.45 or .50 caliber?

[onlybrowning]

I have an order in for a Woodman Arms Patriot G3 carbine in .45 caliber and am having second thoughts about my caliber choice. Most recommend.45 caliber in this configuration, but I’m not 100% positive it makes the most sense for my use. I’ll be using it for whitetails, with the absolute furthest shot being 200 yards, with most being under 100. I have a pile of .50 caliber sabots and Hornady 250 grain .452 FTX bullets, as well as plenty of 209M primers. I ordered it in .45 caliber with the large rifle primer modules and intend to use H4198 in it. That said, it seems you can use 209’s with the H4198 loads in .50 caliber and still remove spent primers by hand. It is said that the .45 caliber and its higher pressures make spent 209’s tough to remove by hand and the LRP modules are recommended. I think I’m hung up on sourcing good .400 caliber bullets. So, my question is: do I stick with the .45 caliber and LRP setup and suck up the “limited” bullet offerings, or do I go .50 caliber and use 209’s and the Hornady FTX?

I realize either will likely work just fine, but I’d love to hear some opinions, regardless. Barrel length is 22” and again, I plan to use smokeless in it (H4198).

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Get a sizing die and you won’t need sabots. I’d also recommend using dry wool wads

 

[ElDiablito]

I have the 22” G3 .45 with module set up. I love it. I think it would be perfect for deer.

As you say, either will work great. No doubt, there are a more limited selection of .40 bullet choices. But…there are several great choices - Fury (225,250, etc), Barnes 195, SST 200 gr, and Swift 200 gr. Any of those bullets are great for whitetail. Now, if the question is “which caliber would be the most versatile for all US species?” - then .50 is the answer.

The only reason I’d buy a .50 these days would be to hunt where a .50 is required by law (like Colorado for elk). I own .40, .410, .45, .50 and .58 rifles at the moment.

The Patriots are a light rifle and beg for a light bullet and charge. You could shoot sized 250-300+ gr bullets in your .45 but sabots are the way to go for most hunting, IMO, and the recoil gets obnoxious with big bullets. Sabots allow you to shoot a lighter bullet.

Don’t forget, you can get the adjustable 209 high pressure breech plug for any G3 and use 209s if you want to. You don’t have to use the module plug. Then you can adjust headspace for clean easy 209 removal.

 

[onlybrowning]

Thank you for this reply! Just what I needed to hear.

 

[GMB54-120]

250gr bullets in a 50cal using 4198 sounds like a real bad idea. Its fine in a 45 but you will be pressure starved in the 50cal.

 

[ghostrider272]

Have a Patriot G3 picked up this year with the 18 twist. If you get the 24 twist, you should be able to shoot the lighter bullets. I tried some 200 gr bullets with the 18 twist and it was tumbling by 100 yards. The recoil for the 200 and the Fury 250 gr was not noticeably different. I went with the LRP modules and don't miss the 209s. Saving those for my Omega 50 cal.

 

[onlybrowning]

I ordered the 24 in twist. Intending to shoot sabots so I am getting button rifled as well.

 

[missjordan]

I have a .50 cal and wish i had a .45 instead


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[ElDiablito]

I have two 18 twist .45s. I wouldn’t buy anything slower. The 18s shoot everything from 195s to 400s wonderfully.

 

[ghostrider272]

What 195 gr bullet/sabot combo are you using in your 18 twist?

 

[ElDiablito]

What 195 gr bullet/sabot combo are you using in your 18 twist?

Barnes 195 with a Harvester Light Blue Smooth (HLBS) - the only sabots I use in a .45.

I also knurl every bullet that goes in a sabot. That helps.

Which combo tumbled for you?

 

[ghostrider272]

Hornady 200 gr SST w./ provided sabot. I'll try the Harvester and see if that changes anything. Thanks!

 

[mtfallon]

I'm shooting a Woodman 26" cut rifled .45 that came in just before the season and haven't had time to play with full bore options but shot a buck with light blue crush rib and Barnes 195gr expanders and did a great job, buck was quartering too pretty hard it went in just behind shoulder and was caught just before exiting in front of rear leg on opposite side, only went 50 yards and dressed at 210. I didn't have good luck with fury bullets in past.

 

[minas stiris]

Ive guessimated a 45cal 1-28 will shoot the Fury .401 240gr OT in a sabot. Chances are the 45 can shoot them faster than a 50cal with sabots and with better accuracy. 1-22twist or faster though is where a 45cal begins to shine. Sure a 50cal 1-28 can stabilize a 460gr but the sectional density and BC of a 460gr 45cal is better.