45 SWC's For Hunting?

[razor]

I have a Ruger Bisley 45 Colt that really likes 255 SWC's and 9 grains of Unique. Since getting old and worn out, I like it to. This spring I was using this load for turkey hunting. My son called a bird in to about 20yds. I shot the bird dead center through the breast and it ran down hill for about 100yds. When we found it, it took off again and my son shot it with his shotgun and killed it. He said, you need to use hollow points next time. Do you all think a Keith or WFN cast bullet would have worked better? I was wanting to use this load on deer and black bear, but I wonder if it would work that good on these animals? Maybe sixshot or Ken could chime in.

[sheriff]

Your swc will work fine on deer and black bear just fine. I use the same bullet and 10grs unigue, although recently I've dropped the charge to 8.5grs.

[zac0419]

The only deer I've shot with a handgun was with a 255 swc moving about 1050fps. It died but there was very little blood trail and I was a bit discouraged. Granted, one deer is not a great indicator of performance, I'm quite certain if I shot 10 deer with that bullet I'd get 10 different results.

I do agree if you had a cast HP it might be a better choice but the swc should work fine.

[Deleted]

for deer,that is plenty of horse power. dont know about bear, but would use it on deer without worry. i have popped a few deer with loads like that and as long as i did my part, they went down quickly.

[500fksjr]

I use that bullet with 11.5 grn. of Hs-6 and I must say that a 800 pound cow buff went down at 35 yds and several 300-375 pd. hogs have went down...ps an stayed down...

[Cholla]

It's not the firearm/bullet it's the quarry. I know it may sound silly, but turkeys are TOUGH. I used to call them a lot both for myself and guiding others and I think they are pound for pound one of the toughest to kill animals.

Last year I began handgun hunting deer for the first time. Took three with a .44 Special and a 260 gr. SWC with no issues at all, so I have no doubt your 45 Colt would work just fine.

[razor]

I have heard a lot people say turkeys are hard to kill. I remember one old turkey hunter that used a 06 and said he had about blowed them in two and they took off.

[Paden]

Make the head shot next time.