.45s?

[Smokey Plainsman]

So I just ordered a Kibler’s Southern Mountain Rifle about a week ago (the anticipation is killing me!) and chose .45 caliber. That’s the biggest caliber he makes in his Southern rifle, which is my preferred style of gun from him.

I ordered the .45 because I live out in the desert and do plinking and target shooting at fairly long ranges. I figured the .45 would buck wind a bit better than the small bores and possibly produce less fouling, yet should produce less recoil than the larger bores and be a bit more economical.

I have no plans to hunt with the gun as there really isn’t much hunting in my area of the state (Southern part). It’s all just poking holes in paper or cans etc. for me. I already own a .40 and like that caliber a lot, but wanted to try a different caliber and the more I thought about it the less a smaller caliber made sense, so all this lead to the .45.

Anybody out there shoot a .45? Do you enjoy it? Just hoping to learn more about this caliber a bit. I’ll let you all know when my kit arrives and plan to show pictures of the build. Thanks guys!

-Smokey

 

[mooman76]

I started with a 45. Fun to shoot. I moved up to bigger for hunting purposes and later went smaller for more economical shooting. 45 is like right in the middle as the 32 is similar to shooting a 22. I think you made a good all around choice.

 

[SDSmlf]

Use a Cherokee in 45 caliber for hunting deer in open flat county where a lot of walking is involved. Kind of a heavy duty squirrel gun that will easily take deer. While not what you are inquiring about, find 45 caliber paperpatched bullets in a fast twist side lock to be a great longer range (150 yards or so) hunting gun, and a great choice for long range target shooting.

 

[Eutycus]

Though I own several different calibers, the 45 seems to be the one that pokes most of the holes in the target.

 

[Carbon 6]

Anybody out there shoot a .45? Do you enjoy it? Just hoping to learn more about this caliber a bit. I’ll let you all know when my kit arrives and plan to show pictures of the build. Thanks guys!

You'll love a 45. It big enough for deer and killer on squirrels and X's.
It's also easy on powder and lead. and has a mild recoil. It's the perfect, "all around" caliber.

 

[Bledfor Days]

I be winning matches with .45 TC Hawken with 35 gr and .440 ball and .018 patch. Rifle is way better than me.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Thanks guys!

 

[Flintandsteel]

First 7 shots out of mine.

 

[Rifleman1776]

.45 is a great all-around caliber for our game. It is also a good hunter for anything not over whitetail deer size. We need pics of your Kibler.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

.45 is a great all-around caliber for our game. It is also a good hunter for anything not over whitetail deer size. We need pics of your Kibler.

Thanks! Hoping the kit arrives within the next few weeks. It’lol have a cherry’s wood stock. I can’t wait!!

 

[user 31257]

My first muzzleloader was a .45 Seneca, I had no problem killing a number of deer with it and I enjoyed shooting it. I got it in my head that I needed a .50 a few years later so I moved on from the Seneca. I regretted it for years.
Eventually I remedied that by buying another Seneca. Then another. Then some .45 Cherokees. Not even sure how many of them I have anymore.

 

[toadboy65]

I started with a .45 as well. It was a good caliber for general plinking and varmint hunting in the mountains. If I had to have just one BP rifle, I would probably pick a .45 .

 

[Barry Strickland]

I have rifles in 36, 40, 45 & 50 cal. If I could only have one rifle the caliber of choice for all around use would be 45.

 

[Rodd Boyer]

50 yards with .445 ball and 70gr Swiss fffg

 

[Critter Getter]

Biggest thing I hunt is an Iowa Whitetail and my .45’s do a great job on them along with taking heads off squirrels and knocking the x’s out of the center of the paper targets. Really think the .45’s That shoot both prb and conicals great is a great all around gun!! Greg

 

[hanshi]

Smokey Plainsman, The Kibler SMR in .45 is my "dream rifle"; maybe one day. You will have a great rifle in a great caliber for everything from targets to hunting any game smaller than elk. Excellent choice!

My first rifle was a .45 and I still own three of them. My .45 L. Lancaster flintlock has more deer to its credit than any other muzzleloader I own, and it gets fired rather frequently. And I've never needed more than one shot to drop deer DRT and none ever ran out of sight/hearing. A .45 is economical, accurate and can go from mild to wild. It's also taken a few squirrels and a couple of bobcats. You will love that rifle!
My main rifle.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Thanks gang! Sounds like a .45 wasn’t too bad a choice at all.

 

[Col. Batguano]

It's a good "all around" caliber and a good place for a 1st gun. You can go both up and down in calibers for subsequent guns as you acquire more, and their usage gets more and more specialized.

 

[Cap'n Ball]

Like every thing else, it all depends on what you want to do. I like 45 and am slowly replacing every thing else with 45. If I were hunting mulies, elk, moose, bear or maybe boar, I certainly want something heavier but I don't. I shoot paper and rendezvous type novelty shoots and coach 4H. My first muzzle loader was a T/C Patriot bought about 40 years ago. I used to go to YHEC with the kids and had a nightmare keeping the assortment of supplies for 50, 45 and 32 organized. Now everything gets .440 balls, .010 dry patches and #11 caps. It is interesting that my go-to flintlock for teaching is a Pedersoli Kentucky in 45. It looks neat, is small enough and light enough to be non intimidating and manageable. The light recoil and having the pan flash at arm's length doesn't frighten them away from doing it again. Depending on size and strength on one hand and skill level on the other, they get to use a Schutzen style target rifle, a T/C Hawken with the ladder style tang sight and a Seneca with open sights. I am looking for some kind of peep sight for it the Seneca. . I also have a full stock flint tack driver with a 42 inch swamped barrel . It would be fun to get one of the kids up to speed on it. Anybody want to buy a 50?

 

[Nessmuck56]

.45 cal here.....My choice of calibers would be...36-45-54 -62