Georgepat1
Member
I have long Colt and acp's. Which would be better for deer hunting? I've not hunted for deer with a pistol before. George
Choice of Pistol for Hunting?
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Frank237
Absent Comrade
I've used 250-265 gr .452" Keith type SWC's at 950 fps on deer and on double lung shots the slug always exits. Deer runs 50 yds...if that.... and piles up.
Unless you have MONSTER, bullet proof deer the .45 Colt is all you need.
PLACEMENT is the key. Pop both lungs, possibly hit the heart as well...your soon cleaning a deer.
FN in MT
Unless you have MONSTER, bullet proof deer the .45 Colt is all you need.
PLACEMENT is the key. Pop both lungs, possibly hit the heart as well...your soon cleaning a deer.
FN in MT
As Frank said, placement is key, and either cartridge would do.
Seeing as my aim is poor, I go for power. Figure if I hit Bucky's toe, he's down.
Seeing as my aim is poor, I go for power. Figure if I hit Bucky's toe, he's down.
mg357
Absent Comrade
for hunting with a handgun my choice would be a s&w model 686 .357 magnum revolver with a 4 inch barrel.
venomballistics
Member
run the long colt in a stout revolver .. it can meet or beat the 44 magnum while it can be loaded way down thus covering everything from bunnies to bucks
As Frank said, placement is key, and either cartridge would do.
Seeing as my aim is poor, I go for power. Figure if I hit Bucky's toe, he's down.
Hopefully - you are joking
Practice with your pistol, or use a scoped rifle, or stay home...
Bullets zipping through the foliage are not only disturbing they are beyond acceptable
As to the OP - 45 Colt works fine. I usually hunt deer (and squirrels for that matter) with a pistol and approach it like bow hunting.
Brian41
Member
I bow hunt and use handguns on deer and as mentioned both are similar.
I use a Ruger SBH .44 mag and .41 mag 657. I have a model 25 in .45LC I would use no problem either if not for the first two.
All will kill a deer no problem but I'm comfortable at 50 yards and less, even closer with a bow. A rifle or shotgun is my choice for further out.
Oh yes, estimating distance (rangefinder) or markers help here.
I use a Ruger SBH .44 mag and .41 mag 657. I have a model 25 in .45LC I would use no problem either if not for the first two.
All will kill a deer no problem but I'm comfortable at 50 yards and less, even closer with a bow. A rifle or shotgun is my choice for further out.
Oh yes, estimating distance (rangefinder) or markers help here.
I'd love to try the ACP on deer (I only shoot hardball in 1911s, btw) but only if I had someone that I trust backing me up - At least the first time.
I'm color blind and cannot see blood on the ground (it's the very same color as the grass and the dirt
) So the deer needs to be DRT or I have a problem.I've used 45LC (although there really isn't any such thing
) 44 mag and 357 mag on deer without problems, if that helps.If I were hunting over a field (I usually hunt extremely overgrown swamps and bottom land) I'd carry a .270. But for up close a pistol works great and is way easier to tote
venomballistics
Member
Hopefully - you are joking
Practice with your pistol, or use a scoped rifle, or stay home...
Bullets zipping through the foliage are not only disturbing they are beyond acceptable
As to the OP - 45 Colt works fine. I usually hunt deer (and squirrels for that matter) with a pistol and approach it like bow hunting.
Ive tried to get the 44 down to a squirrel gun ...
bunny buster seems the lowest title it'll wear
Ive tried to get the 44 down to a squirrel gun ...
bunny buster seems the lowest title it'll wear
Think *head shot*
venomballistics
Member
and fertilize the tree it was on ....
even with head shots .. its a bit messy for the job.
bunnies on the other hand ... almost anything at 700- 900 FPS seems to just pass through extracting the bunnies soul in the wake
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
First question has to be hunting what? I have shot a deer with a 4" 357 but wont do it again. I have a 29-2 5" if I try again, or a 4" 25-5 45 colt. Also I might use one of my .44 specials, but nothing smaller for deer.
You dont need those big calibers for rabbits and squirrels. (Unless you arent planning on eating them.)
You dont need those big calibers for rabbits and squirrels. (Unless you arent planning on eating them.)
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Good golly! That should take out a bradley! Whats it do to your wrist?
venomballistics
Member
Honestly ye olde 44 does a great job on rabbits. The slug cruises through without much damage yet sledge hammers em to the ground as long as your running in the velocity range of 700 - 900
might work on squirrels .. if I could throw 240 grainers as accurately as I fire them.
bunnies seem to be its lowest practical limit yet it does this job astoundingly well for being so "overkill"
its one of the 44's many bonus anomalies
Dusty Miller
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I've used 45LC (although there really isn't any such thing
Go to the Colt website and you'll see they use the phrase "45 Long Colt". They'd be the experts in the matter.
Dusty Miller
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You don't like my squirrel gun Merril?
There must be some really BIG squirrels in your part of the country!
sgt.207
Member
I shot a buck three years ago with a S&W 25-5 in 45 Long Colt at about 50 yards. The round knocked him off of his feet. I now use the Buffalo Bore 255 grain standard pressure Keith load. I'd much rather use the 45LC than the 45acp.
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