.45 ACP carbine for deer?

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scythefwd

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I have a friend that is looking to use his .45 acp Mech-Tech carbine adapter for his glock on deer this year. The thing will put them into a bulls-eye at 75y all day long. What do you guys think on this? Should I suggest something with a little more punch or will this setup work for him? As I see it, the .45 acp has the punch, at least it's real close to it at 100y. From a carbine, I would suspect that it has just a little bit more and that it should be enough. It's either that or the 300 wby, and he is only shooting 75 yards or so.
 
fwiw... it is not legal to use a 45 where i am because it is underpowered. therefore, even though it is legal where you are, i would not do it. really, the 45 acp is not a real powerful chambering... maybe trade the weatherby off for a 7-08?
 
I have heard of people using them successfully... I have one for my 1911's, but I doubt it would be a first option for hunting... not saying I would never do it... I would just need a reason to justify not using my weatherby 270, or my Mauser 257 roberts, or my marlin model 30 30-30, or my CZ .223 or my Taurus 608 or any of my shotguns. If for some reason the mech tech was more capable in some situation than any of those options, then I would gladly grab it and head for the woods.
 
dakotasin,
I don't think he is looking to get rid of the vanguard. If he is..I'm the first in line for it:) Hell, if he doesn't use the carbine... I'll let him use my savage .30-30. It'll do 2 inch groups all day long. I was just wondering if I should be trying to talk him out of it or not.
 
I would try to talk him out of it. Especially if the only rounds he has are HP or ball. Neither is going to be very suitable to hunting. The .30-30 would be a good choice.
 
Get him to pick up a used Marlin .30-30. It's cheap enough he can't say he doesn't have the money for it and it's enough fun for him to want to use it as a matter of preference.
 
if he keeps his shots within his know accuracy distance with a suitable loaded round, why not. There are pictures on here somewhere with a gentleman that has been using his 1911 in 45 for hunting with very good luck. I use my Ruger Old Army for hunting out to 50yds and it works. :D
 
useing my Camp .45acp with a +P 185gr GS I blew a good sized chunk of skull and brains out of a 300lb feral hog sow at about 30 yds. DRT, this was from a ground blind and my nephew was in w/me toteing his H&R 20ga 3" mag #2 buck load as back-up.
maybe 'iffy' past about 50 yds IMO.
 
I'm not a hunter--but from what I know, won't the primary (legal) factor be the State / local hunting laws?

I dunno of many places that specifically allow the .45ACP round for hunting--and for those states whose laws reflect actual ballistics, you might have a hard argument with the warden should you meet him.

Jim H.
 
Legal in my area out of the carbine, not the pistol. Seen a deer taken at 80yds with the Remington 185gr +p XTP. DRT. Would not be my first choice.

t2e
 
Situation has changed since I posted here last, he might not even be in the state any more when rifle season comes. Life is funny that way. I hope he is.... I was planning on being there on opening day at about 5 AM with my muzzle loader. If he isn't going to live here any longer... it's gonna be a fun BBQ.
 
I my have over looked it, you need to look at mag capacity restrictions. It would suck to do all the homework and over look the simple mag part.
 
I wouldn't do it - it's really handicapping yourself penetration and range-wise. But accuracy is king, and he's accurate with it, so put it in the boiler room and it will work. It's a LOT better than trying it from a pistol.
 
It can be done. White tail arn't armored. Just be sure to placed your shot, just like any other rifle.
 
.45ACP has taken deer from a pistol. I know one guy that did it. Keep the range under 50 yards. It don't have a lot more out of the carbine than a pistol, just a little easier to place the bullet in the right spot. Use a +P load for best effect. I wouldn't hunt with it, but that's just me.
 
Please allow me to edit/expand on what *I* would have said if I had said what you are saying, more or less:

.45ACP has taken deer from a pistol. I know one guy that did it, but anecdotes ain't data. Keep the range under 25 yards. It don't have a lot more out of the carbine than a pistol, but far more importantly, it's a LOT easier to place the bullet in the right spot. I wouldn't hunt with it, but that's just me.
Click to expand...

:D :p
 
I just ran the ballistics. .45 ACP shoots flat enough to 50 yards. Drops a foot at 100, and well over 5 feet at 200, though.

That said, I wouldn't expect the carbine to let me shoot it any farther away than I would with a 1911.

There's only one reason I can think of, to get a .45 carbine. And I can't remember what it is.
 
When the time comes that a .452" hole through the vitals isn't enough to kill deer I'll take up knitting as a hobby. Why I hear some really irresponsible folks kill deer with this cartridge

290553_oi.jpg


Seriously though you should use hard case lead bullets because you want two blood drain out holes. Avoid personal defense type loads.
 
The only reason I asked was in the states that I hunt in, the semi-automatic centerfire rifle can only be used with a 5 round mag ( or altered to only accept 5 rds). As soon as you attach the upper to the handgun, it would be restricted to 5 rounds for hunting. Bolt action, pump, leverguns and handguns are not restricted.
 
Some states disallow pistol rounds shorter than magnum revolver rounds. I'm not sure if that would apply for a rifle and one of the states I'm thinkin' of doesn't allow rifles, anyway, LOL. It's a shotgun only state.

Texas, no problem, 100 round drum in a Auto Ordinance Thompson is legal so long as it's not a fully automatic one. :D Hunt the way Dillinger hunted.
 
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