Has anyone hunted with a 45 auto?

[Certaindeaf]

Did those round balls exit the deer or remain in them?

They went through.. no major bone structures were hit. And I wasn't using pure lead, like you're "supposed" to, but wheel weights lead. That thing was an absolute laser with what/how I fed it.

 

[Robbins290]

In maine its legal to hunt with handguns. Round limit does not matter for handguns under 8" barrels or less. When im pushing deer. I carry a gi 1911. Drops them in one shot.

 

[Certaindeaf]

..When im pushing deer..

Is that legal? What are you talking about?

 

[TarDevil]

well, not w/my colt or 625 - in NC the bbl is 6" and over

There is no minimum barrel restrictions for hunting deer with handguns in NC...the only restriction is minimum of .24 caliber.

 

[klausman]

Many states have minimum energy requirements. You must check the local requirements to stay out of trouble.

 

[Robbins290]

Certaindeaf

Yes its legal. You are allowed to hunt in groups of 2 or 3. Me and my friend usally go together. We take turns pushing. I always make sure i fallow the game laws. Game wardens are thick in my area.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Interesting

I knew a guy that had hunted every animal in the US, and taken his Sako .375 H&H to Africa several times. His greatest wish was to hunt Whitetail or Mulie with his Colt 1911 .45 ACP. Haven't seen him for so long, I don't know if he ever did.

 

[eldon519]

Robbins290,

Just out of curiosity, what does "pushing" deer mean? I don't know anything about group hunting. Is it flushing them out for the other hunters?

 

[Robbins290]

Eldon519.

Yes, its to move or flush deer to the other hunter. You have to know the land pretty good for it to work

 

[eldon519]

Thanks Robbins.

 

[4season]

I find that most deer killed on public land are pushed. If you get in the woods early, in a area that gets lots of hunting traffic, when the sleepy heads start in the wood they will push deer right to you. Also if you know the area well and you see someone walking in on top of the ridge you can drop under them and they will push deer down to you. Now if you organize a deer push you want to make sure that everyone knows the land well, knows where you will be walking, and only takes shots with a sure backstop. Now there may be some areas where pushing is considered illegal but in Tennessee you can't use dogs to push, but it is perfectly legal to shoot deer being chased by humans.

 

[Lj1941]

45 acp

The caliber would be legal in Pennsylvania but not in a 1911. PA for reasons unknown to me does not allow semiautos in handgun or rifle.It would be interesting to try in a revolver.

 

[CraigC]

I've never used it for deer, yet but have on other targets of opportunity. If you can make the shot and use the right bullet, the .45ACP is an excellent 50yd deer slayer.

3. Should it be done? The general consensus is that you need 1000 fl/lbs of energy to kill a deer. A 45 ACP is only 400-500 at the muzzle. To get to 1000 you need a hot 45 Colt or 44 mag. Now personally I like the Taylor KO factor better than pure energy calculations which shows 12.7 for the 45 vs say 6 for a 223 despite the 223 having close to 3 times the energy. However a 223 would enter, expand, and probably exit, leaving two holes for blood loss, while a 45 will probably stay in the deer leaving only one larger hole for blood loss. So while it is borderline for caliber, if you are looking for a challenge and have the marksmanship to make the shot and the discipline to not take a bad shot, it would be a nice change. But if you just want to kill a deer, take a good rifle and leave the handgun at home.

That general consensus must among those who have never done it.

 

[cjl_1775]

I do not but had a buddy who did last year with a 9mm he brought as a backup. It was a nice shot.

 

[Robbins290]

No problem eldon519

 

[ljnowell]

That general consensus must among those who have never done it

Thats how I feel too. 1kft/lbs is ridiculous. Not that I wouldnt use a cartridge that makes it, just that its not required. I like my 45 colt for deer hunting..

 

[eastbank]

i shot two doe with a ruger blaclhawk revolver with the .45apc cylinder in place,reloads with a 200gr jsp bullet at 1000fps, both complete double lung pass thru,s at less than 20yds. eastbank.

 

[Jsg81]

East bank

I have no doubt that I would be the biggest limiting factor if I did hunt with the 45acp but that is the exact set up I was thinking of when I asked the question.

 

[huntsman]

last year I bought a Blackhawk convert in .45C/.45acp just for deer hunting with the plan being the .45acp would be for plinking. I was surprised to see the ODNR has dropped the 1" case length min so now the silver tips or WWB .230JHP are a viable option if I don't get to buy the BB deer grenades I want, with a 5.5" barrel I have full confidence in the 45acp within my range limit of 35 yards.

 

[eastbank]

this early two pin .45 ruger has been one of my most accrute revolvers useing both cylinders. useing unique for the .45acp and winchester 296 in the .45 colt. eastbank.

 

[Jsg81]

My wife is going to be mad at anyone posting pictures. At least I am going to blame you as I drive to the gun store.