Actual field experience w/45acp

So hear goes, I'm doing an experiment this year and have done right much research. I am not looking a debate just wanting personal first hand experience on game with the 45acp. Looking weapon and ammunition and game taken.

I did a little research and talking to folks and have heard everything from "having no respect for the animals", "not enough gun", "I aught to be ashamed of myself", "barely good enough for personal protection","I wouldn't recommend it","not enough KE/MO","only good at 10ft", and many others.

I'll say my research has proven a little different than the previous opinions. At the end of the season I'll share my full results. Just wanted to see what others have experienced, thanks for your time.

Back in the early 90's I killed three deer one year with a 45acp load. It was being fired from my acp cylinder in a 7 1/2" Blackhawk. Can't remember the brand of ammo, but was factory foder in 230gr hollow point. Two were shot through the shoulders, drt and no exits. The other was double lunged with exit. All shots were within 40 yards.

I have used 1911 5". A 625 5" and a 325 2.5"

I like the 185 Sierra hp for white tail to 60ish yards

Pigs I like a 230 hp

I've taken 5 deer with the .45 ACP cartridge.

Taking those deer involved 6 rounds for 6 hits and I've only recovered 3 bullets thus far as three achieved complete penetration.

Admittedly my engagement distances were short (30 yards or less), but based on what I've experienced so far I'd feel OK taking a shot out to 50 yards under the right circumstances.

That self-imposed range may not be the limit of the .45 ACP's effectiveness, but out of respect for the animal and guns I normally use (service style pistols) that's all I'm personally going to ask of the cartridge.

The guns used was a Glock 21, Glock 30 and Colt 1911. The ammo used was 230 gr Gold Dot, 200 Gr Gold Dot +P, 230 gr Winchester Black Talon and 230 gr +P Hornady XTP.

Thanks guys keep them coming.

Used the Glock 21 and a Les Baer on numerous hogs and deer. Shot the Ranger 230+P exclusively. It's a hammer on deer and CRAZY accurate in everything I shoot it in. Got a double on hogs years ago. Wasn't on purpose but was impressive. Only slug I've ever recovered was from the 2nd hog that day.

Shot one domestic sheep with the 45 ACP, we were bowhunting & the sheep herder had a big Ewe that had part of her insides sticking out her rectum for some reason & ask me to put her down. I had some 230 gr. TC cast ammo on board & it went through that thick wool like newspaper. She was dead in 6-7 seconds. The 45 Auto with correct ammo is very well up to the task at handgun distance. If I were tree stand hunting I'd use Speer Gold Dots or Hornady XTP's & eat backstraps for supper.

Dick

Kral did you ever chrono it out of that 7 1/2"? 41magfan, the 3 recoveries you had, what was the shot placement vs the 3 exits? GlennS sent you a pm about ranger ammunition. Thanks Dick you input is always appreciated. Come on guys all information welcome pro or con.

Left bullet: 230 gr Gold Dot - 15 yards broadside - recovered under the skin on the off-side.

Center bullet: 200 gr Gold Dot +P - 20 yard running shot, 2 shots fired - both slightly angled - one penetrated, one recovered after penetrating about 18 - 20".

Right bullet: 230 gr Black Talon (1st Gen) - 15 yards - straight on shot - recovered bullet in the rear of the deer with penetration of @ 28-30" perhaps.

Thanks magfan, I'll add that to my research.

Cottonstalk, I didn't chrony it; it was prolly back before I knew what a chrony was.

Very broad overview of one my dad killed with his 45 acp earlier this year..

Kimber Custom II loaded with +P 185gr Underwood Speer Gold Dots. 35 yards shot distance. Hit doe just behind left shoulder, exited just in the back edge of the right shoulder. Devastation inside, deer went maybe 30 yards. After seeing the damage inperson I would have no reservations whatsoever as to shooting one at 50 yards. Not too weak at all.

I'm guessing some of these quotes came from those guys that need 338 Remington Ultra Magnums to shoot deer at 75 to 100 yards.

I use to shoot USPSA with an FBI agent from Salt Lake City who used that Ranger ammo in his carry 45 auto & it was some hot stuff! He could have downloaded it quite a bit & still made power factor but chose not to. He said he used the same ammo in competition that he used on the streets, smart guy! For some reason I can't remember the brand of gun he carried, it was an all steel gun, the same brand that sponsors Rob Leatham.

Dick

Keith Warrren from a TV show called "The High Road" regularly uses a Glock 45 ACP with a 6" barrel to take deer. He showed an episode where he also took an elk. It was a real close shot, but it was just one shot.

I've taken deer with 185 gr. H&G SWCs, 200 gr. H&G SWCs, 185 gr. Sierra HPs. All took a few shots. BUT, the Hornady 200 gr. HP-XTP has proven to be a winner. Several one shot kills out to 60 yds. Can't wait to use some Black Talons and Speer 185 gr. Flying Ash Cans. Definitely need some comparison work.

I have hunted whitetails with handguns for 35 years and used a couple of 1911's for the first time last year. The first opportunity was a finishing shot on an archery wounded doe from 15 yards with a 5" Baer loaded with 230 gr XTPs @940 fps. The shot entered her eye and lodged under the hide about 6" down her neck on the offside. She was in a ditch so the shot was at a slight downward angle. I was surprised the XTP didn't completely penetrate a small does' noggin.

The next opportunity was with a Kimber 5" set up for 45 Super loaded with 230 gr XTPs at 1088 fps. I hit a good sized buck at 10 yards, slightly quartering toward me, right behind the shoulder, mid-body. I saw the bullet impact. I found only a few drops of blood and never found the deer after 3 days of searching. I'm convinced the bullet didn't completely pass through the buck.

I think the bullets didn't completely penetrate either deer because the XTPs are designed for slower 45 acp velocities of around 850 fps. I'm carrying a 45 Super load this year with a 255 gr WFN Beartooth bullet @ 950 fps. Hopefully I'll be able to report better results with this load.

wvhitman, those 200 trainers, were they +p or standard pressures?

Never took a deer with it (illegal for Indiana), but for what its worth, I loaded a Lee 255gr swc in an ACP case with a "+p" charge of HS6 that netted me 850fps out of my 1911 with no issues whatsoever. Shot through 6" tree trunks just fine, should slide right through a deer. Only 50-100fps slower than the original 45 colt load.

If I were hunting with a 45acp, I wouldn't be worried about expansion, I'd just want to make sure I had two holes for the price of one.

I have taken 2 hogs with a 5" 1911 and one 800 lb, steer with a 4.25" 1911 in .45 acp, because thats what I carry daily.
1st hog at 15 yds with a Rem Golden Saber 185 gr.JHP. My son, 12 yrs old, tried to shoot it between the eyes at 15 yds but shot low and hit it in the snout. I was at a 90 degree angle so placed the 185 JHP just behind the shoulder, bullet angled forward and broke the off side shoulder stopping just under the skin killing it. Hog was 150lbs.
2nd Hog, 75lbs. at 15 yds. Bullet Speer 200 gr JHP hit a little to far back but complete penetration with a ball of guts blown out the opposite side. Had to finish it off with my knife.
The steer charged me and my granddaughter, I shot it in the forehead with a 230 gr. JHP Win Ranger SXT. It dropped 10 feet in front of us and I put 3 more rounds in its head for insurance. Good steaks.
For insurance against Black Bears I have one mag loaded with 255gr Hardcast bullets from Double Tap and insert that when I'm on the north section of our pastures which is surrounded by 400 acres of forrest. If I lived in the city I'd consider carrying a 9mm but in my area I have to be prepared for 4 legged as well as 2 legged predators.
On thin skinned game at close ranges up to 50 yds, with the right bullet and shot placement the .45 acp works.

Cottonstalk, they were handloaded to 1000-1050 fps. One of very few XTPs to perform well for me.

Thanks I'll have to add that to my test.

Right now 230+p and standard pressure 230 fodder is all I've used. Next year I will add 185 and 200gr fodder to the research.

I'll tease you guys a bit, over 1000#s of flesh has been tested. With hopefully another 500 to 1000 before the years out, keep your fingers crossed.

now I'm thinking about "needing" a 45 acp lol

Hey cottonstalk, take a look at this- https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=214

I've never used them and haven't owned a 45acp for a few years now, but have entertained pairing up this ammo with a 1911 that has adjustable sights.

Keep us posted with your results, and remember, it didn't happen unless there's pictures. ;-)

Semper Fi

very first year Iowa opened deer hunting to handgun, I took out my springfield 1911 in .45 acp. those were back in the days when I shot factory ammo--speer 200 grain gold dots. shot the doe at about 30 yards. hit her right at the tip of the heart. ran apx 35 yards and dropped dead. recovered the bullet under the offside hide.

More research done today!

Brasf0311'
Anyone with that grunt MOS number in his handle is bound to be a good fellow. There are a few jarhead grunts here. Welcome.

Cottonstalk, I gave thought to taking a 1911 "Down East" with me this year, but fell back on my frequent use of a .257 JDJ and .500 WE for the only 2 whitetails I shot. A Ruger SR 1911 will make the trip with me next year though. Let us know your findings when you can. Doc Rogers has shown conclusively it can be done well.

Springfield Armory.

I am in the process of working with a 12" Contender barrel I got recently. I put a reflex dot on it and it does very well. I plan to shoot targets, hogs and other critters with it at 50 yds or less so I will post when I do. Not settled on ammo yet. Just been shooting a couple boxes of FMJs i picked up.
k

Fusion Firearms offers a 6" barrel in 45 acp for the 1911. I wonder what kind of velocity gain that would get for the hotter loads. They used to offer a 7" but I don't see that one now.

Probably have very little velocity gain. The .45 ACP is designed to reach velocity in short barrels. A few years ago Ballistics by the Inch did some testing of various barrel lengths and loads
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/45auto.html

That'll depend some on what powder you are loading.

We were pig hunting a few years back and came upon a couple of bowhunters that had wounded a huge red boar (est. 350-400 lbs.). He had buried himself in some thick brush and was not accessible to a finisher bow shot. I offered one of the hunters my Ruger P90 45 ACP stoked with WW 230 gr. JHP over 6.9 gr. of 4756. He found a hole through the brush and dispatched the big hog with one shot. The recovered bullet was a perfect mushroom.

I wont go into details but the 45acp works good on deer. Springfield XD45 full size standard pressure 230hst. Penetrated both front shoulders and found under hide on far side. Ran 50 yards and laid down and died. Bullet was picture perfect.
Kimber 1911 target II with 185xtp handload. Complete pass through on broadside shot and deer went 100 yards and stopped allowing me to catch up and finish her off. I did hit this one too far back though so it was my fault. Others being dispatched by 40's and 9mm over the years because of vehicle strikes with no problems.