.45 caliber RB enough for deer?

[deermanok]

I bought a 45 caliber rifle and pistol last year and have yet to hunt with either one.
I've killed a number of deer with a 50 caliber rifle but I'm mostly a bow hunter and have killed about 100 deer with a lowly arrow.
I know my limitations with a bow and also understand my own limitations with the muzzleloader.
With that being said, I believe that an experienced hunter can kill a deer with a 45 cal. no problems.

 

[Darkhorse]

I agree but I was reluctant to mention the ability of the hunter?

Why not? If the gun can hit a pie plate at 50 to 75 yards and is of adequate power then the ability of the hunter must be questioned and carefully considered.
It doesn't hurt to step on a few toes now and then. It might just wake a few up.

 

[LME]

Why not? If the gun can hit a pie plate at 50 to 75 yards and is of adequate power then the ability of the hunter must be questioned and carefully considered.
It doesn't hurt to step on a few toes now and then. It might just wake a few up.

I have looked at targets of others and they were proud of their acomplishment. I just didn't have the heart to burst their bubble. I was there once myself and it took a little time for me to get where I thought I was decent. I had rather encourage someone rather than to discourage them.

 

[COTNTOP]

I have trouble with accuracy with my 45 TC Hawken using 440 PRB, a friend brought some buffalo bullets and they woke the rifle up. Rather use PRB just ain't having any luck. Gonna weigh those bullets to see just what they really are.

 

[Darkhorse]

One problem with discussion of accuracy is that each shooter's accuracy is self judged according to their own personal standards. It's too easy to say "That's good enough", while another shooter would consider that target junk.
My own personal standards are pretty high. It took me a long time to reach the accuracy I now possess. First I had to learn not to flinch. And to do that I had to admit I was indeed flinching. Then I had to make burning that front sight into the target during and after the shot second nature. Along with this I had to learn the peculiars of my own firearms, how to be sure they went off each time I pulled the trigger and how to do my own adjustments and repairs.
And I had to be willing to do enough shooting to maintain the level I'm comfortable with. And if that slipped then just bite the bullet and start shooting enough to again reach and maintain my personal standard.
It's a good thing the process is so much fun.

 

[4575wcf]

Four days before the season opener and my swaged .440 balls have gone missing. I found the .375 for the cap and ball pistols, and 1000 #10 caps I did not know I had. I found the .520 swaged balls for the mountain rifle I did not know I had. I have seen the .440's in the not too distant past, but I'll be darned it they are coming to hand. Getting old is great. I got my act together just fine, I just keep forgetting where I put it.

 

[Robby]

I always put things in a place I will remember. Someday, someone will hit the jackpot!
Robby

 

[GANGGREEN]

Definitely the progression for most of us. When I was younger, I shot OK, usually had a target that had a spray of roundballs in and around the bullseye, say 2-3" groups at 25 yards, maybe 6-8" groups at 50 and 10-12" groups at 75. I was fairly conscientious about taking good shots at deer and didn't lose a lot of them, but certainly lost some. As I got older, I lost the flinch and got a bit better at load development to the point where my groups improved. Now, in my mid-50s, I'm a very good shot with a flintlock, but sadly, my eyes aren't as good as they once were. I don't doubt that I could shoot reasonably accurately out to 100 yards (or more) now, but I just couldn't do that anymore with iron sights. I'm far deadlier inside of 50-60 yards than ever before though.

One problem with discussion of accuracy is that each shooter's accuracy is self judged according to their own personal standards. It's too easy to say "That's good enough", while another shooter would consider that target junk.
My own personal standards are pretty high. It took me a long time to reach the accuracy I now possess. First I had to learn not to flinch. And to do that I had to admit I was indeed flinching. Then I had to make burning that front sight into the target during and after the shot second nature. Along with this I had to learn the peculiars of my own firearms, how to be sure they went off each time I pulled the trigger and how to do my own adjustments and repairs.
And I had to be willing to do enough shooting to maintain the level I'm comfortable with. And if that slipped then just bite the bullet and start shooting enough to again reach and maintain my personal standard.
It's a good thing the process is so much fun.

 

[LME]

Definitely the progression for most of us. When I was younger, I shot OK, usually had a target that had a spray of roundballs in and around the bullseye, say 2-3" groups at 25 yards, maybe 6-8" groups at 50 and 10-12" groups at 75. I was fairly conscientious about taking good shots at deer and didn't lose a lot of them, but certainly lost some. As I got older, I lost the flinch and got a bit better at load development to the point where my groups improved. Now, in my mid-50s, I'm a very good shot with a flintlock, but sadly, my eyes aren't as good as they once were. I don't doubt that I could shoot reasonably accurately out to 100 yards (or more) now, but I just couldn't do that anymore with iron sights. I'm far deadlier inside of 50-60 yards than ever before though.

I am glad to hear you lost a few deer. Some people have a hard time with saying that they have lost a deer or some type of animal. Everyone that hunts has or will lose one eventually. At my hunting club I was on a roll ,it appeared that I couldn't possibly lose a animal. That didn't last long when I changed rifle calibers like a idiot. The best hunters among us will lose a animal if they hunt a lot but we do our best not to! We owe that to the animal we hunt!

 

[Darkhorse]

Several years ago my vision went downhill very fast. I could no longer shoot consistently with primitive open sights. For a few years I had been thinking about the day this happened and was planning a peep sight I would like. So I made a few and they cleared up my vision pretty good.
Now my hunting rifles all wear one.
We do what we have to do to stay in the game.

 

[shootrj2003]

I think if you could fly back in time even the .36 was capable of killing it’s fair share of deer .would I ? If I lived back then and needed to fill my larder,no problem. .45 prb out to 100 - most deer are shot closer, I would without hesitation use my .50 with 85 gr. Of 3f. Your .45prb is just a 45/70 with a light bullet and 70 gr. Of 3f .think you would shoot a deer at 100 yds with a 45/70?( I would)

 

[.36Rooster]

Your .45prb is just a 45/70 with a light bullet and 70 gr. Of 3f .think you would shoot a deer at 100 yds with a 45/70?( I would)

That's an excellent point! The 70 in 45-70 originally denoted that the cartridge was loaded with 70 grains of black powder, and the caliber denoted that it was .45. Which is only a hundredth or 5 thousandths of an inch larger in diameter than what we shoot, essentially no difference...and being that a 45-70 was shooting a conical slug...I dont see any reason a .45 loaded with a patched conical would perform any different. Not that I was was worried in the first place...

 

[Gordoncourtney]

I wish you guys would talk more about the .36. As I have a double ml .36 1.28 twist. I cannot shoot in uk so it hangs on the wall Your comments would help my dreams. Ha ha

Ps have made some brass mounds and cast some bullets and modified some pistol bullets

I

 

[Gordoncourtney]

One problem with discussion of accuracy is that each shooter's accuracy is self judged according to their own personal standards. It's too easy to say "That's good enough", while another shooter would consider that target junk.
My own personal standards are pretty high. It took me a long time to reach the accuracy I now possess. First I had to learn not to flinch. And to do that I had to admit I was indeed flinching. Then I had to make burning that front sight into the target during and after the shot second nature. Along with this I had to learn the peculiars of my own firearms, how to be sure they went off each time I pulled the trigger and how to do my own adjustments and repairs.
And I had to be willing to do enough shooting to maintain the level I'm comfortable with. And if that slipped then just bite the bullet and start shooting enough to again reach and maintain my personal standard.
It's a good thing the process is so much fun.

You are dead right it’s practice practice. I’m my uk garden range 50 yards I shoot a 177 & 22 pcp bsa Scorpio pcp air guns In the early days I was shooting 500 pellets a week perfecting mainly my trigger pull Now if there’s no wind I can almost put pellet on pellet. Not shot for three weeks as it’s been wet and cold but I just did a target but windy today Not bad 177 need more practice bit out with my trigger pull, fairs fair Nikko scope at 16 mag. Got 23 real guns but at 78 they took away my police permit so I can no longer shoot them. Just dreams and walk hangers. Have a good day from uk.

Ps but practice keeps the squirrels down. Not bad too eat either

 

[Robby]

Geeze Gordon, sorry for your predicament!!! That is a beauty for sure. I got a lot of good stuff I would trade for that if you were here, but then if you were here you could shoot it. Whats a man to do.
Robby

 

[Old Hawkeye]

I think if you could fly back in time even the .36 was capable of killing it’s fair share of deer .would I ? If I lived back then and needed to fill my larder,no problem. .45 prb out to 100 - most deer are shot closer, I would without hesitation use my .50 with 85 gr. Of 3f. Your .45prb is just a 45/70 with a light bullet and 70 gr. Of 3f .think you would shoot a deer at 100 yds with a 45/70?( I would)

A very light bullet!!! 128 grains compared to 500 grains. A 45 ML with PRB is nowhere near a 45-70 in terminal performance or range capabilities. Just simple physics.

 

[Rifleman1776]

A very light bullet!!! 128 grains compared to 500 grains. A 45 ML with PRB is nowhere near a 45-70 in terminal performance or range capabilities. Just simple physics.

True, but so what? Ded is ded. My deer taken with .45 prb did not ask for a heavier bullet. .45 prb is, IMHO, the perfect whitetail deer caliber.

 

[BJHabermehl]

A long time ago I used a .45 cal flintlock rifle for everything from small game to deer. Then the game laws changed in my state and I couldn’t use my . 45 for small game. Being a avid target shooter my favorite caliber is .45. Then I had a couple of deer lost after I shot. One I felt I missed cleanly due to light conditions. Two the shots were reasonable and felt good the mental sight picture called ten ring. I feel I lost two deer to the lack of blood trail due to a insufficient exit hole. Then I built my .58 cal English park rifle. This rifle has harvested more deer than my entire armory combined including unmentionable guns. Knock on wood with no lost game. But only two DRT deer. But the rest left copious blood trails the could be followed blind folded on my hands and knees. I don’t feel my tracking ability is up to finding deer that don’t leave a pretty obvious blood trail. I’ll stick to my .58 for big game hunting.

 

[appalichian hunter]

Big bore;big hole; lots of blood; quick short track is my motto. Throw a .62 ball through both lungs dead deer.

 

[.36Rooster]

Big bore;big hole; lots of blood; quick short track is my motto. Throw a .62 ball through both lungs dead deer.

Definitely doesn't hurt, and won't disappoint, thats for sure. Bigger hole, bigger blood trail, and a lot of times, marginal hit will lay him down long enough for you to reload. I've seen if happen often enough to know its a factor (or bonus) to consider.

A .45 is definitely a more delicate matter, and requires more finess. Not as much as a wham, bam, thank you ma'am. But it will do it as reliably as you can. That's really what a guy has to keep in mind.