Adequacy of .45 Roundball

How adequate is a .45 flintlock rifle against deer? To what range can it reliably take a white tail? Is the difference drastically different than .50 caliber? -Larry

If you are a good enough shot to put a round ball through the deer's heart at 50 yards you will tag out every season.
Know the guns limits and yours.

Magungo1066 said:

How adequate is a .45 flintlock rifle against deer? To what range can it reliably take a white tail? Is the difference drastically different than .50 caliber? -Larry

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I like 45’s for whitetails. I’ve taken bucks similar to this one from last year out to 75 yards or so. Quick kills. I’ve used 50’s also and see no drastic difference when used within its limitations.



Good luck, Skychief.

Now THATS a deer!

A .45 is excellent for whitetails of any size. Good out to your ability to place a the shot where it needs to go, under field conditions, within the ethical boundaries of any muzzle loading gun.

The last deer I harvested with a ..45 ball was approximately 50 yds away in the brush (which is a long shot in the area I hunt). I was at an angle that the ball went through both lungs and broke the shoulder on the other side lodging under the hide. The deer ran about 40 yds and laid down to die. I like the caliber for white tail.....

Most of my muzzleloading deer kills were accomplished with a couple of .45 rifles. My longest kill with a .45 was 75 yards. The .45 is my favorite.

Nothing wrong with a .45. As others have said, within its limitations. Same as bows, pistols, etc. have limitations. A .45 muzzleloading rifle certainly rates above those instruments, which are quite sufficient in themselves, and regularly used to take deer.

In my experience, a .45 loaded with a .445 patched round ball on top of 80 gr FFg is more effective at killing deer than a 1989 Buick Skylark. Every deer that I've shot with that load has gone down fast, but half the deer I hit with that ol' Buick ran away.
Jay

.45 cal prb is the ideal whitetail caliber. All deer I have taken with a muzzle loader were put down by a .45. With proper placement they never (with one exception) went beyound about 20 yards. That exception was about 50 yards. My charges were moderate compared to what many others like. I used 65 grains of real bp.

Rifleman1776 said:

.45 cal prb is the ideal whitetail caliber. All deer I have taken with a muzzle loader were put down by a .45. With proper placement they never (with one exception) went beyound about 20 yards. That exception was about 50 yards. My charges were moderate compared to what many others like. I used 65 grains of real bp.

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I too found about 65 grains, 3f in my case, to be ideal. I did find a 25 yard super accurate plinking load down around 35 or 40 grains, can't remember exactly. But accuracy fell of quick with that past 25 yards.

Jay Templin said:

In my experience, a .45 loaded with a .445 patched round ball on top of 80 gr FFg is more effective at killing deer than a 1989 Buick Skylark. Every deer that I've shot with that load has gone down fast, but half the deer I hit with that ol' Buick ran away.
Jay

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You need to find yourself an old Ford Falcon. Very effective on deer and many states have a special "Falcon" hunting season as a bonus.

Falconing is a respected ancient and traditional sport and Falconing for deer can be an exciting adventure.

The Falcon is much more suited to such pursuits than the Skylark.

TNGhost said:

You need to find yourself an old Ford Falcon. Very effective on deer and many states have a special "Falcon" hunting season as a bonus.

Falconing is a respected ancient and traditional sport and Falconing for deer can be an exciting adventure.

The Falcon is much more suited to such pursuits than the Skylark.

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THAT’S above average.

TNGhost said:

You need to find yourself an old Ford Falcon. Very effective on deer and many states have a special "Falcon" hunting season as a bonus.

Falconing is a respected ancient and traditional sport and Falconing for deer can be an exciting adventure.

The Falcon is much more suited to such pursuits than the Skylark.

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First car I ever drove was a 1962 Delux Falcon. Best deer killer was an F350 flatbed Ford that belonged to Anderson's, my employer, after I moved to Arkansas. Most deer killed with an old CVA Kentucky from a kit in .45; killed a lot of everything with it. About my favorite caliber.

My flintlock buck was taken at around 50 yards this year with a .45 prb. Base of the neck and he dropped in his tracks........lights out before he hit the ground!! Come to think of it.........that is the longest shot I have ever taken at a deer with a Muzzleloader!!

Nice buck/rifle!

Here’s another buck I killed with a 45 roundball. The shot was 60-70 yards as I recall. He was hit broadside through the lungs and traveled maybe 20 yards. Complete pass through.

Most memorable was how cold this day was. What do you think of the hat?

Skychief said:

Here’s another buck I killed with a 45 roundball. The shot was 60-70 yards as I recall. He was hit broadside through the lungs and traveled maybe 20 yards. Complete pass through.

Most memorable was how cold this day was. What do you think of the hat?

View attachment 32247

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Well Fudd, that hat looks fffine.

Another great buck!

Skychief said:

Here’s another buck I killed with a 45 roundball. The shot was 60-70 yards as I recall. He was hit broadside through the lungs and traveled maybe 20 yards. Complete pass through.

Most memorable was how cold this day was. What do you think of the hat?

View attachment 32247

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That is an old looking deer