[KIMBER45TLE]

Five point taken two years ago with a Custom TLE II at 25 yards.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/KIMBER45TLE/9005800-R1-031-14.jpg

Seven point taken last year with the same pistol at 20 feet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v374/KIMBER45TLE/4470930-R1-015-6.jpg

[freedom and guns]

Congratulations! That's usin' the old warhorse!

[griz]

Congrats!

What load do you use?

[KIMBER45TLE]

Load on the five point was a factory Federal Hydra Shok 230 grain. Shot placement was just behind the shoulder bone going in, then burried up in the opposing shoulder and stopped. Heart and lungs were a jumbled up mess.

Load on the Seven point was a 230 grain Golden Saber HP in front of 7.0 grains of IMR4756. That was a thru and thru shot at 20 feet. No bullet recovery.

The week before I shot the seven point I took a rather large doe using Speer Gold Dots 230 grainers. She was at 30 feet. That shot also went thru and thru with no bullet recovery. I really wanted to recover those rounds too hoping to see what kind of expansion there was to them. I was mildly shocked to see the Gold Dot and the Golden Saber pass thru. I must say this though, the exit wound was rather large with pieces of lung hanging out.

[30-06 lover]

The say that is Awesome would be a gross understatement! Congrats!!!
-Mike

[Pumpkinheaver]

I tried for a couple of years to take a deer with my Kimber using the corbon 200gr +p load to no avail. Glad you got yours.

[JohnMc]

Wish we could use .45ACP in North Carolina for Bambi. Then, I'd buy one.
Straight-sided pistol cartridges less powerful than .357 Magnum can only be used for dispatch, not primary taking.

[KIMBER45TLE]

The first deer I took with a pistol was back in 1974. I had leaned the rifle up against a tree to answer a call to Mother Nature. While relieving myself of the morning coffee a nice six point walked out at 81 steps. Rifle was too far away to reach for, so I pulled a Mod 19 four inch from the holster and he became both history and dinner for a couple of months. That was the last time I carried a center fire rifle into the woods. Don't even own one now.

Most years after that I went to a Mod 629 using jacketed hollow points or soft points of Hornady or Remington fodder. Several years ago before heading up to Alaska on a moose hunt a buddy of mine discovered some Keith style SWC's in 275 grain weight. When I pull the 44 out now, that's what I hunt with but for most of the areas I hunt, the brush is really thick so it's hard to swing a rifle let alone put one in a scope.

I became somewhat of a 1911 fanatic some 3 1/2 years ago, and decided to try hunting with that. So far, I've been pretty lucky at seeing deer within range. I think for the most part when trying to take deer sized game, I'd keep my shots to 40 yards and under to ensure a good clean swift kill.

Keep trying with your 45. Find you some good thick cover with lots of buck sign in it. (Rubs, scrapes, etc.) Stay with it, sooner or later you'll catch one coming in and when you do it will be so satisfing that you actually took a deer with your pistol let alone the fact it was a 1911. Good luck to you and thanks for the compliments.

[Pumpkinheaver]

Unfortunatly I have been bitten by the bowhunting bug again and that has been my passion for the last few years. Maybe I'll try again this year.

[KIMBER45TLE]

I use archery gear, black powder, and modern firearms. We have the three seasons here. If you manage to take a deer with all three the state will send you a "Master" hunter patch. I'm 55 and still have yet to get my patch. :(

[trickyasafox]

thats neat that they do a patch. my area of NY has bow, shotgun/pistol/muzzle, then a muzzle only again. we recieve NO PATCH!

i feel cheated!

[KimberTLE.45]

I have the same gun! I love it! Just need to practice more! Nice name BTW :D

[Mannlicher]

Congratulations on those fine deer. My hat is always off to guys who learn enough woodscraft to get a close in shot. Thats hunting.;)

[KIMBER45TLE]

I figure most people could murder a deer with a high powered rifle coming to a corn feeder. I prefer going in after them, not having them come to me.

[Mannlicher]

It seems these days that the emphasis is on long range blasting. I enjoy some hunting across clear cuts, and hay fields, but most of my hunting is done in very heavy cover down in a swamp.
What leads to success is knowing your animal, his habits, food and water needs, where he beds, and when he moves.
Being able to navigate through the woods silently, knowing where to look, where to wait, and how to cover your scent, all helps.
Looks like you have it down pretty good.

[Lennyjoe]

Good shooting. When I finally move back to the East side where I can get more than 1 deer a year I plan on using my 10MM and .45 to experience the same hunting you have.

[KIMBER45TLE]

I've got another guy at our camp that dropped a nice 8 point with his Raptor. Like you though he's moving up the the 10mm this year. He bought an Eclipse in 10mm that he's working up loads for now.

[Lennyjoe]

Tell him 800X under 180gr XTP's and CCI mag primers are the cats meow!

[mljdeckard]

I have been startled in brush by deer that were too close to scope. (But only by does thus far, in Utah there are only a few special doe permits.)

I pulled out my army-issue vest and holster, and now when I hunt, I pull my Kimber Custom II out of my carry holster and put it in the drop-down leg holster. I have hit a jackrabbit and a coyote with it at 50 yards, and it is one of my biggest aspirations as a hunter to send pictures like those posted above to the Kimber factory, with myself over a two-point, slide open on my .45. If I can do that, I can do anything.

[KIMBER45TLE]

You can do it, just stay with it and it will happen. When I took the first buck with the Kimber I sent it to Dennis. He was amazed that I even thought about hunting deer with a 1911. We sent him a picture of my buddies 8 point he took with his Raptor, then the second buck I took. Tom at Top Gun Supply has also taken deer with 1911's.

I too,have jumped sorts of game up while snoopin' through the woods. I actually do this on purpose sometimes. It's a great mid afternoon past time. I've actually taken two nice bucks doing just that with my 44 magnum. Once a long time ago I could see the horns of a nice buck in the tall grass the wind blowing from him to me. I was near down on hands and knees trying to stalk in on him. Just as I was about to be able to see more than just the top of his head, I bumped into a covey of about 20 quail and they busted right up in my face. Quail went one way, deer another and me yet another.

[Clipper]

I knew a gunsmith 30 years ago who used a S&W 4" revolver in .45ACP to shoot deer. Said he usually only had a 20 yard shot where he hunted, and as he got older, he got tired of toting a rifle and the Smith was accurate...

[Matt G]

Great hunting, KIMBER45TLE! I've been carrying a 1911 of some kind into the woods for years but have yet to drop a deer with one. (Once missed a doe while making an ill-advised weak-handed shot, but recovered her with the '03 Springfield I had nearby.)

I agree that handgun hunting is a fine test of a hunter's true skills. While I'm confident of my pistol (either a Series '80 Gold Cup or a Kimber Stainless Classic) and my shooting at 25 yards or so, 40 begins to stretch things in the field for me. I took a javelina at 50 a few years back at Art's place, and it was embarrassing! I'm happy with the Gold Dot as a hunting load (it's my carry load), but occasionally have handloaded some Sierra 200g loads.

Our own Moderator Stephen A. Camp has similarly had some success with pistols on deer, and has done some very nice work documenting it by camera.

You mention your state providing the Master Hunter patch-- I'm not familiar with one here in Texas-- which state is doing that?

[KIMBER45TLE]

I know Steve from another forum. He writes some fine articles and would love to have him come down and join us in a hunt here in South West Arkansas. He'd love it. Arkansas has the patch.

[HammerG26]

KIMBER45TLE - my wife just got me this same gun. I have been wanting to try to take a deer with a handgun for some time. My other handgun I thought about using was a S&W M19 .357. I am now confident I can use my Custom TLE II as an option now. I saw the loads you used - would you recommend a heavier bullet? I currently carry Speer Gold Dots 200 gr +p. I also have some CorBon 185 gr +p (not to mention a couple of boxes of 230 gr FMJ or other hollowpoint). It is VERY important to me that the animal suffer as little as possible - I will do my part in practicing, just want to make sure I also have the right ammo.

[SoCalShooter]

That is awesome, lined up this year on a DOE with my HK USP .45acp if it had been a BUCK I would have taken the shot.

[30 cal slob]

Nice!

May I ask how far the deer ran after being shot?

I live in a state where handguns are not permitted for deer hunting (bow, shotgun, or centerfire rifle given suitable acreage).