[undercover500]

I apologize if this has been asked before, I'm just trying to wrap my head around something.
If I understand correctly, the 45 acp was originally designed to replicate the power of the original 45 colt revolver cartridge, but in a semi-auto platform. The original 45 colt load was pushing a 255 grain bullet around 900-1000fps (but closer to 900fps) and was designed to put injured horses out of commission. It seems like the original 45 colt was designed as a round to have a lot of weight, momentum and penetration, not so much the wild velocity of some of the magnums, but it clearly did its job well.

So, what's the first thing that comes into your moving when you hear 255 grains of flat nose hard cast moving at ~925fps? The original 45 colt loading, but there's a twist. What if you were to have a 45acp round that exactly replicates the original 45 colt load?

Introducing Buffalo Bore's 45acp+p Outdoorsman which features a 255 grain hard cast bullet with a relatively wide meplat moving at ~925fps. I have a source, not my own numbers, that can confirm that this load runs a 5 shot average of 923fps out of a Glock 30 with its stock 3.77" barrel.
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=395

Here's Buffalo Bore's Standard Pressure 45 colt 255gr soft cast (not hard cast, unfortunately) load that is pushed out of a 4" barrel (closest to a 3.77" Glock 30 barrel) at 950fps. Let's assume for all intents and purposes they're using a hard cast bullet.
https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=45

Are these pretty much they same load?

If you trust a standard 45 colt to do the job hunting deer, black bear, hog or for a gun to carry while hiking for let's say defending against a black bear, wild boar or rabid dog would you trust the 45acp, loaded heavy (255gr hard cast at 925fps) to do the job as well?

I am trying to rationalize getting a Glock 30 for carrying when hiking and camping over a Glock 29 since 10mm is so expensive here and I don't reload. Would this 45acp+p 255gr hard cast be enough to protect me against any 4 legged predators out in the woods? (not grizzly bear)

I apologize for the long post, just trying to figure some stuff out.

Thanks,
Nick

 

[Jdirt]

I think that load would serve very well against any of the threats you have mentioned.

I have shot some of them and was impressed with the penetration.

 

[undercover500]

I think that load would serve very well against any of the threats you have mentioned.

I have shot some of them and was impressed with the penetration.

Thanks for the reply, if may I ask, which load did you shoot? The ACP or the Colt? And in what medium did you test or have results with the penetration and what were your results?

Thanks

 

[Jdirt]

I shot the .45 acp load. Using scrap wood 2×4s, it exceeded fmj loads by 50 percent in every case.

Against flesh and bone, it would be superior to standard ball loads IMO.

 

[undercover500]

I shot the .45 acp load. Using scrap wood 2×4s, it exceeded fmj loads by 50 percent in every case.

Against flesh and bone, it would be superior to standard ball loads IMO.

Nice! Did the bullet deform at all? How far did it penetrate into the 2x4's? What gun did you shoot it out of? Did you chronograph it? Don't mean to pry, just trying to gather information. Thanks again

 

[Jdirt]

I used my Glock 21. It was kind of a "red neck" science test.

The ball ammo got 7 to 8 inches into the pine. The Underwood ammo ran 10 to 11 inches. The nose of the hard cast bullets showed some deformation, nothing significant. If I had to face down a black bear with a .45 acp, these rounds are what I would want.

 

[undercover500]

You used Underwood’s 255gr 45acp+p? Is this the correct load? Don’t worry it’s not a spam link
https://underwoodammo.com/product/handgun-ammo/45-acp-p-255-grain-hard-cast-flat-nose/

How was the recoil out of the 21? I’m thinking about loading these in a Glock 30, you think the recoil would be manageable?

Again thanks for your help

 

[Jdirt]

Yep. that was the load. Recoil is about like hst +p, my usual carry load. I have shot a few out of my .45 Shield as well. Recoil is noticible, but not significant. I think they would be just fine in that 30.

 

[WeeWilly]

I think the 45 in general was adopted by the army (the diameter bullet not the round) as they had concluded the 38 Long Colt had been ineffective in stopping the Moro's.

I prefer a G29/G20 for trail use. If I was going to stay with 45 (in a G30) and I didn't reload, I would probably get a little longer AM barrel for it and focus on one of the 45 Super offerings from the boutique manufacturers.

 

[undercover500]

I think the 45 in general was adopted by the army (the diameter bullet not the round) as they had concluded the 38 Long Colt had been ineffective in stopping the Moro's.

I prefer a G29/G20 for trail use. If I was going to stay with 45 (in a G30) and I didn't reload, I would probably get a little longer AM barrel for it and focus on one of the 45 Super offerings from the boutique manufacturers.

I have looked into the G29 and it really strikes my fancy, and I would use the Underwood 220gr hard cast 10mm in it which is a monster of a round, but what turns me off to the 10mm is the price, and to a lesser extent, availability. I don’t reload. I would much rather have an expensive round that will do the job than saving money and always wondering if I’ll have enough power. Given those circumstances, I’d rather have the 29, but I was wondering if the 255gr 45acp would be good enough.

Given the choice between 45super and 10mm I would go with the 10mm as the gun is made for it, whereas the 45super, you’re taking a gun that’s made for a lower powered round and making it shoot a higher powered one.

 

[WeeWilly]

I have looked into the G29 and it really strikes my fancy, and I would use the Underwood 220gr hard cast 10mm in it which is a monster of a round, but what turns me off to the 10mm is the price, and to a lesser extent, availability. I don’t reload. I would much rather have an expensive round that will do the job than saving money and always wondering if I’ll have enough power. Given those circumstances, I’d rather have the 29, but I was wondering if the 255gr 45acp would be good enough.

I think good enough is a moving target if your intended protection is against bears.

I always wait for the AK guys to show up before I start reading about bear protection and what might be good enough.

Of course, if you are talking about CA Black Bears, skip the gun and bring along a little more sun screen.

 

[undercover500]

I think good enough is a moving target if your intended protection is against bears.

I always wait for the AK guys to show up before I start reading about bear protection and what might be good enough.

Of course, if you are talking about CA Black Bears, skip the gun and bring along a little more sun screen.

Not so worried about bears as I am about wild boar, we have so many in our state the DNR has ordered a shoot on sight order, and hogs scare the crap out of me, especially with their tusks. I also want some protection from overly aggressive wild dog/coyote. Bears are low on the list but I wouldn’t mind having some protection just in case I accidentally stumble upon momma and her cubs, which is unlikely but it would make me feel better to have something vs nothing

 

[WeeWilly]

Again, my choice for trail is the 10, but if you already have the G30, I would add a little length with an AM barrel, and use some hard cast in 45 Super. Both BB and UW carry a cast 255gr Super load.

The Glock will handle the Supers no problem. I have shot a bunch of the Underwood 45 Super stuff from my G21SF, works great. A little added length in your barrel will help with the slower powders used in the Super loads.

 

[fredj338]

Not much wills top a 250gr/45 solid @ 900fps+. So yes, I would feel fine carrying that for a woods load, but against big nasties, 44mag minimum. Dogs & such, std 45acp JHP will be better.

 

[undercover500]

Again, my choice for trail is the 10, but if you already have the G30, I would add a little length with an AM barrel, and use some hard cast in 45 Super. Both BB and UW carry a cast 255gr Super load.

The Glock will handle the Supers no problem. I have shot a bunch of the Underwood 45 Super stuff from my G21SF, works great. A little added length in your barrel will help with the slower powders used in the Super loads.

I do not own the Glock 30 or the Glock 29. I was looking at the Glock 29 but the ammo price and availability was turning me off to it, as there are a few boxes here and there, but it is pricey. So I was looking at other options, like the Glock 30 and the 45acp+p Outdoorsman load from Buffalo Bore. Given the choice between 45 super and 10mm I would get the 10mm because I don't reload and there is actual some ammo support in my area wheres theres not a box of 45super to be found, even target/plinking ammo, and even though you may be comfortable shooting 45 super through your gun, I am still a bit apprehensive, just my personal reservations about it.

Not much wills top a 250gr/45 solid @ 900fps+. So yes, I would feel fine carrying that for a woods load, but against big nasties, 44mag minimum. Dogs & such, std 45acp JHP will be better.

Thanks all for your replies and help. I figure that if it's close to the original 45 colt load which put down many animals since the beginning of the nation, it should be good enough for my woods walking purposes.

 

[happie2shoot]

OP, I would get the g30 over the g29 because you
can shoot 10mm in the g30, but really I would rather
have a g21, see these links, I have done most that
is on them and more,

https://www.glocktalk.com/threads/grt45-archive.1421823/#post-22283466

https://www.glocktalk.com/threads/glock-30-30sf-30s-information.1421425/#post-18968143

I had three g30 glocks but sold two of them because
the g21 is more versatile, will keep the g30/4, have
also got rid of one of my g20s because the g21 can
be much more powerful and versatile, still have one
g20.

If you do ever get into this big bore glock thing and
want to be able to shoot cheap and have better ammo
than both UW or BB, these will help in all things 45,
including the acp to 454 Casull. You can load for around
six to eights a shot, even less.

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690349/6-cavity-mold-452-255-rf

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690358/double-cavity-mold-452-255-rf

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690697/6-cavity-mould-452-200-rf

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/0000690234/double-cavity-mold-452-200-rf

If you want load data for the 45 acp/super, let me know.

 

[Bluescot]

I've shot my G30 gen3 with KKM standard length barrel at 996 fps pushing a 230g cast slug using a healthy dose of AA#5, and would feel well armed when encountering the targeted critters you mentioned. If there are bears on the loose and I think I might cross paths with one I step it up to a 44Mag. However the G30 is much more comfortable to carry than my Old Vaquero.