Before

After the old PJ make-over

Are you hunting with that? My daughters bought me one(kimber classic stainless target in 45 acp) for fathers day this year. so far all that I have shot thru it is ball, but I'm hopin to collect on a doe permit with it thiss year. Any suggestions? I know that ballistically it falls way short of my 44's and contenders, but often I get very close range opportunities that with a good bullet I could use it to fill a tag, and at the same time, put it in your face to the genius types that say you cain't use an auto for hunting.

I don't know if it's about using an auto for hunting. It's just that most cartridges chambered for an auto don't have the energy adequate for dispatching a big game animal in the eyes of the rule-makers. Here in Minnesota you can use a 10mm but not a .45 ACP or .40 or 9MM for those reasons. There are autos chambered for magnum cartridges that are acceptable as well. IMO, a .45 ACP with a proper projectile will do the job if put in the right place within reasonable range, but so will a .224 and that is not legal here either. FWIW, Rod.

I would use a Hornady 200gr XTP or a 185gr Barnes XPB.

Federal makes a HOT 45acp load--230gr HST HP. Its a +P load. I took a deer last season with my Springfield carry gun with that load at 18yds. Was tracking a deer my cousin had down when a nice Buck stepped out in front of me. Put one in the boiler room, he went 15yds and dropped. No problem here with the 45acp for deer within "reasonable" range and a good load. I've also taken deer with my Delta Elite 10mm auto and this year hopefully will fill a tag with my Grizzly 45 win mag.