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Thread: Need advice on 45 ACP Boolit

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    Need advice on 45 ACP Boolit

    I live in Jefferson County Colorado. My 45 ACP is a 220 Sig. We have had a black bear in our neighborhood the past few years. Have not seen any Lions but they are out there. I am a hand loader but just load plated 230 gr. I have several factory loaded loaded ACP's. Old school Federal and Winchester premium. Not being a caster I am thinking of buying a batch of Rim Rock standard 220 Gr RNFLP for our protection and loading them with 5.5 gr of Winchester 231. Would this be better then the factory hollow points that I have now? We have had a women down in Durango Co. killed and lunched on by a mother black bear and a couple of young ones.

    I would be thankful for any advice!!

  2. #2
    Boolit Master


    Finster101's Avatar
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    I am not the expert here but I would think the RNFLP would be better than hollow points on a bear if you had to use it. I believe you would want penetration and I'm sure bear hide is tough. You are going to hear that .45 ACP is not a bear hunting round but I have a feeling you are not hunting, you just don't want to be lunch.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
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    What Finster101 said.

    The bears in Colorado that I have seen aren't all that big, for bears. I think a .45 ACP that you shoot well should be sufficient bear repellent.

    I would definitely prefer a flat meplat compared to a RN or HP in this situation, as I think they will penetrate better and straighter.

    Robert

  4. #4
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    Burnt Fingers's Avatar
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    If it were me I'd load some Lyman 452423 boolits with a starting load of CFE Pistol. I'd start at 5.2 gr and start going up. You should be able to get that boolit to around 900 fps...if you can handle the recoil.
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  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy


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    Not an expert either, but a heavy flat point bullet would be better than a hollow point.

    You might find this thread of interest https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...742-Trail-Guns

  6. #6
    Boolit Master 243winxb's Avatar
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    FMJ +P 45 acp ammo. Penetration is needed. See Speer data for 1000 fps handload.

    Alliants Blue Dot powder is another one to look at for top velocity.
    Last edited by 243winxb; 05-19-2021 at 04:51 PM.

  7. #7
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    I agree with 243winxb, with a 45 ACP for bear, penetration is your first goal. If I was doing this, I would probably try a 230 FMJ as fast as I could get it to go. and still stand it. Remember, it has to feed reliably, too. Maybe a 200 FMJ even faster, but no on the hollow point.

    Not sure how relevant this is, but 45 Federal HST +P won't put a cow down reliably with a close range head shot, it won't penetrate the skull...........230 ball works just fine.

  8. #8
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    ddixie884's Avatar
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    A flat point will aid in straight line penetration and bone breakage.......
    JMHO-YMMV
    dd884
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    Gary D. Peek

  9. #9
    Boolit Master bigboredad's Avatar
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    If the bear was my problem I would look to be pushing a wide flat point that was 100% reliable as fast ad I could shoot straight. Not sure what powders you have and are available but accurate #5 will give you some great top end loads. But good old unique will work also. Another bullet that I have read that is really good for hunting and penetrating is a 200gr swc. Good luck

    Sent from my SM-T377V using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    I shoot an Accurate Molds 45-230F and a 45-229N. All the bullet anyone needs.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    I like to hunt black bear, but back problems limit me to a ground blind and a chair with an angled backrest. My main gun is my Marlin 1895 45-70with 400 gr bullets and boolits. The backup gun inside the blind with me is a Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 Magnum with a Lee 300 gr cast boolit. The Lee 300's nose looks flat at a glance, but it's actually slightly concave. A 45ACP would not be anywhere near my first choice, and I own 3 of them.
    Look at the thread about bears and handguns.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    Speer No.10 and later give .45 ACP load data for 250 lead SWC and 260 JHP which approximate .45 Colt payload and velocity from an M1911 pistol. Try 6 grains Unique or 9 grains Blue Dot with a 255 grain Saeco #255 or similar.
    The ENEMY is listening.
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  13. #13
    Boolit Master Win94ae's Avatar
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    One time I was shooting a fresh piece of Shag-bark Hickory (firewood, 7" diameter,) with my 5" 1911, using factory 230gr FMJ. I hit the piece of wood many times but never did it penetrate, not even 1/16 of an inch into bark. I'd be worrying about not hitting the bears skull square, and the bullet deflecting.

    ...and the bullets I found in the pile of wood, looked perfect, no deformation whatsoever.
    Last edited by Win94ae; 05-22-2021 at 02:52 PM. Reason: additional information

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    I just buy Buffalo Bore for the times I am going to be in black bear country.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master



    ddixie884's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by charlie b View Post
    I just buy Buffalo Bore for the times I am going to be in black bear country.
    Not a bad idea or, a bad investment. It wouldn't take many for familiarization and function. How many bears would a man need to kill?
    JMHO-YMMV
    dd884
    gary@2texastrucks.com
    Gary D. Peek

  16. #16
    Boolit Bub
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    As has been stated. Reliability in feeding. Firing and ejecting should be priority number one.
    Penetration second....

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy pacomdiver's Avatar
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    sounds like a good excuse to justify a 500 smith and wesson Magnum revolver . you dont have to worry if it wont be enough penetration

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by pacomdiver View Post
    sounds like a good excuse to justify a 500 smith and wesson Magnum revolver . you dont have to worry if it wont be enough penetration

    There one would have to ASSUME the owner of the 500 S&W would practice with the 500 to get to the point where they could get off a good shot DA. Then there is bringing the 500 down from recoil and being able to get off a second shot in a timely and accurate way.
    Just hitting the bear anywhere could possibly turn him or cause him to fall so one could unleash another shot. But the BIG question remains is the person going to practice till they get to the level of accuracy and speed to be where they need to be? Most cant hit well DA with a 357 Mag shooting in a calm deliberate manner much less with a 500 Smith and Wesson.
    Reality must take over when selecting and purchasing a firearm to be used in a "chips down" situation.
    Just because there are people who can do it doesn't mean they abound everywhere.

  19. #19
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    Were it I, I would use the 220 grain RNFLP but I would load them over 6.0 grains of 231, 7.2 grains of Unique, 7.2 grains of Power Pistol or 10 grains of Blue Dot. These are all top end loads for the 225 HP bullet in Speer 13. I would not use these for my everyday practice loads, but simply fam-fire enough to establish my own point of aim. Then I'd carry them in anticipation of need, in lieu of my normal anti-personnel hollow points.
    My own SIG 220 has been reliable with everything I have tried in it. I have a similar load using an RCBS 45-230 CM boolit loaded up with Power Pistol, but I carry a magnum revolver while out in the wild. However, dance with the one you brought.
    _________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.

  20. #20
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    A good bowling pin load would be a good black bear load. The pin gun needs as much foot lbs energy as you can get it to shoot, but you have to be good with it's recoil and quick to get back on the target.

    I had my best luck with a 255gr LSWC over 700x it cleared the table with an appreciable authority when I did my part. Pins literally lifted off and flew backwards. That was also a magnaported gun so that helped with getting the front sight back on target.

    If I had to use a 1911 for black bear, this would be my approach to the load.
    Last edited by DougGuy; 05-23-2021 at 03:24 PM.
    Got a .22 .30 .32 .357 .38 .40 .41 .44 .45 .480 or .500 S&W cylinder that needs throats honed? 9mm, 10mm/40S&W, 45 ACP pistol barrel that won't "plunk" your handloads? 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh cylinder that needs the "step" reamed to 6° 30min chamfer? Click here to send me a PM You can also find me on Facebook Click Here.

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BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
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