Ft-lbs are the only thing that kills.....if there are no ft-lbs then there is no work done.....there either is no velocity or no mass....(weight).....

There must be ft-lbs of energy....the key is where is it applied and what does it effect.....to say that ft-lbs don't kill deer is blatantly wrong.....now how many ft-lbs does it take?......let see

Most ethical hunters when asked about the minimum for deer will say 1,000 ft-lbs.....(we're talking firearms here)....If you read my posts I specifically and intentionally pointed out two examples where far less than 1,000 ft-lbs killed deer.....and nice ones too.....both were eight pointers! These cartridges are not legal in many states for valid reason.....they just aren't good hunting cartridges!...period.....If someone killed a deer with a .25 ACP does that make it a "hunting cartridge?.....

We owe it to the game we hunt and the sport of hunting to do so ethically.....and legally....and use a sufficient amount of force to effect a humane kill.....

A few years ago I killed a nice 10-point whitetail (using a .257 Roberts) and removed a broadhead from it's front shoulder.....don't tell me about bow hunting.....I only wish more bow hunters took more care in their hunting.....BTW, that's the second arrowhead I've removed from deer later in the season.....

It boils down to this.....it takes a certain amount of ft-lbs of energy to effect a humane kill....often the state's laws specify a minimum.....and some states do not.....but again....ask ethical firearms hunters and the number 1,000 ft-lbs (yes...a nice round number) comes up repeatedly.....is this the magic threshhold?....of course not.....but it certainly IMO is more than 500.....and that's where we are with the factory loaded .45 Colt. and quite a few other cartridges.

For the record.....You're darn right he can kill a deer with a .45 Colt at 30 yards....but there's a far greater chance that someone else will remove that bullet from a wounded deer a week later.....someone using a real gun!