Deer hunting with a 1911A1

Does anyone have any experience hunting deer with a .45 ACP auto? Describe your experience.

This year by deer season I'll have put well over a thousand rounds through my 1911A1 (CCW) at the range. I've already put 600 thru it this year. (How many of you can say you've done the same with a 30-06?) Off hand standing, I'm very confident out to 25 yards. And from a sitting position with elbows on knees, with back braced against a tree, I'm good out to 45 yards. All are 5 inch groups, or less.

A couple years ago I took a deer with a 180 gr .50 cal patched ball from a TC Hawken at about 75 yards. A 230 gr 45 ACP LSWC at 25 yards can't be much less of a stopper.

Don't tell me about ft-lbs of energy. A 230gr LSWC at 850-950 fps will definitely penetrate through the shoulder into the vitals. Missing bone, just like any rifle, risks a through and through wound at the ranges I'll be limited to, which should be about the as an archer.

Lugging around a 7½ lb rifle all day is not my idea of fun. The Hawken was even heavier.

NH regs permit use of a 45 cal handgun. There is no mention of ft-lbs or type of action.

So if you are already convinced to do it, why bother asking?

Arizona has permitted handgun use for years. I'm sure if you do your job, the deer won't notice a difference between a .45ACP and a .30-06 once he's

You seem to have a sound approach to hunting with a 1911A1, and I don't see any potential pitfalls, other than the busybodies here who might find a way to criticize you. Have fun. Enjoy your hunt.

Michael Courtney

(I'm going to be one of those busybodies Michael warned you about)

What did you do, guy, buy a .45 a couple months ago and now you're enamoured with it? Have you been deer hunting before? You dont' sound like you want to hear any contrary advice or opinion.

I'm sure that, given the right conditions, one could kill a deer with a .45, purely as a stunt or out of desperation. You know that a shotgun or most any centerfire rifle would be a much better choice, but if you're commited to this stunt, be sure you get real close.

Here in New Zealand hunting anything with a handgun is, unfortunately, illegal. You seem to have put in a good deal of practice with your .45 so I would say that if you can get yourself to within 40 or 50 yards of your deer then you have proved yourself adept at stalking and you deserve your animal. I know I would not hesitate to shoot a deer with a 230 grain Hornady XTP from my Colt .45 if I could get to within 40 yards of it so go for it and enjoy your hunt. Regards,

I'd be interested in hearing about this too. I wanted to try this last fall and didn't have the holster I wanted for my 45 yet so it wasn't along. But, there was more than one instance where I was close enough and had the time to take a good shot with the 45. I was still hunting through some wooded areas and had whitetail does within 10 to 20 yards of me twice. I also had several times when there were muley does close enough to hit with the 45. I am going to give it a try this fall! To me a big part of the hunting experience is the stalk and seeing how close you can get in close quarters. The most fun I had last fall was getting so close that a handgun shot would have been possible!

Over a period of 25 years I've taken deer with: a 12 gauge 870 Rem pump with 00 buck, a .50 cal Hawken with patched ball, and a Thompson Center Contender in 357 Maximum. And two caribou with a Remington semi-auto in .308.

Hunting with the Contender convinced me that a long gun isn't needed and it also caused me to consider that maybe all that power isn't needed either. I've decided well-placed penetration with a solid bullet will do the job.

The kills (3) with 00 buck were broadside shots destroying the lungs with several pellets penetrating to the opposite ribs. The single deer I took with a 50 cal ball went through both lungs and broke the opposite shoulder. The (2) .308 180 gr soft points were through and through both lungs. The 357 pistol shots (3) also put a 180 gr cast bullet through and through both lungs.

All shots have been with iron sights and the longest shot was with the Hawken at about 75 yards.

Yes. I did buy the 45 a couple months ago to replace my 357 mag as my CCW. While at the range my buddies and I started talking about deer hunting. We're all proficient double tapping the targets to about 15 yards. So why not put these skills to use in the field?

A lot of hunters seem to have a mental block about using pistols for large game. And those few that do hunt with pistols are trying to duplicate rifle performance in a smaller weapon. I just question the need for all that power. The power is only needed when pushing a frangible bullet. A larger solid doesn't need the same velocity and you don't have to worry about expansion.

I guess I did start out sounding kinda argumentative.

But I'm really interested in hearing about someone else's experiences. I've never heard of anyone using a 1911 for deer, but I've met hundreds of 1911 shooters and most put in a heck of a lot of practice.

I've already received several emails from people who think I'm nuts for even considering it. But I've got a bit of the maverick in me.

I haven't yet, but I have long been tempted to. The .45 ACP is legal in North Dakota and the shots in our woodlot are as likely to be measured in feet as in yards. If anyone suggests you need more power ask them why a .45 ACP 230 grain +P hollowpoint is regarded as a fine choice for heavily armed, heavily drugged, heavily muscled felons but isn't quite enough juice for a flighty, risk averse 150 pound whitetail. That said I'd limit my maximum range to that distance where I can keep a magazine full of full power ammunition inside 4 inches or so. Good hunting!

Do the NH regs have any additional restrictions on handguns legal for hunting, as far as a minimum case length for allowable cartridges?

Might be something to check into, if for example, the intent of permitting .45 cal handguns was to make the 454 Casull legal. A minimum case length requirement might disquailify the .45 ACP. Minnesota has something similar, I believe.

Good luck.

So do it. But do it right!! A deer can feel every iota of pain and fear that you can. They deserve a quick clean death. Proper hunting is as much about the deer's needs as it is yours, IMHO. You had better be close and hit him just right.

Oh, and if this goes awry, I hope you will come back and tell us about it!