I love the 45's for lots of reasons and 45 ACP would eventually kill a deer, but you just can't beat the 44 Magnum in the hunting mode. Lots of good factory ammo, fast, bullets mushroom and tear things up like a rifle (get a decent barrel length) and whatever you hit won't run far. I am very partial to Ruger revolvers although I have gotten a trigger job on every one that I have purchased.