I just traded for a Taurus PT1911 .45. I was considering doing a little whitetail hunting with it. I dont handload anymore so factory will have to do. I cant remember for sure if I actually killed some deer in the past with the .45 acp. I do know that the .45 Long Colt is extremely effective for Texas whitetails. I have taken a fair number of deer with it, and ballisticly they are very similar. Im just not real sure about the effectiveness of the acp. Whats everyones view on the .45 ACP for hunting deer with good expanding or wadcutter bullets ? Ranges will be 30-40 yds tops.

I think the accuracy of the gun will determine a lot about the distance you should be shooting. I've never used a 45 ACP but I would pick a 230 grain hollow point that shoots well in the gun and go from there.

If you are shooting "cowboy" loads in your 45LC you can say it is similar to the 45ACP, but I wouldn't recommend those for whitetail hunting, nor the 45ACP. The 45LC can be loaded beyond the 44 magnum's capability and you cannot say that about the 45ACP. The 45ACP is better suited to your nightstand than the deer woods, but if you feel compelled to shoot a deer with it make sure your bullet hits where it should and get some ammo with some punch from Double Tap, Cor-Bon, Buffalo Bore or Grizzly.

I think there are better rounds you could use for deer hunting but there have been several killed with a 45ACP and I am sure you may do the same.

I shot a small pig (120 lbs) about 10 years ago with a 45ACP (was the only gun I had with me at the time) and 230gr HP's I unloaded the mag and hit it 6 times in the process -- every time I would hit it a ton of dust would fly and it would stop but then it would just keep moving off. I knocked it down 2 time of the 6 hits. Found it dead about 500 yards away. 2 rounds were in the chest 1 mid body and 3 in the butt.

I have used 200 grain hornady xtp +P and have good luck. Keep it in bow range and you will be fine. Killed a nice 10 pointer 2 years ago when I was still on the handgun only fence and have sensed change to handgun only anyway 2 shots and 2 hits the deer went down 40 yards away so I was happy.

I knew this would get some mixed feelings on hunting, I have always been told that there is not a better manstopper than a .45. A deers body and bone density is similar to a humans. Shot placement and bullet type will be critical. I'll let yall know how it turns out. Now for the challenge of trying to locate a box of good factory ammo! Thanks for the replies!

Take that statement with a grain of salt when it comes to stopping a wild animal.

A deer hasn't got a quit reflex like a two legged predator has. The human mind doesn't react well to a gapping hole that is pouring out the sticky red stuff. His mind will call it quits. Now you take that same two legged critter jacked up on mind altering drugs and he will not care, like a deer or hog.

A "dead deer running" can cover a couple of hundred yards and a very short amount of time before expiring. The fight is out of him, and he is running blind much of the time, but without a big wound channel or two holes, it can be very hard to find him in a lot of the places I hunt.

The .45 is one of the best defense rounds of all time. I don't consider it a deer cartridge. I would use a .41 mag at a minimum for deer, and a 9MM/.38 special +P for defense.

This is just my opinion, and you know what they say about those.

Apex, that is "just your opinion", but it's a very good one. I agree 100%.

Well, took the gun out for a test run this morning and accuracy was surprising. I got 2" groups at about 40 yds with some borrowed handloads with 200 gr. wadcutter bullets. This is much better accuracy than other .45's Ive owned in the past. Still trying to locate some +P 230 HP. I know it aint a .44 mag, but I have confidence in its killing power at close ranges. Ive actually had lung hit deer run 150 yds shot with a 30.06 rifle, and dropped deer stone dead with a .223. As with any caliber, shot placement is critical.

amen for shot placement. have an 1930s stoger catalog that states the 30 mouser in a broomhandle was fine for wild bore and bears!?! bet that got real exciting sometimes. 45 acp for deer ya it will do but think ill stay with my 44

Just make sure if you are going to shoot a steady diet of +P's you get a higher rate recoil spring and buffers. This will save your gun and improve reliabillity. This will save the frame from getting battered and mushrooming from recoil of the added poop in these rounds.

This is the one I use and it seems to give good protection.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=185341

Muddy,

Apex and I certainly agree on one thing...the .45 ACP, especially in a hollow point, is the cat's meow of man stoppers! Make no mistake about that!
Now, I carry my .45 on the job loaded with Federal 185 grain Hydrashoks. Before those came along, I carried 230 grain Hydrashoks (the 185 do exibit significantly less recoil and promote more control in repeated fire, with similar terminal ballistics).
I would use niether for deer hunting. If I found that I simply "must" use a .45 ACP for whitetails (which are nothing like human beings in bone and muscle structure - by the way) I think I would have to use a solid of some type, and NOT a hollow point. You want plenty of penetration and indeed, it would be desireable to drill a hole straight through!

Renster