What meplat size do you consider best.

[Changeling]

For Ruger 45LC revolvers what meplat size do you consider to be to large for "Hogs/Deer/Bear" in a velocity range of 1100 to 1300fps with pass through.
I'm asking this because I was "taken to task, sorta" on a post I made about liking large meplats. I won't mention meplat size but would really appreciate your opinions on the subject and especially if you know the meplat size you have used for this type game and having complete penetration.

In other words your experience and thoughts on this subject.

Consider the bullet weight to be in the 260gr area.

[Coffeecup]

Unless you hit major bones, a hardcast full wadcutter at 1300 fps should make it through any of these.

[dk17hmr]

Well I dont know about Hogs, Deer, and Bear but the 454424 works great on p-dogs.

Who makes a 45 caliber full wadcutter?

[Coffeecup]

Who makes a 45 caliber full wadcutter?

Crazy redneck kids. Back in my younger days, I would insert a Lyman gas check into an old Winchester 45-70 rifle mould (basically, a 457125). Sized to .454", the result was a gas-checked wadcutter. Depending on how much of the cavity was above the check, the wadcutter could weigh as much as 300+ grains, and since the cylinder throats were about .4546" the wadcutter could extend into the throat.

It was a great bullet for plinking, and loaded hot was an excellent hunting bullet. Accuracy fell off sharply around 50-60 yards though.

[runfiverun]

i'd bet lyman/ideal/h&g has in the past, i have a lyman 41 with the smallest nib of a nose on it that i'd call a full wadcutter.
and i do have a few 180 ish fwc's in 45 someone sent me.
the only time i'd consider a meplat too big is if i didn't get full penetration.

[jhalcott]

I have been "taken to task" for using all manner of bullets AND boolits over the years. I really don't worry about some one else's ideal any more. I use what works for ME!! Heavy for caliber ,light for caliber BUT usually a flat nosed design. A 70% meplat is great. If more is what YOU like ,fine! Once YOUR game is on the ground you can ASK the offended gent if THIS is what he wants from HIS loads!

[badgeredd]

My opinion is to use a 65 to 70% meplat on a hunting boolit to achieve penetration as well as the best wound channel. See the stickie for some varying opinions on this subject.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=48098

Edd

[Blammer]

not too sure about 45 cal but this 44 will penetrate like nobody's business, even though it's a fairly big meplat. :)

at 25 yds it penetrated 6 one gallon milk jugs of water.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/DSCN7432.jpg

accuracy is good for about 75 yds max then it just goes everywhere.

[cptinjeff]

not too sure about 45 cal but this 44 will penetrate like nobody's business, even though it's a fairly big meplat. :)

at 25 yds it penetrated 6 one gallon milk jugs of water.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/DSCN7432.jpg

accuracy is good for about 75 yds max then it just goes everywhere.

How much do those wiegh?:coffee: Very cool!

[Lead Fred]

Got a URL for these?

Id like to see a 40 or 45 mold diagram

[Changeling]

Blammer I think they would be awesome for hunting bullets, except for, no accuracy out to 100yards and the biggest problem being a wad cutter, they have a tendency to tumble inside game and also make sudden turns inside game. That is the problems with not having a "Form" to the nose section of bullets.

That aside, I bet they are a barrel of fun to play with.

[Blammer]

Hmm, that boolit going sideways inside a game animal? I like it!

Yea it's an under 75 yd boolit for sure.

[Lloyd Smale]

blammer if i remember right you sent me some 512s like that years ago and they shot real well at 25 yards. Maybe im thinking wrong and they were 45s but id swear they were .50s. Like was said in any caliber theyd wack the hell out of any thin skinned game under 50 yards.

[wboggs]

Well I dont know about Hogs, Deer, and Bear but the 454424 works great on p-dogs.

Who makes a 45 caliber full wadcutter?

http://www.pennbullets.com/45/45-caliber.html

This guy casts some nice bullets and knows his stuff. My avitar is a 15 shot group with his 200 gr. RNFPBB at 40'.

http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/27132/2536138880101870711S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2536138880101870711nSZuts)

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
I would bet a .358-360 medplat on a 45 would work real well.:bigsmyl2:
heck it ought to work on a 44.
I have read of good success with .30 medplats & up. at 1,000-1,200 '/s.

[GLynn41]

Veral Smith says around .300 --he also says depends on velocity rifles need less-- a 280 makes a pretty good size hole -- I use a .33 in my .41- -- Beartooth boolits has a program in the ballistics section that will predict the wound size-- it has worked with my .33 in the 41 pretty well --but it is math verses life-- something to play with anyway-- according to that a .28 at 1150 (about the speed of sound) should give about .8 of an inch -- + or- which is pretty good-- it predicted my .33 would be around an inch at 1200 and the last two does I took the entrance and exit were measured at 1"--shot a 250+ # Boar about the same in the hide --

[Changeling]

I'm interested in 45 bullets with a 340-360 meplat.

[JeffinNZ]

I was just reading an article by our member "Glen" and his references to Keith and Marshall stated 63-73% as opitmum.

[shdwlkr]

I would have to think that a meplat around 60-75% on hunting bullet would work. I know most of my group buys have wide meplats and I buy LBT molds with wide meplats.
If somone doesn't like your metplat just don't talk to them. You know a lot of folks didn't like the 375 winchester either but those who have moved over to lead bullets have found it works great and even hand loaded jacketed bullets work great.
What is important is what works in your firearm for you for the use you are usng it. I once read and article by a sheepherder who only had a 32-20 to protect the sheep but was able to deal with everything from two legs to four legs that bothered the sheep. What one forgets is that show placement is what counts more than anything.

[Changeling]

Veral Smith says around .300 --he also says depends on velocity rifles need less-- a 280 makes a pretty good size hole -- I use a .33 in my .41- -- Beartooth boolits has a program in the ballistics section that will predict the wound size-- it has worked with my .33 in the 41 pretty well --but it is math verses life-- something to play with anyway-- according to that a .28 at 1150 (about the speed of sound) should give about .8 of an inch -- + or- which is pretty good-- it predicted my .33 would be around an inch at 1200 and the last two does I took the entrance and exit were measured at 1"--shot a 250+ # Boar about the same in the hide --


Glynn41, very interesting. I sure wish more people would list there bullet stats and how it interacted with the animal shot, that sort of thing gives me the kind of information I really want.

Another problem, I have read that the wide meplats like Verals WFN bullets (45LC = .360+ meplat) are not accurate out past 100 yards unless they are driven very hard, but darned if I really know. I've posted questions concerning this on another forum but answers are non existent. For that matter just how accurate are they inside 100 yards. I have a great deal of respect for Veral and feel most of the not accurate stuff is BS, but I can't get reliable information!

[shdwlkr]

Why don't you send Veral an email and ask him your question. I have asked him many questions and bought two molds on his answers. Why are people so afraid to ask the mold maker questions. If you don't want to ask Veral why not ask Marshall Stanton at the beartooth bullets . If you are going to use lead ask the experts that make their living off lead molds, lead bullets and such.

[GLynn41]

Shdwlkr is right you know veral is very good about answering questions

[GLynn41]

My 255 with a .400 nose and the .33 meplat will shoot 3" out of a Redhawk and a good rest -- at 100yards no clue about after that--I have a better rest to use now so will try some time -- as I have a new .410 GNR = 41/454-- at 30 yards it will give 1" for 3 shots with the 255 gr but have not tried it any further-- something else I have heard about is penetration is hurt by the wide meplat -- well the biggest thing i have shot is a 250+# russian boar-- but they sailed right through him at 40 yards gristle plate and all-- at 50 yards my .41 GNR =41/.44-- with the 255 grain will go through just over a 18" of tightly tied wet newsprint at 50 yards -- never tried to catch one but expect it would take another foot or so to stop it -- will try that some time but Gary Reeder has killed a couple of buffs and Nigai etc with a 255 out of the .410-- mv of the .41 GNr was 1340 and the .410 is 1600 both with my 255 grain bullet from a Mountain Mold

[Lloyd Smale]

much more accumulated knowlege here then anywhere and that includes veral and marshall combined.

[gon2shoot]

I like a 70%ish meplate in the 45. My general load runs about 1180fps, and seems to be fairly effective.
I run my alloy a little harder than some (about 16/18 bhn) due to casting for several guns.
The 45 does'nt need much more than a well placed shot to be effective even with a round nose.

[Changeling]

My 255 with a .400 nose and the .33 meplat will shoot 3" out of a Redhawk and a good rest -- at 100yards no clue about after that--I have a better rest to use now so will try some time -- as I have a new .410 GNR = 41/454-- at 30 yards it will give 1" for 3 shots with the 255 gr but have not tried it any further-- something else I have heard about is penetration is hurt by the wide meplat -- well the biggest thing i have shot is a 250+# russian boar-- but they sailed right through him at 40 yards gristle plate and all-- at 50 yards my .41 GNR =41/.44-- with the 255 grain will go through just over a 18" of tightly tied wet newsprint at 50 yards -- never tried to catch one but expect it would take another foot or so to stop it -- will try that some time but Gary Reeder has killed a couple of buffs and Nigai etc with a 255 out of the .410-- mv of the .41 GNr was 1340 and the .410 is 1600 both with my 255 grain bullet from a Mountain Mold

Thanks for the info Glynn, that kind of statistics is what I'm looking for and like to see. Unfortunately not many post there bullet stats.

[Changeling]

My 255 with a .400 nose and the .33 meplat will shoot 3" out of a Redhawk and a good rest -- at 100yards no clue about after that--I have a better rest to use now so will try some time -- as I have a new .410 GNR = 41/454-- at 30 yards it will give 1" for 3 shots with the 255 gr but have not tried it any further-- something else I have heard about is penetration is hurt by the wide meplat -- well the biggest thing i have shot is a 250+# russian boar-- but they sailed right through him at 40 yards gristle plate and all-- at 50 yards my .41 GNR =41/.44-- with the 255 grain will go through just over a 18" of tightly tied wet newsprint at 50 yards -- never tried to catch one but expect it would take another foot or so to stop it -- will try that some time but Gary Reeder has killed a couple of buffs and Nigai etc with a 255 out of the .410-- mv of the .41 GNr was 1340 and the .410 is 1600 both with my 255 grain bullet from a Mountain Mold

Thanks for the info Glynn, that kind of statistics is what I'm looking for and like to see. Unfortunately not many post there bullet stats.