45 RB for deer???

[750k2]

seeking any and all about using the 45 for whitetails???
Range +/- 100yds
Round ball as that is all I like to shoot.
Actual results appreciated.
Thanks :thumbsup:

 

[musketman]

Could you please let us know who made your .45 muzzleloader?

Some guns can handle more pressure than others, wouldn't want to burst your barrel...

 

[750k2]

It'll be most likely a TVM Tennesse.
Sounds as though they use Green mountain bbl's
42" percussion.
Hoping they offer 7/8" flats

 

[roundball]

.45cal TC Hawken 'Cougar' flintlock, Hornady .440, TC .018" prelubed pillow ticking, Oxyoke prelubed Wonderwad, 90grns Goex FFFg, Heart shot, 55yds

 

[B.Habermehl]

I have killed two deer with .45 cal fifles. One at about 18 feet the other at about 15 yds. Both were instant stops. only one ball exited, could not find exit wound untill I skinned the deer. I limit my shots to "slam dunks" so to speak and have a self imposed outer limit of about 50 yds. My brother in law killed one at about 65 yds. It did run just out of sight after the shot, about 75 yd or so. No blood trail to speak of on snow. Three different guns all Getz barrels 37in. lg. 80 gr fffg 440 rb with .018 patch material. Probably three different lubes were used. Crisco, wonderlube,or vegetable oil. I've been know to use all three these barrels were never fussy about lubes. I would personally suggest you keep your shots inside of 75 yds. Thats about the longest shot you will get in the woods anyhow. :results:

 

[750k2]

Sounds as though I'd better stick with the fifty for antlers and have a small cal rig built for small game.
Was hopin to cover a lot of territory with one rifle but as in anything else it seems to be give and take.
I know I can use the 50 for small game but just seems alot on the overkill. :cry:

 

[roundball]

The issue is energy at distance...the .45 is fine if you know where you're going to hunt, like a particular stand overlooking a ditch crossing or trail with an average shot of 50-75yds...I've only taken a .45cal on these close type stand locations.
But if you're not sure where you'll be (still hunting) or if you'll typically be faced with long open woods 100+ yard shots, IMO a heavier ball would be better for that kind of general purpose deer hunting.
You might consider a .54 and a .45 to cover a wider range of hunting...or just throttle back the .54 and make head shots on small game

 

[Ohio Joe]

I would think TVM would use the 7/8 x 42 x .45 GMB if you requested it... Did you know that with a 3fg black powder charge of 75 grains you will realize 2000 fps, and 330+ Ft. lb. of energy at 100 yards... More then adequate for deer size game... Your drop will be in the 6 to 7 inch neighborhood at 100 yards...

At 50 yards you should realize, 600+ FPE, and a 1 to 1+ inch drop with the same charge... This is using a .445 patched round ball, and the .45 GMB seems to like these from my experience... Also, they're not hard to load, or reload after a shot...

I like my .45 GMB... I've taken deer with both the 36" percussion, and 42" flintlock, (both shots under 75 yards), and both with a 65 grain load of 3fg Goex... Both shots went right through the lungs and they went right down... I would have taken the shots out to 100 yards if I would have had to...

I feel confidant hunting with my .45's... :thumbsup: With all caliber's,,, bullet placement is everything... I am building a new .54 hunting rifle for this season but if I don't get it done I'll take one of my .45's...

 

[Huntinfool]

I agree if you want an all around gun the .50 cal will do a better job in my opinion. That's what I chose for my longrifle. It's better to have a little overkill on small game than not to have enough kill for bigger game. That being said I've seen a slew of deer killed with .45 rb. I chose the .50 just in case I need the extra umpf! I'd feel well armed after some bigger game also!
:imo:

Chuck

 

[Griz]

I can't speak for the .45 but I will tell you that if you want a GMB from TVM you DO have to request it, otherwise they will use their own longhammock barrels. They are good shooters also, I have 2 of them. .50, .45
When you get that big buck with your new .45 at 100 yds, post pictures, we would like to see em'

 

[GobblerKnob]

I hunted with a .45 Pedersoli Blue Ridge rifle for many years. It was one of the shootinest guns I've ever fired! For hunting, I used 80 grains of Goex 3F, .20 pre-lubed patch and a .445 cast ball. I've killed 11 deer with it and 4 fall turkeys. The farthest deer was 125 measured yards. The farthest turkey was 40 yards. I scale the load back to 60 grains for turkey. I try to shoot them where the neck joined the body. The first one I killed, I thought I missed! It was only 20 yards, but because of the smoke, I couldn't see anything. When it cleared, I didn't see one flopping around and was stupified. I got up to go look and found it stone dead in a small depression. She never knew what hit her!
I think the .45 is OK as long as you practice, practice, practice. Shot placement is everything!
This buck was shot at about 30 yards on the opening day of the 2001 PA flintlock season. He was trailing a doe like a beagle and never knew what hit him.

 

The .45 is plenty good enough for whitetail deer if you do your part and keep the ranges under 100 yds. I shoot 65 gr of fffg and a .445 round ball, which prints 1 inch groups or better at 50 yds. This reaches near 1900 fps in my 42" Green River barrel and is plenty for whitetails. Most hunter overload IMHO. If you are hunting mulies or black bear, I'd go with a bigger bore, although at close range a .45 will do the trick on them, too. I know many people who hunt deer with the .45--even .40--and do well. It is true that .50 and .54 rifles will anchor a deer just fine, but a .45 is OK, too.

 

[leadball]

Gobbler,is that the blue ridge in that picture? I bought a fifty this summer but gave it to my father in law as a gift. He loves it. He had trouble getting it to fire one day so he called me and i went over and the problem was he oiled the frizzen!!! Cleaned the oil off and now it goes KABOOM with no trouble. I may buy another for myself again this winter. Gonna just use my traditions kentucky percuss this fall. To late to get another blue ridge this year. Just curious as your Blue ridge looks different than the one I bought

 

[shmrck1]

ohio joe,
i have to agree with you and i think it is mostly a matter of confidence. where i hunt in s.e. ohio it would be rare but not unusual to shoot at 100yds. i'm guessing i have harvested ten or 11 deer in this area with my .45 percussion from 25 to 80 yds and hav'nt lost a deer yet!
i have always used rb with 65grs 3fff goex with great succses. again shoot with what you are confident with!
snake-eyes :results: :imo: :m2c:

 

[GobblerKnob]

Leadball, that sure 'nuff is the Blueridge! Man I can't say enough about that gun! I've never had one bit of trouble with it. The first three shots I fired right out of the box in which it came was a 3 round volley at 50 yards from a bench. The first two touched each other and the third was an 1/8" away from those two. I've never chronographed it, but at 100 yards KD, it routinely prints 1" groups. I'm not afraid to shoot at a deer that far with it. Of course, I'd like to have them closer if possible. In the areas I hunt here I don't often get shots that far, though. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat! If I wasn't buildin' 'em, that is! :winking:

 

[Huntinfool]

Ha Ha GK,

Great shot from the looks of the placement I believe you could've killed that buck with a .32 Good Shootin' man! :master:
The same for roundball's shot also! :master:
Chuck

 

[roundball]

Gobblerknob...beautiful buck and nice looking rifle, congratulations!

 

[GobblerKnob]

Thanks, Roundball/Huntinfool! In PA, our deer get hammered pretty hard so by the time the flintlock season opens (Day after Christmas), it's tough to find an antlered deer. You can imagine my surprise and adrenaline rush when this fellow came shuffling up through the beech flat I was on! I'm glad he was close because by from the way I was shakin' I'd have missed him clean! :winking:
Rick

 

[Stumpkiller]

In PA, our deer get hammered pretty hard so by the time the flintlock season opens (Day after Christmas), it's tough to find an antlered deer.

NY (Yea!) recently saw the light and allowed muzzleloaders to be used during regular season. Formerly, it was "rifled slug" area hereabouts. Now, instead of one week AFTER the bow & regular seasons, we can M/L for four weeks and still have five weeks of archery! Ecstasy!

 

Gosh- how many deer are you allowed to take??