[mossie]

Ok; lets talk .45 roundball for deer. I want to build a rifle from a kit and I am thinking about a .45 caliber. Everyone seems to talk about the .54 but I would like to hear from the people who use the .45 with patched ball for deer. I am thinking along the lines of a 42" long 13/16" barrel but swamped would be ok with a pre-carved. How about twist 1/60 or 1/48?

 

[sparkchaser]

I would go with the 1-60 or 1-70 twist. Given the option of a 45 or 54, I would go with the 54. The main reasons would be a little more knockdown power and if the elk drawing gods ever smile at me I would use that for PA elk.

 

[brewyak]

Ask long hunter he built a sweet Lehigh in a 45cal that's a tack driver

 

[Ron pa]

I shot a few Deer with my .45 and never had a problem with it downing them. The one Doe I hit at the tip of the Shoulder and the Ball ended up stuck in the Hide in the opposite Hind Quarter. This was using a 60gr of 3F load. It was a complete pass through. But, I think I would go with the .54...just more Manly a Caliber????

 

[blitzinstripes]

Despite what ballistic "experts" and mathematical equations have to say about the little .45 patched round balls, mine is a tack driver and that little 127 gr. .440 ball with 80 grains of ffg Goex has put a pile of venison down over the years. I've also had it penetrate nearly lengthwise on a deer. With the 1:60 twist, it doesn't shoot tight with conicals or sabots, but if I do my part, it will clover leaf the patched round balls at 75 yds. It's my most accurate flinter, and though I have also have a .50, the .45 usually gets the nod for hunting. Mine is a CVA Kentucky rifle that my dad finished from a kit years ago. With the woods these days full of Hawkens, Renegades, and newer TC and Traditions rifles, mine is a real conversation piece when we get together to hunt in late season. Dad built the rifle, I added a wood engraving of a sow black bear and two cubs into the stock. Someday I will give that rifle to my son. He's also proving to be quite artistic, so I told him when the day comes, to leave his mark on the gun and pass it on.

 

[410-er]

I have one custon 45.Have yet to get a shot at a deer with it but know it will do the job.Has a Bob Hoyt 1:70.
Numerous other 45' in TC Senecas,Hawkens,and a Lyman Plains in 45.
The 45 is probably my favorite caliber in a muzzy for deer.

 

[Alpinbogen]

I have a .45 longrifle, similar to what you descibe, with a 42" barrel and 1:66 twist. I've killed six deer with it, using 55 grns of fffg and patched round balls. All but one shot were passthroughs (including penetration through shoulder blades, front leg bones, and spine), and all deer dropped on the spot or ran <80 yds (across an open field). Shot distances have been between 15 and 100 yds. The one that didn't pass through "apple-cored" its way, lengthwise, through the center of the spine, and accounted for one of the deer dropping in its tracks. I never wounded one, so I can't vouch for what a .45 roundball may do on a gut shot vs. a .54, but I would suspect similar results.

If/when I were to build or buy another longrifle, I think I'd stick with a .45. IMO, the pros are it having almost no recoil, having a very flat trajectory, being perfectly adequate for deer, and being inexpensive to shoot with low powder loads and cheaper balls. The only con to me is that I may want something larger if I were to go after bigger game.

 

[tobyje]

I'd go with a 1-56 twist, second choice would be a 1-66.

Bill

 

[mountainman09]

i would go with the 45 just my to scents i have both 45 and 50 and just love shooting my 45 i would hunt with it but just to nice thats why i carry my 50

 

[long hunter]

This is only my 2nd year with the .45. I have taken 2 deer with her so far. the first shot was about 75 yds right behind the shoulder breaking the offside shoulder, ball just under the hide expanded to the size of a quarter. Deer went less than 10 yds.
The second was same shot placement @ 25 yds and droped in its tracks complete pass through.
Load is .440 round ball and 75 gr of 2f Swiss from a 38 inch Green Mt barrel 1 in 72 twist. I have taken alot of deer with larger cals. and the .62 is my go to gun but i carry the .45 with complete confidence it will do the job.