So I found a .45 disc extreme for a good price and I'm kinda considering it, but I wonder if it being .45 is going to be too big of a handicap. I always thought that I wanted a .45, but now that I look more seriously at them there doesn't seem to be much worth shooting from them. Both MMP and harvester make sabots for them but that limits you to .357/.38 bullets or .40/10mm bullets, none of which seem too appealing. Also, I'm a little afraid that the sabot supply might dry up since no one is still making a .45 as far as I know. If someone made a sabotless bullet that wasn't off the charts expensive (like the powerbelt platinums) I would be all over this, but I don't know. If any of you guys have a .45, what do you shoot in them? Should I just stick with my .50?
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The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost
Josh: I have great results with 250 grain QT bullets from Precision Rifle. I use 100 grains of Triple 7 ffg in my Hunterbolt Magnum. They also make a .357 bullet for the .45 that is very accurate from my rifle with the same charge of 777. Check out their website for a lot of information about their bullets and load data.
Killed two does last season with 200 grain XTPs over 85 grains GOEX FFFg out of my .45 Renegade with its 1:30 twist Green Mountain barrel. One was 83 yards out (high neck broadside) and the other was 65 yards (mid chest broadside). Had full pass throughs on both animals. Two hundred grain .40 bullets do the job just fine. I suspect the 180 grain Gold Dots would do equally well.
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My wife says I'm totally nuts, but I think I'm Semisane.
Things I've Learned: (1) It's not possible to please everyone, but quite easy to piss everyone off. (2) If you love animals as I do, then you're not a vegetarian. (3) There's no need to act stupid, even if you're very good at it. (4) If you eat right and exercise, don't smoke or drink, you're going to die anyway.
I wouldn't worry about the supply of sabots drying up anytime soon. But your choice of bullets is more limited than with a .50. I have a .45 and love it, but even though I love it, I can't say it has an advantage over a .50. I get good accuracy with the following, in order of best accuracy:
1. 200 SST or 200 Shockwave (same bullet) (.40 cal)
2. 185 Lehigh DOA (.40 cal)
3. 195 Dead Center (.357 cal)
4. 200 XTP (.40 cal)
5. 225 Powerbelt (.45 cal)
All of those shoot 2 MOA or better, most of them 1.5 MOA or better. And this is out of a cheap CVA. Now the .45 Disc Extreme is a really nice rifle, and should shoot very accurately.
It's really up to you. For deer hunting, especially at long range, a .45 is a good choice as long as you're willing to put up with somewhat of a limited bullet selection. Personally, if I had a line on a .45 Disc Extreme for a good price, I would jump on it...
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"Speak softly and carry a big stick - you will go far."
-Theodore Roosevelt
I shot the biggest buck of my life with a 45 using the prefiously mentioned 200 gr XTP .400" bullet with at Harvester blue CR sabot and 80 gr of Pyrodex P. That was a legitimate 200 lb deer and the xtp blew a hole completely through him taking out ribs on both sides from about 75 yds. He only went 50 yds before piling up.
You don't have to worry about the .45.
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I forgot to mention, terminal performance has been very good with the 200 XTP & 200 SST's.(I haven't taken any deer with the other bullets I mentioned)
I really like the 200 XTP - all 1 shot, 1 kills from ranges from 10 - 110 yards. Most were boom-flops - the longest went 70 yards. Powder charges ranged from 80 - 100 grains T7.
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"Speak softly and carry a big stick - you will go far."
-Theodore Roosevelt
I would not worry about the sabots. There are still .58 caliber sabots out there and I am sure the demand is very low. The .45 is a lot more popular then you might think. I shoot a 200 grain Hornady XTP .10mm out of my .45 with excellent accuracy.
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, a total wreck, screaming Yahoo, with a big smile on your face."
Not to worry about the sabots... already had that conversation with Del....
If you want an economicaly priced bullet that shoots light out... Spreer 40/180 Gold Dot/Deep Curl. It may be light in weight but it hits like a ton and its bonded...
I shoot the 40/200 Lehigh's in my Knight DISC's and they shoot great... the also really put the hurts on a whitetail.
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Keep on Shooting Muzzleloaders they are a Blast
If you want an economicaly priced bullet that shoots light out... Spreer 40/180 Gold Dot/Deep Curl.
I've got to agree with Sabotloader on that. I've never put one in a deer, but wouldn't hesitate to do so. A top quality bullet for around $26 for a box of 100. That's hard to beat.
They shoot goot!
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My wife says I'm totally nuts, but I think I'm Semisane.
Things I've Learned: (1) It's not possible to please everyone, but quite easy to piss everyone off. (2) If you love animals as I do, then you're not a vegetarian. (3) There's no need to act stupid, even if you're very good at it. (4) If you eat right and exercise, don't smoke or drink, you're going to die anyway.
sounds like there is plenty of great loads out there! I'm really thinking of picking it up, but one problem with it is that it has a thumbhole stock and I'm a southpaw, no love for lefties!!
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The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost
loads for a .45?
