Just wondering if it would be better to use my back-up handgun to take down a deer in close quarters if getting to or raising my rifle would spook the deer? If so, would the standard personal defense round be the best? I shoot a Springfield XD 45 GAP.
2006-10-02 10:11:52 · 5 answers · asked by Ruger 77 30-06 1 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
Bound's hubby here:
The .45 ACP (from which the .45 GAP was developed) has never been recommended as a hunting round for deer sized game. The same would apply for the .45 GAP.
The most common .45 used for hunting deer is the .45 Long Colt, firing a 225 to 250 grain bullet. Considering the velocity of the .45 Long Colt, a hollow point could be considered marginal. My personal recommendation for .45 Long Colt would be a 250 grain semi-wadcutter loaded to about 900 fps. The flat metplate of the semi-wadcutter will induce the shock needed to drop a deer, and the hole will provide a sufficient wound channel for bleed out.
By the way ... you have a greater chance of spooking a deer drawing a properly holstered handgun than you would raising your rifle to aim for the shot!
2006-10-02 13:14:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't do it. The .45's call to fame is due to its big bore. It moves relatively slow with insufficient shocking power to kill a deer humanly. A man knows he's been shot, especially with a .45 but a deer doesn't. Man goes into shock and drops. Deer runs.
Your .45 GAP would probably be fine for adminstering a coupe de grace though. If you want to handgun hunt, then use at least a .10mm but a .44 Mag. or larger handgun would be better. If you just like the .45, then use a .45 Long Colt with the longest barrel you can get.
H
2006-10-02 22:45:30 · answer #2 · answered by H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. do not use a .45 ACP or GAP to hunt deer with. more than likely you would end up just wounding it and it would run away. like the one guy said, a person knows they have been shot and fall down. deer run, even when large caliber rifles hit them and they dont drop right away, they run. they say the lowest caliber to hunt deer with is a .44 Rem Magnum. but i guess you could use .41. i use 30-06, .270, or 300 Win Mag
2006-10-03 13:22:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I use a .41 Rem Magnum. I have taken deer down at 100 yards with the scope in place.
2006-10-02 17:54:18 · answer #4 · answered by Maxwell Smart(ypants) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
where i live,a 45acp cartridge is not long enough, check d o w to find the correct caliber
2006-10-02 17:15:50 · answer #5 · answered by L1M1J1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋