what 45acp cast bullets have you found to be effective for hunting?
yes a 45 acp will kill hogs rather easily but in most cases I find they take off running after even a well placed hit, and most travel at least 30-40 yards before they drop even with center chest/heart shots.
keep in mind what works rather consistently well on 40-70 lb hogs will generally NOT work nearly as well on the 150-200 lb hogs even with equal shot placement, and personally I don,t generally see most local hogs get over about 160-170 lbs
one of the local guys wanted to try hunting local hogs with his 45 acp pistol,
like many guys rather unfamiliar with hunting with handguns he thought the 45 acp pistol should be more than adequate ,
like many of us, he being brought up on tales of how any single center mass, hit on a human target would be nearly instantly lethal.
now local game laws forbid use of full metal jacket projectiles,
so cast bullets or soft point or hollow point jacketed bullets are your only legal and effective choices.
knowing he wanted to handload and use a handgun..
suggested he purchase a 8" 357 mag revolver.
now personally, I've not been impressed with a 45 acp as a hunting handgun, , having used one on many previous hunts
most 45 cast bullets don't give impressive penetration or expansion, as velocity is rather low.
a balance must be struck, between accuracy and penetration.
I think logic would point many people to select a 180 grain jacketed hollow point or a 200 grain cast projectile,
as they can be pushed a bit faster insuring a bit more expansion.
now granted my experience is somewhat limited as most local hogs are in the 75lb-200 lb weight range and most of those I've shot were shot at under 35-50 yards as I generally won't shoot past the range I feel certain of exact shot placement and hogs rarely cooperate in standing still or providing optimal shot angles
but Ive found the heavier 230 grain bullets marginally out penetrate the lighter jacketed bullet options and in no case was a 45 acp nearly as effective, or a quickly lethal, on your average hog as a 158-170 grain bullet from a 357 mag
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these were a decent choice
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these were what I found worked reasonably well
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I generally hunt with a EAA witness 45 acp
yes a 45 acp will kill hogs rather easily but in most cases I find they take off running after even a well placed hit, and most travel at least 30-40 yards before they drop even with center chest/heart shots.
keep in mind what works rather consistently well on 40-70 lb hogs will generally NOT work nearly as well on the 150-200 lb hogs even with equal shot placement, and personally I don,t generally see most local hogs get over about 160-170 lbs
one of the local guys wanted to try hunting local hogs with his 45 acp pistol,
like many guys rather unfamiliar with hunting with handguns he thought the 45 acp pistol should be more than adequate ,
like many of us, he being brought up on tales of how any single center mass, hit on a human target would be nearly instantly lethal.
now local game laws forbid use of full metal jacket projectiles,
so cast bullets or soft point or hollow point jacketed bullets are your only legal and effective choices.
knowing he wanted to handload and use a handgun..
suggested he purchase a 8" 357 mag revolver.
now personally, I've not been impressed with a 45 acp as a hunting handgun, , having used one on many previous hunts
most 45 cast bullets don't give impressive penetration or expansion, as velocity is rather low.
a balance must be struck, between accuracy and penetration.
I think logic would point many people to select a 180 grain jacketed hollow point or a 200 grain cast projectile,
as they can be pushed a bit faster insuring a bit more expansion.
now granted my experience is somewhat limited as most local hogs are in the 75lb-200 lb weight range and most of those I've shot were shot at under 35-50 yards as I generally won't shoot past the range I feel certain of exact shot placement and hogs rarely cooperate in standing still or providing optimal shot angles
but Ive found the heavier 230 grain bullets marginally out penetrate the lighter jacketed bullet options and in no case was a 45 acp nearly as effective, or a quickly lethal, on your average hog as a 158-170 grain bullet from a 357 mag
45 Caliber .451 Diameter 185 Grain XTP 100 Count
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45 Caliber Round Nose Bullets | 185 Grain Hollow Base Bullets
Get a 500 count of Berry's 45 caliber 185 grain round nose bullets at Midsouth Shooters. These hollow base bullets are swaged, copper plated, and re-sized.
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Four Cavity Pistol Bullet Mould #452630 45 Caliber 200 Grain
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Double Cavity Mold 452-230-TC
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Double Cavity Mold TL452-230-TC
Double Cavity Mold TL452-230-TC by Lee Precision Product Overview Midsouth offers the Double Cavity Mold TL452-230-TC. Lee mold blocks are machined from aluminum blocks making them rust resistant. Aluminum molds heat up and cool down faster than iron or steel molds so good bullets can...
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I generally hunt with a EAA witness 45 acp
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