Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

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Naphtali
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Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by Naphtali »

What is a reasonable range limitation for taking an elk with a .452-inch bullet weighing 300 grains leaving the barrel at 1300 feet per second?
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Lefty Dude
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by Lefty Dude »

50-75 yards, and a Cow.
Just up the Rifle to a 45-70 !
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44shooter
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by 44shooter »

Maybe 125 yards?
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Carlsen Highway
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by Carlsen Highway »

Well, considering I can shoot straight through a red deer with pure lead bullets with black powder in a .44-40 at 75 yards, I am pretty sure that a .45 colt bullet out of a rifle will go right through the lungs at any range you can hit him with it, as far out as the trajectory will let you. I would probably use the same cut off I have with my .44-40's on red stags, and say around 110 yards.

(If you can up your 300 grain bullet to 1400 fps, then you have got 19th century .45-60 performance. I am thinking about getting a Rossi 92 in .45 Colt for this very reason...because I cant afford a '76 in .45-60.)
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Trailboss
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by Trailboss »

On a moving cow, 50-75 yards. On a still cow target, 100-110 yards as long as you can place your shot well.
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fordwannabe
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by fordwannabe »

Funny but the first thing that popped in my brain...HOW WELL CAN YOU SHOOT IT? Guys kill elk every year with bows, but you have to HUNT, not just shoot, to do it.
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Poohgyrr
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by Poohgyrr »

That bullet (or boolit) should penetrate deep, and it won't have the velocity of other rounds. So accuracy is the main thing.

If I remember, 45Stomp posted pics some years back. He collected some big critters with a 45Colt Lever. I've probably missed other posts, but still remember his.
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earlmck
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by earlmck »

I have shot two cow elk using a 280 grain WFN from my .44 mag Redhawk with approximately those (1300 fps) stats. Both broadside hits behind the shoulder at 70 to 80 yards. Both very dead elk, but in neither case did the bullet make an exit wound. Without an exit wound an elk can make a fairly good distance before you get any sign of a blood trail. My first elk walked a few steps, laid down and died in full view. My second elk ran about 100 yards back into a forested area and gave me some "Oh poop" moments before I found her because there was no blood trail and tracking conditions were not great. But she had (very fortunately!) piled up mere yards from where she had disappeared from view. I have since sworn off using that bullet in that gun because I really want an exit wound when I shoot an elk -- the dang things can run quite a ways even with lungs totally destroyed.

I would want heavier than 300 grains to get the penetration needed to shoot plumb through the elk with the .45 bullet at 1300 fps. That would be quite a fine deer killer at any range you could hit them, however.
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wvfarrier
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by wvfarrier »

Might consider some of the hotter stuff from Buffalo Bore. I want an exit wound on critters thst might wander off
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by Nate Kiowa Jones »

I get the question all the time, " how far can I shoot this gun?" My answer is if it's for hunting, How far can you consistently put 3 to 5 rounds into a 9" circle target.
Shot placement trumps most everything else.
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jnyork
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by jnyork »

This.

If you miss with a 50BMG, you still miss, and if you make a California head shot with anything, you still have a terrible mess to take care of.
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rodeo kid
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by rodeo kid »

I'm with Lefty, a 45-70 would be the way to go for Elk. My old eyes need all the help they can get. Marlin 1895 and yes(GASP) a 3-9 scope for me. God Bless.⛪
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Bill in Oregon
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Here's what Paco had to say about .45 Colt in lever guns, and with his top-end loads (i.e. 340-grain cast at 1800), I think an elk within 100-125 yards would be in very, very serious trouble.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/ ... vergun.htm
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by Merle »

Bill in Oregon wrote: Wed May 24, 2017 10:37 am Here's what Paco had to say about .45 Colt in lever guns, and with his top-end loads (i.e. 340-grain cast at 1800), I think an elk within 100-125 yards would be in very, very serious trouble.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/ ... vergun.htm

HMMM, food for thought! Thanks for posting. 8)
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by Blaine »

A solid, supported firing position can about double (or more) your range.
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jd45
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Re: Elk with 45 Colt rifle?

Post by jd45 »

I remember 45stomp's posts about shooting moose with his Noroku '92 in .45 Colt. I think his loads used a 325GR projectile but I don't remember if he said how fast they were. I personally don't think 1300fps is fast enough for a 300GR load, cause you can't predict the angle of the shot. jd45
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