Hi, I am Marv, I started with a hand gun for big game in the early 80's with a Ruger 45 colt with a 4&5/8 inch barrel and cast bullets and a 14 inch 7x30 waters contender for mule deer. I got a 45-70 barrel for elk in about 89. I put down the guns for a while and hunted with the pointed stick for a number of years and I am going to hunt with the 45 exclusively this season.
I have been practicing on ground squirrels with 305 grain cast bullets, complete penetration LOL....