Looking at a 45 Colt revolver with 7.5in barrel and mounting a proper scope on it. To be used in closer quarters deer hunts. Distance between bow and rifle. I'm pretty sure it would have the knock down power needed, what are you'lls thoughts?

Heck yeah! With good shot placement, it will do fine.

If I do this I'm sure you can help me out with the good stuff!!

45 Colt is plenty, I hunt deer & pigs with a 6" barrel 357 mag open sights on occasion.

No need for a “proper scope” a red dot will do just fine. I routinely kill deer and pigs at 100 with a 460XVR at 100 yards with a Burris FF3

The Ruger in the classifieds would be an excellent option if you have access to reloads.



45 Colt rifle. Pig was 200+ pounds. No tracking.

I would buy a Ruger Blackhawk and use Buffalo Bore, unless Chad will load up to max specs.

Went from 44 mag Blackhawks to 45 LC Blackhawks in 5 1/2 and 7 1/2 inch platforms, both are convertibles with 45 ACP, no scopes on either.

Like your new sig HWY_MAN, after the "blue wave" turns into a ripple you can get the shakies back. Reall liked that one. Also like your thinking on the 45LC interchange with 45ACP, reload a lot of the ACP.

BigPig, like your suggestion on the red dot, should cost a little less maybe. I'll see about getting the 45LC from Chad. He has always treated me good on ammo and info. I googled the 460VXR and it's kinda way out of my price range but I can see how there would be no problem with reaching out and knock em down

Lots of options, the 45 LC will certainly work for killing deer. I have killed deer with a few handguns semi autos in 357 Sig and 45 ACP. Revolvers in 357 Mag, 44 special and 44 magnum in revolvers and single shots in 7-30 Waters, 357 Mag and Max, 44 Mag and special and 45-70. No deer was any deaer than anoter they all died rather quickly. If the 44 Spcl and 45 ACP will do the job the 45 colt will bve n problem as long as the bullet is put in the right place.

After cataract surgeries I might reconsider a red dot sight but usually just use open sights or a handgun scope.

10 mm. Dan Wesson.

Go with a Blackhawk or redhawk...

Why the blackhawk? Pro's?

There is always one.......

Blackhawk is nice and light with the aluminum frame and big hole, also the black hawk has adjustable sights if you choose to not use a scope. It can also be loaded with heavy colt loads. It allows for a separate 45 acp cylinder too. I like the 5.5 barrel in the blackhawk, nice balance.

you are looking at a heavy gun to tote around in addition to a rifle and a pack of some sort. If just the gun, then a good across the chest rig would be good.

Do you have a budget?

I’ve got a New Vaquero and a Bisley Blackhawk convertible in .45 Colt/.45 ACP, as well as a Rossi 92 in .45 Colt. The cartridge itself is plenty capable of just about anything in North America with the right revolver, and the right ammunition. Unless you’ve got the budget to spring for a Freedom Arms or the like, I would definitely steer you towards the Blackhawk. It is built to handle the stoutest loads the cartridge can handle. The New Vaquero, along with the Colt SAA and it’s clones such as Uberti are not. For deer sized game, the super stout loads aren’t necessarily needed, but I can down-load a Blackhawk, I can't soup up a Uberti. However, if you know you’re never going to step up into “Ruger Only” loads, a 255 gr Keith at 900-1000 fps is plenty of whitetail medicine at a safe pressure for most firearms. As stated earlier, the adjustable sights on the Blackhawk are really nice to have on a hunting revolver. As far as ammunition, the majority of factory stuff is loaded at “cowboy” levels, which means they’re watered down and safe for all revolvers the consumer may encounter. Buffalo bore and a few others being the exception. This cartridge can really shine for a handloader. I’ve loaded mine all the way from a 250/255 gr RNFP or Keith style cast bullet at 700 fps, up to a 325 gr WFN cast at 1200 fps. The first is a lot of fun to plink with, the second is brisk to downright unpleasant. As far as grip frames, if you plan on running a lot of stiff loads through it, I would highly suggest looking into a Bisley. The standard plow handle grip is designed to roll up in your hand, and I typically have to hang a pinky off the bottom of the frame. This is fine for the milder loads, but can be brutal with more powder. The Bisley has a full grip, which is more vertical and tends to react more like a double action coming straight back into the palm. I feel it does a better job of managing recoil. You either love it or hate it. Try to get your hands on both and see which you prefer.

Sent you a PM.

If you were closer to DFW I’d let you shoot both the 460XVR with Buffalo Bore 300g JFN @ 2000fps or my Blackhawk 45 with Buffalo Bore 265g at 1450fps. Both are fun to shoot, the Blackhawk has more felt recoil due to its pistol grip angle and being lighter weight.

Great single action feel.

Does well in a cross draw or a shoulder holster. Very accurate with a great trigger once you do the Redneck Action job on it.

Less felt recoil as long as you stay with factory grips, rubber grips or extended grips transfer allot of recoil back to the shooter. That pistol needs to roll back in the hand.

They're a much sturdier pistol than most of the 44 revolvers with the exception of a Ruger Redhawk whick has a trigger I just don't like.

Price wise they're the best bang for the buck!

I might suggest staying away from the Bisley Hunter Model, it's hell for stout like any other Blackhawk but the hammer has a tendency to catch the web of the hand and the extended grip increases felt recoil. I can shoot a single action Blackhawk damn near as fast as a double action revolver.

I’ve hunted for years with Rugers chambered in 45 Colt. It will definitely kill anything you will encounter in Texas. I handload Ruger Only loads and have never had a problem with deer or pigs with my large frame revolvers. Do not shoot hot loads on the New Vaqueros because they are built in a smaller frame and will not tolerate the hotter loads.

Basscat,

The .45 Colt will serve you very well over the practical handgun ranges you describe. Mount a scope if you like; I tried the concept many years ago and never could get really comfortable with the idea. Plus, I found that a scoped handgun was pretty wonky to carry. Newer chest rigs like the Galco Kodiak Hunter may resolve some of that, I don't know. Either way, if you want a scope...run with it!


I carry a .45 Colt most every day here on the ranch. A blue-worn old 4 5/8" Bisley Vaquero rides on my hip all during snake season (with a shot charge as the first round up) and it sees plenty of use. Between my wife and I we've killed 11 buzztails this year. When I'm serious about hunting with a handgun, I'll take my Bowen Nimrod. Iron sights and old eyes keep my ranges where I need them to be!

218, that Bowen is a work of art. I’d love to own one, but my bank account keeps crushing my dreams. My stock Bisley will have to suffice for the time being.

My Bowen was a "stock" Bisley for a lot of years...I found that it could "suffice" just fine. Bet yours does too. Heck, the deer don't know the difference!


Mark