May 7th 45C at range

[RanchRoper]

Tonight. 50 yds off hand. Trying to get on target fast and not over-think it. 255 gr JSP Federal American Eagle. Shoots nice. Big spray of splinters out the back board though. Cleaned rifle this morning and it shot really smooth. Too much fun.

[Deadwood Dutch]

Nice off hand shooting.

[PT7]

X2-way to go!

[RanchRoper]

Thanks guys. That ammo fires real nice. I think it might hit harder than the Hornady or Winchester. It's pretty bad*ss. I just read up on the JSP and the purpose of the jacket. Interesting. Maybe my barrel will stay cleaner longer?

[Sir Henry]

Nice offhand shooting. People don't shoot offhand at the range as much as I would like to see.

[RanchRoper]

I prefer shooting off hand. I think it's good for me to be a competent shooter with the "dismount, draw from scabbard, aim, fire" method.

[daytime dave]

I prefer shooting off hand. I think it's good for me to be a competent shooter with the "dismount, draw from scabbard, aim, fire" method.

Glad to see your good results with off hand. Nice work.

[RanchRoper]

I prefer shooting off hand. I think it's good for me to be a competent shooter with the "dismount, draw from scabbard, aim, fire" method.

Glad to see your good results with off hand. Nice work.

It's cowboy style!....whatever's comin' at ya, either it's yours or you're its'!

[JEBar]

RanchRoper ....

question/comment .... 45 Colt is a caliber I have never used and know little to nothing about .... I've looked in a couple of manuals at its ballistics and found its a bit more powerful than the 44 special and roughly half the power of a 44 Mag ..... I've taken black bear, deer, and boar with a 44 Mag but never attempted it with a 44 special .... based on your experience with the larger critters in your area, how do you feel about using a 45C for hunting larger game animals ??

[RanchRoper]

As I'm not a hunter, I don't think I'm qualified to answer. However I work with some people who hunt elk, deer and moose. They tell me that a 45 Colt lead flat nose slug will take them down. The Hornady 255 gr LFN for example says 725 fps at the muzzle but that would be handgun I believe as they call it handgun ammo in stores. Out of a rifle I read somewhere it's around 1,000 to 1,100 fps. But the hunters I've talked to say that will take down most critters, although as I've said in some other posts I don't want to experiment on a grizzly with a grouch on. I can tell you that at the range those slugs hit the backboard at 50 yds with serious authority, and send splinters of wood flying out the back. I found one of the slugs and the lead basically grenades after it hits. Recoil is not bad, and I can't help but like the old timey lead bullets.

Hope this helps.

[JEBar]

evaluation appreciated .... there is no doubt that it is a very capable cartridge

[RanchRoper]

Here's the slug after its magical transformation. That's gotta hurt as it tumbles thru vitals.

[JEBar]

working with 44/45 caliber bullets is very different from the various 30 caliber bullets we have used for decades .... the 255 grain bullets you mentioned are 35 grains larger than the heaviest commonly used 30-06 bullets .... the penetration relatively slow speed, heavy solid/lead bullets is exceptional .... I can see the 45 being an all around cartridge

[RanchRoper]

Here's a Winchester 250 gr. It's a chunk of lead for sure.

[Hogstir]

You can load a 45 Colt up to 44 magnum levels in your Henry. Buffalo bore and some others make 45 Colt ammo that will push a 250 XTP past 1400 fps and that's out of a handgun. From your rifle you will get at least a couple hundred fps more than than that due to the extra barrel length.

[RanchRoper]

Good to know. Thanks.

[White Squirrel]

Like the new avatar, Ranch Roper!

[RanchRoper]

Like the new avatar, Ranch Roper!

It was a struggle! But it finally worked...thks.

[RanchRoper]

Like the new avatar, Ranch Roper!

It was a struggle! But it finally worked...thks.

ps....thanks to Sir Henry for the photo fixer-upper....

[Deadwood Dutch]

I like it. It looks really sharp now!