Taurus Tracker .45 acp effective on what animals?

S

Southern Shooter

New member
I am looking at picking up a Taurus Tracker .45 acp with 4" or 6 1/2" barrel. I would like it to go with my other guns to carry around camp or when just tromping through the woods...not actually hunting anything. What would be the largest animals that such a gun and round could be used on out to 25 yards? Which loads of ammo?

Thanks
 
You said you don't really want to hunt with it...which is a good idea...so we're talking like a SHTF scenario or something?

It'd be fine on anything smaller than deer from that range.

SHTF scenario: unload it and hope for the best (bear,mountain lion, etc.)
 
That is a difficult and confusing question to answer. If its not used for hunting then why are you using it on an animal at 25yds. if not in self defense. Quite simply the .45ACP is no hunting cartridge and can't reliably be used on any large animal over 100-200lbs. With that said, here comes the confusing part, you can kill a grizzly bear with a 9mm if you know what you're doing but not too many people would actually want to use a 9mm pistol for defense against bears. So quite simply, you can kill just about anything with a .45ACP with an excellent shot but isn't potent enough to be used as a hunting or back woods self defense cartridge.
 
Correction cje1980 :)

If you know what you're doing, have nerves of steel, and happen to be extremely lucky.

Regards,

indigo
 
If you're a good shot, I'd use it on smaller deer using Nosler bullets loaded to the max. Just keep it close range like your bow hunting.

tjg
 
45ACP works best on two legged animals. Check the ammo makers and see if they make hunting loads.
Click to expand...

+1 on that, don't believe the .45ACP was designed with hunting in mind, obviously it'll work on small game and varmints.... but beyond that? I think one would need to be skillful in stalking and aim, conservative in what sort of shot to take, and maybe still a little optimistic about the results to use them on something like deer.

There are plenty of cartridges out there designed and approved for hunting CXP2 class game and above. If that's what we're getting at here, why not use the right tool for the job? While I can admire someone trying to do something difficult, one it comes to shooting at animals, I think you should be realistic about the limitations of your equipment and your own abilities.
 
why not just go with the .44mag tracker....that would be a reliable hunting round on up to deer sized game out to atleast 50yds
 
I've said this before, but when you run the 45 ACP out a revolver you do have more options available to you than if you were using an autoloader. Suddenly you are free from the constraints that an autoloader places on bullet design. Flat-nosed or Keith-style SWCs that may stall out on a 1911's feedramp pose no problem in a revolver. And Elmer Keith and others have shown that old SAA-spec 45 Colt level velocities are possible out of the 45 ACP case with these bullets of large meplat and respectable weight. I have seen plenty of data that suggests that 900fps should be possible with a 255 grain Keith SWC. That opens up all kinds of possibilities for the old ACP. Energy figures for such a combination will never impress but Keith, Seyfried and many others have shown that a large diameter, moderately heavy slug at modest velocity will penetrate like there's no tomorrow. You decide, but I think the 45 ACP out of a revolver is capable of more than some are suggesting.
 
If you want to buy a handgun for hunting CXP2 class game, the .44 Magnum is probably the best bet. Powerful enough, widely available and wide variety of factory ammunition... decent price for big magnum rounds.
 
Look at Double Tap Ammo

The specs on a 185 gr. Gold Dot Hollow point shows velocity of 1225 fps and 616 ft./lbs out of a 5 inch barrel 1911. I would much rather carry a .45 acp with their ammo than many other brands, not that this would be my first choice. But if you do decided to go with the .45 acp it would be worthwile getting the best ammo you can.
 
Not sure what to do...

I am not sure what I am going to do now. Having second thoughts about the Tracker .45 acp. Think what I will do is strap my old single shot 20 gauge across my back with a slug in the barrel and some more slugs and buckshot on my belt...and then an extra does of caution when tromping in questionable areas. Then I will work on saving money for a handgun with serious impact.
 
Nice .44s for hunting

Can get a S&W 629 5" (or 6&1/2") new for about $650:
163636_large.jpg


Or a 5&1/2" (or 7&1/2") Ruger Redhawk for about $500:
70243.jpg


Nice guns - both can also readily be found used!
 
The specs on a 185 gr. Gold Dot Hollow point shows velocity of 1225 fps and 616 ft./lbs out of a 5 inch barrel 1911.
Click to expand...

A 185gr. .45ACP for hunting? It is often to offer inadequate penetration on humans, I wonder how good it would penetrate on deer and medium to large size game. I would think a hot flat point FMJ would be much better suited to hunting. The big question is though, why would someone hunt with a .45ACP? It's not a hunting cartridge. Some people even doubt the 10mm's ability to hunt with.
 
I'd don't understand why a .45 ACP wouldn't be effective on deer. It's effective enough on people and a whitetail deer is no larger and no thicker skinned than a large man. I would think the effect would be the same.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top