I hunt with the 45 colt and the lee 250 gr RF at a modest pace. I have taken several head of whitetail and axis.
The SWC may have trouble feeding
Papalote

 

That's good to know, as I just scored a bunch of 250 gr. RNFPs for my Rossi. I'm going to load them with 2400. What primer are you using? Magnum or standard?

 

All of my shots are 75 yards or under, and the SWC is devestating, they feed through my guns well, and just get the job done. I can't say much about the RNFP's other than they are dandy squirrel bullets, but there are so many variations of RNFP that it would be a hard call without knowing te version you have in mind.

 

Check with your State Game,Fish,& Parks to see what's legal. My State specifies "soft point expanding" bullets,so during Deer Season I carry a Hornady,Nosler,or Sierra 240 grain jacketed HP for deer,usually in Starline brass. Got some Win 240's loaded up,but never shot an animal with them. I don't want to go through a game check and find out my ammo isn't legal.

Rob

 

Rob, I load those Win 240gn JHPs and have shot a lot of game, including big pigs with them. Don't hesitate, they work well.

Mark.

 

I'd say go with the SWC design, especially if it has characteristics of Elmer Keith's SWC design, which was built from the ground up as a killing profile. The front driving band'll cut a sharp-edged full caliber hole goin in, causing a lot of blood loss, and the large meplat will cause a lot of internal damage. A RNFP will slip thru, not causing as much damage as the SWC, if it's designed well. Just be aware that there's a lot of poorly designed SWCs out there, so pick a good one. Good luck gettin your deer! jd45

 

If your RNFP.has a meplat of at least 0.6 of bullet diameter, and you use an alloy of 12BHN or softer and your velocity is 1300+ fps, the bullet will expand and be a good killer.

 

Given a decent meplat, the RFN do fine. Given a decent alloy, and adequate velocity, they expand well, too, if bone is hit.
I've taken a number of deer with the .452" Lee 255gr RFN. It has a generous meplat and performs indistinguishable from the 270gr RCBS SWC at similar velocities. However, the SWC won't function through my WinMod-94, whereas the RFN feeds very smoothly.

My load is only 7.8-8.2gr of Universal so only runs ~1,200fps from the rifle and ~900fps from handguns, but is enough to put them through deer at up to 75yds. (longest shot I've made with such load/caliber on deer- gun has iron (reciever) sights only.).

The original .45cal loads with the very small meplat are the RFN's that have a poor reputation for game/defense performance. But, they were also only running 600-700fps, also.

 

Which ever way ya go make shure they feed thru action good------some rifles get a little picky about swc's !!

 

Damage (AXIS) pics from a 453(as cast) 250 gr LEE RF/Unique and Marlin 45 Colt CB X 24". Not the same deer in all pictures. All one shot, no tracking.





http://s30.photobucket.com/user/zapilote/media/IMG_0036.jpg.html

 

That bottom picture looks like you may have had a couple of brews after the hunt'n was done:flute:.

 

Nope. In a hurry. Shot these 2(one still on the truck just behind the hanging carcass) at 2 pm while walking to the blind. In a hurry to get these in the freezer and back into the woods.

Papalote.

 

Thanks Guys for the great information, The bullets are commercial Magma mold made bullets but sized .432 then Aloxed.
I like the SWC bullet but wont know how they feed in the marlin till I try them both and see which one the rifle likes.

Cheers,
MickeyJr.

 

L Pete, I have NEVER heard or read 2400 & mag primer in the same sentence except with the word NOT in between them, if you know what I mean. jd45

 

Ol honest Abe 🤦‍♂️