Which .45 LC load?

[Popeye1959]

200gr JHP 1000fps & 444 ft lbs ME, or
250gr JHP 860fps & 410 ft lbs ME
Which would you use in a .45 Long Colt with a 6-1/2" barrel for stopping a bad guy?

 

[Rclark]

Either .45 Colt load will do I suspect. I like heavy and slow.... My loads are all lead BTW.

 

[pisgah]

Alernate, one in one chamber, the other in the next. Either will work, no problem.

 

[Popeye1959]

Appreciate the input. Am concerned the heavier slug would have a better chance of over penetrating.

I regards to your signature, I described it as a Long Colt because whenever I say .45 Colt, most people I talk with still think ACP "because the C means Colt".

 

[COLT_45]

When in doubt.....
Split it down the middle with a 225g for that barrel length.....

 

[bigboredad]

i like big slow around 800-850. You don't need to worry about a hollow point expanding it is already a .45. also at the slow speed it isn't going to blow your ear drum out when fired in a closed in area like the ear splitting 1000fps would

 

[LightningII]

either is fine.
6 1/2" barrel? Is that a S&W N-frame?
If so, and there's more than six badguys, remember that nothing says "pistol whip" like long-barrelled smith flipped around and held by the muzzle...

 

[Popeye1959]

Never thought about the BOOM. At the range I'm wearing hearing protection and the one time I did shoot it w/o muffs, I was outside and it was plenty loud with the LFN 750fps 312 ft lb rounds.

Not an S&W, it's a Taurus Judge. Pretty sure being on the receiving end of a heavy blow would be just as unpleasant as with the Smith.

 

[WESHOOT2]

While both loads listed will undoubtably make a hole, I suggest people-stopping best done with that "200g JHP @ 1000fps".

 

[brushunter]

I agree , for a people stopper you want " wicked expansion "....thats after your bullet gets through the heavy wool coat your bad guy is wearing. Honestly for the judge , why not try the 410 shot.......should be wicked in the face or neck ....shouldn't be much over penitration into the walls.

Thankfully I have no experience with shooting someone in my home ....I would suppose its an ever lasting contraversy on that subject.

regards , brushunter

 

[btrumanj]

Although I favor the heavier bullet either one will get the job done.

 

[Popeye1959]

I'm gonna get a box of both and see which one the Judge likes better. While this is not my primary SD/HD weapon, I do plan on keeping loaded with something for SD/HD in case my primary is not available. Also, even one BOOM from this thing would probably stop a bad guy even if I never hit him.

 

[CraigC]

I prefer 250-275gr cast bullets for sporting purposes but the 200gr JHP would be a better man-stopper.

 

[dennie]

I am not familiar with the Taurus Judge, but you mentioned a 6 1/2" barrel. Is this on the Judge? That would be one long pistola!
dennie

 

[Popeye1959]

My S/S Taurus Judge with 6-1/2" barrel

 

[RUFFBIRD]

I would go with the heavier bullet. The perp might be a big fat guy that just ate a big steak & potata supper, so you will need to penetrate to get to the backbone.... :lol: JMHO. :mrgreen: