.45 cal shooters

[vagobbln]

For you guys that shoot .45 cals, what bullet and powder weights are you finding works best in your gun? I know it's different from gun to gun, but was trying to get a general idea what charges oyou guys have had sucess with. I've shot a .50 cal for years and this is my first .45 cal (Knight Disc Elite). So far I've tried three different bullets (Hornady and 2 Precision Rifle) with 100 grains of 777 (loose, weighed charges) and have been dissapointed with the results (groups). Again, I'm just trying to make sure I'm barking up the right tree before I do anymore range work. Thanks.

[AJ]

I am shooting the 175 gr Dead Center .357" bullet with 125 gr of Pyrodex and it shoots great. It has taken a few VA whitetails we cleanly as any .50 cal has.

[vagobbln]

AJ,

You bought the same gun (Disc Elite) last year if I'm not mistaken? I have some of the 175 grain PR bullets but have only tried them with 100 grains of 777 so far. Are Pyrodex and 777 fairly equivalent? What kind of 100 yard groups are you getting with that load? Maybe I'm expecting too much.

By the way, you also turned me on to the ignition system that replaces the 209 shotshell primers and uses the small rifle primers (I forget what it's called at the moment). It really does seem to help with the crud ring. My only gripe is that I've had several expent primers come out and jam up the firing pin. Have you had this problem with your gun?

[AJ]

Hey Mark,
Yep, its the same gun. with my 125 gr Pyrodex (loose) loads, the 175 gr PR Dead Center, and I think Winchester or Federal small rifle primers, I was getting about 1.25" 100 yard groups. I spit patch between shots. T7 has never been that accurate for me. I have had much more success with Pyrodex. Plus its a butt load cheaper when Wallyworld sells it for $5/pound after the season is over. I have a decent amount stockpiled so I should not need to buy any for a long time.

I have not had any problems with the Vari Flame Adapters. I have used one adapter for 25 shots or so and it is still as good as new. I bought a couple packages of them and rotate all of them now so they get equal use.

[shotist]

What terminal performance are you seeing with that .357dia, 175gr Dead Center on deer, AJ? Penetration, expansion, retained weight if any, exit wound size, etc...

I'm heading to a friend's place to hunt come Thurs night or Fri AM and will be taking a 45cal for in the woods work (under 100yds) as that rifle has Williams Fiber Sights. The rifle was zeroed some time back with 90gr/777 and that specific bullet. I've shot quite a few deer with 45's over the years, but never with this specific bullet. Some of these animals can be fairly large and I'd like your view on what to expect on them using that 175gr bullet. TYIA

[AJ]

I shot a few does with it and it performed superbly. I was shooting them with 125 gr of Pyrodex ignited by a small pistol primer in my Knight Disc Elite. I had pass throughs on each occurance. Shots were behind the shoulder and devestated the lungs. The entrance hole was slightly larger than bullet diameter from skin stretch, but the hole in the ribs was about 1" and the exit hole was just over an inch. The blood trails were just fine. I had to track the deer 50-75 yards in thick brush and had no problems finding the blood trails.

When Cecil and his crew toted the .45 cal guns with the small bullets for caribou and had superb performance, I had no doubt they would be the ticket. I would not hesitate to use them on deer size critters to 200 yards.

[shotist]

I appreciate that data AJ. Coincidentally, a friend called today whom I had gotten into M-loading a couple of years back. He has this same 45cal rifle using the 175gr PRB (forgot all about him). He shot a goodly sized doe at about 60 yards through the ribcage with 2-777 pellets. His was a passthrough as well with a 50 cent piece exit, only his dropped at the shot.

Your combined experiences give me a bit more confidence to tackle one of these bruisers...as the 175Gr is about what a 50cal RB weighs, but with better SD and retained energy. Shots with this would really be a stretch to hit 100yds where I'll be using it.

I'll likely end up whacking one in the more open areas with my Savage at about 20 yards and this whole discussion will be moot however

[AJ]

I hear ya. I took my biggest buck with my Savage at 50 yards. I played with the loads and had it shooting decent groups and was prepped for 150+ yard shots.