45 Colt replica viable for hunting?

[pathfinder]

My favorite woods packin' gun is my 5.5" Ruger NEW Vaquero. The aesthetic and the ergonomics are as close to perfect as I can imagine. I've enjoyed taking it along hiking, camping, scouting and fishing this year. With hunting season upon us I'm wondering if it would make a viable hunting handgun?

The "official" recommendation is to keep the loads at Colt/replica levels. Staying very close to that level I have a load that pushes a 255 gr SWC a little over 900 fps. I have another load that pushes a 255gr RNFP with about a .275" meplat nearly 950fps on average. Both shoot very accurately.

How viable and ethical would these loads be for Deer sized critters?

[Graybeard]

That's plenty as long as you put the bullet where it needs to go.

[Lloyd Smale]

totally agree with Bill.  Ive killed deer bear and pigs with loads just like that. It does just fine.

[Dan Chamberlain]

My single action army will consistently knock over the 6" metal plate at 80 yards. 

Dan

[Skillet]

Sounds plenty good.

I've been hunting with the .44 special and handloads for years, a good 250 gn hardcast swc doing around 1000 fps will give you clean-through penetration, even on hogs at normal handgunning distances.

They won't drop deer like a 30-06, but push it through the lungs and he won't go far. I've killed 21 whitetails with similar loads. The farthest one traveled was 75 yds. Most will only make about 30, if that far.

Accuracy is the main thing, but it sounds like you've got that part covered.

Skillet

[44 Man]

I've been shooting a load that moves a 270 gr SWC at 975 fps from my 'New' Vaquero and the gun loves it.  According to Brian Pearce it is a high end colt replica level load but safe.  It's been my .45 lc hunting load for years.  But as said before (and I agree), any 250/255 gr flat nose lead bullet moving from 900 to 1000 fps will do anything you ask of that gun.  44 Man

[pathfinder]

Many thanks gentlemen.