After deer season began this fall, I found a guy who needed cash and wanted to sell a S&W 25-5 (.45 Colt). Well, of course, I just had to buy it and THEN just HAD to give it a try.
I loaded it up with my reloads of 255 hard cast SWC with a big ole flat nose over some W231 to about 900 fPs. Sighted it in with these loads and found it to shoot very well indeed.
I had 7 deer at the feeder with some old cranky old does trying to run everybody else off. Finally worked and 2 young ones came near me into my grass plot at about 35 yards. I decided they were too small to shoot (about 60 lbs each). After a few minutes, I saw a big ole doe heading to the same patch. She was a little spooky and didn't want to come into the opening, but after SEVERAL minutes of watching the others, she came out of the woods.
It was about 7:30 am and she was to the west of me so she was well lit and stock still. I propped the pistol on the side of the stand for a good, steady rest and squeeeeezed it off ever so gently. She ran at the shot.
She was 50 yards away and this was the first deer I had fired upon with the .45 colt and the first one I had tried with iron sights.
Gave her a few minutes and tracked her down. She was stone dead about 35 yards from where she was when the hammer fell. Shot went in center of the left shoulder and exited rib 3 from the back. Very good performance of the load.
MAN! I really get a kick out of handgun hunting.
