Hunting Washington Forum
Washington State Hunting Forum and Northwest Resource Site
Please
login
or
register
.
1 Hour
1 Day
1 Week
1 Month
Forever
Login with username, password and session length
News:
Free:
Contests & Raffles
.
Home
Help
Calendar
Advertise
Login
Register
Hunting Washington Forum
»
Big Game Hunting
»
Muzzleloader Hunting
»
.45 cal ? Anyone?
Advertisement
Advertise Here
« previous
next »
Print
Pages: [
1
]
2
All
Go Down
Author
Topic: .45 cal ? Anyone? (Read 6178 times)
troyspinetar
Trade Count:
(
+1
)
Scout
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 359
Location: Lake Stevens, WA
Groups: NRA
.45 cal ? Anyone?
«
on:
January 16, 2013, 11:35:55 AM »
I've got a TC Hawken .45 that I want to FINALLY use this year. Anyone have any luck with .45 cal and deer?
Logged
Advertise Here
Skillet
Business Sponsor
Trade Count:
(
+43
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 5823
Location: Sitka, AK
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #1 on:
January 16, 2013, 11:39:56 AM »
what's the twist? If it's a slow twist round-ball shooter (like 1:70" or so), you are going to be pretty limited in range due to the small 138 grain weight of the 45 cal unit. It'll kill a deer, but you are pretty much limited to close shots at the lungs, IMO.
Logged
KABOOM Count - 1
"The ocean is calling, and I must go."
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
- Gordon Lightfoot
RG
Non-Hunting Topics
Trade Count:
(
+1
)
Longhunter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 791
Location: Thorp
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #2 on:
January 16, 2013, 11:43:34 AM »
Go with the heavy bullets, if its TC it's probably got a 1 in 48 inch twist which will shoot round ball or bullet well. The round balls are about 120 grains and that will work for deer but you better get a good hit on them if you want penetration. Use conicals would be my recommendation.
Logged
And I think God must be a cowboy at heart
He made wide open spaces from the start
He made grass and trees and mountains and a horse to be a friend
And trails to lead ol' cowboys home again
Chris Ledoux...
Heredoggydoggy
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5041
Location: Wenatchee
Team I'M TOO OLD FOR THIS $H!T !
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #3 on:
January 16, 2013, 11:44:43 AM »
Some say the 45 cal. muzzle loader is ideal for deer. Never owned one, and you rarely see a manufacturer that makes them. plenty of 50's, and even stuff for .54's is hard to find.
Logged
If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.
When Bernie Madoff did it, it's called a "Ponzi Scheme"
When Government does it, it's called "Social Security"
Skillet
Business Sponsor
Trade Count:
(
+43
)
Old Salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 5823
Location: Sitka, AK
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #4 on:
January 16, 2013, 11:46:50 AM »
RG's right. If you got a tighter twist, shoot the heaviest conical you can stabilize and meets your accuracy targets. That .45 will put the smackdown on deer with a 240 grain TC Maxiball.
Logged
KABOOM Count - 1
"The ocean is calling, and I must go."
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
- Gordon Lightfoot
92xj
Trade Count:
(
+26
)
Frontiersman
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4022
Location: Out of Place
Kill 'em
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #5 on:
January 16, 2013, 11:48:37 AM »
I have and have shot numerous (15-20) deer with my TC Encore 45, farthest being 238yards, dead on impact.
Dont know anything about yours so this might be comparing apples to oranges,.
Logged
"If you have to be crazy to hunt ducks, I do not wish to be sane."
hillbilli
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Longhunter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 555
Location: whidbey island
NAVY CHIEF
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #6 on:
January 16, 2013, 12:10:00 PM »
have a buddy in FL who I think has killed more deer than Chronic wasting disease.. His Muzz is a .45 inline. He use .40 cal sabot rounds, i think 200grn plastic tip (sst?), the longest kill i have seen from him with it was 191yds, never saw one without an exit, but bear in mind those are relatively small fl whitetails... If your Hawken wont handle sabots, then a conical HP should do the trick..
Logged
troyspinetar
Trade Count:
(
+1
)
Scout
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 359
Location: Lake Stevens, WA
Groups: NRA
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #7 on:
January 16, 2013, 01:16:36 PM »
Thanks for all the input. I will do my research and find out about the twist. This will be my first year with a muzzleloader. I'm excited.
Logged
MountainDevil54
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Longhunter
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 571
Location: Boncarbo Colorado
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #8 on:
January 16, 2013, 01:32:51 PM »
1:48 twist
The maxihunter or even a 275gr powerbelt will do the job on deer.
Logged
lokidog
Trade Count:
(
+6
)
Explorer
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15186
Location: Sultan/Wisconsin
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #9 on:
January 16, 2013, 05:46:14 PM »
Yep. This might be a little shorter than yours though. And I kept the range under ten yards.
Logged
troyspinetar
Trade Count:
(
+1
)
Scout
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 359
Location: Lake Stevens, WA
Groups: NRA
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #10 on:
January 16, 2013, 06:45:52 PM »
Way cool Lokidog!
Logged
lonedave
Trade Count:
(
0
)
Scout
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 311
Location: West Richland
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #11 on:
January 23, 2013, 08:33:00 PM »
Sure. I use a T/C Seneca, so I keep the loads somewhat lower than what you can use in your Hawken.
Bucks with a home cast T/C Maxi-Hunter and 70 gr of Goex 2f
Montana doe with home cast .440 round ball and 50 gr of Goex 2f
I would say if you use a round ball, keep your shots within maybe 65 - 75 yards and with your Hawken you can probably boost the powder to maybe 75 - 85 gr depending on your gun's accuracy.
Logged
troyspinetar
Trade Count:
(
+1
)
Scout
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 359
Location: Lake Stevens, WA
Groups: NRA
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #12 on:
January 24, 2013, 07:03:17 PM »
Thanks for the info Lonedave. This year will be my first muzzleloader season...so I feel a bit overwhelmed. Just trying to pick people's brains for help. Awesome pics!
Logged
lokidog
Trade Count:
(
+6
)
Explorer
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15186
Location: Sultan/Wisconsin
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #13 on:
January 24, 2013, 07:34:28 PM »
The best thing is to get a couple of bullets/ball and try them out with different powder charges to see what meets your accuracy standards. Don't discount a roundball as they can punch pretty well.
Logged
duckmen1
Non-Hunting Topics
Trade Count:
(
+6
)
Frontiersman
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2554
Location: outdoors
Re: .45 cal ? Anyone?
«
Reply #14 on:
January 24, 2013, 07:44:20 PM »
That's awesome lokidog.
Logged
Maturity is when you have the power to destroy someone who did you wrong but instead you breathe, walk away, and let life take care of them.
Advertise Here
Print
Pages: [
1
]
2
All
Go Up
« previous
next »
Hunting Washington Forum
»
Big Game Hunting
»
Muzzleloader Hunting
»
.45 cal ? Anyone?
Advertisement
Advertise Here
Quick Links
Front Page
Donate To Forum
Advertise on H-W
Recent Posts
Articles
Forum Rules
Recent Topics
2025 Crab!
by
Stein
[
Today
at 01:48:55 PM]
Sauk Unit Youth Elk Tips
by
Kales15
[
Today
at 01:04:52 PM]
2025 Coyotes
by
JakeLand
[
Today
at 12:20:54 PM]
Price on brass?
by
Magnum_Willys
[
Today
at 12:18:54 PM]
AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt
by
Dan-o
[
Today
at 10:28:23 AM]
Utah cow elk hunt
by
kselkhunter
[
Today
at 09:03:55 AM]
KODIAK06 2025 trail cam and personal pics thread
by
kodiak06
[
Today
at 07:03:46 AM]
Unknown Suppressors - Whisper Pickle
by
Sneaky
[
Today
at 04:09:53 AM]
Early Huckleberry Bull Moose tag drawn!
by
HillHound
[
Yesterday
at 11:25:17 PM]
THE ULTIMATE QUAD!!!!
by
Deer slayer
[
Yesterday
at 10:33:55 PM]
Archery elk gear, 2025.
by
WapitiTalk1
[
Yesterday
at 09:41:28 PM]
Oregon spring bear
by
kodiak06
[
Yesterday
at 04:40:38 PM]
Tree stand for Western Washingtn
by
kodiak06
[
Yesterday
at 04:37:01 PM]
Pocket Carry
by
BKMFR
[
Yesterday
at 03:34:12 PM]
A lonely Job...
by
Loup Loup
[
Yesterday
at 01:15:11 PM]
Range finders & Angle Compensation
by
Fidelk
[
Yesterday
at 11:58:48 AM]
Willapa Hills 1 Bear
by
hunter399
[
Yesterday
at 10:55:29 AM]
Bearpaw Outfitters Annual July 4th Hunt Sale
by
bearpaw
[
Yesterday
at 08:40:03 AM]
SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal