45 caliber conical

[Brownie]

looking for a good 45 cal bullet for hunting

 

[2 shots]

p.r.b.

 

[azmntman]

PM sent.

 

[ETipp]

looking for a good 45 cal bullet for hunting

What do you plan on hunting?

 

[fleener]

First question is what is the rate of twist of your barrel?

Fleener

 

[Brownie]

T/C hawken not sure of the twist hunting deer and pigs

 

[SDSmlf]

T/C hawken not sure of the twist hunting deer and pigs

Should be a 1-48 twist if unmolested factory barrel. Will work with patched roundballs, pretty likely it will work with Lee REAL bullets, may work with Maxi Balls and Maxi Hunters based on personal experience, depends on the particular gun. There are other options (Lee Modern Minie for example) but that is the order I would step through, the easier to obtain options. You will just have to see what your gun likes. Not many guarantees in this game.

 

[morehops52]

My 1:48 barrels shoot maxi balls and maxi hunters very well. Some will shoot hunters better and some m balls. Shoot several kinds to see what your rifle likes.

 

[45man]

Yes, the twist will do well with both the maxi ball and a PRB. If you just hunt no larger then deer the RB is al you need. I have taken in the range of 150 deer with the .45 RB. Flintlocks. Everyone I knew at the clubs always told me the .45 was too small but I never seen any deer complain.

 

[gunpa]

No Excuses Conicals. Take a look online.

 

[smokepolehall]

The REAL bullets in 200 & 250 gr will work well, also the maxi-ball. The prb is also good, powder loads from 50-75 gr are accurate. I have the Hawken myself in the .45.

 

[William O.]

The REAL bullets in 200 & 250 gr will work well, also the maxi-ball. The prb is also good, powder loads from 50-75 gr are accurate. I have the Hawken myself in the .45.

The Lee REAL bullet can be an accurate game getter but you must be willing to work up a good load for your rifle. For a 45 caliber you'll probably need to try a number of bullet weights, 200 grains and under. The addition of a lubed fiber wad between the powder charge and bullet should improve accuracy as well. Now, due to manufacturing variances, your barrel may not give you stellar performance with bullets. It may be a PRB only barrel, and that's ok!
Hogs are not bullet proof, just learn where to shoot them. Neither are deer, just learn where they need to be shot, it's not the same spot.
Most of all, know your rifle and your own limitations. For me? 85 yards is is far away as I can see with open sights, and that's wearing glasses. That's okay, I stopped shooting deer and hogs in favor of hunting them years ago.