Using a .45 for big game?
 

Hi everyone my name is Brett and Im new to the forum from Florida. I have a hunt coming up for Sambar deer which is an elk sized critter and I have to use a muzzleloader. My question is I already have a .45 cal. inline and wanted some ideas for loads and rounds that would do the job on such a big animal, or if it's even feasible. Thank for any help.

Here's an opinion from someone with experience limited to whitetails.

I would not hesitate to use a .45 caliber inline for a big deer like that, but only if I were shooting Barnes Expanders over a pretty hot charge.

http://www.barnesbullets.com/product...expander-mz-2/

My 409 gr paper patched RCBS 11mm rifle bullets over 80 gr of pyrodex P and an over powder wad would do it easy. Ron

Sambar are similar to elk, maybe not in height but they are a very muscular deer and take a lot of putting down. I'd advise going for the neck shot if you can. Here in aus they are our main deer and have been known to run a couple hundred of metres with a heart and lung shot. Often under 100 m though.

Best of luck

jp

They are about the same body size as a mule deer. I don't see them as being any tougher than a Mule deer. My load lays the law down on Mule deer. Ron

I had to look them up. I didn't know what they were for sure. They can get up to 1200lbs. That would be like a Roosevelt Elk, and bigger than our Rocky Mountain Elk.

I'd use a big bullet.

How about a 460 grain .450 No Excuse? Push it with with 90+ grains of powder and it should get the job done.

It's an option.

I guess it depends where you are but in australia they are much bigger than a muley. The average for a male is around 350kgs so a bit over 750lbs but as muleyhunter said big boys get over the 500kg mark so up around 1200lbs.

On dark a mature sambar can look like an angus cow in body size. They are technically classed as the 3rd biggest deer in the world behind elk and moose, followed by red deer at number four.

You should also check your state requirements - most states will not allow a 45 cal on large big game.

A 460 gr bullshop or no excuse will do it no problem.

The pictures I saw online are all small deer. Where is a link to 1200 pound deer? Ron

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambar_deer

This is where my argument that a 50 cal will do everything a 45 cal can do and better carries some weight.

Your 45 matched with the right conical and about 80 grains of ffg will do the job. Shot placement is always the key.

Thank you all for your replies and advise. The Sambar where im going average around 500lbs but, have been taken to 732lbs. Also there shouldn't be any shots over 100 yards. There is no size limit or optic limit either. Im going to try are order some of those No Excuse bullets. Then run them though the gun to see how it likes them, with I hope they do because I would feel a lot better about a round that big. Anyways thanks again for the help I knew I came to the right place and keep the advice coming.

Can you shoot sabot loads are conical and what gun size is the min were your going for ML and the animal your shooting.

If you check out Erol Masons secrets of the sambar website there are a couple of big bodied fellas there that have been shot. I'll look at finding some more pics as well. the thing with sambar is that they aren't built like muleys or elk or red deer. They're a very solid deer. I guess you just have to see one in person to really get the understanding of what they're like

If you can use sabot and a regular bullet - this is my choice currently for Elk here.... It use to be Nosler Partitions but since they have stopped production on the 458 partions I have switched to the Lehigh/Bloodline .458-300 or the Lehigh .458-305 - 45-70 bullet...

This is the Lehigh/Bloodline .458-300 for a Muzzleloader




This is the Lehigh .458-305 grain for the 45-70 rifle - I call it the buffalo bullet because the guys report such success with it shooting Buffalo...








This cow was shot at 176 yards and dropped on the spot

I got to admit that this is the first time I have even looked them up. The Secrets of Sambar site does have a couple that are big. Most are the size of a large mule deer or a spike bull elk. I was amazed at two of them looked very big. I would still plant my 409 gr paper patched 11mm bullet solid behind the shoulder and watch the hole on the other side pour blood. I have confidence in that bullet. Notice I said behind the shoulder. The shoulders on those big boys would be tough to poke through with a cartridge rifle. Ron

Those look pretty impressive, but I only have a 45.cal rifle. I see they only have a 200 grain in .45 how do you think that would preform respectively?

I had the chance to hunt this place five years ago without any luck, but I did get to see a hind while scouting and saw some that were killed while I was there. You might be able to give me a little insight on them. Do they make any calls other than that bark, as in mating calles or such?

Shoot! I forgot you were using a 45 sorry about that... To be honest I think the 200 might be a bit light for animal of that size unless you reduce the range... In the longer ranges the 45 will not retain the energy.

But they allow .30 cal ?

That's the difference between centerfires and muzzleloaders . I can hunt deer with a 223 or 22-250 but for muzzleloader it has to be at least a .45 cal bullet in my state

Tell us all the bad things about CVA muzzleloaders.

120 grains of blackhorn 209 and a two hundred grain Bloodline bullet from Knight will do the trick

How'd you end up going on this hunt?

I have use a 200 grain 50/40 for a wide variety of game including elk and a a 308 pound bear and thats field dress weight. With a load of 120 grains of Blackhorn at 2200 FPS placed behind the shoulder and through both lungs it has had a devastating effect.

But that 30 cal can have a lot more energy than the 45 ML... Also the states are concerned about a 45 cal. PRB which could then be legal if a 45 cal. ML were legal...

normally when a State outlaws the .45 caliber its because of the roundball. Their concern is that for large and or dangerous game animal, the .45 roundball just would not cut it. But we all know that with the introduction of sabots and the quality of projectiles now on the market, along with some excellent velocities due to powder advancements.. the .45 caliber muzzleloader is a very lethal caliber. But I can understand your concern on large and powerful game like the deer you describe. I have three or four .45 caliber rifles. And if I were going on the same hunt as you, with that same caliber.. the only projectile I would be comfortable with is a large conical bullet. Like a Bull Shop or No Excuses. Maybe Thor makes an all brass conical in that caliber. Its worth checking into. The reason is, while the velocity is not there, the penetration and down range energy is. I have a White M97 in .45 caliber and I would go on that hunt tomorrow with a 460 grain Bull Shop conical. I just think it is a very lethal weapon.

It sounds like an exciting hunt. Keep us posted on the projectile you choose and the outcome of the hunt. And good luck.

Tell you what, I have a Knight inline that will group 300gr Barnes MZ into an inch at 100 yards that I'll let you use...



Just pay for me to come along, I'll carry my .54 flintlock!!! :)