[Sharpie1]

Is the .45 ACP an effective round for use in taking whitetail deer?

If so, what would be the most appropriate cartridge to use?

Thanks,

--tadyson

[Art Eatman]

I'd not choose that as a preferred pistol round, but it has been known to work. I'd want to be up close and personal, though. There's just not that much energy in that cartridge.

Bullet choice? The heaviest open-cavity type that's available.

Art

[Sharpie1]

The reason I am asking is because sometimes when my father and cousin and I hunt together, we sometimes take turns "driving" the woods in the area.

I have been known to carry a .44 Magnum revolver while doing this instead of a rifle, but we no longer have that revolver - it was really too heavy to carry while running through the woods, anyway.

The only other suitable thing I have is my full-size Springfield .45. I don't want to lug around a rifle while crawling under laurels, and through the briars.

Thanks,

TD

[Preacherman]

Stephen A. Camp, of this forum, has done this before. Below is a picture of one he took with a .45 ACP:


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid42/pee307b4c55bab25d3a61ed177595bfed/fceed0e8.jpg


And this one he took with a long-slide 9mm!!! :what:


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid40/p17aecd1a45494d121f63990d81c21170/fd0422ec.jpg


(These pictures are from this thread (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?threadid=419) on THR.)

[Art Eatman]

Well, yeah, Preach, but I wuz thinkin' of real deer, not a camp meat size of critter...:D

tadyson, if you're close enough in those circumstances to feel comfortable with your sight picture, you're probably okay.

:), Art

[Sharpie1]

Thanks.

Yes - I would only use my .45 if the deer were within 30 yards or so. Otherwise, I would probably have a rifle with me.

Thanks again,

TD

[mpthole]

A buddy of mine got two deer last season with his 1911. I think he used Federal Hydra-Shok. Can't remember the bullet grain size though... And really, what's the difference between a 200-250 pound human and the same size in an animal? A little more muscle around the rib-cage maybe, but as long as you've got good shot placement I can't see a good reason not to hunt with one.

[Art Eatman]

mpthole, stipulating self defense, there ain't no ethics involved in shooting people. Personally, I don't care if it's a "clean kill" that is as painless as is feasible...

:), Art

[5ptdeerhunter]

The deer and the gun look so good in the picture together. They just seem to match up to me.

[P95Carry]

Close range and good shot placement ....... even .22 might work.!!!

But - from choice ..... NO .......... the risk of a low energy round like that not doing the job is too great IMO. I'd not use anything myself below full house 44 mag ....... .454 Casull preferable.

[mete]

A much better choice would be a hot loaded 45colt , 41 mag ,44mag or in an auto 10mm. My own experience has been with 44mag, bullets between 225-240 grain work well. Bullet placement is VERY important. Practice often and limit distance to where you can consistantly hit the viatl area.

[Art Eatman]

As always, skill level and shot placement.

My uncle hated horses; he worked his cattle via an old WW II Signal Corps Harley 45. He carried a 1911 in a GI holster, hanging from the handlebar. He loaded his own ammo, with cast, pure lead 230-grain RNs.

Every now and then some little volunteer buck would get an attack of the stupids and just stand and stare. Big mistake. His comment about the deal was, "Well, that soft lead just sorta wraps around them." :) Hard to argue with a guy who's busy disassembling a deer...

But he was good enough with a pistol to spin clothespins on a line, with a .25ACP Lilliput from some five yards or so...

Art

[Rebeldon]

It can be done, but why?

[Art Eatman]

Rebeldon, tadyson's second post explained that...

:), Art

[Old Pa]

I have been known to carry a .44 Magnum revolver while doing this instead of a rifle, but we no longer have that revolver - it was really too heavy to carry while running through the woods, anyway.

The difference in weight between one of my 1911s loaded with 230gr ammo and my 6" 629 Classic Hunter loaded with my preferred 200 gr XTPs is less than 12 ounces. In my Bianchi shoulder rig, the 629 is actually more comfortable to carry and more out of the way. It's effective range on deer is at least twice that of the .45ACP. Make mine the Smith.

BTW, "running through the woods" during a group drive?

[Sharpie1]

"running through the woods" during a group drive?

No.

Here is what I posted earlier - in case you (obviously) didn't read it.

we sometimes take turns "driving" the woods in the area.

That means it is one person going/running - whatever - through the woods.

But no, it isn't going through the woods as a group. :)

Also - My .44 Magnum was about two pounds [or more] heavier than my full-size 1911.

--tadyson

[Old Pa]

I did an edit-copy-paste from your second post so I would not screw the quote up; thanks none the less for your clarifying explanation. Two pounds more than my GM1911 is virtually my 94 Trapper in .44MAG!

[Art Eatman]

I've worked thick brush in creek bottoms, driving deer for others. I've heard a lot more deer, that way, than ever I've seen...Might as well not bother with any gun! :)

But, I've commonly carried a RedHawk in a cross-draw holster. I definitely prefer a .44 Maggie to any lesser cartridg.

:), Art

[Old Pa]

Surest way I've found to see deer is not to bring a gun. :D

[P95Carry]

Surest way I've found to see deer is not to bring a gun. Ain't that the truth ....... :D