.45 Long Colt versus .45 ACP?

I have the same pistol you do, I have the Blackhawk convertible 45 with 5 and a half inch barrel.

I load my own ammo for it, I've recently loaded some 310gr Keith LSWC handloads for the 45 Colt, they surpass 44 magnum in performance. 2 companys produce "hot" loads for 45 Colt, one is buffalo bore, the other is double tap, with any of their heavy 45 colt loadings you have a very effective back up gun for bear hunting. Only in 45 colt, NOT 45acp.

Yes you can buy +p 44magnum ammo that will still beat the hot loaded 45colt ammo.

If I wasn't reloading I'd buy only the following for bear back up pistol ammo.

Buffalo Bore Ammunition 45 Colt (Long Colt) +P 325 Grain Lead Long Flat Nose

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showprod...

Try a small box of 20 to see how you like it.

The .45 acp is a big bore defensive caliber, period. It is NOT a hunting round. The .45 Long Colt can be used for hunting although I would only use it on bear (with the right ammo) as a last resort. For bear I'd be more comfortable with a .44 Magnum or better yet, a .454 Casull (that also shoots the 'weaker' .45 Long Colt).

The Ruger is a nice handgun.

H

Buffalo Bore 45 Long Colt

For bear, you'll want heavy, hard-cast, semi-wadcutter bullets in the long case. Milder loads or ACP either will do for a home-defense load, and the ACP will give you less expensive plinker rounds if you don't handload. Keep in mind that the 45 ACP made its sterling reputation as a man-stopper on loads that were designed to be almost as good as the old blackpowder military issue for the SAA. With the possible exception of 357 Magnum, for self-defense there's been no real advance in that area since 1873. For bears, though, especially in a Ruger, you can do a lot better with that big old case.

The ballistics of both are almost identical regardless of case size. Both are way underpowered for bear country. Even though the 45 Long colt has a much bigger case, it does not have more powder. Now one of the big things with hand loaders, the 45 long colt does have alot of potential. Using the right type of brass manufacture (some are thicker than others) and the right revolver ( Ruger Redhawk and Blackhawk included) one can load the 45 long colt pretty hot and achieve ballistics very close to the .44 Mag. BUT I stress, this is for veteran reloaders that KNOW exactly what they are doing. Some manuals will even list reloading data for the HOT 45 loads.

You should have gotten a .41 Magnum, or the .44 magnum for this purpose. The .45 Colt and .45 ACP is NO GOOD for bears, unless you have a death wish. These rounds will only get them mad at you.

in the hands of a good reloader, the 45 long colt can out perform the 44 mag in stopping power. the 44 mag will go faster, but with lighter bullets. if you load the same bullet weight (not size), and follow the loads approved for the ruger blackhawk, the 45 will outperform the 44 mag. the real advantage comes with bullet weight. the 45 lc can go up to 300 grain, and with a hot load, this translates into much better stopping power than the 44 mag. quite a kick when you get this thing going.

i would only recommend any pistol cartridge as a backup against bear, and if you plan to hunt one with the 45 lc, have a friend handy with a much more potent rifle round. someone suggested the 45-70 and i would have to give my nod there as well.

back in 1985 i killed a black bear in Maine using the 45 colt with a factory 255 gr bullet,i guess he didn't read all the answers above because he took 3-4 steps and dropped over dead,i have also taken wild hog with both the 45 colt and 45 acp in the 350-475lbs range.

I wouldn't want to depend on any handgun to protect me in bear country. Give me a rifle of at least 30/06 potential or a 12ga with slugs up close.

That said, I had a Blackhawk in .45Colt. Worked up some pretty hot ones for it. It was still not a .44mag but it was getting close. The .45acp wasn't even close.

Grizzly got this one. For bears you need more power than the two you have. But of the two the .45 Long Colt would be better than the 45 acp.