.45 or .50 Cal for deer

Shooters Choice in Waterloo has a Pedersoli Pennsylvania Rifle in .45 Cal for a decent price. I put a note out on a few Facebook groups asking what our friends to the South thought about Pedersoli quality. There are a few posters that are of the opinion that .45 is too small for hunting deer, they are suggesting .54 or even .58 Cal.

IMHO a well placed .45 round ball should do the job on deer in Ontario; a conical would be even better. Having seen buckshot kill deer on more than one occasion I am of the opinion that bigger is not always better, but I know there are traditional black powder shooters out there with more experience than myself. Any thoughts?

Thanks - Scott

I have both a 45 and 58 but never shot a deer with either. If you look at the ballistics there is a good argument to use a 45 but if you try and find anything other than round balls most stores are not well stocked (ie Cabellas), much more ammo choices and availability for 50. Ironically Shooters Choice had some 45 maxis I picked up recently, you can also find a good selection of ammo at Track of the Wolf (mail order): http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/129/1

the 45 cal will be more then adequate for deer ,shot placement is the key,,

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Originally Posted by hunter204

the 45 cal will be more then adequate for deer ,shot placement is the key,,

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I think that applies to any firearm or bow used on deer (unless you're going so big there isn't anything left to eat after the shot ). I once got suckered into tracking a doe that was gut shot with a 12 ga slug; it still went a long way before we found it...

Buffalo Bullets in California has a great selection of conicals (I assume they are still in business?). Or I may just cast my own if I need to...

Have to remember that most .50 cal sabots are using a .45 bullet/conical...so a .45 would seem to be perfect for killing deer :)

The popular .50 Cal black powder inline rifles shot with a 250 gr. sabot end up with being a .45 Cal bullet travelling down the barrel. From experience, I can tell you this combination works well.

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Originally Posted by cannonbi

The popular .50 Cal black powder inline rifles shot with a 250 gr. sabot end up with being a .45 Cal bullet travelling down the barrel. From experience, I can tell you this combination works well.

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Welcome to the forum cannonbi.....nice to see a guy picking up on that on his first post, you'll fit in here well :)

As to Pedersoli quality: I have a Davide Pedersoli SxS 12 ga muzzle loading shotgun that's about 40 years old and have never had any trouble with it.

As to .45 vs .50 - either will do the job if you place the bullet correctly.

Pete,

Glad you replied as I know you have more experience in this area than myself.

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Originally Posted by cannonbi

The popular .50 Cal black powder inline rifles shot with a 250 gr. sabot end up with being a .45 Cal bullet travelling down the barrel. From experience, I can tell you this combination works well.

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Good point. I didn't think of that. Minie conicals in 225 and 250 grs are available from Dixie Gun Works and Tracks of the Wolf. I expect a mold is not hard to come by either. 80-100 gr in a inline is the same as sidelock, so I am a little perplexed why those on Facebook think a .54 or .58 is the minimum size for deer. I have loaded down a 50 Cal Hawken for small game; I see no reason why I can't do the same with a .45

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Originally Posted by muskrat trapper

, so I am a little perplexed why those on Facebook think a .54 or .58 is the minimum size for deer.

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our friends to the south tend to think everything has to be bigger or at least a magnum :)

What hasn't been mentioned in this discussion about caliber size re: round balls, sabots/bullets and conicals is the role rifle twist plays in the equation.
If the rifle twist is designed for round balls using sabots or conicals will provide poor results.

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Originally Posted by Woodsman

What hasn't been mentioned in this discussion about caliber size re: round balls, sabots/bullets and conicals is the role rifle twist plays in the equation.
If the rifle twist is designed for round balls using sabots or conicals will provide poor results.

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You are right on with that statement.:thumbup:

The biggest thing beyond shot placement is distance. The bigger the ball the farther it can be shot and still maintain enough energy to get the job done. Keep your range close and the 45 Maxi or Minne will get the job done.

HA

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Originally Posted by huntaway

Keep your range close and the 45 Maxi or Minne will get the job done. HA

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As we've seen HA..the .45 patch/ball sure flies thru a cast iron frying pan at 50 yrd....a dear hide would be no match :)

Ml is one I haven't got into yet but will. However, I'd at first say, go big or stay home, but because of numerous new hunters who may read these posts, i'll say in sincerity, whatever you're most comfortable and confident with.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

As we've seen HA..the .45 patch/ball sure flies thru a cast iron frying pan at 50 yrd....a dear hide would be no match :)

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Indeed it does Mike but close is better for walking critters. Even with my 50 or 54 I like them under 50. Will they get the job done at a 100, yes but that is a long ways out there with a flinter. Now the with my GPH 50, 100 is a chip shot and the Omega 150-200.

HA

I have both a .45 cal (Pedersoli Plainsman) and a .54 cal (Thompson Hawken). A .45 cal lead ball is 130 grains and a .54 cal is 230 grains. (For reference a .50 cal ball is 180 grains). Since I like shooting patch and ball, I prefer the .54 for deer. If I was hunting with my .45 cal I would be using a Maxi type lead slug over a 130 grain ball. Just my opinion, however many deer were shot in the US with a .45 cal flintlock using balls in days gone bye. As previously noted, you need to know the twist rate to determine what the gun was made to shoot.

What rate of twist would you suggest?

http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/sche...ock-model.html

That rifle has a 1:48 twist. It should shoot a Maxi-Ball okay. Only one way to find out. My 1:48 TC Renegade shoots round ball just fine. Actually better than Maxi's or Mini's.

I have taken one buck with my 45 cal flintlock. With a round patched ball. No need to go bigger.