Win 94 Hunting Load in 45LC

[bigdaddy0442]

Any one ever worked up a hunting load for the Winchester Trapper in 45LC?

Bigdaddy0442

[dpe.ahoy]

315gr Keith SWC on top of full charge of H-110 or LilGun set off by Lg Pistol Mag primer.  Hornady XTP's work well also, go with the mag version (240 or 300 gr) made for the 454 Casull, the 250 may be going to fast to hold together.  The 250 is made to open at lower speed.  DP

[243dave]

I use 300gr Hornady XTP mags on top of 23gr of H-110(this is a max load worked up in my 94 win trapper/start lower,around 19grs). I've used both the 300gr xtp mags and regular xtp's and I've settled on the mags. Not only because they are slightly more accurate(in my gun) but they will penetrate end to end on deer. I've killed deer with the regular 300gr xtp's and at the velocity I drive them they won't always exit if a shoulder is hit but the 300gr xtp mags is a whole different bullet. They always exit regardless of angle and bone encountered. If you like a bullet that expands big and usually exits on lung shots the regular 300 xtp is fine but if you always want a exit wound the 300 xtp mag is the way to go.  Dave

[Blackhawk44]

Find a copy of Ken Waters' Pet Loads.  His treatise on the .45 Colt in a Winchester carbine was very complete and exactly what you are looking for.

[NickSS]

I have used a 260 gr Keeth SWC cast bullet over a full charge of W 296.  My alloy is a little softer than Number 2 so the bullet weighs a bit more.  This combo has killed deer and wild hogs quite well in my trapper carbine.

[rkcohen]

what are you going to shoot?

my "general purpose" load these days is designed to eliminate to possibilty of grenading a colt saa - but still yields significant results on deer to 85 yards from either my marlin cowboy or my winchester trapper.  i suspect 100 yards it will do just as well, the two deer i have brought home have been at 65 and 85, plus or minus, so i won't claim longer.

i use either 10gr unique or 18gr 2400 under either a 275 lbt or 280(+/-) rcbs 270 saa.

from 4" moutain gun these loads clock right on 1000 fps and a tick over 1200 from the trapper - using my chrony at 10' to verify. the 2400 load yields a bit more veocity from the trapper, so...

haven't clocked the marlin yet, suspect it will do a tick better with its' longer barrel.

i have to admit to having gotten caught up in the 300 gr/max load craze myself a few years back.  then i started hunting with an older fella who imparted a good deal of common sense to my ways.

surprisingly enough, he was right and at the relatively close ranges we shoot at around here, that big hole does the job quite well, breaking bone in the process.

in a revolver, it ain't all that hard to shoot as well.

just my two cents fwiw.