Nothing wrong with a .45 ball for deer...My first flinter bought in 1977 was a .45 and I killed a few dozen deer with it...My load for deer was 75grs FFF Goex...That ball would do just as yours did...The first deer I took with it was about 65 yards out, the shot was a high shoulder and it went through both shoulder blades and the spine...The ball was found flattened on the off side...

The only reason I made a .54 back in the 80s was because of an encounter with a bear...A BIG bear...When they walk up at 30 yards and then stand on their hind legs they get your attention...