.45 auto hunting ammo.

S

SJCbklyn

New member
What would you put into a .45 if you were looking to hunt deer? It's less than ideal but I would only attempt it with the deer under my stand .
 
Personally, I would go with a 200 GR Gold Dot. most jhps for the autos open too fast so you need a decent bonded bullet. I've taken deer with 147GR gold dots from a 9mm, the 200 from a 45 ought to be just fine for deer.
 
And there have been reports of people killing brown bear with the .22 Short, but does anyone consider that a suitable caliber for the big bruins? Sorry, but I am skeptical of using any handgun round for hunting even white-tail size game, let alone bigger animals.

Jim
 
I have demonstrated to myself that the 44 mag is perfectly appropriate for deer with a Barnes premium to give expansion and full penetration up to 300 lbs.For 9mm or 45acp I'd put closer range limits on theml
 
I have done it with a 200gr XTP running about 1000fps from a 5" 1911 at 20 yards.

It was a handload specifically cooked up for that purpose.

I'm sure those who are saying it's inadequate, and you need an 8000 magnum to kill a deer are some of those that think it's ok to fling a sharpened stick at them. Amusing.
 
Like I mentioned i would only attempt it with a deer directly under my stand. I usually drop granola and trail mix on them. However, this year I got a antlerless permit for my unit. My stand is in an oak tree and I usually have them foraging under my stand.

At the distance I would be taking a shot the, the 45 and myself will do the job I just want a bullet that does its job.
Buffalo Bore seems to the front runner so far.
 
As long as you can shoot it accurately and limit shots to "archery" type ranges (15-30 yards) any JHP designed for personal defense should work just fine on any deer.
 
As long as you can shoot it accurately and limit shots to "archery" type ranges (15-30 yards) any JHP designed for personal defense should work just fine on any deer.
Click to expand...

The problem is penetration. Hunting deer requires significantly more penetration from the 45 auto than most of the personal defense ammo can yield.

If it has to be done, I would second that hardcast load from buffalo Bore linked above.
 
200 grain Gold Dot or XTP bullets would be my suggestion. Might also want to check the regulations. Some states require a minimum ME and some require only expanding bullets be used on game. The BB nor the DT mentioned are considered expanding.

Having shot a lot of big game with handguns, for service caliber pistols, a bullet in the middle weight (for a given caliber) at a higher speed and a good bonded HP is the way to go.
 
I've taken 2 smallish does (about 100 lbs field dressed) inside 30 yards with a 230 gr xtp +P out of a 5" 1911. Both shots were nearly perfect broadside, the first deer had an exit wound and died within 40 yards, the other ran 10 yards and stood around until she expired. The second deer I recovered the bullet just under the hide on the off side.

If I was to do it again I would definitely use a hard cast bullet with a nice flat meplat just to better my chances of 2 holein' 'em.

Yup, that buffalo bore bullet would be my choice. The advertised velocity and weight is flirting with the low end 45 Colt load, I ain't ever heard of someone saying the Colt wasn't enough for whitetail.
 
RR said:
I ain't ever heard of someone saying the Colt wasn't enough for whitetail.
Click to expand...

Hang around the internet awhile and someone will, regardless of how many deer we've killed outright with them.
 
seriously, I suspect that any of the super premium rounds for SD in heavy bullets would be good. Their supposed to draw 14 inches of penetration on jello tissues? Don't miss the kill zones and limit ranges to the absolute minimum range that you can reliably put every round into a 6 inch circle. There seems to be no reason that you couldn't get a lethal shot into the deer's target zone.

I think that it's kind of minimal. Regardless of my thoughts, people have killed deer for years with them, with .357, 30 carbine... there were people way back when who hunted with the .45 acp that they used for target or other purposes, and used plain old ball ammo. In years past, don't know if it's still that way, but the state ordinances here allowed it, along with carbine, so forth. The rifle rounds stopped at 6mm, nothing smaller allowed. It stopped at .357, with 9mm not allowed.
 
I have taken whitetail and mule deer with a few pistol calibers, to include 9mm+P/124gr, .357mag/158gr, .357mag/125gr, and .44Spl/200gr, and .44 Mag/240gr.
All were hollow points. Only one went any significant distance, and he was actually hit with a .44 Mag and had LOTS of fatal damage.

I would not hesitate to use your .45 ACP under the conditions you stated, and like most of the others I would recommend a 200gr hollow point. If you have a pet 185 or 230 grain load that you shoot well and expands well, then it will work as well, but the 200 really seems optimum for that cartridge. I mean, what are we talking here, +/- 10 yards?
 
As long as you can shoot it accurately and limit shots to "archery" type ranges (15-30 yards) any JHP designed for personal defense should work just fine on any deer.
Click to expand...
Yep, Plus one. Rod
 
I ain't ever heard of someone saying the Colt wasn't enough for whitetail.
Click to expand...

I hear it abut the 357 magnum all the time and I have taken many deer with it. Mostly large Idaho mule deer.

I am sure the 45 is fine if you can do your part.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top