Author Topic: Can a rifle in 45 colt be used for buffalo shoots?  (Read 5107 times)

Offline RR Ranger

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Can a rifle in 45 colt be used for buffalo shoots?
« on: March 14, 2013, 03:44:14 PM »
I currently shoot buffalo matches with a 45-70 but was wondering if a  Uberti  1873 chambered in 45colt could be used accurately  out to 300 yards if loaded with 40 grains of  black powder?  I have one with a 24" barrel and was curious if anyone has tried this. Would load with a 200 gr  Big Lube bullet cast with wheel weights. 

Offline Ranch 13

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Re: Can a rifle in 45 colt be used for buffalo shoots?
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2013, 04:16:30 PM »
If you loaded it with a 250 gr bullet you might get it to shoot well to 300 unless the wind came up, a 300 gr bullet would serve much better. But using a 200 gr bullet would just be an excercise in pointin the gun in the general direction of the target and letting it go bang.
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Offline wildman1

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Re: Can a rifle in 45 colt be used for buffalo shoots?
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2013, 04:52:34 PM »
Ranch is correct in that a 300g bullet would be better. However if you are already shooting 45/70 a 405g bullet would be more  accurate. Sized to 452 or 454 whichever you rifle uses. You CANNOT get them to feed as they are to long. I used a reduced load, about 650 to 700 fps. and they are very accurate. Once you drop one in the chamber and engage the bolt you have to shoot it it will be too long to extract. Recoil is about the same as 30 to 35gs of BP.  WM
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Re: Can a rifle in 45 colt be used for buffalo shoots?
« Reply #3 on: Today at 07:19:25 AM »

Offline pony express

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Re: Can a rifle in 45 colt be used for buffalo shoots?
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2013, 08:38:24 PM »
Check in the BP forum, or maybe in the 1873 and Henry forums, 44WCF has done quite a bit of long range shooting with his favorite caliber, I believe out to 500 yards even. Don't know why a .45 Colt couldn't do it too. I would think a 250gr .45 bullet would carry as well as a 200gr 44.

Offline boilerplatejackson

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Re: Can a rifle in 45 colt be used for buffalo shoots?
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2013, 01:42:54 AM »
I guess the answer to your question depends upon what you are shooting at. If the long range shoot is paper or just a hit for
score then you will be amazed at what the 44 and 45 can do. If the steel targets are knock down then you are possibly
under gunned. Bill Comstock hunted buffalo in western Kansas with his 44 Henry. But he was a runner.

Offline Roosterman

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Re: Can a rifle in 45 colt be used for buffalo shoots?
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2013, 08:24:24 AM »
My '73 Winny in .45 colt won't even make 230 yards with the barrel sights. :(
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Offline Ranch 13

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Re: Can a rifle in 45 colt be used for buffalo shoots?
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2013, 08:54:33 AM »
I use my 45 colt winchester trapper pretty regular in the levergun side matches, and it will shoot to 250 yds , but you need plenty of elevation on the rear sight, and as I said when the wind gets up all bets are off.
Loading in that single shot rifle with a 300 gr bullet then I would think that 300 yds is doable but it's going to be a stretch.
Eat more beef the west wasn't won on a salad.

Offline bear tooth billy

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Re: Can a rifle in 45 colt be used for buffalo shoots?
« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2013, 08:27:18 PM »
Our buffalo shoots we have to knock down the steel targets, the bigger ones weigh 65 lbs., even a 405 gr out of a 45/70 sometimes
wont knock them down if hit at the belly line
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Offline cpt dan blodgett

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Re: Can a rifle in 45 colt be used for buffalo shoots?
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2013, 12:48:23 AM »
One thing to consider large diameter relatively short bullets are not as stable as longer bullets in same caliber, providing the longer bullet is spun fast enough to be stable.
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