I have a 45 X24". I took 2 deer and a turkey with it this year. I handload using a Lee 255 gr. cast boolit and Unique. Out in the open, the gun says "spack" when fired with recoil being negligible. I shot the deer at very close range, <25 yards but the turkey was taken at 85. I used a 300 gr cast boolit and H110 a f ew years ago and took a WT buck at 50 yards or so. Recoil-mild.
Report-mild. capable at 100 yards with factory fodder..............probably. 20" models are in current production. 24'ers can be found. Good luck

Papalote

 

I have a .45 that I had cut to 18" so it may be a little louder than 20" and 24". I shot a 5 pointer a few weeks ago and in the woods it sounded more like a shotgun than a rifle. My brother was hunting about 500 yards away and he said it sounded like a .410 to him. The load I'm using is 18gr of 2400 and the same bullet Paplote mentioned. It's running around 1450fps. Recoil is not noticable in the field but after a few at the bench you start to feel it.

C.S.

 

My 20" 1894cb pushing a 250gr. XTP loaded over 25.7grs of 296 is very loud and has a nice pop to the shoulder with it. Shooting factory loads, or light cast bullet loads it's not very loud at all and theres virtually no recoil.

 

Thanks for the input guys!

I would appreciate additional input on this particular gun (.45LC) and what the best factory ammo might be for deer hunting?

Would the 44Mag be a louder gun then the .45 LC and have more recoil? Any advnatage of one over the other for deer taken at 100 yards or less?

My wife is sensitive to gun recoil and the "Crack" sound when it goes off. We already wear hearing protection when at the range and she's fine with that but out hunting rather find a milder gun that doesn't produce the concussion & blowback like high calibers. Even a .30-30 is a little too loud for her.

 

Quite honestly, there won't be a hoot of difference between the .44 and .45 Colt. Given rifles of equal weight and same stock design, the felt recoil will be the same. With these two cartridges using loads capable of killing deer cleanly at up to 100 yards, you are basically slinging bullets of very similar weight at very similar velocities. The primary factors affecting recoil are bullet weight, velocity, weight of powder charge and rifle weight. Stock design also has a dramatic effect on FELT recoil.

Also as far as muzzle blast you are again going to have no appreciable difference between the two chamberings. The more barrel you put between your face and the muzzle, the less dramatic the sound is at your ear, but in a closed setting like thick brush there isn't going to be a noticeable difference between a say a 20" barrel and a 24" barrel.

 

Quite honestly, there won't be a hoot of difference between the .44 and .45 Colt. Given rifles of equal weight and same stock design, the felt recoil will be the same. With these two cartridges using loads capable of killing deer cleanly at up to 100 yards, you are basically slinging bullets of very similar weight at very similar velocities. The primary factors affecting recoil are bullet weight, velocity, weight of powder charge and rifle weight. Stock design also has a dramatic effect on FELT recoil.

Also as far as muzzle blast you are again going to have no appreciable difference between the two chamberings. The more barrel you put between your face and the muzzle, the less dramatic the sound is at your ear, but in a closed setting like thick brush there isn't going to be a noticeable difference between a say a 20" barrel and a 24" barrel.

Going to have to disagree with that. Most factory 45 long colt ammunition is pretty anemic compared to factory 44 magnum.

 

I will agree that for day to day plinking/target/CAS ammo there is a big difference, but we are talking about full bore, deer killing at 100 yd ammo here. I would hope that one would not plan to put his wife in a deer stand with a 200 gr. RNFP cowboy action load.

 

I will agree that for day to day plinking/target/CAS ammo there is a big difference, but we are talking about full bore, deer killing at 100 yd ammo here. I would hope that one would not plan to put his wife in a deer stand with a 200 gr. RNFP cowboy action load.

Most of the factory 45LC is not "full bore deer killing at 100yd ammo". In fact almost all of the factory ammo for the 45LC's is not... and it can't be. There are too many old guns out there and the factories don't want to run the risk of being sued if someone blows up grand pappies 1873 winnie made in 1875.

EDIT: And that big honkin 250gr. RNFP cast bullet pushed fast enough, will be just as good of a deer killer as say the 250gr. hornady XTP. If you're loading the same bullet over unique, it will do the same thing but best to kept inside of 50 yards.

EDIT: My point is, if you don't reload you'll never be able to get the full potential out of a rifle chambered in 45 long colt, because when handloaded, the 45 long colt is leaps and bounds ahead of the 44 magnum in every aspect of performance. If you're not a handloader, you're better off going with a 44 magnum since you can get very powerful factory offerings in that caliber.

 

I won't disagree with that at all. My point was just that given those two calibers, with ammo capable of cleanly taking deer out to 100 yds, there wouldn't be a noticeable difference in either recoil or report. I agree completely that the .44 mag gives you a much broader spectrum of readily available factory ammunition suited for deer hunting.

 

I won't disagree with that at all. My point was just that given those two calibers, with ammo capable of cleanly taking deer out to 100 yds, there wouldn't be a noticeable difference in either recoil or report. I agree completely that the .44 mag gives you a much broader spectrum of readily available factory ammunition suited for deer hunting.

Yup. ;D

 

Thanks guy's, I think I have a better idea now of which Caliber to get her.

Can you give me any idea's on any partucilar gun?

The wife is 5' 2" and about average strength for a women.

 

I shot my buck with a .45 1894 Cowboy, like the CB version, seems to hang well. And yes, I used a 'cowboy' load going about 1150 fps. Deer didn't appear to notice the difference.......

 

Lanark, what bullet did you use?

I've been impressed with the performance of the 45 colt on game - two Elk and a Bear. The shots were inside of 50 yards and broadside shots. All pass throughs and none went far. The bullets were 300 grains, traveling less than 1400 fps.

I haven't shot anything with the Lee 255 grain bullet mentioned earlier except silhouette targets. The impacts are quite impressive at less than 1200 fps. I've had some those tip over with just a lube groove hit and had all five tip over with a hit on the rail... : ???

The report is pretty mild in my 20" for the Lee load. The faster 300 grain load booms pretty well though much less than an AR. Recoil is mild with the 255 grain load, but that is subjective. I don't even notice it. My wife might not agree.

 

Hey Wet Dog,

I just used a standard 250 gr. FN bullet. I ran out of time to cast bullets with my RCBS 270 SAA mould.

John Linebaugh was the one to get me on the .45 LC, awesome cartridge, just seems to work no matter what the load.

Best

 

Hey Wet Dog,

I just used a standard 250 gr. FN bullet. I ran out of time to cast bullets with my RCBS 270 SAA mould.

John Linebaugh was the one to get me on the .45 LC, awesome cartridge, just seems to work no matter what the load.

Best

Been on that road for over ten years now and telling a lot of shooters, hunters, reloaders about the great .45 colt. Only a few have listened ... :

bjm

 

Been on that road for over ten years now and telling a lot of shooters, hunters, reloaders about the great .45 colt. Only a few have listened ... :

bjm

All I can say to those that turn their noses up at the grand ol' cartridge an run to the newest, greatest answer to the non-existant problem is....

BAAAAAH!!!!! Beacause that's all they are, SHEEP!

C.S.
.45 Colt, closing out opponents since 1873!!

 

It's hard to tell until you actually shoot a gun but I'm thinking a .45LC might work well for the wife deer hunting.

If you look at a Recoil Energy Table the .45LC is about as low as they come and still be able to kill a Whitetail at 50-75 yard's without having a special magnum load. I assume I could buy over the counter ammo that would be capable of killing a deer at the above range? I know Hornady makes the LEVERevolution ammo in .44 magnum but how about .45LC?

My first introduction to the .45 Long Colt was in the Movie "The Quick & the Dead" starring Russel Crowe as the Preacher, Leanardo De'caprio as the Kid, Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman. Good Movie!

 

It's hard to tell until you actually shoot a gun but I'm thinking a .45LC might work well for the wife deer hunting.

If you look at a Recoil Energy Table the .45LC is about as low as they come and still be able to kill a Whitetail at 50-75 yard's without having a special magnum load. I assume I could buy over the counter ammo that would be capable of killing a deer at the above range? I know Hornady makes the LEVERevolution ammo in .44 magnum but how about .45LC?

My first introduction to the .45 Long Colt was in the Movie "The Quick & the Dead" starring Russel Crowe as the Preacher, Leanardo De'caprio as the Kid, Sharon Stone and Gene Hackman. Good Movie!

#1 ... the .45 colt would make anyone a great deer rifle. #2 Yes ... Hornady makes the .45 colt Leverevolution. I bought a box earlier this summer but have not tried it out. Just too happy with my reloads yet.

bjm

 

Thanks BJM

Why is it when I read your post's I picture a scene from "Lonesome Dove" or "Open Range"......

I have a question for you. I was recently looking at some Marlin Cowboy Rifles in a Gun Store and had the opportunity to handle a new 45-70 Gov't with a 26" Octagon Barrel. It sure seem liked a very well balanced gun that's for sure. I could picture myself out in Montana shooting a Bison with it! I was told by the Clerk they (Marlin) arn't making this gun anymore. Is this true? The sticker price was $750. If this is true, I would think the price would start going way up on them.

 

Thanks BJM

Why is it when I read your post's I picture a scene from "Lonesome Dove" or "Open Range"......

I have a question for you. I was recently looking at some Marlin Cowboy Rifles in a Gun Store and had the opportunity to handle a new 45-70 Gov't with a 26" Octagon Barrel. It sure seem liked a very well balanced gun that's for sure. I could picture myself out in Montana shooting a Bison with it! I was told by the Clerk they (Marlin) arn't making this gun anymore. Is this true? The sticker price was $750. If this is true, I would think the price would start going way up on them.

You're welcome. Of all the cowboys in all the western movies I have watched dating back to the 1950's (which I consider to be the "golden era of westerns"), Robert Duvall rates right up there in my #1 spot.

Not making 45/70 Cowboy rifles anymore? I believe that to be untrue and a poor sales tactic to sell the rifle. I think the Cowboy rifles are the best balanced of the Marlins, but that is my personal opinion. I have owned only one, a .45 colt Cowboy Competition that I have now given to my son. It is my all-time favorite firearm. I have a Cowboy model in .45 colt on my short list of "must have" as I still own the .45 colt Vaquero that would make it a great combo.

bjm

 

Marlin still has the 1895 Cowboy listed on their website. That is usually a good sign that it still being produced.

I would agree with Marksman336, the Marlin Cowboy rifles are among the most nicely balanced and easy to shoot rifles out there, especially offhand. My 1895 Cowboy feels lighter than what the digital scale reads.

 

I looked at two Marlin Cowboy Models again the other day: One was the .45-70 Gov't. and the other a.45LC and must admit they are so well balanced. The wife seemed to be able to hold the .45LC pretty good for her size. I'm not crazy about the short barrel (20 inches) on the .45LC but I'm thinking with the .45 it wouldn't produce much blow back? Both guns had the Octagon barrels and were priced at $725.00. It seems you pay about $200 more for the Octagon, barrel not sure why?

They had a .357 with the ROUND barrel in the Cowboy Model and it was $550 new. According to the Sales Clerk, you can't get a Marlin .45LC with a ROUND barrel in the Cowboy Model... From what I saw in the book he was looking at I'm thinking this might be correct?

I was looking at .45LC ammo and was curious what you fella's would recommend for both a little Target shooting & Deer hunting for the Wife? Looking for the most effective factory load for shooting a deer within 75 yards if that's a reasonable range? I would like her to shoot all the same ammo for now to keep things consistant. Maybe latter we can get into some other loads for just target shooting. I have been shooting the Hornady LEVERevolution in my Marlin 336A in .35 Remington Caliber (1950 model) and have had some nice groups from it.

By the way, what is .45 ACP ammo?

All info greatly appreciated!

 

.45 Automatic Colt Pistol

 

Marksman,
Marlin made a round barrel 1894 in 45 Colt for Big 5 stores (blued) and I think Davidsons (Stainless).

For factory 45 Colt hunting ammo I think the Buffalo Bore and maybe the Hornady "LeverEvolution" ammo would be the best choices. Most factory 45 Colt will underachieve in the 1894. It is a very easy cartridge to reload and economical compared to the prices factory ammo commands.

Blowback isn't typically an issue once you've get near original spec pressures. The cowboy stuff is notorious for blowback.

 

I have used Buffalo Bore's heavy .45 LC in several different bullet weights and types to take hogs and deer with and I can vouch for it's ability to put them down quickly. Not much recoil either when compared to any rifle round.