45 ACP load for deer

[7P's]

I read this entire thread and was amazed that a 45 ACP was not considered a good hunting caliber by many. I think that caliber was used a long time ago in a very far away land and it dispatched a few water buffalo without a lot of fanfare and that’s a lot more animal than a whitetail or mulie.

I don’t think there’s any difference in killing power when a 0.452” cast slug weighing 240 to 260 grains is fired from a 45ACP or a 45 Colt at 950fps. Put in a heavier recoil spring in the 1911 platform and bump that velocity up to 1,050fps or so, if you feel you have a need for more power on either a whitetail or mulie.

To answer the OP’s question – If using commercial (factory) the 230 grain bonded jacketed bullets will provide the best chance for complete penetration (2-holes) – if you want to go with the 185 grain jacketed bullet the Barnes 185 TAC-XP will probably give you 2-holes as well.

Suppliers of commercial ammo which will more than meet your needs are Remington Bonded Golden Saber (not to be confused by the BJHP Golden Saber ammo, which means Brass Jacketed Hollow Point) and Winchester PDX1, which is also bonded. I’m sure there are other bonded versions out there that will work just as well. The non-bonded varieties will also work very well on thin skinned animals but aren’t as reliable relative to punching 2-holes – they will normally reach the vitals like any other 0.452” bullet.

Here’s a supplier of the 185 grain Barnes: 45 ACP SOLID DEFENSE X (SDX) Barnes 185 gr. HP +P

If you prefer cast, then you can go 200 to 255 grain hardcast and make 2-holes in deer sized game. Load your own or look at Buffalo Bore for commercial loads. BB has a couple, a 255 grain FN running at 925fps and 1,075fps. The hotter one needs a heavier recoil spring and maybe a buffer. Probably could punch 2-holes in hogs & black bear.

 

[BUFF]

I shoot several mule deer every year while working, deer of all sizes, that have been struck by vehicles and injured. I shot one this morning about 2:00, in fact. Often a dozen or more in the fall and winter, fewer in the spring and summer. Sometimes their injuries are obviously massive internal organ damage immobilizing them, while other times it is one or two broken legs that greatly impairs their running and jumping.

The areas I have to shoot deer are generally along the double lane roads circling the valley that are at the bases of the foothills of our mountains. Much of it is farm or ranch property, some belongs to a large mining concern with little development or structures, some is fairly well filled with residential housing and much of it can have heavy traffic. So, I have to take shots which minimize potential damage downrange, which impacts what part of the deer I can shoot and the angle of the shots I can take.

The first 10 years, I carried a 6 inch .357 Magnum usually loaded with Federal 125 grain JHP ammo. Every single round I shot into a deer completely penetrated and exited the part of the body I shot, be it chest and shoulders, neck or head. None of them needed 2 shots before expiring.

I have carried a Colt 1911 of one sort or another since returning to uniformed assignment for the last 8 years. Either a 5 inch or a 4-1/4 inch. The department has progressed through Federal's original Hydro Shock developments, first the one with the post in the cavity, then without the post but still with a truncated bullet profile, then the rounded ogive without the post, now the bonded HST. 230 grain, all of them, and Plus-P.

The bullets have still entered and exited the deer every time, chest and shoulder, neck or head shots. The deer seem to physically react less to the .45 than the .357, taking longer to die, it seems, sometimes moving a little further before they go down, and a few times I shot them a second time to hurry things along.

The longest shot was, strangely, on the biggest deer that was the least damaged. He was a very big 4 point mule buck. The motorcycle that hit him broke both of the deers front legs, about half-way between the hooves and the torso. He was hobbling along, about 30-35 yards from the road edge, trying to climb the hillside bank the road had been cut into. He took about half a step after one broadside, heart and lung shot, fell down and had stopped breathing before I could climb up to him.

If I had to shoot deer with a .45 ACP, I would use a 230 grain expanding bullet at Plus-P velocities, either factory or handload, and I would keep my shots to to 35 yards max and then be picky with my angles. I would take shots with the .357 Magnum out to 75 yards if the shot was clear and angle was correct.

The normal range at which you encounter the deer, as well as the size of the deer, would determine, for me, if I would use the .45. I couldn't ever see choosing it over the magnum revolver rounds if given the choice.

 

[Skip Sackett]

The normal range at which you encounter the deer, as well as the size of the deer, would determine, for me, if I would use the .45. I couldn't ever see choosing it over the magnum revolver rounds if given the choice.

I agree with this statement. What happens for most folks, and this is what the hunting rules here are dealing with, is that they get a really cool looking gun, head to the woods, try to use it at a gazillion yards and end up only wounding an animal. Dispatching wounded deer at close range is one thing, hunting them to a possible 100 yard shot or better makes the good old 45ACP a poor choice unless, maybe fired from a carbine.

FWIW

 

[cooperduper]

I wonder...

Seems as though, what with the reports of 45 ACPs so terrible on deer, we're lucky to have ever killed a foe in combat with one. I mean, combat, adrenaline and all. And all those deer killed with cartridges such as the 38-40 and 44-40. Oh, well. "Just sayin", myself, now.

 

[REP]

Seems as though, what with the reports of 45 ACPs so terrible on deer, we're lucky to have ever killed a foe in combat with one. I mean, combat, adrenaline and all. And all those deer killed with cartridges such as the 38-40 and 44-40. Oh, well. "Just sayin", myself, now.

I have to agree when you are talking about taking game that is of the same or less weight and volume of a grown man. Whitetails in the state of Michigan more often than not fall into this catagory. Also the same can be said for shooting distance. As indicated simular weight and velocity bullets worked in 1873 and will still work today.

 

[blueridge123]

Blueridge

Anyone have a source for WIDE SMOOTH triggers...I mean a half inch wide, or wider...?

for the S&W model 10.

 

[smoothshooter]

I tried to use a 45 ACP round for deer hunting in Missouri. I heard that you couldn't use the FMJ so I got some rounds that were, IIRC 180 gr. They were a kind of cone shaped lead bullet. I don't reload and have no idea what the powder was or anything like that. Whatever it was it didn't work. I shot at a deer in an open field, about 75 yards off and the bullet made it little more than 2/3rds of the way out there.
I traded the gun for a Winchester .300 magnum. Problem solved.
Peace,
gordon

Not much information to be gained from your post, except that the bullet shape was probably the worst possible for causing good tissue destruction.
Powder, powder charge, velocity, and detailled bullet information unknown. Sounds like a very light target load.
75 yards is probably beyond the ethical shooting range for any game with the .45ACP.

As far as I'm concerned, 15 yards is beyond the ethical shooting range with an unknown load like that.

 

[Hillbilly77]

Not much information to be gained from your post, except that the bullet shape was probably the worst possible for causing good tissue destruction.
Powder, powder charge, velocity, and detailled bullet information unknown. Sounds like a very light target load.
75 yards is probably beyond the ethical shooting range for any game with the .45ACP.

As far as I'm concerned, 15 yards is beyond the ethical shooting range with an unknown load like that.

Since the post you quoted is almost 8 years old, I’m sure he has seen the error of his ways.

 

[BC38]

Seems as though, what with the reports of 45 ACPs so terrible on deer, we're lucky to have ever killed a foe in combat with one. I mean, combat, adrenaline and all. And all those deer killed with cartridges such as the 38-40 and 44-40. Oh, well. "Just sayin", myself, now.

I have to agree when you are talking about taking game that is of the same or less weight and volume of a grown man. Whitetails in the state of Michigan more often than not fall into this catagory. Also the same can be said for shooting distance. As indicated simular weight and velocity bullets worked in 1873 and will still work today.

There is a very important difference you are missing. In combat nobody stands up and uses their 1911 to take 50 or 100 yard shots at the enemy if they have any other choice. A handgun is reserved for use as a last-resort. The rifle is the weapon of choice
if one is available.

And that's really what we're talking about here - why anyone would make the CHOICE to shoot at a man-sized animal that isn't attacking them with a handgun caliber meant for use as an up close and personal self defense sidearm.

 

[alwslate]

Zombie thread

 

[stansdds]

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

You have a 44 mag? Why would you want to go down to a 45 acp?? I have shot 3 deer with the 44 mag that were heart lung shots and had to track all of them from 40-90 yds, all were broadsid , both lungs destroyed and 1 heart this was with hydroshocks, IMI soft point, Rem soft point. I have since switched to 250 XTP- one FELL about 3 yds otherwise is was like Thor's hammer and anchored them in the spot. All were broadside 33-35 yds. Why did some run ? I have no idea, at necropsy the damage was essentially the same with all loads, deer range from a 120 doe to 175 lbs buck?? I have shot deer with 357 mag and 40 SW ( 165 gr ranger ) all dropped there. IF you have to go with the 45 I would use XTP 230 or ranger 230 +P, and keep it to 50 yd or under. There is nothing worse than trailing/tracking a deer that should be lying on the ground. Enjoy. Be Safe.

All deer can run with lung shots......Even from a high powered rifle......Break the running gear(bones-neck/back/shoulders) with a centerfire pistol or rifle and they fall DRT.

 

[Doug M.]

I am pretty sure that within certain parameters the .45ACP can do the job. Not a first choice. The only deer I shot was with a .45, but it was LE duty, putting down one hit by a car. If I were hunting, I am pretty sure that the load of choice would be a good hard lead SWC.

 

[TAROMAN]

1911 specially configured for hunting deer:

I have test fired this one, and it took full power 230 grain loads just to move that slide.