be aware that theres a large variation in the strength of revolvers made that chamber 45lc, the RUGER and FREEDON ARMS revolvers tend to be significantly stronger than many of the others made by other manufacturers ,especially older colt or colt clones , and a 6"-7.5" barrel is REQUIRED to maximize velocity
the 45 lc has a larger expansion ratio and heavier bullets than a similar 44 mag, but its not designed to operate at the same pressure levels in MOST 45lc chambered revolvers, and if you want max performance get a revolver chambered in 454 cassul it will chamber and fire 45lc also
a 45lc can,t be safely loaded to 44 mag pressure levels, but it can still provide surprisingly good performance as the larger bore diam. has a larger expansion ratio and allows use of heavier bullets, this allows you to push the same weight bullets as a similar 44 mag revolver to greater velocity at similar pressure levels, now you can,t load to the same peak pressure but at lower pressure you get more effective use of that pressure, thus you can push a 250-300 grain bullet to lets say 1000 fps at a lower peak pressure than a 44 mag could
keep in mind the 45lc operates at much lower pressures
45 Colt 14,000 psi
than most of the more modern magnums many of us use for hunting big game
http://www.genitron.com/Basics/Common-Handgun-Cartridges
http://www.handloads.com/misc/saami.htm
If you find a great double action smith & wesson N frame limit the pressures to the moderate range but these are top of the line and exceedingly accurate, a load like 11 grains of blue dot under a 250 grain cast bullet makes it a great personal defense option in skilled hands, and fully up to hunting deer and hogs out to at least 50 yards
http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/d ... e_myth.htm
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/defau ... pe=Handgun
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/?Cali ... pe=Handgun
you don,t need a magnum or high velocity to be effective at hunting deer with a revolver ,the guy I hunt with now and have hunted with for the last 9 years has used that same 11.5 grains of blue dot in his ruger single action 45 LC revolver and this mold
casting 95% wheel weights and 5% tin bullets, hes use an older ruger
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... 0004482050
I can without reservations assure you its deadly on deer !
Ive personally seen him shoot 3 now and one dropped instantly two ran a short distance but every one dropped inside of 30 yards
just a comparison here of
commonly used revolver cast bullet hand loads
for hunting,Id point out that operator skill and experience matters a great deal.
even the properly hand loaded 357 mag will prove lethal to deer and hogs and even elk in skilled hands,
but its generally considered marginal on the larger game at ranges over 50 yards
357 mag .357 diam......170 grain projectile at 1400 fps 750 ft lbs
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=357 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
41 mag....410 diam.....210 grain projectile at 1400 fps 914 ft lbs
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=41 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
44 mag....430 diam.....310 grain projectile at 1300 fps 1160 ft lbs
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44 Magnum&Weight=300&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
these last five will take a great deal more practice as muzzle blast,and recoil levels are noticeable, the 480 rugers a great compromise between power and recoil
445 DWSM mag....430 diam.....310 grain projectile at 1570fps 1690 ft lbs
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=445 Supermag&Weight=All&type=Handgun
454 cassul....454 diam.....335 grain projectile at 1500 fps 1675 ft lbs
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=454 Casull&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Source
460 S&W......454 diam. 360 grain projectile at 1600 fps 2046 ft lbs
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=460 SqqqW Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
480 ruger.....476 diam......325 grain projectile at 1375 fps 1365 ft lbs
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=480 Ruger&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
500 S&W.....500 diam. 400 grain projectile at 1600 fps 2274 ft lbs
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=500 SqqqW Magnum&Weight=All
the 45 lc has a larger expansion ratio and heavier bullets than a similar 44 mag, but its not designed to operate at the same pressure levels in MOST 45lc chambered revolvers, and if you want max performance get a revolver chambered in 454 cassul it will chamber and fire 45lc also
a 45lc can,t be safely loaded to 44 mag pressure levels, but it can still provide surprisingly good performance as the larger bore diam. has a larger expansion ratio and allows use of heavier bullets, this allows you to push the same weight bullets as a similar 44 mag revolver to greater velocity at similar pressure levels, now you can,t load to the same peak pressure but at lower pressure you get more effective use of that pressure, thus you can push a 250-300 grain bullet to lets say 1000 fps at a lower peak pressure than a 44 mag could
keep in mind the 45lc operates at much lower pressures
45 Colt 14,000 psi
than most of the more modern magnums many of us use for hunting big game
http://www.genitron.com/Basics/Common-Handgun-Cartridges
http://www.handloads.com/misc/saami.htm
If you find a great double action smith & wesson N frame limit the pressures to the moderate range but these are top of the line and exceedingly accurate, a load like 11 grains of blue dot under a 250 grain cast bullet makes it a great personal defense option in skilled hands, and fully up to hunting deer and hogs out to at least 50 yards
http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/d ... e_myth.htm
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/defau ... pe=Handgun
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/?Cali ... pe=Handgun
you don,t need a magnum or high velocity to be effective at hunting deer with a revolver ,the guy I hunt with now and have hunted with for the last 9 years has used that same 11.5 grains of blue dot in his ruger single action 45 LC revolver and this mold
casting 95% wheel weights and 5% tin bullets, hes use an older ruger
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/i ... 0004482050
I can without reservations assure you its deadly on deer !
Ive personally seen him shoot 3 now and one dropped instantly two ran a short distance but every one dropped inside of 30 yards
just a comparison here of
commonly used revolver cast bullet hand loads
for hunting,Id point out that operator skill and experience matters a great deal.
even the properly hand loaded 357 mag will prove lethal to deer and hogs and even elk in skilled hands,
but its generally considered marginal on the larger game at ranges over 50 yards
357 mag .357 diam......170 grain projectile at 1400 fps 750 ft lbs
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=357 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
41 mag....410 diam.....210 grain projectile at 1400 fps 914 ft lbs
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=41 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
44 mag....430 diam.....310 grain projectile at 1300 fps 1160 ft lbs
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=44 Magnum&Weight=300&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
these last five will take a great deal more practice as muzzle blast,and recoil levels are noticeable, the 480 rugers a great compromise between power and recoil
445 DWSM mag....430 diam.....310 grain projectile at 1570fps 1690 ft lbs
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=445 Supermag&Weight=All&type=Handgun
454 cassul....454 diam.....335 grain projectile at 1500 fps 1675 ft lbs
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=454 Casull&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Source
460 S&W......454 diam. 360 grain projectile at 1600 fps 2046 ft lbs
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=460 SqqqW Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
480 ruger.....476 diam......325 grain projectile at 1375 fps 1365 ft lbs
http://handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=480 Ruger&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=
500 S&W.....500 diam. 400 grain projectile at 1600 fps 2274 ft lbs
http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=500 SqqqW Magnum&Weight=All
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