Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Guns N Gear 45 Long Colt

I have a Blackhawk with the 2 cylinders that is made on the same mid-sized frame as the New Vaquero. It was a Lipsey's Special, but I'm thinking the gun you are talking about might be the same. I'd be sure and check up on it before buying if you want to shoot those heavy .44 Magnum-type loads.

The .45 Colt has been chambered in so many different guns that it can be really confusing as to what as safe to shoot in any particular gun. I have an article that divided the various guns into 3 different strengths - the original single actions at the lowest pressure, the Contenders and Black Hawks at the top, and a mid-level for the New Vaquero and similar guns. Just be sure you know what you are buying and then shooting in it.

I've used the old style Vaquero in .45 Colt to kill pigs and it does a great job. My favorite handload is similar to that found in a 1993 Shooting Times article about Gary Hanson, who hunted Black Bear and Mountain Lion with the .45 Colt. His reasoning was that the .45 Colt was adequate when using higher pressure loads. Also, the .44 magnum was much louder and thus was more likely to hurt both his and the dogs ears.

I use the Hornady 250 grain XTP bullet with 22.0 grains of Winchester 296 and magnum primers. This is not as hot as a .44 Magnum and thus easier to recover from the recoil if a follow-up shot is needed. I've also killed a couple of deer using the same load in a Ruger Blackhawk. Hunting with iron sights, I limit the shots to 40 yards or closer. So far, I've never needed a follow-up shot nor have been able to recover a bullet.

thanks for the info guys.