I`m thinking about trying my luck at black bear hunting with my Ruger 45 Colt. I was wondering if anyone has used this caliber hunting bears. I was also wanting some info on bullets and powders. I have 250grn. Hornady XTP`s and H4227 and H110 on hand. I have loaded the XTP`s with 22grns. of H4227 and yes it is a wapper but of course I don`t want to get there and find out I don`t have what is needed ( Ya know what I mean ). Please feel free to critisize or offer your first hand experience with this caliber as a hunting load.

Thanks to all,
Burch :D

I've killed 19 black bears with the 44 and 41 magnum. All loads ran from 1250 to 1350 fps with hardcast Kieth style bullets. Ranges from 30 to 200 yards.

I don't know why that Ruger 45 Colt wouldn't work well. My old hunting partner has one and it plunks the 300 grain Lee cast with both accuracy and lots of authority.

I found that cast seems to kill way better for me than jacketed. I'd give Marshall's bullets a look. Just hit the Beartooth tab at the top of the page.

You go have some fun with that 45. I'd bet a dollar to a donut that any black bear I've killed couldn't tell the difference between the 44, 41 or your 45 Colt.

I`m thinking about trying my luck at black bear hunting with my Ruger 45 Colt. I was wondering if anyone has used this caliber hunting bears. I was also wanting some info on bullets and powders. I have 250grn. Hornady XTP`s and H4227 and H110 on hand. I have loaded the XTP`s with 22grns. of H4227 and yes it is a wapper but of course I don`t want to get there and find out I don`t have what is needed ( Ya know what I mean ). Please feel free to critisize or offer your first hand experience with this caliber as a hunting load.

Thanks to all,
Burch :DA friend who lives in idaho used a Ruger BH 45lc with a 4 5/8" barrel,hogue rubber grips and Buffalo Bore 45lc ammo 300gr speer jfn 1325fps and 1170 ft lbs to kill a wounded running cow elk.She was about 65 yds when he hit it in the head .

I have a 250grn. RNFP that i`ve been loading for target. What shape head in a 300 grn. would you reccommend ?

I like the Kieth style, but any bullet with a good meplatt will kill well. Check out Marshall's bullets. Just click the Beartooth tab at the top of the page.

O.K. the two 300gr. with .452dia. both have a flat nose. Will they do the job as far as penetration goes.

Yes. They'll give several feet of penetration from a .45 Colt. Put one through a hog once, lengthwise.

My best load in my Ruger BH is 21.5 gr. H110 and the Speer 225 gr. HP. I think if you try that load you will be pleased.

Best regards,

Terry

I too have to vote for a good hardcast, say a 300gr WFN and in this forum they're right nearby. ;)

The 280gr listed just above them is also a VERY, almost SCARY accurate bullet out of both my BH's. Although I don't 'need' it the most accurate of loads I'd take for this purpose is 23.5gr of H-110 under a 300gr LFN. (They've only a tiny bit less meplat than the WFN, but get the accuracy edge out near my personal visual limitations.) But either bullet shape is fine.

I've not taken a bear with it, but know someone who used that exact load on an elk at about 75yds and result was thru both shoulders (not the meat, THE shoulders) & a nice exit wound. (This is load I'd pack into the Rockies with anyway.)

Good luck on your hunt! :D

Burch;

i have been loading the 45 colt for game for a bit now.
The 265 keith produced by Marshall are the most accurate bullet I have shot from my 45 colt mountain gun, or Vaquero.
The 300 grain is a flat point, as wellas the 285...I have had excellent results with the 265. 285, 300 and 325's.

All shoot perfect thru the Mountain gun, the vaquero, and also my Winnie trapper.

attached is a pic of the accuracy of the 265grainers from the Smith. That is nine shots in one hole, with 1 flyer....they were going about 850-900fps.
I have loaded the 300 grainers to 1000fps from the Smith, but that is as high as I'll go.
The Vaquero will and can go hotter, and I have chrony'd 1620 out of the Winnie trapper with a 285grain...the bullet the trapper likes best

Get a box and try them, i do not think you will be let down. Marshall makes good stuff!