Jim,

I like a good crimp as well and am known around these parts for my crimping exploits. Most of the Mexican steers I've seen have been fairly scrawny, so Black Jack putting a .45 ACP bullet through one is quite believable. Seriously, I've gotten 21" of penetration through wet newsprint at the Linebaugh shoot from my 3" .44 Special using a 240 cast bullet launched at 750 fps. The .45 Auto Rim shooting a 255 cast SWC at around 800 fps got 30" in the same medium.

Forgive my ignorance, but what does YMMV stand for?

bfrshooter,

I use this loading technique with cast bullets as well. In fact, the guy who taught me this trick sells cast bullets commercially.

I have the Blackhawk in 45 Colt also but if I was loading up for bear I'd shoot the 240gr bullet and sight it in for about 75 yds and shoot the bear in the heart. I saw a guy kill a black bear with a 25-06 with a 100gr bullet he just shot it in the heart. Don't need big bullets when you shoot it in the heart and are about 25 yds away.