Light .45 small game loads???

[Skychief]

Would like to hear about light loads for squirrels and other small game.

I found a load yesterday for a Seneca that pleased me.

25 grains 2f Goex under a .440 ball delivered 3/8" groups at 25 yards and shot to POA out to 40 yards.

Any of you shoot similarly small charges for small game out of a .45?

Best regards, Skychief

[bob in the woods]

I had a .45 cal heavy barrelled rifle which was an absolute tack driver with 25 gr FFg, and a patched .445 ball .  I used it a lot for matches from 25 out to 100 yards.  Small game would be easily taken with your load.

[clevefails]

Skychief, I have a lot to learn,I am shooting a .45.I did not know you could use such a lite load. Definitely going to try this saturday at the range,but with FFFg

[adkmountainken]

I have read a lot about using reduced loads in rif ? les to hunt small game but why do you use FF instead of FFF in the .45?

[Skychief]

Either would work.  I just grabbed some 2f.  Since I was looking for a milder load with lower pressures, I knew it would work fine.  I've found it has a softer fouling than 3f in certain guns with certain lubes too.

Best regards, Skychief

[hanshi]

While fortunate enough to have a small bore or two for small game, I have to admit that .45s as well as larger calibers can make excellent squirrel/rabbit rifles.  I even killed a big fox squirrel with a .58 years ago.  A lot depends on where you hit small critters.  The fox squirrel mentioned above was hit in the neck with NO visible damage, just entrance & exit slits.  If I had one rifle that had to be used for both large and small game it would be, hands down, a .45.  Skychief, you have the PERFECT gun/load for the purpose.

[Hungry Horse]

What nobody is mentioning here is the twist rate in the barrel. 1in48 twists are great with light loads because it is actually a little fast for a 45. 1 in 56 twist which many believe is the sweet twist for a 45 is pretty good with light loads as well. But, 1in 66, or 1in 72, are too slow to stabilize a 45 caliber ball with a light charge.

  Hungry Horse

[Daryl]

I used 30gr. for snowshoe hairs in my .69  does that count?  On that hunt, my buddy used 40gr. in his .75.   Both of us were using patched round balls.  His .75 had more killing power than my little .69, but the difference was not immediately obvious. 

[Skychief]

Hungry Horse, the one I found the load for is 1 in 48".

[Bob Roller]

Would like to hear about light loads for squirrels and other small game.

I found a load yesterday for a Seneca that pleased me.

25 grains 2f Goex under a .440 ball delivered 3/8" groups at 25 yards and shot to POA out to 40 yards.

Any of you shoot similarly small charges for small game out of a .45?

Best regards, Skychief

I haven't shot any black powder since 2008 and I am glad I have a good supply.
A friend just called me and said GOEX at the store he bought it from was $30 a
pound. Maybe everyone that shoots BP will use reduced loads or go to small bore
rifles for target shooting.

Bob Roller

[P.W.Berkuta]

I must caution you or any one else that has a patent breach. If the small charge does not fill up that area you might never get the accuracy and consistent performance you are looking for because of the void between the powder & patched ball.