45 cal fun

[ian45662]

Went and shot my 45 today for the first time in a while and I forgot how much fun it was. I extended the target out to 100 yards for the first time with that rifle and I was really really happy with it I was even getting a little gitty. It is more than able to take a deer at that distance if the ball still has enough energy to go into a vital which I am sure it does. I think I will try 125 next time and see what I can do. What is a reasonable distance for the 45 round ball to take a deer?

 

[roundball]

Not that the rare 100 yard shot hasn't taken a deer...but IMO...the .45cal PRB is generally a 75 yard proposition, a good thick-woods caliber where shots average 25-60 yards.

Especially considering that most people use light to moderate powder charges, coupled with the poor odds of getting a perfect heart shot while missing bone at 100 yards or more under hunting conditions.

 

[Zonie]

Of course it is all just a matter of opinion but after running some numbers thru my roundball ballistics calculator I get the following answers.

Assuming a hot load of 90 grains of 3Fg powder gives a velocity similar to that published in Lymans Black Powder Handbook the muzzle velocity would be around 1900 fps with a energy of about 947 ft/lbs.

At 100 yards that velocity has lost almost 1000 fps and is 987 fps with a energy of 278 ft/lbs.

That amount of energy is about 2/3 of the muzzle energy of a .45 ACP shooting a 230 grain FMJ.

While this would certainly kill a deer it is IMO getting very "iffie".

At 120 yards range the .45 cal roundball has slowed down to 922 fps and 243 ft/lbs of energy.

Again, a very well placed shot would kill a deer but even a slightly off shot could just cause a serious injury to the deer.

I mention this because not only is the velocity and energy reduced but using iron sights under hunting conditions at these long ranges can hurt accuracy.

By the way, at 60 yards the data says the velocity is at 1184 fps and 400 ft/lbs and making a well placed shot at 60 yards is quite easy.

 

[ian45662]

ok then I was shooting at 70 grains of 3 F I dont want to wound an animal I just want a clean kill. After what I have been told I will wait till it is at most 70 yards or so and keep the 45 in its limits Thanks for the info I dont want to be that person that just shoots to shoot, ya know what i mean.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Any shot behind the ear, and the party is over!
Old Ford

 

[Zonie]

Ian: I think that's highly commendable of you.

The vast majority of the members here who hunt are doing it with muzzleloaders to experience the satisfaction of actually Hunting rather than just shooting an animal.
Making a clean kill is at the top of their priority list.

I'm glad to hear that your one of them. :hatsoff:

 

[rabjr]

Ian: I think that's highly commendable of you.

The vast majority of the members here who hunt are doing it with muzzleloaders to experience the satisfaction of actually Hunting rather than just shooting an animal.
Making a clean kill is at the top of their priority list.

I'm glad to hear that your one of them. :hatsoff:

What Zonie said!

It saddens me when I see someone talking about shooting at deer at extreme ranges with these smaller calibers. I care to much about the animal and only see bad things happening. And to often bad things do happen.

 

[Walks with fire]

I shoot a .495 ball over 90 grains of 2f and 80 yards is the extreme limit on whitetails for me. I would be able to hit a 3" disc everytime at 100 though from a solid rest and little wind. Deer are my friends I just eat one once in a while.

 

[hanshi]

A .45 is my go to deer rifle and I have two. The farthest I've shot a deer was 75 yards in a field. Penetration was through and through and the deer ran about 40-50 yards & dropped; about like they do with a 30/06. I was using 65grs 3f & .440 ball in a 32" barrel. Other than that all my shots have been under 50 yards, usually well under. 75 yards is a long shot with open sights for me at least. Closer feels better.

 

[cowpoke1955]

I have a .45 Pedersoli Blue Ridge flinter that is a blast to shoot. My favorite load is 70 grains of FFFg Goex and a .440 ball. Great accuracy at 50 yards and very light recoil. I've played with the 220 grain T/C Maxi Balls. I get 1" groups with 70 grains of FFFg at 50. Haven't tried it at 100 yards yet.

 

[Dphar]

Not that the rare 100 yard shot hasn't taken a deer...but IMO...the .45cal PRB is generally a 75 yard proposition, a good thick-woods caliber where shots average 25-60 yards.

Especially considering that most people use light to moderate powder charges, coupled with the poor odds of getting a perfect heart shot while missing bone at 100 yards or more under hunting conditions.

A friend killed a deer at 120 with a 45 flint last fall, broke a rib going in and one going out. Shocked the spine (he thinks) and the deer went down in its tracks. But shot her again as she raised her head as he approached.
But he is a very fine shot and a very accomplished hunter.

Where we live close shots are not always presented.
With largere bore rifles kills to 130-150 are not unusual and we generally sight 50-58 calibers "on" at 120-130 yards. Just like some of the western trappers said they did.
The odds of a perfect heart shot a 75 are not all that great, since I eat the heart, its great fried, I generally shoot for the lungs.
A heart shot often gets into the front leg muscle or bone and can make a mess in some cases.

Dan

 

[ohio ramrod]

I have used nothing but 45 calibers on Ohio deer for over twentyfive years and IMHO round balls are good up to 75 yrds, minis up to 150 yards. I know some will say that is to long for a 45, but several years ago when my eyes were better, I droped a large doe in her tracks and crippled a yearling that was standing behind her at 145 yrds!. I had my wood pile as a steady rest and she was just standing broadside.Two deer with one mini pushed by 75 grain FFF. My nephew's youngest boy has shot over twenty deer with a fourty caliber out to 75 yards and lost only one! So it is really more of a matter of where you hit them instead of how hard you hit them.Though with my current set of eyes I don't shoot at anything over 50 yrds.

 

[DTCoffin]

Heck I'm just happy to see a deer in muzzleloading season up here, they are usually so spooked at the end of rectum-rifle season i cherish a sighting of a whitetail. :haha:

 

[jmac]

I feel your pain on the eye issue, I don't mind getting old its the price of admission to the club I hate.

As to the .45 question. For several years I used a couple of .45s using either a .440 or .445 PRB in both. The usual load was 65 grains FFF though the Lancaster prefered 70. The deer I shot all where just as dead as those shot with larger bores... I use .54's and even a .62 today mostly because I want to hunt bigger game than whitetails but if I was restricted to eastern deer only I would'nt hesitate to use a .45 again.