If you want good 45 Colt ammo, you just need to handload. If you have a modern 45 Colt, you can safely load a 250 grain rnfp hard cast bullet to 950 fps. - talking about for example, an Italian 1873 clone revolver - 4 3/4" barrel, like a Cimarron (Pietta) Frontier 45 Colt. I just took a quick look at the Alliant powder loading data and they show two loads over 1000 fps with two of their powders - 250 grain Speer SWC lead bullet. So... I don't know why the ammo manuf. companies don't simply load theirs to the same.
The hollow point feature on the Big Bore ammo is like the lure that's marketed to catch the fisherman. Tyros: "oOooOh sHinY hoLloW pOIntT!" Get hold of some revo-caliber carbines and re-test the .357, .44 and .45C BBs, and for cryin' out loud put a bundle of "high tech fleece" behind your gel.
@@christalbott1852Underwood loads a 255gr swc at 1000 fps that will kill anything in North America. You don't need expansion when you starting at almost a half inch.
I'd like to see your tests done out of carbines or leveraction rifles as they are gaining popularity. I have several leveractions in different calibers and it would be interesting to see what the anno you've tested perform out of a carbine.
Have you considered trying a non expanding bullet, like Underwood’s Xtreme Defender? I believe they load a 135 grain bullet for the .45 Colt. Might be interesting to see how it compares.
A 250 grain bullet at 850 is almost "cowboy action" levels of performance. That's not to say they are ineffective but these are pretty weak for the intended purpose. My basic load is 255 grain bullet at 970+ fps and that's designed for target shooting but also an extremely capable hunting round. Looks like Winchester scam ammo to me. Not impressive in the least. Thanks for testing these!
John Linebaugh's family hunts with the colt single action army and he loads a Kieth style 260gr hard cast at 900fps muzzle velocity and he says even at 100 yards that round will go end to end on a pronghorn or mule deer!!!
Post script: After the video, I shot off the remainder of this ammo and the Ammo Inc, 250 JHP from the previous video. I got several light primer strikes with the Winchester Big Bore. The Ammo Inc stuff all lit off without fail, but a few of these Winchester rounds needed multiple strikes, and two of them never lit off at all. The fact that the Ammo Inc stuff worked fine tells me it's an issue with the ammo rather than the gun. Just FYI.
I've come to start to divest myself of Winchester ammo entirely. I think the quality is just not there anymore. It is not just this particular loading, but across their whole rimfire and centerfire pistol lines
Same here with light primer strikes in my New Model Ruger Blackhawk. No issues with any other ammo. Federal always goes”boom”. Winchester is known for their hard primers but if this is marketed as bear defense, per the artwork on the box, it should go off every time IMHO.
Lucky Gunner has 185gr FTX in 45 Colt in stock. I would see if the ballistic tip help with you denim expansion issues. The extra speed won't hurt either. Thank you for your tests as I use the PDX when I have it loaded by the bed, but load hard cast lead when out for a walk for critter defense. I have some underwood hard cast wadcutters moving 1050 fps I may load until you or I find a good HP.
@@guyestes2237the leverevolution rounds suck out of a pistol. Especially when shot at anything tougher than a deer, like a pig or big deer!!! The leverevolution out of a pistol has failed out of a pistol to adequately penetrate sometimes not even reaching vitals on a deer, and if you accidentally or otherwise hit a shoulder you're gonna be trailing a lot of you even recover the animal. You don't need expansion out of a 45 colt, you just need a flat nose cast bullet that's halfway hard with at least moderate speed. Any muzzle velocity above 850fps is gonna go through deer pigs and bad guys. John Linebaugh loads for a single action army with a 260gr wide flat nose hard cast at 900fps muzzle velocity and he says it will go end to end on a mule deer at 100 yards and keep going. And...... The faster it goes the more effect it has as the wound track will be a bit larger than the bullet diameter, but all the way through which results in two holes to bleed out of, and they really do resist deflecting when hitting heavy muscle and bone. Don't need much if any expansion when you're already starting at almost a half inch.
I reload for both ,45 Colt and .44 Special. I intend to handload some of these bullets that didn't expand and serve them at a higher velocity and see what happens.
I found out years ago that even the Hornady 250 gr XTP bullet won't expand at 800-850 FPS. Have to drop down to a 200 gr. bullet to get the speed up to 950-1000 for a good balance of expansion and penetration. I load my own and one I have developed for my Henry 45 Colt rifle when using suppressor is a 320 gr full wadcutter going 1000 FPS. Quiet and gets any job done.
This is standard pressure ammo, which is what the Smith is rated for. Despite the fact that it's an N frame, it can't handle +P loads, so I would expect you could run this stuff in any revolver that can safely handle .45 Colt
@@tacticalheretic9105Underwood's 45 colt 255gr semi wadcutter rated at 1000 fps is within the 14k psi saami spec and is safe in this revolver, but if you must have an expanding bullet they load a standard pressure 250gr xtp at 960 fps. Either load should wake your revolver up, and is safe to shoot all day every day!!!
@@tacticalheretic9105they also have a saami safe 225gr wadcutter that's rated at 1050 fps if you prefer that. Any of those underwood standard pressure loads would make your Smith a viable woods defense or hunting pistol if you can shoot it accurately.
And, if you'll permit me a bit of shameless self-promotion, if you like good, action-packed sword and sorcery fantasy, check out my Sisters of the Storm series. Though it's a series, I structure each book so you can read them in any order. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BJ5YKYS4
If you want good 45 Colt ammo, you just need to handload. If you have a modern 45 Colt, you can safely load a 250 grain rnfp hard cast bullet to 950 fps. - talking about for example, an Italian 1873 clone revolver - 4 3/4" barrel, like a Cimarron (Pietta) Frontier 45 Colt. I just took a quick look at the Alliant powder loading data and they show two loads over 1000 fps with two of their powders - 250 grain Speer SWC lead bullet. So... I don't know why the ammo manuf. companies don't simply load theirs to the same.
What about the New Vaquero?
@@artcantulaw yes you can go with higher pressure loads with the new Vaquero (mid sized frame) and even higher with the full sized models.
The hollow point feature on the Big Bore ammo is like the lure that's marketed to catch the fisherman. Tyros: "oOooOh sHinY hoLloW pOIntT!" Get hold of some revo-caliber carbines and re-test the .357, .44 and .45C BBs, and for cryin' out loud put a bundle of "high tech fleece" behind your gel.
They might as well just make it as a semi jacketed flat point. Thanks for the test.
Come on now, Underwood loads up some 300 grain hollow points moving at 1300…
Make 45s great again!
But only for use in Ruger Blackhawk, Redhawk and TC Contender pistols in .45 Colt those rounds in a Colt SAA or clone are a grenade.
@@christalbott1852Underwood loads a 255gr swc at 1000 fps that will kill anything in North America. You don't need expansion when you starting at almost a half inch.
Yeah I will stick with my cast bullet handloads. Nice video though.
25.5 h110 behind 250xtp out of a Ruger Blackhawk and WOW 45 Colt rules.
I'd like to see your tests done out of carbines or leveraction rifles as they are gaining popularity. I have several leveractions in different calibers and it would be interesting to see what the anno you've tested perform out of a carbine.
Have you considered trying a non expanding bullet, like Underwood’s Xtreme Defender? I believe they load a 135 grain bullet for the .45 Colt. Might be interesting to see how it compares.
Love the HP Lovecraft stuff!
Thanks!
A 250 grain bullet at 850 is almost "cowboy action" levels of performance. That's not to say they are ineffective but these are pretty weak for the intended purpose. My basic load is 255 grain bullet at 970+ fps and that's designed for target shooting but also an extremely capable hunting round.
Looks like Winchester scam ammo to me. Not impressive in the least. Thanks for testing these!
John Linebaugh's family hunts with the colt single action army and he loads a Kieth style 260gr hard cast at 900fps muzzle velocity and he says even at 100 yards that round will go end to end on a pronghorn or mule deer!!!
@@Wildwestwrangler I agree 100%.
I think I love you!!!😉@@brandiwynter
Post script: After the video, I shot off the remainder of this ammo and the Ammo Inc, 250 JHP from the previous video. I got several light primer strikes with the Winchester Big Bore. The Ammo Inc stuff all lit off without fail, but a few of these Winchester rounds needed multiple strikes, and two of them never lit off at all. The fact that the Ammo Inc stuff worked fine tells me it's an issue with the ammo rather than the gun. Just FYI.
I've come to start to divest myself of Winchester ammo entirely. I think the quality is just not there anymore. It is not just this particular loading, but across their whole rimfire and centerfire pistol lines
I've had problems with Winchester ammo quite few times in varying calibers .
Must be hard printers
Same here with light primer strikes in my New Model Ruger Blackhawk. No issues with any other ammo. Federal always goes”boom”. Winchester is known for their hard primers but if this is marketed as bear defense, per the artwork on the box, it should go off every time IMHO.
@@chuckcunningham5074 Right? Mr. Bear isn't going to let you call a time-out.
Lucky Gunner has 185gr FTX in 45 Colt in stock. I would see if the ballistic tip help with you denim expansion issues. The extra speed won't hurt either. Thank you for your tests as I use the PDX when I have it loaded by the bed, but load hard cast lead when out for a walk for critter defense. I have some underwood hard cast wadcutters moving 1050 fps I may load until you or I find a good HP.
Thanks for the heads-up. I'm very curious to see what the Critical Defense and Leverevolution rounds will do.
@@guyestes2237the leverevolution rounds suck out of a pistol. Especially when shot at anything tougher than a deer, like a pig or big deer!!! The leverevolution out of a pistol has failed out of a pistol to adequately penetrate sometimes not even reaching vitals on a deer, and if you accidentally or otherwise hit a shoulder you're gonna be trailing a lot of you even recover the animal. You don't need expansion out of a 45 colt, you just need a flat nose cast bullet that's halfway hard with at least moderate speed. Any muzzle velocity above 850fps is gonna go through deer pigs and bad guys. John Linebaugh loads for a single action army with a 260gr wide flat nose hard cast at 900fps muzzle velocity and he says it will go end to end on a mule deer at 100 yards and keep going. And...... The faster it goes the more effect it has as the wound track will be a bit larger than the bullet diameter, but all the way through which results in two holes to bleed out of, and they really do resist deflecting when hitting heavy muscle and bone. Don't need much if any expansion when you're already starting at almost a half inch.
This line of ammo probably does better out of a rifle anyway. I bought some in .357 Magnum but have not tried it yet.
It sounds like you need to setup a reloading press, just saying.
I reload for both ,45 Colt and .44 Special. I intend to handload some of these bullets that didn't expand and serve them at a higher velocity and see what happens.
Great video thank you.
I found out years ago that even the Hornady 250 gr XTP bullet won't expand at 800-850 FPS. Have to drop down to a 200 gr. bullet to get the speed up to 950-1000 for a good balance of expansion and penetration. I load my own and one I have developed for my Henry 45 Colt rifle when using suppressor is a 320 gr full wadcutter going 1000 FPS. Quiet and gets any job done.
You don't need expansion in a 45
Thank you for saying 45 Colt. Was the ammo for the old Colt revolvers or for your S & W or Ruger revolvers ?
This is standard pressure ammo, which is what the Smith is rated for. Despite the fact that it's an N frame, it can't handle +P loads, so I would expect you could run this stuff in any revolver that can safely handle .45 Colt
@@tacticalheretic9105Underwood's 45 colt 255gr semi wadcutter rated at 1000 fps is within the 14k psi saami spec and is safe in this revolver, but if you must have an expanding bullet they load a standard pressure 250gr xtp at 960 fps. Either load should wake your revolver up, and is safe to shoot all day every day!!!
@@tacticalheretic9105they also have a saami safe 225gr wadcutter that's rated at 1050 fps if you prefer that. Any of those underwood standard pressure loads would make your Smith a viable woods defense or hunting pistol if you can shoot it accurately.
Didn't show the track of destruction??
So it probably didn’t expand but I guess we won’t know…
790 feet per second in the 45 colt is anemic, and i would not shoot any bear with it.
And, if you'll permit me a bit of shameless self-promotion, if you like good, action-packed sword and sorcery fantasy, check out my Sisters of the Storm series. Though it's a series, I structure each book so you can read them in any order.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BJ5YKYS4
This video’s a month old and you haven’t replied to any of the comments left by your audience.
@@ordinaryman1904 indeed I have.
All "Big Bore" line is just a week garbage
Yeah I will stick with my cast bullet handloads. Nice video though.