45LC Rifle Deer/Hog hunting

[Gene R]

Anyone use a 45LC for hunting?
 I'm currently using it in a Ruger Black Hawk and am considering getting a Marlin. I like the pistol cal. especially the 45LC. Some of the hunting I do is on the ground and I do not have as much worry with bullet travel with this round.

[jimster]

I've been shooting the 45 LC for almost 30 years, it's still my favorite caliber.  It will take deer and critters of all kinds.  I started out with black hawks pushing the 45 LC to the limit when I was younger, using both jacketed and cast bullets and was not to bright about my loads when younger either.  I've learned a lot.  Now probably won't ever buy a jacketed bullet in 45 LC again, I shoot all cast bullets now and nothing much more than around 900 fps out of a handgun, anything more I need will be a different caliber, but that is just me these days.  I love this caliber and really like the fact that there are rifles out there of all different kinds for the 45 LC too.  I think it's a great caliber for hunting within it's limits and there is some power there if you wish to load it up in Rugers or certain rifles.   I see NEF has a carbine now in 45 LC that looks kind of like it's big brother NEF Buffalo Classic, wouldn't mind having a look at this single shot for fun too.  A Marlin rifle would be an excellent choice for 45 Colt.  You would not regret it.

[Castaway]

I've taken a fair share of game, both pigs and deer with the 45 Colt cartridge out of my Trapper.  Two pigs have fallen to my Black Hawk.  Every critter shot died just as quickly as if hit by a 30-06.  I push a 255 grain bullet at 1,500 f/s from the carbine and nearly 1,200 f/s from the pistol, loaded with a generous, but within-the-book charge of either of the 4227's or H110.

[bigjeepman]

I have been away from this site for almost 6 months due to moving 1600 miles but when I saw the 45 Colt question, it hit a soft spot. It is my favorite caliber too and I have even taken it boar hunting in Tennessee several years ago with my Marlin Cowboy lever action. My son and I each dropped a boar over 225 lbs with one shot kills. I will take my Ruger Hunter on my next hog hunt ... should I ever get to go again.

[Gene R]

I've killed several hogs with my Ruger BH and 1 deer so far, but I am curious as to how much better the 45LC would perform on game out of a rifle compared to a handgun?

[Castaway]

Dead is dead.  Pigs generally die when and where they're it.  Not one of the nine deer killed with 45 colt has gone further than 40 yards when hit by 255 grains of lead from the Trapper.  Could they have gone further?  Of course.  I've hit deer with 423 grains of putty soft lead from my 45-70, turning their heart into jelly and have seen more than one go 100 yards or more before piling up.  I don't feel a bit under gunned with the short barreled 45 Colt.

[Lloyd Smale]

not out of a rifle but lots with a handgun and never found it lacking.

[quickdtoo]

I see NEF has a carbine now in 45 LC that looks kind of like it's big brother NEF Buffalo Classic, wouldn't mind having a look at this single shot for fun too.  

I have a .45 Colt BC Carbine, with near max Ruger level loads of Lil'gun under the 250gr Speer GDHP or Hornady 250gr SST muzzleloader bullet, velocities are over 1900fps, accuracy so far is 1½-2" at 100yds. I don't think the SST would cycle in a levergun loaded to over 1.9" , but may work loaded shorter. I've also shot 230gr cast bullets, but accuracy wasn't the best when sized to .454".

Tim