45 Colt

[Iron Glove]

Looking at the H&R Survivor in 410 / 45 Colt.
Might be a neat budget and versatile truck gun while 4x4'ing in the woods.
Now I know what I can effectively hunt with the 410, Grouse, etc. and maybe a wabbit with a slug, but what is a 45 Colt useful for ? I'm totally not familiar with that round.
Are 45 Colt readily available?
Thanks folks.

 

[Salty]

45 Colt ammo is not overly common. And its expensive. But if you reload its a close cousin of the 44 magnum, and would make a great deer round to 100 yards no problem. Starts crapping out fairly quickly after that... Within 50 yards with a well placed shot it would take down anything on this continent effectively except maybe the biggest bears.

 

[t-star]

while it's a good round, it's brass is scarce as hen's teeth and expensive- i've found over theyears, that the so-called dual purpose guns are like dual purpose fishing rods, doing neither job well- for a truck gun, you can't beat a winchester or marlin in 30-30, for a shotgun, a 870- if you absoultely must have a dual purpose, the savage 24 comes to mind-at least you've got 2 barrels and a ready option.

 

[ben hunchak]

Excellent round, very inexpensive to reload, components everywhere, great cast bullet(cheap) round. i won't comment on it's effectiveness, you must find out what power level it can be reloaded at.If it's the same as a Ruger Blackhawk(pressure limits) it would be very effective on all game within 100 yds.

 

[ruffbird]

here is the .45 colt cartridge with it's .45 ACP cousin(bottom) with a couple of ruger black-hawks....

I loaded these colt loads using 260 gr SWC cast bullets.

here's a close-up of some .45 calibre bullets in 200 & 250 gr that I load in the colt cartridge for plinking or target shooting...

for hunting though, the SWC's in a rifle (marlin or winchester) loaded heavily are a great game stopper within 100 yds....

 

[Iron Glove]

Thanks guys for the input, I just might order one and give it a try.
In looking for another "truck gun" I want something versatile for grouse and possibly small to medium size game - wabbits to deer size. Already have to 30-30, the 12 guages, etc. but these really are not versatile enough.
The nickel finish and synthetic stock look reasonably "truckable".
The Savage 24 looks nice but they are expensive and hard to find in a small guage with centrefire.

 

[04rubicon]

i had a similar thread going with the same questions you were asking and i got much the same answers. I decided on a single shot shotgun with slugs for my truck gun for now but i still am considering the .410/.45 combo let me know what you think of it when you get it