Deer hunting with 45lc

[crow#2]

Anyone taken deer with a uberti1873 in 45lc?
What would me the max distance to take deer with this rifle.
P.s. every deer I've taken except one has been under 50 yards. Just curious

 

[Wvfarrier]

Not an Uberti but I have with an 1892 in 45 colt. I used a black powder load to take a doe at 95 yards. It punched through both front shoulders and dropped her in her tracks

 

[Jack Ryan]

If you own the rifle, have you ever shot it?

 

[crow#2]

Rifle is on its way. I know I need to find the best load and shoot it ,sight in,,shoot out to 100 yards.i probably would not try a 100 yard shot even after getting the gun and me ready. I like the 50 and under shots. My last one was with a stick bow at around 18 yards quartering away 9 point.Come to think of it 80%of my deer have been under 20 yards and more than one at close to 5 yards.

 

[Wvfarrier]

I would use a hard cast projectile in the 1873. The standard 45 colt loads are probably not gonna be fast enough to initiate any expansion on XTPs, Deep Curls or other modern HP's. You may wanna slug the barrel to see the actual diameter before deciding. My 1892 slugged at .451 not the .452 normally used for 45 colt

 

[contender]

I've been carrying a .45 Colt for bear & elk for a few years now. But my .45 Colt is in a handgun. I would have no problems using one on deer. No matter what gun I was using. It's about the bullet choice/design, and placement.

 

[Don Lovel]

I have 9 one shot DRT on whitetails with my 45 Colt Ruger Bisley. Longest was 110yds.
But I was shooting +p 300gr loads you cannot shoot out of a 1873.

 

[gnappi]

Agreed, it's the bullet and shot placement, the launching platform only matters if it shoots straight... or not

I have .44's, 480's, and .41's and a .45 Colt will kill a deer just as dead as any of them.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Rifles really bring a pistol cartridge to life. It's impressive the new velocity.

 

[Ethang]

I have 9 one shot DRT on whitetails with my 45 Colt Ruger Bisley. Longest was 110yds.
But I was shooting +p 300gr loads you cannot shoot out of a 1873.

I think a normal load out of a rifle would get really darn close to a +P out of a handgun wouldn't it?

 

[Don Lovel]

You gain a little but not as much velocity as you would think.
Hornady Leverevolution ammo out of my Bisley makes 860fps, out of 20" Rossi it makes less than 1000fps
I have a 325gr WFN Doubletap that makes over 1100 out of my 5 1/2" Bisley and pushing 1650fps out of Rossi

 

[Arthur Roy]

I have taken many deer with a 260 grain cast bullet at 950 fps out of a revolver. Distances were from 10-100ish yards with no lack of killing power if shots are put in the right place.

 

[308 Scout]

@Arthur Roy nailed it. My 45 Colt handgun (4 3/4" Uberti SA) load is a 285 gr. cast SWC running just under 1000 fps and very accurate. My most recent buck with it was broadside 41 yds. away. The bullet went through both lungs and bounced off across the pasture. More power would be unnecessary, even out to 100 yds.
The difference in velocities between pistols and rifles is generally dependent on the powder with barrel lengths playing a role too. In my experience with .357, .44 Special and .44 Magnum, with faster burning powders you can figure on around 200 fps difference, with slower burning powders, 300-350 fps.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Don't ya think that in bygone past that there has been a bunch of game taken with the Henry, 66,and 73 in 44, 44-40 in black powder.
There were no rifles in 45 colts

 

[Enigma]

The U.S. Army seemed quite satisfied with various .45 cartridges in handguns for killing stuff for a long time. Wasn't it a requirement for the original .45 Colt BP loads that the bullet could penetrate a horse through-and-through, and kill the man on the other side? That should kill a deer DRT.

 

[White Pine]

I've taken two whitetails here in Maine with my '72 three screw Blackhawk conv. .45Colt with 7 1/2' barrel. Winchester Silvertip 225gr. hp.
35 - 40 yards.