.45 Caliber: Deer?

The whole idea of hunting is to be proficient with your weapon of choice. Know your limitations and your skill level. Don't take low percentage shots and respect the animal your hunting. JMPO

By no stretch of the imagination is the .45 round ball "marginal". Most of the deer I've killed with BP were killed with a couple of .45 rifles and .440" prb. All were one shot kills and none were lost. The farthest was 75 yards and the .45 did a clean job. Other calibers such as the .50, .54 and .62 smoothbore have worked for me just as well as the .45 but not any better. Yes, a 100 yard shot with a .45 on a deer would be reasonable for anyone who can shoot well. But if one can't shoot well even a .54 would fail. The .45 rifle is a gentle companion with little recoil and doesn't require heavy loads to put large deer on the ground. Within its range I consider the .45 prb to be about as lethal as the 30/30.

I can’t help noticing how much better guns and ammo and people perform in forums (as told) and here in cyberspace in general….

Without the explosive cell rupturing destructive benefit of hydrostatic pressure…well….a shooter is basically just drilling a 45 cal hole in his quarry …
since it’s just drilling, the requirements are it be drilled deep enough and in the right place from the correct angle to be within minutes lethal..not hours or days lethal.
Obviously larger caliber balls (more mass and weight) shot at similar Blackpowder’s energetic limits drill bigger deeper holes….

With my own eyes (outside of cyberspace,)it appears bigger deeper holes
kill with a certainty that is lacking in smaller caliber drilling…

Round ball projectiles are the absolute minimum projectile in any caliber…( lowest sectional density, BC) ….the only way to compensate for this minimal sectional density is the heavier projectiles of a larger caliber ball…or conical bullets or supersonic velocities.

Greenjoytj said:

Look at the ballistic tables that show the KE at the farthest range you might take a shot.
The 45 cal 128 gr PRB in a 28” 1:48 twist barrel 100 yds using 3fg GOEX KE 242 ft/lb with 40gr To 396 ft/lb with 120 grs only a little more that 38 special power.
So keep the range to deer short to keep your KE up.

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I shot a deer at 127 paced yards so let’s just call it 115 yards. I could only see the head of the doe so I figured if t hit it in the head I would kill it or I would miss the head and no harm done. I fired and the deer went down. I was shooting 60 grains fffg and a .45 conical. 290 grains I believe. Hollow point hollow base Buffalo bullet. The conical entered and did its job but never exited. I was quite surprised it did not exit. If I recall correctly it never mushroomed either. I don’t believe I would take 100 yard shot at a deer again with a 45 unless I worked up a more powerful load.

Greenjoytj said:

Look at the ballistic tables that show the KE at the farthest range you might take a shot.
The 45 cal 128 gr PRB in a 28” 1:48 twist barrel 100 yds using 40 grs. 3fg GOEX KE is 242 ft/lb. With 120 grs the KE goes up to 396 ft/lb. thats only a little more that 38 special power.
So keep the range to deer short to keep your KE up.

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I often wonder why some would hunt with a rifle that doesn't work well out to a hundred yards. The larger caliber rifles useing a ball lose a lot as well but I do think they have more momentum than .45.

I agree One shot one target. Shot placement is the definition of Marksmanship. The foot pounds comes with the critter you are hunting. Did I see that someone shot 120 grains of 3F in a .45? Wow.

LME said:

I often wonder why some would hunt with a rifle that doesn't work well out to a hundred yards. The larger caliber rifles useing a ball lose a lot as well but I do think they have more momentum than .45.

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For me, it's because most of my shots are less than 50. I just keep my range within the limits of the gun being used.

Sparkplug said:

For me, it's because most of my shots are less than 50. I just keep my range within the limits of the gun being used.

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You are smart! I also think a good shooter makes a difference as well.

Smokey Plainsman said:

If legal in your state, do you consider the .45 caliber round ball suitable for taking a deer?

Thanks,

-Smokey

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Yes, I’ve killed many deer with my old 45 caliber. Shot placement is the key, get to know that rifle and get really good with it and know its limits. But the short answer is for sure yes.

I’ve taken only 5 deer with a ML, all 45. Haven’t lost one. Most went down quick and or didn’t go far. One went 100 yards but in part because I didn’t let her bleed out long enough and I bumped her farther. That was my fault but still recovered her

Andrewmtnman said:

I’ve taken only 5 deer with a ML, all 45. Haven’t lost one. Most went down quick and or didn’t go far. One went 100 yards but in part because I didn’t let her bleed out long enough and I bumped her farther. That was my fault but still recovered her

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I’m the wrong guy to answer about a 45. Shooting deer only because are deer aren’t the same size as yours.saying that with a round ball you shoot em in the lungs and conical you shoot em in the shoulder and not just deer .

As an observation…during the time (1600, 1700, early 1800) when ball and patches were the serious working ammo of the day…all the militaries of the times used large caliber weapons 75, 69, 58, 54

…apparently when something needed defending or lethally wounding with immediate certainty, big heavy lead balls was the “known” solution.

I surmise that 45 cal guns of the time were the minimum survivalist caliber for civilian frontier dwellers trying to be thrifty with limited supplies of powder and lead….larger calibers work better and extend the killing range.

Patched said:

As an observation…during the time (1600, 1700, early 1800) when ball and patches were the serious working ammo of the day…all the militaries of the times used large caliber weapons 75, 69, 58, 54

…apparently when something needed defending or lethally wounding with immediate certainty, big heavy lead balls was the “known” solution.

I surmise that 45 cal guns of the time were the minimum survivalist caliber for civilian frontier dwellers trying to be thrifty with limited supplies of powder and lead….larger calibers work better and extend the killing range.

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Back in the day, there were hundreds of thousands if not millions of deer killed with .45 and smaller rifles. Longhunters used the smallest caliber they thought would do the job, because they stayed in the wilderness for months and even years at a time and had to conserve powder and lead. A soft lead roundball at close ranges kills by massive tissue destruction caused by the ball flattening out to up to twice the diameter. I usually find the ball flattened out against the hide after it has cut a hole all the way through the animal and expended all it’s energy doing that. Keep shots within a reasonable range and aim carefully.

stank said:

I shot a deer at 127 paced yards so let’s just call it 115 yards. I could only see the head of the doe so I figured if t hit it in the head I would kill it or I would miss the head and no harm done. I fired and the deer went down. I was shooting 60 grains fffg and a .45 conical. 290 grains I believe. Hollow point hollow base Buffalo bullet. The conical entered and did its job but never exited. I was quite surprised it did not exit. If I recall correctly it never mushroomed either. I don’t believe I would take 100 yard shot at a deer again with a 45 unless I worked up a more powerful load.

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I wouldn’t blame the .45 caliber for that.

I once did the same for a doe as a finishing shot many years ago with a 2-3/4” 12g foster slug which also didn’t exit. It was a long time ago but I’m thinking 60ish yards from a scoped gun. I remember being astonished that it didn’t exit

I agree with @hanshi in that the .45 is plenty. Deer are thin skinned critters and as long as you do your part the ball will perform well.

Bob

okawbow said:

A soft lead roundball at close ranges kills by massive tissue destruction caused by the ball flattening out to up to twice the diameter. I usually find the ball flattened out against the hide after it has cut a hole all the way through the animal and expended all it’s energy doing that. Keep shots within a reasonable range and aim carefully.

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Yep….that’s what I believe and have observed over a dozen times…a saucer shaped flattened round ball against the bruised hide just inside on the offside of a dead deer….
In these modern times of plenty, with hundreds of years of muzzleloader hunting experience accounts to draw upon including our own, I’m gonna recommend foregoing the 45 cal and suggest using the largest caliber for which you can handle the recoil…which in most cases is 54 cal.

Lewis and Clark appear to have known somethings concerning weapon effectiveness and durability's and chose iron mounted half stock 54s for a years long trek away from any resupply….whatever the 45s of the day were doing apparently the 54s did it better.

S.Kenton said:

Yes, I’ve killed many deer with my old 45 caliber. Shot placement is the key, get to know that rifle and get really good with it and know its limits. But the short answer is for sure yes.

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The way the question was asked might lead a novice to think it is fine at any range. Knowing a rifles limitations is important. I don't think a person new to the sport would know what the limits are? If a .45 conical is used its a whole different situation. I just think a ball doesn't have enough oomph to try a shot 100 yards on an animal for most hunters! Now don't try to confuse me with the facts! My mind is made up! LOL!

LME said:

The way the question was asked might lead a novice to think it is fine at any range. Knowing a rifles limitations is important. I don't think a person new to the sport would know what the limits are? If a .45 conical is used it’s a whole different situation. I just think a ball doesn't have enough oomph to try a shot 100 yards on an animal for most hunters! Now don't try to confuse me with the facts! My mind is made up! LOL!

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I agree with that whole statement. However, it’s up to any newcomer to learn thier firearm and to keep the shots within its limited range. I’m an avid bow hunter, so I keep my shots as close as possible, I do the same when I’m hunting with my BP rifle. The longest shot I’ve ever taken was around 100 yards, but I practiced that shot for months prior, I doubt I’d ever take a long shot like that again unless I was confident I could ethically kill the animal. Paper targets are valuable and cheep resource, I use old pizza boxes, but one can really learn about your rifle and even your own limitations by target shooting. I’m fortunate to have my own backyard range, when’s the weathers nice I’m out there quite a lot. I stand by my original statement that 45 is large enough for deer, it’s all about shot placement and practice, practice practice!

stank said:

I shot a deer at 127 paced yards so let’s just call it 115 yards. I could only see the head of the doe so I figured if t hit it in the head I would kill it or I would miss the head and no harm done. I fired and the deer went down. I was shooting 60 grains fffg and a .45 conical. 290 grains I believe. Hollow point hollow base Buffalo bullet. The conical entered and did its job but never exited. I was quite surprised it did not exit. If I recall correctly it never mushroomed either. I don’t believe I would take 100 yard shot at a deer again with a 45 unless I worked up a more powerful load.

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You needed that doe that badly?

TreeMan said:

My dad has killed at least a 100 deer with his 45 TC. The 45 is easy to get some high velocity out of without crazy high powder charges. A 45 hole is a 45 hole. That roundball will pass through a deer out to 100 yards. A lead 45 roundball will poke the same size hole as a 45-70. As a matter of fact over a chrono I’ve measured 45 roundballs (80 grains 3F) that are way faster than my BP 45-70 military loads. No one will argue that a 45-70 isn’t equipped to kill a deer regardless of size. That’s why I used the comparison even though it’s probably a no-no. Yes the roundball is 127 grain and the 45-70 is 405 grain but negating the difference between a soft lead roundball and a hard cast 45-70 the soft roundball will thump harder and expand better, where the hard cast just pokes a hole.

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You are saying a 45 shooting a PRB has more take down power than a 45-70?

Brokennock said:

You needed that doe that badly?

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I was hungry