Safe max load is what you feel safe with. I would find the most accurate load and call it done, and would expect it to be below the max published load. For reference, below is a scan from a TC manual published around 1980. You may want to confirm your energy numbers. Would have to check Investarm/Cabelas data, but remember one being slightly lower. If you happen to have a GM barrel, max loads may be higher, though I don’t believe I have a copy of a GM manual. And for reference, I have found ~400~ grain paperpatched conicals over 80 to 90 grains of Swiss 3F out of a one inch GM LRH barrel to be very accurate. More powder and accuracy started to degrade, at least in the barrels I have.What do y’all feel is the safe max load for a 45. Cal T/C and the investarms Hawkens using ffg and 240gr maxi ball?
An old T/C chart I have shows 100gr
pushing the velocities and energy in the 1700 range for both.
Not sure what kind of deer you are hunting, but a 220gr to 400gr 45 caliber conical traveling in the 1400 to 1700 FPS range will defeat most any deer’s armor. The deer may travel 100 yards or so, but that’s about it.Thank you. was just curious. Obviously more velocity and energy doesn’t do any good if it’s not accurate.
For some reason a lot of the guys in my circle seem to think the 45 is under powered for deer but it appears to me those loads are approaching the 44mag territory which is known to be a 100 yard deer caliber.
I agree.I myself don't go for maximum charges, I go for most accurate loads
I had a Seneca that got rebored to .40 1:37 twist. Cool lil gun but that stock is far better suited for youth or women than my body & ive never really liked the big drop in butt angle or the curved brass buttplate. So I sold it. I got a TC High plains Sporter to rebarrel & replace the Seneca. I love the fit & feel of that gun much better.Agree on using what shoots the best in terms of accuracy. A slower bullet that hits it's mark is always better than a faster one that misses.
That said, I would have no reservation whatsoever using a 45 cal for deer. As previously mentioned, the stated velocity with the 45 cal maxis is equal to or greater than the velocity of a similar weight bullet from a 44 mag wheelgun. You don't ever hear of anyone questioning the effectiveness of 44 mag on deer.
At any rate, I myself would not exceed TCs recommended max charge and use what load shoots best within their published data.
I own a pair of 50s and lately I find myself itching for a 45 in TC Seneca flavor.
Amen, Bro. My standard deer killer was 65 gr. real bp with a soft lead round ball. Very effective.Lots of dead deer from .45 round ball.
I agree with this 100%. You could safely load 120 grains of 2f behind the maxi ball. I have a Rice match grade .45 in a Hawken stock and have fired bullets over 500 grains with 120 grains 1-1/2fg Swiss. It definitely burns all of that powder and makes an excellent long range target rifle. Recoil is memorable with such a lightweight rifle. For hunting I use 340-450 grain bullets over 80 grains of 2f.Safe max load is what you feel safe with. I would find the most accurate load and call it done, and would expect it to be below the max published load. For reference, below is a scan from a TC manual published around 1980. You may want to confirm your energy numbers. Would have to check Investarm/Cabelas data, but remember one being slightly lower. If you happen to have a GM barrel, max loads may be higher, though I don’t believe I have a copy of a GM manual. And for reference, I have found ~400~ grain paperpatched conicals over 80 to 90 grains of Swiss 3F out of a one inch GM LRH barrel to be very accurate. More powder and accuracy started to degrade, at least in the barrels I have.
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Those Sporters are sweet aren’t they!?I had a Seneca that got rebored to .40 1:37 twist. Cool lil gun but that stock is far better suited for youth or women than my body & ive never really liked the big drop in butt angle or the curved brass buttplate. So I sold it. I got a TC High plains Sporter to rebarrel & replace the Seneca. I love the fit & feel of that gun much better.
Yes they really are. I'd never heard of them before a yr ago or so, or I'd have had one a very long time ago. I got one in NOS with a .50 1:60 twist barrel that I'll never use. I'm gettin another .40 barrel made for it to continue shooting 135-160gr sized 10mm pistol bullets out of, as well as a .410 shotgun barrel to switch out for a designated BP turkey gun. I want to find someone to do a .410 jug choked barrel for it. I'm as excited about gettin this project done as I am my 2 Omega SML's really.Those Sporters are sweet aren’t they!?
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