practial range for the 45 acp

[white eagle]

The previous post about Ruger 45 colt/acp convertible got me thinking
what would be the practical range of the acp for hunting with hunting weight boolits
for that cal
I am thinking of 200-250 gr for my intent :coffee:
what say you :confused:

[Nobade]

I say how far away can you hit a clay pigeon every time, first try? That's a pretty good estimate for shooting a deer. Adjust accordingly depending on the game you wish to chase.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
I do not remember the diameter of a clay pigion but I use a 5 " circle for bow practice. I figure if I can hit that circle with every arrow that is my practicle bow shot max range.
On the killer effect of a 240 grainer starting at 850 fps... at 100 yards it would still be leathal to a thin skin deer passing through the lungs / ribs. But I think I would limit my shooting to 50 yards as i want complete penetration to have a good blood trail to follow.

[Kraschenbirn]

I never had a problem dropping full-size IHMSA pig silhouettes @ 100M with "hardball" loads from a Gov't Model but, like Missionary 5155, I'd limit my game shots to 50M or less.

Bill

[HeavyMetal]

Depends on the gun.

71/2 inch ruger with a dot sight I might strech to 100 yards, GI 1911 50 or under.

For deer with a nicely tuned 45 auto 200 H&G 68 on 7.5 grains Unique to 60 yards

190 grain HP on 9.5 grains Bluedot maybe a tad futher depending on light, cover, position of the Moon.......

[Dale53]

If you are using a revolver, THE bullet to use in a .45 ACP for hunting is a good copy of the Lyman 454424 (250 gr Keith SWC). I use an NOE five cavity mould to cast a GOOD 250 gr Keith bullet ahead of a good charge of Unique that gives me 900+ fps chronographed in my S&W 625-6 (with 5" barrel). Lyman has been all over the place with the design of this bullet since it was introduced. My Ruger Convertible should give similar velocities. That particular load should shoot through a deer lengthwise at 100 yards.

However, before shooting at game at ranges over 50 yards, it would be prudent to check point of impact at 100 yards to see how much drop you have. It takes a particularly good shot to score 100% at 100 yards with a handgun. We owe it to live game to only take a shot that we are 100% confident in.

The load I mention equals the original black powder .45 Colt load (in a .45 ACP case) but with a MUCH better designed bullet. The U.S. Army's standards for the .45 Colt when in development was that it had to shoot through a HORSE at 100 yards.

Here's what that load looks like (in a .45 Auto Rim case):

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/4DalesPistolsRevolversSelects-3336.jpg
Dale53

[white eagle]

the closest I have to the 250 weight is 275
would you think that would take up to much space
in the case hindering the powder charge

[Dale53]

white eagle;
Brian Pearce has written one of the most useful articles I have seen on reloading the .45 Auto Rim (I am NOT a fan of bullets heavier than the 230 gr weight in the 1911 but I reserve the use of heavy bullets in .45 ACP and .45 Auto Rim to the modern heavy frame revolvers made after 1950).

The Pearce article can be found in the August 2008 #254 issue of Handloader magazine. It would be worth your while to obtain a copy (Wolfe Publishing sells back orders). This article covers bullets as heavy as 285 grs. Keep in mind that equally as important as weight in the relatively small case of the .45 ACP/Auto Rim is seating depth regarding pressures. Deeper seating can GREATLY increase pressure, so the design of the particular bullet is EXTREMELY important.

Dale53

[EMC45]

This is the pistol section, but I will add if I may....I sighted my Camp Carbine in at 50yds with a 230gr. cast bullet over Unique. It would shoot (with scope) very tight groups. I walked it out to 100yds and they were still pretty tight, but about 6-7 inches low.

[Shooter6br]

i plan to buy a ruger 45ACP/ 45 Colt. i dont know if the 4 5/8 barrel or 5.5. Mainly target and carried when hiking. I faveor the 5.5 any options?

[arjacobson]

This is the pistol section, but I will add if I may....I sighted my Camp Carbine in at 50yds with a 230gr. cast bullet over Unique. It would shoot (with scope) very tight groups. I walked it out to 100yds and they were still pretty tight, but about 6-7 inches low.

I have a camp in 45 also. Bought it new when they first came out. Tack driver!!!

[white eagle]

are the 45 acp and the auto rim the same case
I have seen it stated both ways numerous times

[35remington]

The case capacities and length are pretty much the same. The Auto Rim has a thick rim intended for revolvers that have the proper dimensions to accept either the Auto Rim or 45 ACP cases in full or half moon clips.

They are not the same in appearance. One is rimless and the other has a thick, heavy rim.

[white eagle]

can you shoot a auto rim in a acp chamber ????
was wondering if I could shoot them in my Backhawk convertible

[Dale53]

white eagle;
You cannot shoot the auto rim case in a convertible .45 ACP cylinder (the rim is too thick). The Auto Rim is made only for S&W and Colt revolvers that are chambered for the .45 ACP.

Dale53

[Wally]

I have trimmed down neck split .45 Colt cases to .45 ACP length to fire in the Ruger convertible .45 ACP cylinder--they work just fine.

[AnthonyB]

white eagle:
Not in a stock cylinder, but Brian Pearce had a segment in a recent Handloader or Rifle magazine on converting a 45 ACP cylinder to accept AR brass. I can look it up if you are interested, but you had to get a machinist to take enough metal off the back of the cylinder to allow AR brass to function. According to Pearce, ACP brass would still headspace and function with no trouble.

[45 2.1]

I have a custom hollow pointed 452490 mold (by BRP and is on his website) i've used in the 45 ACP cartridge to take deer. Deer were from 30 to about 60 yds away and I got a fast kill with excellent expansion on a broadside heart area shot. Accuracy was confirmed out of revolvers, single actions and semi-autos for this boolit and performance/accuracy was excellent out to 85 yds (not tried farther than that). This boolit was not meant for a lot of penetration in heavy animals.

[Bass Ackward]

The previous post about Ruger 45 colt/acp convertible got me thinking
what would be the practical range of the acp for hunting with hunting weight boolits
for that cal
I am thinking of 200-250 gr for my intent :coffee:
what say you :confused:


These things always depend on people's experience or testing. What is never defined is a function of bullet design, hardness and how you hunt.

If you are jumping or shooting at adrenalized deer, then the limit for me is 40 yards regardless of hardness with a 70% or greater meplat if you need / want him down right now.

If you can place your shot perfectly on an unsuspecting deer that is a totally calm, then you can compromise on mepalt and be good as far out as you want to shoot them assuming good shot placement for your launching platform. Then you rely on bleed out for demise which will affect your tracking distance.

I like to go for a fast kill as opposed to bleed out for humanitarian reasons. Understand that with my estimates.

[Dale53]

I have trimmed down neck split .45 Colt cases to .45 ACP length to fire in the Ruger convertible .45 ACP cylinder--they work just fine.

Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't. The .45 Colt case often thickens near the head interfering with bullet bases as they are seated (depends entirely on their required seating depth).

A better solution might be to simply order out some .45 Cowboy Special brass. They have the same dimensions and capacity as .45 ACP but have a .45 Colt rim. If a cut down .45 Colt will headspace properly in YOUR .45 ACP convertible cylinder for your Black Hawk, then the .45 Cowboy Special will work perfectly AND it will not have the problem of thickening side walls.

.45 Cowboy Special brass can be found here:

http://www.cowboy45special.com/

FWIW
Dale53

[MtGun44]

As far as seing he max range for hunting, the 6" dessert paper plates are a nice target.

If you can keep all of your shots on one of these (even an edger is OK) you will kill a deer
cleanly at that range. Practice until you answer your own question for YOU and YOUR GUN
with YOUR AMMO against this criteria.

Bill

[white eagle]

you guys got me thinking so ....
I took a 45 colt case cut it down to 45 acp length and resized it in my 45 colt die
and it fit
I assume the 45 auto rim cases will work ?
would you agree ????

[Bass Ackward]

Absolutely not.

[Von Dingo]

you guys got me thinking so ....
I took a 45 colt case cut it down to 45 acp length and resized it in my 45 colt die
and it fit
I assume the 45 auto rim cases will work ?
would you agree ????

The rim on the .45 AR, is very thick to make up for the lack of moon clips, which allow extractor star to engage something in a DA revolver. The rear face of the Blackhawk cylinder would need some stock removed to use .45 AR brass. The only advantage to using AR brass would be you could use a roll crimp, rather than a taper crimp. By far the most economical route is the .45 CS brass that Dale referenced.

[Von Dingo]

i plan to buy a ruger 45ACP/ 45 Colt. i dont know if the 4 5/8 barrel or 5.5. Mainly target and carried when hiking. I faveor the 5.5 any options?

This is a personal preference situation. Personally, I like the 5.5 Bisley.