.45 LC for short-range Elk Hunting

[1894c]

Hi--I've been inflicted with levergun-fever ever since I took my first deer with a Model 336 30/30 back in the late 70's. I have owned Winchesters in 44 Mag, 30/30, Marlins in 45/70, 444, 44 mag. And now I going to go deer hunting this weekend with a Marlin 1894c in .357 mag (REM) with a Williams receiver sight. By the way my buddies think I should embrace a boltgun with a scope--can't do it. I should also mention I presently own a 30/30 and the 357 levergun.

Here's my question, can you effectively Elk hunt with a levergun in 45 LC, using a heavy cast bullet, barrel length, and what distance would you limit yourself to? I have my ideas, but if there is one thing I have learned about this forum is that the practical wisdom and information is outstanding. I am leaning towards a Rossi 92, like what John Taffin and Paco wrote about them.

If this question has been asked before I apologize in advance.

[piller]

I don't have any experience using a levergun on Elk. I do have a little experience with the .45 Colt. If you can get within 100 yards or less, the 250 to 300 grain cast LBT style bullets over a slower powder, like 4227, should do great. I am suggesting the LBT shape due to it feeding better for me in my Model 92 than the Keith style bullets do. If the Kieth style feed well in yours, then use them. I suggest 4227 as it burns a little slower and you can actually get better velocity out of a rifle barrel with it. Hope that helps.

[JFE]

There was a guy on here that used to regularly take large game (I think it was moose) with 45LC levergun. IIRC he had no problem putting the animals down, but did have problems keeping the magazine tube from parting company from the rest of the rifle. Cant remember what name he posted under though I'm sure someone may recall.

[Old Savage]

I have loads for my 92 that will do 1350 fps with a 360 gr cast bullet.

[rbertalotto]

Lots of Elk have been taken with 44Mag handguns and cast bullets. A strong lever rifle in 45LC can easily duplicate the performance of a 44Mag handgun.

BUT..........If it were me........although I'm a big fan of cast bullets, and will use them on White-Tails, Hogs, Coyotes etc, I wouldn't trust an expensive Elk hunt to them. I'd want a modern, expanding bullet like a Barnes "Buster" bullets.

In my 1894 Marlin in 45LC, I use cut down 454 Casull brass (as it is heavier and uses a small primer giving it more brass around the primer hole) and can really stoke a 45LC. With the 325 grain Barnes Busters the recoil will surely get your attention!

[BigSky56]

the 45-90 load from winchester was a 300 grain bullet at 1500 fps so a 300 in 45 colt can easily do that and more. out to 100 I'd use a WFN LBT style bullet after 100 I use a LFN LBT bullet they are more accurate after 100 yds. For powders you can run 2400, 110, Lil'gun, AA 5744 I use 5744 works fine in pistol or rifle cold or hot loads. For bullets I like to use Beartooth just my preference. danny

[Hobie]

I believe that Ross Seyfried used the .455 Webley from an original rifle to kill a cow elk and he wrote about it. He did handload to maximize performance/penetration. IIRC the article was in the Double Rifle/Single-shot Rifle Journal.

[madman4570]

yes, with the proper round in a .45 LC it will indeed kill elk very well.
I would use a 325 gr. L.B.T.-L.F.N. at around 1500fps(out of your Rossi) they run around 1325fps in a 7.5" Ruger handgun.

Mine would be zeroed in at 100yds and would also have the exact compensation differences set in my brain at 50yds and 125yds as a minimum.
Take and use a rangefinder also!
Max distance for myself with that gun----125yds
Good Luck!

[Griff]

Lots of Elk have been taken with 44Mag handguns and cast bullets. A strong lever rifle in 45LC can easily duplicate the performance of a 44Mag RIFLE.

There. Fixed that for you!

[Don McDowell]

Have not used the colt on an elk, yet. But have killed many elk over the last 50 years.
So here's my thoughts on it. IF you can find an accurate load with a good swc (preferrably keith type), or a bullet of the original Sharps nose design of 250-300 grs that is leaving the barrel of your rifle at 1600 fps, then you're likely good to go to 100 yds. After that the trajectory drops off severely making exact range and sight settings mandatory, something that's hard to do most times in elk country,due to elk not standing around waiting for you to make sight adjustments.
You'll need to hunt the tight cover where the shots will be up close, to avoid the temptation of lobbing some long range stuff out there, and crippling one.

The school of thought by most of us that live here in elk country is the 44 magnum has killed way more bluegrouse, snowshoe hares, and beer cans that it ever has elk.

[.45colt]

I have loaded 325gr LBT to 1500fps,and the 265gr lyman/keith to 1750 from a rifle. I have never hunted Elk but I would leave the Colt at home.critters like this are just too big,and alot can go wrong. the 45-70 would be my choice.

[2X22]

I've taken almost 2 dozen Roosevelt elk with .44's in both rifles and pistols.

The load you use is very important of course, though I've used loads as light as a 240gr Remington factory from a 4" S&W. Mostly however I use cast bullets that I cast fairly soft, from 270gr SWC's to 330gr TN.

Big cast bullets kill unbelievably well from velocities of 1300fps to 1700fps though that very first elk I took with that factory round only went 15 yards. I've been trying to remember but I can't think of one taken with one of my .44's that was over 125 yards. Most were under 80 yards.

2x22

[madman4570]

Dude,

I take it your hunting your elk in the deep woods?(with that SB carbine?)
If that load listed below doesn't kill your elk very decisively within the distance you would expect(then????????????)

I am not saying your going to wack one at 400yds like you would with a scoped .300 Winchester Mag?
But, for something within 125yds (if your capable on your end)------No Problem!
Try it-----you will like it! (willing to wager you get complete pass through also)?


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[earlmck]

Since you haven't already acquired your 45 Colt levergun, you might see if you can get one of the Rossis in 454 Casull. They are already "beefed-up" to keep the mag tube from leaving the rifle when shooting the heavy recoil loads, which I know that some folks have had happen with the Rossi in 45 Colt. Also if desired you could probably get a couple hundred fps more out of the heavy LBT-style bullet in a 454. Not that you'd need it!

[Hobie]

Lets put it another way....

The .45 Colt can be loaded to push 300 gr. bullets to 1500+ fps with little effort. Ok in the 92s and clones and Marlin 94s, this load duplicates the old 45-90 BP load. That was used for elk.

[Nath]

I believe that Ross Seyfried used the .455 Webley from an original rifle to kill a cow elk and he wrote about it. He did handload to maximize performance/penetration. IIRC the article was in the Double Rifle/Single-shot Rifle Journal.

Hobie, I don't doubt you, your one guy to not doubt however I do remember an article from Ross and him taking a cow elk with a 451 Whitworth!

As I remember, the 455 Webley is a smaller case that only achieved around 600fps from a revolver so,,,,,,,

Hope you rite and me wrong

Nath.

[Hobie]

I believe that Ross Seyfried used the .455 Webley from an original rifle to kill a cow elk and he wrote about it. He did handload to maximize performance/penetration. IIRC the article was in the Double Rifle/Single-shot Rifle Journal.

Hobie, I don't doubt you, your one guy to not doubt however I do remember an article from Ross and him taking a cow elk with a 451 Whitworth!

As I remember, the 455 Webley is a smaller case that only achieved around 600fps from a revolver so,,,,,,,

Hope you rite and me wrong

Nath.

We're both right. His little .455 Webley rifle was built for a woman. The article went to some lengths to describe the bullet chosen, alloy used, the stalk up the draw, the decision to limit its use to a smaller of the species cow and so forth. He used the other as well but I've only seen mentions, not read the article.

[Nath]

Thanks Hobie

N.

[86er]

I've used Grizzly Cartridge 300 grain and 325 grain both around 1500-1600 from my rifle. Prefer lung shot as neither penetrated through shoulder shots.