45 Super, 460 Rowland and 45 ACP+P have something the 10MM does not
BY Herschel Smith
Tim Sundles.
I’m still waiting for Tim to acknowledge the 450 SMC (which he may not since that cartridge is made by Double Tap).
Tim Sundles.
I’m still waiting for Tim to acknowledge the 450 SMC (which he may not since that cartridge is made by Double Tap).
On April 21, 2025 at 11:34 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
@ H.S.
FYI, couldn’t get the video clip to run… not sure why…
Elmer Keith – the legendary gun-writer, gunsmith, wildcatter of new cartridges, cowboy, hunter and pistolero par excellence – was once discussing the use of the venerable 45 Colt for hunting. He maintained that he got excellent results with relatively moderate pressure loads, even against large/dangerous game, and saw no need to change to something hotter. He explained that those big 45 caliber slugs “let out a lot of blood, and let in a lot of air….”
What’s old is new again, isn’t it?
Most gun guys are familiar with the lineage of the 45 Colt as an Old West cowboy round, used in the famous Colt SAA 1873 six-shooter, lever-guns, and in much else besides. But this history sometimes obscures the hunting done with it.
Keith was a crack shot, and also probably used hard-cast lead bullets for deep penetration when hunting with the 45 Colt, but there’s no denying he got good results when he used it. It might not be the most-potent cartridge out there, but like the 30-30 of lever-action fame, it will do if you will do.
It isn’t always the tool, but the man using it…
On April 23, 2025 at 11:18 am, Ned said:
GB61 – I load 283 grain SWC 45 stand pressure Colt loads at 1000fps in a 4″ Mountain Gun. The load is not brutal to shoot, and should shoot lengthwise through an elk, which should be sufficient penetration for most critters.
On April 24, 2025 at 7:21 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
@ Ned
That sounds just like what Elmer Keith did…. so not surprised you are having that kind of success.
There’s still a lot of life left in that old cartridge, the 45 Colt.
Of course, our host didn’t mention it, but the 45 Colt falls into the same category caliber-wise as the examples he mentioned. The 45 Colt is important to modern 45-caliber loads for another reason: When the Army Ordnance Dept. was tasked with coming up with something more potent than the old 38 Colt revolver cartridge back in the early 1900s, they looked back for inspiration to the venerable 45 Colt, the cartridge which “won the west” – when it came time for John Browning to design the 45 Auto/ACP cartridge and the M1911 pistol.
And without 45 Auto and the M1911, the modern spin-offs probably would not have arisen, such as 45 Super, 450 SMC and 460 Rowland.
I for one am very glad that Buffalo Bore, Underwood, and other companies are now making hunting loads for M1911s and other 45-cal. handguns (as well as long guns which shoot pistol cartridges). More options and choices is good for consumers and members of the hunting community.
On April 26, 2025 at 12:40 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
Finally solved my tech problems, and I am glad I did, because this video was worth watching…
Thank you for posting it…