The .45 ACP as a woods gun?

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I was watching some old U.S. Airforce survival instructional films. The oldest of the old, when running down the survival gear, mention a 1911 pistol and two spare "clips". This being referenced not only as a personal weapon, but a piece of survival gear meant to handle all sorts of things.

Which got me thinking. The old 1860 Army was once considered fit for most anything, and the Single and Double Action Colts in .45 Colt and .44/40 explored the world and the west. A standard .45 ACP isn't that much lighter and slower than the old .45 Colt standard loads and should beat out the 1860.

Obviously a magnumized .45 Colt is a different matter.

But, would our old friend the 1911, loaded with standard FMJ ammo- or some sort of specialty ammo - suffice to dissuade most furry creatures and also, up close, fell one for dinner?
 
I would think so. I carried a 1911 for the last 20+ years of my career and killed a lot of injured deer with it. I believe deer with a broken leg or two are harder to drop than an uninjured deer because of the adrenaline, and the .45, with 230 gr-jhp usually penetrated the chest cavity, when that was the shot I had to take, and killed quickly. I have read of a number of people who have hunted deer with a 1911, and while that wouldn't be my first choice, under 50 yards, it would work if you could hit what you needed to. For feral dogs and such, it would be great.
 
The only .45ACP I carry in the woods is a S&W 625 revolver. I just don't like semi-auto loaders out in the woods. That is one place I just prefer a revolver. It is not a place I expect to have a need for rapid fire and extra magazines.
 
I suppose it depends on how big and what type of dangerous game is in the area you are walking through. While certainly not the best load for small - medium Bear, I suppose a few well placed shots might get the job done on a smaller Bear, wolf etc. For Larger dangerous game I would opt for something a bit more powerful like a 44 Magnum.

I personally carry my M65 with BB 180 grain hard cast .357 Magnum ammo, but where I hike and explore the Black Bears are small to medium sized and still mostly fear humans. If I were in Alaska a 44. Magnum would be minimum.
 
I have a cabin in the mountains of Virginia. There are some really big bears around my land. I routinely carry my Kimber TLE RLII when I am out in the woods and would not be afraid to carry it in Alaska. 8 rounds of 45 acp is way more than ANY living thing can stand, period end of story. First choice for cape buffalo...not a chance in H E double el...but I wouldn't be afraid if that was all I had either. First choice for a survival pistol...depends what I am trying to survive. Not really a good gun for squirrel, but definitely works good for taliban!!!!
 
msinc said:
I have a cabin in the mountains of Virginia. There are some really big bears around my land. I routinely carry my Kimber TLE RLII when I am out in the woods and would not be afraid to carry it in Alaska. 8 rounds of 45 acp is way more than ANY living thing can stand, period end of story.
Click to expand...

Trying to stop a charging grizzly with a 45acp would be the end of your story ;)
 
A few points to interject. 1) The gun you have with you is your survival gun for the duration of the emergency. 2) In WWII fliers in the Pacific had available to them 1911 magazines of 45 ACP shot shells and 45 ACP flares, which greatly expanded the 1911's usefulness in the role. 3) Concerning bears, in October 2011 a mentally ill man in Muskingum County, Ohio released his collection of exotic animals, then killed himself. When a sheriff's deputy was investigating, a full grown male Grizzly Bear, was looking for food or his owner or whatever and the deputy drew his Glock in 40 S&W and killed the non-excited bear in one shot. So the auto handguns will do a reasonably good job on getting anyone out of hot water!

When I walk in the woods I carry a 1917 on a lanyard. When I was younger and Backpacked in the hills I carried a alloy framed 1911 with a 1 magazine each of ball, HP, and shot shells. This was just as a sidearm, If I was planning to hunt for a major portion of my food I took along a single shot 20 gauge and about 15 or 25 assorted rounds.
 
I have used the 45 ACP, or ballistic equivalent, on several game animals. It worked well. I did not use a 1911 but a S&W revolver but I see no reason the self loader would not do as well if tuned for the loads in the magazine.

Kevin
 
"I personally carry my M65 with BB 180 grain hard cast .357 Magnum ammo, but where I hike and explore the Black Bears are small to medium sized and still mostly fear humans."


Me too, except I have two of them.
013225.JPG


I also carry my S&W 1006 with Underwood ammo.
Photo7121.jpg


I did use my Colt LW Commander to deter an aggressive Doberman a few years ago. Nothin says "WHOA"!! like a couple of Hornady FMJ's at five yards.
DSCN03983.JPG
 
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msinc said:
I have a cabin in the mountains of Virginia. There are some really big bears around my land. I routinely carry my Kimber TLE RLII when I am out in the woods and would not be afraid to carry it in Alaska. 8 rounds of 45 acp is way more than ANY living thing can stand, period end of story. First choice for cape buffalo...not a chance in H E double el...but I wouldn't be afraid if that was all I had either. First choice for a survival pistol...depends what I am trying to survive. Not really a good gun for squirrel, but definitely works good for taliban!!!!
Click to expand...

Hmmm.... Ever shoot a dog running at you who had evil intentions? You'd be surprised what God's creatures can "stand" and just how long they can stand it.
 
Some have mentioned using .45 shot shells.
From personal experience, I would advise against using shot shells in any semi auto gun.
It can create a very nasty jam up when one of the shot shells comes apart during recoil inside the gun. Hundreds of little rat shot pellets will get into every nook and cranny inside the gun rendering it useless.
Don't do it!
 
I've used and carried 1911's for many years. They are accurate, dependable firearms (mine anyway). The .45 ACP cartridge is a good compromise between effectiveness and controllability. Would it be my 1st choice against big critters? Not at all...large bore revolvers with the term "magnum" in their name are a better choice, or a large bore rifle is even better. But if it is all I had, then I would take it and not worry.
 
As I said in another thread, my Son-in-Law carries a 1911 when he helps work his dad's farm.

To date, he has taken two feral hogs that presented themselves.

As cmort said, around here, I would not feel undergunned.
 
I live in Ohio too. I shot a Doe with a Gold Cup at about 15yds, it
snuffed it proper. Having said that, I could have done the job with my K-22 at that distance. The only other use in the "woods"
I got out of a 1911, was to shoot a few holes though my cabin
to run 12/2 wire for new generator. So barring escaped zoo
animals I feel real safe with my K-22 in the woods of SE Ohio.
When handgun hunting in Ohio I use 44 mg or 45 Colt.
 
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