Range limit of the 1894 Marlin 45 Colt for whitetail?

[Lee Robinson]

Which in YOUR OPINION limits this rifle first...ballistics or accuracy? And, at what range?

Bullet is a 270 grain Keith over H110 with muzzle velocity reported to be just over 1600 fps in the Marlin (or somewhere around 1200 in a Ruger Blackhawk revolver).

[Rangr44]

Accuracy to 125 yds.
 
.

[kynardsj]

At this time I have three Ruger revolvers and one Encore rifle in 45 LC. All the revolvers love the cast bullets but never could get the Encore to shoot them accurately. I tried a couple of jacketed bullets and went with the 250 gr Hornady XTP over 25.0 gr of Lilgun for about 1394 fps from a pistol and around 1700 fps from the rifle. Very accurate and hard hitting round. I wouldn't hesitate to make a 150 yard shot without any hold over. Your bullet being heavier and moving a bit slower I agree with Rangr44 and would guestimate around 125 yards.

[243dave]

My Winchester Trapper gives me the accuracy to more than 200yds but only the trajectory for 150yd hunting with a lot of H-110 under the 300gr xtp mag bullet.  150yds is about the max you can get without holding over a deers back which I don't do I might hold high on the back but never over when hunting.
 
Dave

[cwlongshot]

I agree, I would set the limit at under 150 Yards.
 
I'm sure it would work farther, but I hold the game I hunt in higher regard and want quick humane kills... with in 100 is what I like.
 
CW

[tacklebury]

150 probably ok, but with my .45 colt carbine, I typically drop back to 125 with my irons. 

[Lonegun1894]

I know this is not the easy answer, but the best I can figure is it depends on the combination of your rifle, your load, and you.  I know many here will disagree, but I trust mine to 200yds, with me, and not the gun or load, being the limiting factor.  I do agree that somewhere between 125 and 150yds, range estimation becomes very important, so if you just want to hold dead on and hit, 125yds sounds very good, but this can be stretched out if you can or are willing to learn to estimate range correctly.  The .45 caliber slug weighing 250+ grs will penetrate much more than people would expect, so the trajectory becomes an issue long before the bullet runs out of steam.  Take it out and see what you can do with it as each of us is different.  I thought I was good, til I got into an informal match using coke cans and milk jugs for targets.  We both stayed on coke cans to 150yds, but started shooting at the jugs at 200yds, and I started missing at 250, with my furthest hit being at 325, but that was one out of several shots.  He on the other hand, was still getting first round hits when we ran out of ammo at 375-400yds.  I know I cant shoot like that yet, but i'm trying to learn.

[kynardsj]

I plan on doing some longer range shooting this fall with my 45 LC rifle. Am going to set up a target on some plywood and start backing off from 100 yards in 25 yard increments to see just what the drop is out to 200 yards. If things are still going good at that range then I might take it a bit farther. Like was said before, a 250 gr slug has a lot of kinetic energy. Elmer Keith proved this a long time ago at ranges far beyond 200 yards.

[finisher]

What range limit would you put on as 4x scoped Contender, 16" w/ a brake chambered in .44 mag?  Sorry to hitch a ride on this one but it sort of a similar deal.

[cwlongshot]

What range limit would you put on as 4x scoped Contender, 16" w/ a brake chambered in .44 mag?  Sorry to hitch a ride on this one but it sort of a similar deal.

Nearly identicle diameter, velocity and preformance all equils equil range limitations...  150 yard gun.

Kynardsj,
 Its not accuracy thats the issue... I am certain you will find accuracy will be there.. its the fact the ballisticaslly your shooting a very poor preforming projectile that sheds vel and energy figures like crazy... We OWE more to the game we hunt.

CW

[kynardsj]

CW, It's just a curiousity thing for me. 99.9 % of the shots I take whitetail hunting are inside of 100 yards anyway. The .01% is still inside 150 yards.

[cwlongshot]

CW, It's just a curiousity thing for me. 99.9 % of the shots I take whitetail hunting are inside of 100 yards anyway. The .01% is still inside 150 yards.

Glad to hear that!!

If your wanting to hit a "gong" at say 300 yards I agree it's a hoot!!!! Shoot, put the gun down turn your head.... To hear the ring! VERY cool!!  One range I shoot on has a 24" gong in a tree about 250-275 yards out. Hits a blast when you can hit it with a hand gun!

CW

[Lonegun1894]

Assuming deer size game with a vital zone of, say, a 8-9" plate, if you want to test yourself, go out with a friend, and have the friend put out plates for you at random ranges without you watching, and without him/her telling you the range to the various plates.  I try to do this on occasion with a couple friends and we then shoot each others plates and see how far out we can stay on target.  Whatever the range is that we get 100% hits is the longest we hunt.  Some guns on some days you will do better than others.  The trick is being honest enough with yourself where your limit is that you can hit at every single time, as opposed to thinking you made this shot once before, so you might get lucky when there is an animal in your sights.  It takes honesty and discipline, but you can do it and it will give you an honest answer as to what YOU can do, as opposed to what any of us here can do with ours.  I know my limits, and know that there are some shooters here that I can beat hands down, and others that I will never be able to match.  That isn't a slam against anyone, it's just the truth, and applies to everyone of us equally.  We're all in different places, but I have learned one thing over the years.  I would rather get beat by a better shooter and learn so I can do better next time, than win against an inferior shooter and stay on a plateau where I am not improving.  And we can all improve.

[Missionary5155]

Good morning
Have 2 Rossi's in 45 Colt one an older Interarms.  They both shoot very similar with 255- 280 grainers.  I use 19 grains of 2400 so there is not much difference.
I do not practice beyond 100 yards as that is my realistic range with those rifles.  Both are not scoped.  At 100 yards my cast loads will complete penetrate on a chest shot.  Over 50 yards I would not try a "through the grill door" shot as I want an exit hole.  Every deer I have been involed in a long or difficult trackdown had no exit wound. 
Realisticly I hunt river bottoms.  My longest shot has been 36 yards.  I would take a longer shot if ever needed but there is no need.  I actually get all the deer I need with a 52 pound recurve bow under 20 yards so 45 Colt deer hunting is just a side line and a revolver usually does what I need done.
Mike in Peru

[Him]

I think the limiting factor, even at 100 yards, is the rifleman.


If you can sneak the bullet into the right place, the deer is yours.


Trajectory becomes a problem much beyond that point.

[SHOOTALL]

I would set the limit according to how accurate I was with the gun/bullet combo. It might change day to day depending on weather, my condition etc. Hold over is bad in hunting most of the time ( funny thing we can allow for wind by holding off but a little hold over is taboo )any way if you learn your gun and its sights you can compensate with the elevator on the rear sight by moving it one notch. Then also some rear sights can be had that can be drawn to a fine bead. I like my target on top of the front bead so it has to be a really long shot where I cover a critter and would need to kick the rear sight up a notch. Also if you shoot enough at a known distance you may be able to judge distance by compareing the width of your front sight to a known mesurement of the game you are shooting. Some military front sights are set up this way the M14 for example is as wide as the average mans chest at 300 yards I believe. Some revolvers have bars across the front sight for hold over . As a side , I have seen 45 Colt rounds knock 55 pound rams off stands at 220 yards with no problems in the cold of winter( winter often lowers the preformance of many powders). I would venture to say the same round would go thru. most deer at that range also. Also if you shoot your gun enough it will come natural to you as to where to hold at most any distance .

[temmi]

I say 100 yrds
 
What are your Ballistics?
 
Snake
 

[dpe.ahoy]

The 45 with the load you are running, I would agree that it will work as far as you can hit a paper plate sized target with every shot.  Around my cabin, I would go out to 200 yard with a scoped rifle as I know the distances, ranged with a range finder, and I know the trajectory of my rounds.  In new country, 125- 150 is about max and still hold on hair.  DP