Posted in Handgun Hunting | 3 Comments
Hunting With A .45 ACP
In this 100th year anniversary of the 1911 and the .45 ACP cartridge, its history is filled with thousands of factual and also highly exaggerated tales of the effectiveness of both the weapon and cartridge. When one hears “45” the 1911 Colt is foremost in the mind for most of us. First and foremost, the .45 is recognized as a combat tool, and also as a competition and defensive tool. Way down the list is its recognition as a handgun-hunting tool. Back in the dark ages, any NRA member could buy a new surplus 1911A1 from the Director of Civilian Marksmanship for $7.50. Then it could be sent to the Advanced Marksmanship Unit at Ft. Benning where for the sum of $65 those gunsmiths would turn it into a good softball or hardball bull’s-eye gun as ever made.
That’s sort of a shame too as an accurized 1911 in .45 ACP — with the right ammunition and user — is quite effective as a small- to medium-game gun. Rabbits and squirrels are usually taken at short ranges, and that’s fine for the 1911. Those 230-grain FMJ bullets do not cause excessive damage unless a shoulder shot occurs. Target “wadcutter” low-velocity loads seem to hit small game harder, but I can’t see any difference in damage done by them and the 230 FMJ, and even some of the hollowpoints. Running jackrabbits and the .45 seem meant for each other. Good, adjustable sights combined with a fine trigger, low-recoil impulse and semi-auto action are very effective for the guy who knows how to use them.
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Hello. I read your article on Hunting with a 45 ACP in the January/February 2012 edition. I saw that the Colt Combat commander had some very nice grips. It looks like the Mexican eagle w/ the Mayan calender in pewter. Could you tell me where to get a set of these? It would be greatly appriciated. Thanks.
i would like to find reloading data for the 255 grn lswc bullet for the .45 acp.
i once read an article of a remington rand 45 acp being used in africa on hyenas with the 255 grn bullet but don’t recall the loading data
i have used the 225 grn tfp on deer,caribou,black bear and moose. the load i use mostly is 6.8 of unique with the lead bullet.
it gives about 950 fps velocity
any loading data for the 255 grn would be greatly appreciated.
thanks, joe farrens
I hunt whitetail deer with a Glock G21 chambered in .45 ACP, I up graded to a stiffer recoil spring, and also installed a Lone wolf 6 inch barrel. I use 185 gr.+P ammo from Double Tap. This ammo list at 1225 fps.and has 616 ft. lbs. of energy from a 5 inch barrel. The longer 6 inch barrel length adds to its ballistics giving me around 725 ft. lbs. of energy. I have taken several nice deer with this combination and think that the 45. ACP should deserve better respect when it comes to hunting deer at close range.