45 Long Colt

[huntTX]

Recently purchased a Marlin 1894 in 45 Long Colt. Hunt hogs on horseback and only wanted to carry one caliber and since I also carry a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Long Colt, the Marlin was the choice.
Cowboy loads seem a little light in the fps. Prefer not to use hollow points because of lack of penetration. The .45 leaves a big enough hole as it is. I just need the hole to go deeper.
Does anyone with hunting experience in this load have any suggestions on what to use?
I am not currently reloading, so I'm looking for factory load suggestions.
Thanks.

[Domino]

I have personally never hunted with one of these but my dad is always fooling around with handloads. From what I figure you have a couple options (depending on what your hunting), first we have had a lot of luck with 250 grain copper platted flatnose from Ranier. They shoot both great in our Rugers and our Rossi lever actions. With the right amount of powder (not really sure) you can get some kickin velocity outta those things and still maintain good accuracy at 80 yards or so. Then my dad says a lot of people use 255 grain flatnose wadcutters. They seem accurate and they will bunch a finger sized hole right through somebody. As for hollowpoints, I doubt you can buy these in .45 colt but I've found that Hornady 230 grain hollow points are extremely consistant in my rifle, Ruger single action and my 1911. Out of the rifle you should be getting aroun 1300-1400 fps with those which can do great damage to something. I think you will find your greatest success if you handload. If you find anything please let me know.

[Domino]

Oh yeah I forgot, try Buffalo Bore. you can go to their website at Buffalobore.com

[huntTX]

thanks for the reply.
I'll try Buffalo Bore.
I'm surprised no one else has responded.
All I'm looking for is some advice on how best to heat up a reload for hog hunting.

[swill269]

:o
if you carry a 45 colt side arm i would try to make the load work in both. if you only have a rifle i would go for all the speed i could and maintain consistent POI. you will find blue dot and unique very good with mag primers in hot loads (especially the compressed loads). ;) i have a blackhawk 45 convertable and 45/70's i hunt hogs with in the ga. swamp. i might buy a 45 colt pump rifle in the future. there is a reason the 45's have stayed around so long. :eek:

my fav load in the blackhawk is a 200 gr speer JHP (flying ashtray) over 16.5 gr blue dot w/mag primer (approx 1400 fps w/7.5" barrel) this is a speer load from the 1979 reloading manual. for hogs i like the seirra 240 gr JHP over 16 gr blue dot w/mag primer. both of these bullets can be driven almost 200fps faster in the 45 win. magnum. the win mag case is shorter than the colt but has a thicker wall at the base. i have played with these rounds for a long time as many others have, it has a lot of potential.

feel free to ask questions and keep us posted. :cannon:
:cool:

[magnomark]

:o Hi Hunt Tx-Check out the loads in the Speer manual #13 for Ruger and contender.Your marlin will handle these loads,stick with the slower burning powders like 2400 or H110,the rifle will like them the pistol will give alot of muzzle flash-but who cares when hunting pigs!?The loads listed are for up to and including 260gr hp's and 300gr fp's.I have personally used this data in 44 mag(Iknow not 45lc)and the marlin rifle uses the same metallurgy for both calibers,also the rugers use the same in both calibers.In other words these SHOULD be safe loads for both of your guns.I'd stay away from some of the faster burning powders as I found out.When I got my marlin,I had my freind give me some of his loads for a ruger 44 mag semi auto rifle.They almost locked up my action!After I switched to my own loads with slower 2400 powder the rifle performed flawlessly.I think he said his were loaded with unique.Food for thought!BTW-same bullet weights. <_< :sniper:

[txpete]

my fav. load

250 gr lfn(my cast)
9.0 grs unique
starline brass
win lg. pistol primer

been accurate in all my 45 colts pistol and carbine
pete

[sitkablacktail]

My two loads for the 45 colt out of a marlin are
250g XTP over 26 grains of H110
300 Hard Cast over 22 grains of H110
Don't shoot these out of any but a Marlin or a Ruger pistol