Might change my mind about .40 cal

[stone knife]

Now I'm thinking about getting my TVM Tennessee rifle in .45 instead of .40 so I can hunt deer with it, will a .45 be as accurate for say squirrels if I do my part.

 

[Squire1]

Should be equally accurate with the .45 having a greater choice of of loading components.

 

[Macon Due]

Sir
.45 will be as accurate,might hold in the wind a tiny bit better,will be legal for deer and will likely be a tiny bit lighter with the bigger hole in the barrel. My new TVM [when i finally get it back] is a .45.
Macon

 

[roundball]

Absolutely...for the longest time my smallest caliber was a .45, and I found that using throttled back powder charges of 25-30grns Goex 3F, it was just the proverbial tack driver at typical small game distances...so if you're trying to decide between one or the other right now with deer in the equation, I'd agree the .45 would be more versatile...

 

[Trench]

My next rifle will also be in .45 and I have no qualms taking it out squirrel hunting when it arrives.

 

[hanshi]

My favorite deer rifle is a TVM .45. It does the job with style.

 

[Tony Logan]

i love my 45 for target work, and its going deer hunting this year.

 

[nchawkeye]

My first flinter back in the 70s was a .45, killed plenty of squirrels with her using 40grs FFF Goex and head shots...I also killed my first wild turkey with her using 50grs and a wingbone turkey call I made from our Thanksgiving turkey...My deer load was 75grs...

Course, then I wanted a larger rifle for bears so I built a .54 and rebarreled the .45 to a .40...

Might want to go ahead and start with a .54 as it's a good squirrel rifle as well with head shots...

You'll end up with a .40 sooner or later anyway...

 

[ohio ramrod]

While my nephew and his youngest boy both shoot 40's , I use my 45's for almost everything up to and including deer! :idunno: :idunno:

 

[nkbj]

Looking at it from the stand point of per cent increase in mass, from .40 caliber to .45 is huge, a really big difference.
After scratching my head a long time about little game / big game I'm about ready to try a long 1/2" smooth rifle.

 

[tg]

I liked the .40 for Deer under 50 yds but if not legal the .45 is a very good Deer /small game choice as well, I think one still need to consider limiting the range on Deer to 75yds or so, I have always seen shooting to far was the usuall reason I was looking for someones Deer the next day no matter the bore size, not being able to judge distance acurately or not being able to hold ones water when the big one walks by at 125 yds will often not end well no matter the size of the ball

 

[cowpoke1955]

My .45 flinter will shoot one ragged hole at 50 yards with 70 grains of FFFg Goex. In the Wildlife Management Areas around here, small game muzzleloading rifles must be .40 caliber or smaller. Large game must be .40 caliber or larger. So, if you could have only one rifle, it would have to be a .40. Personally, I like my .45 better :thumbsup:

 

[stone knife]

I liked the .40 for Deer under 50 yds but if not legal the .45 is a very good Deer /small game choice as well, I think one still need to consider limiting the range on Deer to 75yds or so, I have always seen shooting to far was the usuall reason I was looking for someones Deer the next day no matter the bore size, not being able to judge distance acurately or not being able to hold ones water when the big one walks by at 125 yds will often not end well no matter the size of the ball

I shoot trad archery equipment while hunting so I know all about waiting for the right shot opportunity. I sent Toni an email letting her know I want the .45, I'm still a couple months away from build so I hope this won't delay my arrival time.

 

[Tony Logan]

good idea, shot my 45 today.

 

[hanshi]

My longest deer kill with a .45 was 75 yards but the average is about half that distance.

 

[stone knife]

My longest deer kill with a .45 was 75 yards but the average is about half that distance.

I like them close to singe hair :thumbsup:

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Both cals. are HARD on squirrels unless going for head shots. If deer is the main use of your gun than go with the .45 just for the extra ball weight. I have a .40 and it works but the .45 will give you a little edge for deer. Dan.

 

[stone knife]

Talked to Matt this morning a .45 it is and the completion date has not changed, when ever that is

 

[Macon Due]

Figure about 8 months.
Macon

 

[stone knife]

When I ordered mine I was told about 6 to 7