It's hard to beat the .45 cal

[M. De Land]

Over the years I've had several muzzle loading calibers .36, .44. .45, .50, .54 and .58 but I have come to settle on the good ole .45 cal as being one of the most versatile and useful bore sizes around which sort of surprises me as I have always tended toward larger ball diameters in muzzle loading arms. Could be my tendency to be thrifty along with the added years have jaded my opinion but I think there is some sense to what I have settled on.
The .40 has really caught on over the last decade or so but I still think the .45 a better all around caliber not coming up short at the range or in the field. It shoots just as fast as the .40, is less wind sensitive and the recoil is hardly noticeably more.
It can be loaded down for squirrel or up to deer and black bear plus conicals can easily be used in this caliber which has a wide array of offerings available in shape and weight. It also is noticeably thrifty of ball and powder compared to the next larger class of bore diameters.
I think historically bore diameters around this size (.40 to .50 cal) in non military arms, were probably very prevelant especially to the long hunters ,trappers and surveyors who had to pack everything in the wilds.
ONe mans opinion but I have two rifles in the caliber now and both get used more than any of my other larger bores.

 

[Eutycus]

I'm sure there is someone at this very moment calculating just how much lead one saves by using a. 45 instead of a .50 or .54 caliber.

 

[ghostdncr]

I haven't done the math on lead savings, but have to agree. The .45 has seemed nearly perfect for hunting here in Kentucky over the nearly forty years I've been using muzzleloaders. We've got elk and a few bears, but I've never bothered those and would opt for something bigger in either case. Up through whitetail deer, the .45 has always done a fine job for me. I've currently got an Issac Haines longrifle, TC Hawken, and an original plains rifle in .45 cal.

 

[Brokennock]

Yeah, it is near ideal. Unfortunately here, it is the minimum legal caliber for deer but not legal for squirrel hunting.
If such a fantasy place could be found with good hunting and the .45 being legal for squirrel, deer, and roundball for turkey,,,,, I can't think of anything better.
Until then, 20 gauge smoothbore is my only equally versatile option, but certainly not of equal economy.

 

[Sidney Smith]

More power to ya, but I think I'll stick with my .54 for deer, turkeys, and my .32 for squirrels.

 

[Juniata]

I built a .45 this year mainly because I liked the fact it was legal for deer here in PA and economical for target shooting.
I didn't do a lot of digging into the caliber, I was simply set on it.

I did do some reading on forums and it seems there's a fair amount of controversy over if it is capable of taking down deer.
I recently posted that I shot a doe on Oct 22 at 60 yards with 65 grains of FFF, .440 roundball and with a high shoulder hit, dropped her on the spot and had an exit.

I also have the option of taking bear around home here and I feel a little concerned about how it would handle a bear.
I have come to this conclusion, this rifle is accurate, I know it well because it's all I shoot. So if I can place that ball where it needs to be, it'll kill the bear.
As far as I know good ol D Boone carried a .44 and I know he killed 11 bear in one day (so I've heard)
Yet they were better trackers then we are today.
I sure do like my .45 and plan to hunt with it and it alone.....as backwards as that seems in a culture who thinks more is better. Folks can't seem to be content with what they have, I'm guilty of this too, but I am trying to change that characteristic of myself.

So as they say "fear a man who has 1 gun, he probably knows how to use it"
I plan to be that man!

 

[William Lincoln]

History shows that the 44-45 cal size is popular. One reason is the crossover of
the projectiles with revolver-pistol use. Same powder and ball-projectile used
in short and long guns. 44 cal in practice is 45 cal.

 

[hanshi]

You'll not get any argument from me on how good the .45 truly is. I have four of them and one that I bought around 55 years ago is still with me. My .45s have accounted for deer, bobcats and squirrels. All of the deer taken by my .45s dropped with just one shot, some never even moved following the shot. My longest shot with the .45 was a doe at 75 yards. I consider it too much for most small game but it can still be made to take them cleanly. I rely on the .32 and .36 for small game and even more economy with the pipsqueaks. The .40 is a fine caliber and legal for deer in some states, but most of the ones I hunted had a minimum of .45. Now we've come back around full circle.

Yes, deer have fallen to several .50, .54 & .62 muzzleloaders in my stable, but my go-to is still the .45. If I hunted black bear I'd still likely use a .45. The punch of the .45 exceeds it's weight class.

 

[Rudyard]

Just as an aside,, Regarding Bears I think the poor Bears get a bad rap .Yes they might kill you but chances are they are more likley to get out of your way .I did shoot one poor sod with a 451 ML up a remote river with need of meat, But have rather regretted it since as I have so often camped in remote rivers & places where bears Black & Grizzly where about ( In British Collumbia mostly ) and non bothered me & the gun mostly loaded for spruce Grouse . If on one 17 day trip I took an old double 16 bore flint convertion to cap with the expected low load of shot in the right Brl & a ball in the left ' in case '.
I was woken up one night camped on a river bar in the lower Homathka river near Cumsac creek logging camp my fire had died down it was so dark I couldn't see it but could feel its breath through my moskito net . I don't know who was most the most supprized it or me. But I gave it a shreaking mouthfull of rather unkind words which had the desired effect . Pragmatisum took over I knocked the fire up and went back to sleep .

I minds me of one time I had gone up the Sukunka river to a newly set up open cut coal mine looking for work , I allway's went for Bush jobs where camp & tucker where part of the deal . The boss wasnt there so I made camp in the creek about 60 yards down stream. Come dawn Ide made fire and breakfast when a Black Bear walks across the creek maybe 20 yards down steam I fumble for the camera he continues but 5 minets later a big silver grey Grizzly comes following the Black Bears track .(They don't get on its a territorial thing I expect ) I was happy to let it continue .
Anyway the boss didn't want crew but it being an Australian crew/ site & the crew had only just days before landed from New South Wales I figured Ide be 'right in' as Ide spoke to them the previous evening & I speak 'Strine" (With the help of a peg on my nose ) (Sorry Lawrence I couldn't resist it !) Anyway I forgot to tell them what the' locals' Where like which seeing as the might never have seen other than Koalla Bears was something of an omission .But Im'e sure they would soon find out
Rudyard

 

[smoothshooter]

I built a .45 this year mainly because I liked the fact it was legal for deer here in PA and economical for target shooting.
I didn't do a lot of digging into the caliber, I was simply set on it.

I did do some reading on forums and it seems there's a fair amount of controversy over if it is capable of taking down deer.
I recently posted that I shot a doe on Oct 22 at 60 yards with 65 grains of FFF, .440 roundball and with a high shoulder hit, dropped her on the spot and had an exit.

I also have the option of taking bear around home here and I feel a little concerned about how it would handle a bear.
I have come to this conclusion, this rifle is accurate, I know it well because it's all I shoot. So if I can place that ball where it needs to be, it'll kill the bear.
As far as I know good ol D Boone carried a .44 and I know he killed 11 bear in one day (so I've heard)
Yet they were better trackers then we are today.
I sure do like my .45 and plan to hunt with it and it alone.....as backwards as that seems in a culture who thinks more is better. Folks can't seem to be content with what they have, I'm guilty of this too, but I am trying to change that characteristic of myself.

So as they say "fear a man who has 1 gun, he probably knows how to use it"
I plan to be that man!

Boone would have owned and used rifles and shotguns in pretty much all calibers and gauges available over the years.

 

[smoothshooter]

Just as an aside,, Regarding Bears I think the poor Bears get a bad rap .Yes they might kill you but chances are they are more likley to get out of your way .I did shoot one poor sod with a 451 ML up a remote river with need of meat, But have rather regretted it since as I have so often camped in remote rivers & places where bears Black & Grizzly where about ( In British Collumbia mostly ) and non bothered me & the gun mostly loaded for spruce Grouse . If on one 17 day trip I took an old double 16 bore flint convertion to cap with the expected low load of shot in the right Brl & a ball in the left ' in case '.
I was woken up one night camped on a river bar in the lower Homathka river near Cumsac creek logging camp my fire had died down it was so dark I couldn't see it but could feel its breath through my moskito net . I don't know who was most the most supprized it or me. But I gave it a shreaking mouthfull of rather unkind words which had the desired effect . Pragmatisum took over I knocked the fire up and went back to sleep .

I minds me of one time I had gone up the Sukunka river to a newly set up open cut coal mine looking for work , I allway's went for Bush jobs where camp & tucker where part of the deal . The boss wasnt there so I made camp in the creek about 60 yards down stream. Come dawn Ide made fire and breakfast when a Black Bear walks across the creek maybe 20 yards down steam I fumble for the camera he continues but 5 minets later a big silver grey Grizzly comes following the Black Bears track .(They don't get on its a territorial thing I expect ) I was happy to let it continue .
Anyway the boss didn't want crew but it being an Australian crew/ site & the crew had only just days before landed from New South Wales I figured Ide be 'right in' as Ide spoke to them the previous evening & I speak 'Strine" (With the help of a peg on my nose ) (Sorry Lawrence I couldn't resist it !) Anyway I forgot to tell them what the' locals' Where like which seeing as the might never have seen other than Koalla Bears was something of an omission .But Im'e sure they would soon find out
Rudyard

What is “ camp and tucker “?

 

[Grenadier1758]

A place to sleep and a place to eat.

 

[William Lincoln]

Tucker= grub, The 45 is not a weak load. depending on projectile and
powder it is capable of taking all N. American big Game. The Grizzly and
Polar bear included, using a double barrel ML. Now I said capable--
I didn't say that I would be the one to test it out! One of those larger
Kaido Ojama slugs over 140 grains in a longrifle -- is a serious load.
many grizzlies were taken by mountain men with what were basically
rifles used for buffalo. With all that fur and fat hopefully you are a
crack shot1

 

[Rudyard]

What is “ camp and tucker “?

Camp as in camping just a Sywash sort of fly camp with a brouse bed & fire . Tucker as Grenadier rightly observes is food supplied & a cook house like any logging claim would have .Generally long hours no where to spend it and no commuting . 2 mounths can buy you a year of travelling of the sort of ecconomy travel I used on the
Astra ,Castra' Numen, Lumen". plan. translates to ' The stars my camp' Providence my guide .
Rudyard

 

[Art Caputo]

I have the similar preference and rationale for the 45. With decades of shooting my rifles in 40 through 58 cal, for each shot I have taken with my with my 40, 50, 54,58, and 62 cal muzzleloaders combined, I have likely exceeded that total my two 45’s. When I had finally decided to go all out and acquire a top maker, custom flintlock rifle, it was a 45.

 

[gonpce]

You can move to Virginia. All 3 are legal with the 45. Deer, turkey, and squirrel

 

[Gordoncourtney]

You'll not get any argument from me on how good the .45 truly is. I have four of them and one that I bought around 55 years ago is still with me. My .45s have accounted for deer, bobcats and squirrels. All of the deer taken by my .45s dropped with just one shot, some never even moved following the shot. My longest shot with the .45 was a doe at 75 yards. I consider it too much for most small game but it can still be made to take them cleanly. I rely on the .32 and .36 for small game and even more economy with the pipsqueaks. The .40 is a fine caliber and legal for deer in some states, but most of the ones I hunted had a minimum of .45. Now we've come back around full circle.

Yes, deer have fallen to several .50, .54 & .62 muzzleloaders in my stable, but my go-to is still the .45. If I hunted black bear I'd still likely use a .45. The punch of the .45 exceeds it's weight class.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Ahh the poet. Nicely written and a joy to read. Have you never taken bear. It would make a nice coat for you in Maine

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Apology to those not from Maine I just read this string of stories several times here I UK. I can only dream of such things. thank you for such lovely stories and discussions. Yes i have a .45 never fired it and that’s an original warranted Birmingham lock on it made around 1840 I am the guy that loves big patch boxes Think I would take my .6 cape rifle , with the little round patch box, if I was in bear country. , dreaming again. Such is life in uk I wish you all well

 

[Juniata]

You can move to Virginia. All 3 are legal with the 45. Deer, turkey, and squirrel

It should be there way.
I emailed our game commission this summer about the reasons as to why we can't hunt squirrels with a .45 and they said they don't want people shooting up into trees.
A friend said it best when he says "then they should limit it to shot only and no .22s if that's the case."