I have a line on a very good price for Blackhawk in 45 Long Colt. I know most factory ammo is loaded light, but was wondering on opinions of what factory ammo would be good for deer.

thanks

Depends on the size of your deer but for the usual farm country whitetail at close range a big bore SWC lead bullet @ 800-900 fps will suffice (Remington R45C1 225 LEAD SWC or Federal C45LCA 225 Semi-Wadcutter HP). Shoot your deer through both lungs and get out your tag. I expect the roundnose or flatpoint bullet loads will do the trick as well - especially if they hit bone - but I haven't used them and wouldn't expect them to leave the cookie cutter holes a SWC does. So, when are you going to start handloading?

You can get hot factory loads from companies like Buffalo Bore. Standard factory loads are a bit anemic.It depends on what size deer and what range.

Your best bet is to save that money you were going to spend on factory ammo, and buy a small, but good reloading set-up. Go with Lee products. They don't cost an arm and a leg, and are good quality. You'll be able to shoot more, practice more, and eventually become very proficient with a handgun. By the time you buy enough factory ammo to become proficient, you could have bought several reloading set-ups and enough components to assemble hundreds of round.

Either of Buffalo Bore's standard pressure loads would work just fine.

I would have to go with the Buffalo Bore's standard pressure loads also.
http://www.buffalobore.com/

I've had a Ruger .45 Colt since they first came out with the dual cylinder model (.45 Colt/.45ACP) back in the 70s. Latest project is to see what can be done with Hornady's 250gr SST bullet (plastic tipped) designed for muzzleloaders. It is .451" and must be seated right about where the ogive starts. Will try and get to the range tomorrow or Wednesday, then will let you know.
Also want to try the similar Barnes bullet, but it isn't out yet.

45 Colt factory ammo is powerful enough for deer but velocity limits range. Bullets are swaged, so they're softer than ideal for deer, and I've seen them foul bores in a few shots. It's also expensive. It'll kill deer, but it's so easy and cheap to load better ammo that you really should learn how. Even a good 250-gr. SWC (cheap and widely available) at factory velocity is a huge improvement. That bullet at 1,000 fps won't kick much and it hits game HARD. It's the best all-purpose handgun load I've ever found for in the 44 Special, 44 Magnum or 45 Colt - really all you need until you start hunting elk or bears with only a revolver.

Avoid cowboy loads entirely. About all they do is make the gun go bang.

But the best ammo in the world won't shoot well if the cylinder throats are tighter than the bore, and most Ruger 45 Colts have that problem. Getting the throats opened to .001" over bore diameter costs less than $50, and gives you one of the strongest, most accurate revolvers ever made. Get a trigger job, learn to handload and you'll never need another one.


Okie John

Buffalo Bore has some moderate velocity loads that will work well with deer. Their heavier loads are probably too much for deer, but needless to say, they will also do the job.
Their 325 cast clocks 1400 fps from my 7.5" Blackhawk, like I said too much for deer.

DoubleTap ammo just recently came out with some fairly hot .45 Colt ammo as well.

Conley Precision has some good deer loads priced fairly well. They have a 250 XTP running at about 1450 fps.

National Bullet Co. sells a 255gr SWC @ 950 fps for $9.50 per 25. While fairly mild, it would be enough for any animal in the lower 48 states.

For all. Corbon staff told me they use the Ruger Blackhawks to test some of their ammo. Check out this article http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger_Bisley45.htm

You could also look at the new CCI offering. I have shot some through my Bisley and they are loaded to "+P" velocities and they perform quite well.

Mr. Linebaugh has reported shooting many Deer and Antelope with 45 Colt loads approximating original velocities with great success but he also points out the range limitations.

I have personally shot two Deer with factory loads. It was over 20 years ago and all I can remember was that they were Winchester; I couldn't tell you what type of bullet other than they were lead.

The first shot was through both shoulders, wasted so much meat the next year I took a heart shot that absolutely pulverized her heart and she staggered a few yards and expired. Incidentally the one hit through both shoulders dropped on the spot.

Both shots were taken in thick Idaho woods at approximately 40 yards.

I would reinforce the suggestion to take the time and get into relaoding. Starting with pistol is an excellent beginning. In fact that is how I got started 20+ years ago. My first gun was the Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt and after buying a few boxes of factory ammo I knew I needed to do something to defray the cost.

CorBon 200 grain JHP is a very good factory load for deer, if you are willing to forego those Texas heart shots. Any good cast semiwadcutter or LBT would do too, but 255 SWC at 900 feet per second is excellent in any .45 Colt. You can do 18.5 to 20 grains of 2400 for a really serious load but 9 grain of Unique and a good cast bullet would be good for plinking and hunting deer.