The recent posts on hot loads and heavy bullet loads with the .45 reminded me of an experiment I conducted a few years ago when I was looking for a small game load for my .45 GM/LRH Renegade.

I shot Speer's 125 grain .357 jacketed hollow points with MMP's 45/357 sabots over GOEX FFFg.

The best shooting load was 40 grains. If I bumped it up to 45 grains or lowered it to 35 grains the groups doubled in size. But that 40 grain load was sweet and everything you would ever want for a flat shooting small game or plinking out to 50 yards.

Here's the target I saved from that session, with two shots each at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 yards.

I think that would be a lot of fun. I need to set up a Flintock doing that this winter.

Semi - Funny you should mention this. I don't have the targets but I do recall a couple years ago when I posted on here about shooting a 50 gr charge of Pyro P and a 200 gr 10mm XTP that was remarkably accurate and a joy to shoot. Someone commented as to why I was shooting such a light load. This was also out of a GM LRH barrel. I think that is going to be a load I am going to have to retry and to get my grandson shooting. And try different bullets with. I may even try som of those MMP 357/45 sabots.
The hunting load for this rifle is 80 gr of Pyro P with the 200 gr XTP and a Harvester blue CR sabot.

When shooting those little 125 grain .357 bullets over 40 grains in the heavey GM LRH 1" .45 caliber barrel, the recoil is like shooting .22 shorts in a bolt action .22 rifle. And the way it shoots no squirrel or bunny is safe within 50 yards.

40-60gr and the 9mm 147gr XTP will shoot well occasionally too. Del even recommended it for a mild load. On small game though i would consider using a FMJ to minimize meat damage.