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Hard Cast .45 ACP +P a viable alternative to 10mm for a woods gun? UPDATE: Testing more loads page 6

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May 01, 2025, 05:31 PM
GCE61
Hard Cast .45 ACP +P a viable alternative to 10mm for a woods gun? UPDATE: Testing more loads page 6
quote:
Originally posted by 92fstech:
That is a BIG black bear! Nice G36, too. I like the slimmer profile compared to the G30/G29. Does the factory barrel handle the hard cast ok, or did you swap it out?


Factory Glock barrel, no problem.
May 01, 2025, 06:30 PM
MikeinNC
Anyone know of a place that just sells the hardcast projectile-not a complete cartridge?




“You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020

“ in my opinion, anything that we can do to trigger a potential aneurysm in a leftist is a good thing and worth doing” nhtagmember 2025
May 01, 2025, 06:53 PM
92fstech
quote:
Originally posted by MikeinNC:
Anyone know of a place that just sells the hardcast projectile-not a complete cartridge?


Check Missouri Bullet Company. They sell bullets with different alloys for different applications, and list them by BHN. I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for, but they have a decent selection and they're a good company...I've ordered from them in the past.

quote:
Originally posted by GCE61:

Factory Glock barrel, no problem.


Thanks, good to know!


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Any comments made by this poster are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.
May 01, 2025, 07:32 PM
GCE61
quote:
Originally posted by GCE61:

Factory Glock barrel, no problem.


Thanks, good to know![/QUOTE]

https://www.buffalobore.com/in...?l=product_list&c=59
May 01, 2025, 10:20 PM
2000Z-71
Check out my buddy Chuke’s YouTube channel. Video he did on .45ACP +P Underwood loading with 220gr XTreme Penetrator bullets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLFQyT95MPw

He does a lot of what I call redneck ballistics shooting into water jogs, pork loins, ceramic plates, etc. Lots of videos on 10mm and some on .45 ACP +P and .45 Super as well. Look for a couple of his M&P 10mm videos nd you might even see me.

In the meantime, just get the XTen Comp, you know you want it…




My daughter can deflate your daughter's soccer ball.
May 02, 2025, 07:29 AM
ruger357
What does one have to do to convert a HK45 or 1911 to 45 super? ETA: or Sig 220?


-----------------------------------------

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May 02, 2025, 08:50 AM
92fstech
quote:
Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
Check out my buddy Chuke’s YouTube channel. Video he did on .45ACP +P Underwood loading with 220gr XTreme Penetrator bullets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLFQyT95MPw

He does a lot of what I call redneck ballistics shooting into water jogs, pork loins, ceramic plates, etc. Lots of videos on 10mm and some on .45 ACP +P and .45 Super as well. Look for a couple of his M&P 10mm videos nd you might even see me.

In the meantime, just get the XTen Comp, you know you want it…


I have watched quite a bit of his stuff because he puts a lot of time into woods carry guns, and actually tests the true full-house loads that I might actually carry. It seems that there's a lot of guns out there that will shoot the whimpy .40 S&W-level 10mm loads just fine, but choke when you get into the hot 200-220 grain stuff.

You make a compelling argument for the X-Ten comp, and I already have a solid working knowledge of the P320 platform and a lot of parts. I'd still much prefer DA/SA or DAO, though.


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Any comments made by this poster are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.
May 02, 2025, 09:10 AM
stormin
quote:
Originally posted by ruger357:
What does one have to do to convert a HK45 or 1911 to 45 super? ETA: or Sig 220?


My general understanding of .45 Super is with a Glock 21, where most folks are going with a stronger recoil spring and a fully supported barrel. As for HK - I think the USP 45 will handle Super in its stock config. I don’t know if that holds true for the HK45 though. USP 45c and HK45c probably also would need some mi or tweaks to handle the Super.
May 02, 2025, 05:05 PM
MikeinNC
quote:
Originally posted by ruger357:
What does one have to do to convert a HK45 or 1911 to 45 super? ETA: or Sig 220?


In the 1911, it’s just a spring change. And maybe a supported ramped barrel if you don’t already have one.




“You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020

“ in my opinion, anything that we can do to trigger a potential aneurysm in a leftist is a good thing and worth doing” nhtagmember 2025
June 05, 2025, 04:58 PM
92fstech
Did a little more testing today. I took three revolvers, a 2" Model 640 Pro, a 3" Model 60, and a 4" Model 66 and two sets of H110 handloads, both with 158gr bullets. One set with a self-cast coated round nose flat point and the other with a commercial lead semi-wadcutter.



I only got to try the Semi-wadcutters today because I ran out of milk jugs, and I didn't even make it to the 4" gun, so those will have to happen another day.

I started with the 2" 640 Pro and recovered the bullet in the 8th jug, so it got 48" of penetration. That round chronogaphed at 1061fps.

Then I moved up to the 3" Model 60. The first shot went through 7 jugs and then exited out the side. I didn't recover that bullet. I tried again and it exited out the bottom of the 5th jug and I found it in the dirt underneath the 6th jug. That one measured 35" of penetration, but it's not a true comparison because the bullet hit dirt. The 3" barrel gave us almost 100fps more than the 2", at 1157fps.

The bullet on the left is from the 640, the one on the right is from the 60. You can see a it more deformation on the one shot through the 3" gun...not sure if from the extra velocity or hitting the dirt.



All results to date:
Underwood 255gr .45 ACP +P out of P220 Compact at 903fps: 53"
Underwood 255Gr SWC .44 Mag out of 2 3/4" S&W Model 69 at 1177 fps: 65"
Underwood 255Gr SWC .44 Mag out of 4.1" S&W Model 329PD at 1274 fps: 64"
Underwood 255Gr SWC .44 Mag out of 16" Marlin 1894 at 1584 fps: 48"
Buffalo Bore 158gr SWC .38 +P out of 1 7/8" S&W 642 at 1050fps: 32"
Hornady 110gr Critical Defense out of 1 7/8" S&W 642 at 785 fps: 6" (stuck in board)
Hornady 110gr XTP Handload out of 1 7/8" S&W 642 at 952 fps: 18"
180gr .40 S&W Hard Cast out of a P229 at 1088fps: 33"
148gr Wadcutter out of a S&W 642 (1 7/8") at 741fps: 7" (penetrated board but not second jug)
148gr Wadcutter out of a S&W 60 (3") at 797fps: 12"
148gr Wadcutter out of a S&W 66 (4") at 864fps: 28"
158gr LSWC out of S&W 640 (2") at 1061fps: 48"
158gr LSWC out of S&W 60 (3") at 1157fps: 35"*
Federal HST 124gr out of a P320 Compact at 1066fps: 6" (stuck in board)
180gr 10mm Hard Cast over 7.8gr Power Pistol out of 5” X-Ten at 1210fps: 34”
180gr XTP out of 5” X-Ten at 1175fps: 24”

*bullet recovered from dirt, not inside jug.


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Any comments made by this poster are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.
June 12, 2025, 01:03 AM
sonnydaze
A 255 gr hard-cast bullet at 900-1000 fps is excellent black bear medicine in the lower 48.
I have a personal preference for .45 Colt with hard-cast loads as long established by John Linebaugh of .500 Linebaugh fame. I am a super fan of him writings and knew him personally, as I would attend annual Texas Linebaugh "togethers" with fifty or so other fans.
It was my common heavy .45 Colt load of 350 gr hard-cast at 1250 fps. Ruger 3-screw Blackhawks.
I miss his passing.
June 12, 2025, 07:12 AM
92fstech
quote:
.45 Colt load of 350 gr hard-cast at 1250 fps.


Yeah, I'd imagine those would get the job done Eek! I love the .45 Colt, and a new model Blackhawk Convertible was my first serious foray into the big-bore world. That gun will handle anything in the book, and it's also very accurate. It's a serious cartridge, only limited by earlier gun designs, and now a lack of good DA platforms to shoot it from. If I could have bought versions of my 69 and 329 chambered in .45 Colt, I'd have never gotten into the .44.

I did have a Taurus 450 Titanium for a little bit, and while it seemed great idea on paper the gun couldn't stabilize heavy bullets, and the forcing cone was paper thin and I'm pretty sure it would have come apart with any kind of serious load. It didn't matter, though, because even with lighter bullets if you started pushing them too fast they'd tumble. I have no interest in shooting 185gr pills at 700fps out of .45 Colt brass, so I sold it.


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Any comments made by this poster are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.
June 22, 2025, 08:20 AM
Cutter
Great thread. I appreciate the penetration testing. I don’t spend time in grizzly country anymore but fish around lots of gators. I recently picked up some underwood’s 158 coated hardcast for J frames ad D frames. Nice to see that included in the testing. Thanks
June 22, 2025, 10:50 AM
apprentice
Any tests with good ol' ball ammo? Sorry if I missed it in any of the posts so far.
June 22, 2025, 02:41 PM
92fstech
quote:
Originally posted by apprentice:
Any tests with good ol' ball ammo? Sorry if I missed it in any of the posts so far.


I don't believe I have yet. But if I ever get done with my list of other stuff I've got waiting to try I may do that. The biggest holdup is just the time it takes to accumulate enough milk jugs.

quote:
I recently picked up some underwood’s 158 coated hardcast for J frames ad D frames. Nice to see that included in the testing. Thanks


Some of those "outdoorsman" type .38+Ps are really impressive. The .357 give you even more, but the bullet isn't doing anything for you once it exits the other side of the animal.


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Any comments made by this poster are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.
October 25, 2025, 07:25 PM
92fstech
Update to this older thread:

Saved up more milk jugs and went back to the range with the three .357 revolvers today.

I started with the 3" Model 60 and the 158gr LSWC (Chronographed at 1156fps) because the round deviated last time. This time it went through 7 jugs, bounced off the 8th and landed in the grass about a foot away. Total penetration 44".

The second test was with the 4" Model 66 with the 158gr LSWC (Chronographed at 1227 fps). This one also penetrated 7 jugs, broke through the back of the 7th jug and then fell back inside. Total penetration 44".

These results seemed at odds with my previous test in the 2" 640 (48"), which didn't make much sense since it had only Chronographed at 1061fps. I had jugs left, so I tested that one again, and this time I only got 28". The bullet exited the 4th jug and was lying on the ground between it and the 5th jug. Total penetration 28".


I had 8 jugs left so I moved on to testing my home cast powdercoated 158gr LRNFP. Because I only had 8jugs I decided to start with the 2" gun, which although loaded with the same charge and bullet weight as the LSWC load, had Chronographed at 1119 fps. The round went through all 8 jugs, exited out the back, and was not recovered.


All results to date:
Underwood 255gr .45 ACP +P out of P220 Compact at 903fps: 53"
Underwood 255Gr SWC .44 Mag out of 2 3/4" S&W Model 69 at 1177 fps: 65"
Underwood 255Gr SWC .44 Mag out of 4.1" S&W Model 329PD at 1274 fps: 64"
Underwood 255Gr SWC .44 Mag out of 16" Marlin 1894 at 1584 fps: 48"
Buffalo Bore 158gr SWC .38 +P out of 1 7/8" S&W 642 at 1050fps: 32"
Hornady 110gr Critical Defense out of 1 7/8" S&W 642 at 785 fps: 6" (stuck in board)
Hornady 110gr XTP Handload out of 1 7/8" S&W 642 at 952 fps: 18"
180gr .40 S&W Hard Cast out of a P229 at 1088fps: 33"
148gr Wadcutter out of a S&W 642 (1 7/8") at 741fps: 7" (penetrated board but not second jug)
148gr Wadcutter out of a S&W 60 (3") at 797fps: 12"
148gr Wadcutter out of a S&W 66 (4") at 864fps: 28"
158gr LSWC out of S&W 640 (2") at 1061fps: 48", 28"
158gr LSWC out of S&W 60 (3") at 1157fps: 35", 44"
158gr LSWC out of S&W 66 (4") at 1227fos: 44"
Federal HST 124gr out of a P320 Compact at 1066fps: 6" (stuck in board)
180gr 10mm Hard Cast over 7.8gr Power Pistol out of 5” X-Ten at 1210fps: 34”
180gr XTP out of 5” X-Ten at 1175fps: 24”


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Any comments made by this poster are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.
October 27, 2025, 09:59 PM
BigNC
Nice. I change my woods gun more than I change up my pitches. Keep going!


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Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Ben Franklin