Hunting with an 1866 in 45 Colt

[cowboyjared]

I finally got an 1866 Sporting Model and am in love with it. I was wondering if anyone on here uses there to hunt deer or antelope with. I have a 30-30 but I prefer the 1866 to it. If you do what ammo do you use because I cant imagine CAS ammo working very well in that application.

[PJ Hardtack]

cowboyjared

If you are referring to the minimal 'mouse fart' loads some shoot even in a .45 Colt, you're right - it might not be a viable deer rifle.
However, if you use any of the many 1000 fps+ 250 gr .45 Colt pistol loads in all  the loading manuals, you're good to go. With the x-sectional diameter of a .45 bullet, won't matter if it's SWC, RN or RNFP, whatever shoots best.

A pal neck shot a deer at 200 yds with his .45 Colt carbine. He admits it was a 'scratch shot', but it dropped like it had been hit by lightning. He figured he'd hit it or it would be a clean miss. Load was his .45 Colt CAS load with 250 gr bullets.

Of course, you can do what our pioneer forefathers did without any worries - shoot a 250 gr BP load. Worked then and no reason for it not to work today.

[cowboyjared]

Do you think this ammo would do the trick
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/63244#Reviews

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[Bugscuffle]

A lot is going to depend on which 1866 sporting model you are talking about. I have a Rossi 1892 in .45 L.C. and I wouldn't hesitate to shoot any modern factory load in it. My standard hunting load for hog is a 250 grain XTP loaded up to about 1000 fps. It is plenty good enough to get a hogs attention. My Rossi is a very strong action, and not all actions cn take 13,000+ CUP safely. So, check what your action is capable of before blowing up a good gun and possibly  hand too.

[cowboyjared]

Its a Uberti Yellowboy

[MJN77]

I have had a brass frame Uberti 1860 Henry rifle in 44-40 for about fifteen years or so, and have taken several deer over the years with Winchester 200gr  jacketed soft points (going with full load BP ammo this year). They are supposed to average 1180 fps. I have heard good things about the Hornady lever evolution .45 ammo. Any factory loaded 45 colt ammo (not "cowboy") will be fine in your gun for hunting, as long as it isn't marked as Ruger only or +p or anything like that. The ammo in your link would be fine.

[Storm Crow]

Do you think this ammo would do the trick
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/63244#Reviews

While you could use any hollow point to hunt with, or any round for that matter, you might consider http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/7-AHDY92755 instead.  It's designed for hunting, and not self defense.

Just a thought.  Happy hunting!

Storm Crow

[Tall Dark Slim]

Barnes also makes a decent load for the .45. I think the upsides to the blazer are that you don't have to worry about  lost brass and you get a big box to practice with and then go hunting. Too many people play the game of shoot three shots and hit the woods. You'd have 35 shots to practice with, ten to keep in the gun and five to keep in the truck to replace spent shells.

[Red Cent]

The 1866 and the 1873 does not make for hot rounds. The toggle arrangement will not take much battering from such loads.

BS, your 92 has a very different action than the '60, '66 and the '73.

They make an 1873 in 44 Magnum. I don't know if it is beefed up or not.

And, I would not use hot loads for the shortstroked finely tuned rifles.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
I used a yellow boy carbine in 45 colt to take a Deer a few years back . I was using a 250 grain bullet and a Hefty load of unigue . I shot the Deer in the neck and it dropped like a rock . Over the last couple years I have worked with Black Powder , and I'm having a good time . I would stay away from cas loads because they are low velocity and unless you are planning on shooting out to 25 feet as a max ? Good luck and Happy Hunting .