45 colt power?

Question

how much recoil does one have and whats the biggest thing it will kill

Answer 1

I would say that it is about on par with a 357 mag with medium loads. The biggest problem with using a 45 for hunting is velocity. It is an older cartrige design and can't handle the same pressures a 44 magnum can handle. At short range (50 yards and under) it should kill anything you point it at. :)

Answer 2

If you are talking about the .45 Long Colt revolver cartridge, it depends on the loads and the pistol.

Factory standard since the days of blackpowder has been a 250-255 gr. lead bullet at 900 fps. Until the .357 Magnum was introduced, it was the most powerful cartridge on the market.

Most factory loads are kept to this level or less. The reason for this is that the cartridge and revolvers for it have been on the market since 1873 and lots of them are still in use. Modern factory loads are not intended to over stress 130 year old revolvers.

Now when you talk about specialty ammunition, such as the magnum loading available from Buffalo Bore, Garrett Ammunition, and Cor-Bon, the .45 Long Colt is a horse of a different color, and handloading really boosts the power.

For Peacemakers, of all ages, and the Italian copies, and Colt New Service Revolvers stick with the old standard loading.

For modern DA revolvers such a Ruger's Vaquero, and the newer S&W revolvers, the .45 LC +P loads from Buffalo Bore, Garrett, or Cor-Bon, or handload equivalents are fine.

Then when you get to Super Tough pistols, like the Ruger Blackhawks, Redhawks, and Super Redhawks, and all the products of Freedom Arms, the sky is the limit. These are the handguns used to develop top-end ammo, and some were the origins of the .454 Cassull. A handloader still needs to exercise caution, but if he intendes to push the envelop, these guns are much more forgiving that smaller weaker guns.

As for what can a .45 LC kill, the answer is pretty well anything with 4 feet, up to and including elephant. In factory and +P loadings, it is fine for deer, and hogs, or even elk if you get close enough.

Recoil depends on the load used and the handgun used. Standard velocity loads in Single-Action revolvers don't kick uncomfortably. The +P and heavier loads can get right uncomfortable, if you are unaccustomed to it.

Doc

Answer 3

Ya know, I really like the .45 Long Colt. I typically shoot a 250 grain bullet at about 800 FPS. Almost all the shooting I do with the gun is in Cowboy Action Shooting. I have two of this caliber in Ruger handguns and one in a Marlin lever action.

With the handgun, the above load could be considered at the low end of moderate recoil. With the rifle it is almost non-existent.

It is possible to load the round with sufficient power to kill a good sized deer. However, with a handgun you need to get pretty close. Even with the rifle, shots beyond 50 -75 yards get iffy.

You might want to consider the .44 Magnum as a hunting weapon. More recoil but more power to do the job.

Other handgun calibers like the .454, .460, .480, and .500 are also good hunting candidates. Of course, as you increase calibers and power, so does your recoil increase.

Come to think of it. Try out the Taurus Raging Bull in .454 Magnum. This is a compensated, five shot, double action revolver. This gun will also fire the .45 Long Colt. In that gun you can have both worlds. "plink" with the .45 Long Colt and hunt with the .454 Magnum.

Answer 4

Are you asking about the .45 Long Colt, or the .45 Automatic (the .45 acp)?

The first is a huge revolver round that has been known to kill Grizzly bear. The second is a much smaller automatic defensive pistol round that is a good man stopper, but poor against barriers like car glass n sheet metal and definitely NOT adequate for hunting. Neither one has unmanageable recoil but especially the Long Colt it will get your attention in the lighter platform handguns.

If you can be more specific we can probably manage a better answer.

Best.

H

Answer 5

I assume you are refering to the Colt 45 ACP!
Recoil is moderate, it can quite easialy kill a man, larger animals should be taken with either a .357 mag or .44 mag!

Answer 6

Factory 45Colt is very similar to 45ACP in velocity and energy. But because 45Colt is a revolver shell with a casing that is larger than it needs to be (black powder inefficiency was responsible for the large casing of the 45Colt), reloads can be substantially hotter in the appropriate gun.

Answer 7

Awesome cartage for elk hunting out to 200+ yards