2006HighSierra

I am tryin to find a good non-fmj factory .45 load for my XD-45. If I am out hunting I will typically take the 629 but I have encountered bear on my property and sometimes I will just have my carry gun and I would like a clip loaded for this purpose to keep handy in the truck. short of reloading what do you guys recommend. I'm thinkin if I cannot find any shells then I will rely on, if the first round don't get it the next thirteen will.

Brett/IL

I'm sure others will agree with me on this, the .45 ACP is a little anemic for bear defense. If I had to use one I would probably go with 230 gr. Golden Sabers.

98Redline

Buffalo Bore makes some pretty hot 45acp +P loads. You might want to look at them.

Colorado Luckydog

If all I had was a 45....I'd rather be me, thana black bear!! If your not talking about black bears then carry your 44. I agree with redline, check out Buffalo. It seems all their stuff is maximum for factory loads.

bigcountry

Well, the last thing you want is a hollow point. You want a FMJ with a low powered round like a 45.

eldeguello

Big country is absolutely correct! I have shot a few bears, and have done penetration testing of various handguns on bear skulls. In .45 ACP, the most reliable has been just plain old GI 230-grain hardball. A good hard-cast lead alloy semiwadcutter of the same weight might do as well, if your pistol will feed them reliably. Such a bullet might tend to glance less on the sloping forehead of a bear with its nose coming at you. No handgun will reliably stop a bear unless you disrupt its brain or spinal chord.

If a bear is coming at you on all fours (charging!!), aim for the tip of its nose & put the bullet right up the nasal passages.

2006HighSierra

I forgot to mention it is just black bear. Largest I saw over there was only about 250-300lbs during bow season but they are around there quite regularly. Does anyone make any good hardcast +P loads? Or will I have to just suck it up and order the additional dies for my collection. If so anyone have any recommended loads?

eldeguello

I use the Lyman .452423 cast of wheelweights. I heat-treat them for deep penetration loads using 7.3 grains of Unique. V of my load @ 10' from the muzzle is 998 FPS. I shoot this in a Colt Gold Cup, and have never had a bulged case. But it is certainly a +P load. So approach with caution!! I put a Wolf #26 recoil spring in the gunfor shooting this load.

Rammer

Great question. I will also be packing my 45ACP in September in Northwest Montana on an archery elk hunt. I will more than likely be having the mag in the gun loaded with FMJs and my spares loaded with HPs.

ipscshooter

Add me to the list that thinks that you need a solid, rather than JHP or JSP ammo. The .45 makes a decent sized hole, so you're going to want something that'll penetrate.

I use the 200 gr. SWC from these folks: http://www.precisionbullets.com/ for competition. I reload with 4.6 gr. of 700X and get about 875 fps (enough to make major, but still a relatively light load). I would think that this bullet would also penetrate pretty well, but, haven't used it on anything bigger or more dangerous than paper targets and cottontails...