A hot loaded 45 Colt is a better killer IMO than a 44 Magnum...And in that Ruger you can sure make it cook..I have a PH that brained an elephant with one and another with a 44 magnum...He was the problem animal control officer for Kruger park for many years...

Although I have not hunted with a handgun for some years,I did shoot a few deer and a Lion and bear or two out of a tree with a 45 colt and 44 Magnum and very hard cast bullets and the colt sure did them in pronto...It would be my choice for big game with a handgun, but only with handloads or custom loaded ammo and in a Ruger S/A.

If you don't make your own bullets, but do, in fact, reload, try the 300 gr Hornady MAG bullet. It was made for the 454, so it will probably offer only modest expansion at a BH's 1200 fps, but it will penetrate extremely well. I like AA#9, 2400, and W296. Good luck.

bfrshooter
Funny all the data I have say you must use a "Mag primer" for H110/W296. If you get bullet creap then your not crimping enough! I use heavy 454 crimp on my Hot 45 LC 's never had a bullet jump the crimp yet!

Too the original poster -BH 4 5/8 300 gr + bullet and your into some big recoil. Been there done that. ! My favorite load right now is 325 Cast RN over 21.5 rg W296 -1100 fps . Plenty of stomping power. P.S. Max loads never shot good in my BH find a midrange loading -that will probably shoot the best.