Just wondering if enough velosity to work on thin skined animals?
That's pretty slow, they are normally running 150 - 200 fps faster. I don't know if you'll get any expansion, they might act more like a FMJ at that slow speed. The good news is they are still .45 caliber and weigh 230 grains!
I will have to test it out. Maybe have to find a different powder that will produce higher velosity and as accurate then this slower load. Any suggestion on which powder? I tried WST powder and didn't produce as good as groups with Tightgroup powder.
That's pretty slow, they are normally running 150 - 200 fps faster. I don't know if you'll get any expansion, they might act more like a FMJ at that slow speed. The good news is they are still .45 caliber and weigh 230 grains!