I personally wouldn't hunt with a 45, and before I get blasted as most of you know I carry a 1911 and 45acp is my favorite round. I do however carry a Delta Elite in a 10mm when I go hunting, but so far have not been given the chance to use it.
I've killed quite a few deer with a 185 grain .45 (acp) HP bullet out of a muzzleloader, velocity was around 1600 fps (45 acp on steroids). I quit using that bullet because I never got an exit and rarely had much of a blood trail. Not saying a 45 won't do the job, but I'd pick a 223 over a 45 acp or 10mm every time!
I killed my first deer with a Smith and Wesson 4516. I broke my thumb on my shooting hand a week before deer season and couldn't grip a rifle with the cast on. My old man let me use his service pistol to shoot the deer with my off hand at roughly 25 yards. Yes, that is correct, I killed my first deer when I was 9 shooting a .45 with my left hand 
. He walked about 5 yards and dropped. This wasn't by luck though. My dad was a firearms instructor and I shot with him a lot. Including off hand, prone position, baricaded etc etc. You get the idea.
The 3rd deer I killed was when I was 12, and I used my dad's Colt .223 that he packed in the trunk of his cruiser. Peep sights, nothing fancy. This one dropped dead in his tracks and didn't move.
Practice often and know know your limits, and there is no reason you can't deer hunt with a pistol or AR-15.
. He walked about 5 yards and dropped. This wasn't by luck though. My dad was a firearms instructor and I shot with him a lot. Including off hand, prone position, baricaded etc etc. You get the idea. The 3rd deer I killed was when I was 12, and I used my dad's Colt .223 that he packed in the trunk of his cruiser. Peep sights, nothing fancy. This one dropped dead in his tracks and didn't move.
Practice often and know know your limits, and there is no reason you can't deer hunt with a pistol or AR-15.
this..
Well, gonna have to break out a few more pics of deer killed with the "varmint gun", and a little pistol that has killed a whole lot bigger game than a deer.
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I've got a "few more" I could post, but I think the message has been passed. The .223 is a viable deer round, and with varmint rounds can be used to take them as well.
Sorry to sound cranky, but this is about the hundredth time I've posted these pics on this forum.
When are the "speculators" going to quit putting out their "speculations" and listen to those that have been there and done that with real data, real bullets, and real life experiences?
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I've got a "few more" I could post, but I think the message has been passed. The .223 is a viable deer round, and with varmint rounds can be used to take them as well.
Sorry to sound cranky, but this is about the hundredth time I've posted these pics on this forum.
When are the "speculators" going to quit putting out their "speculations" and listen to those that have been there and done that with real data, real bullets, and real life experiences?
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Dennis, when did they start transplanting "water buck" into Grant County?
Dennis - I like the "diller" pic best.
As soon as this isn't the internet anymore....
And almost TRILLION (yes, million million) rounds fired to get the job done, that puts it right back where it belongs - varmints.
The only thing that makes AR15/223 viable combat option is the "GO" switch - you arn't in combat nor you have the "go" switch.
If you can take deer with a bow and arrow - you can surely take it with ANYTHING that goes bang: just call things what they are:
bow and arrow - archery
Semi-automatic rifle in 22 caliber - varmint rifle
P.S. I hunt deer with bow, muzzle-loader, handgun, 223, high-power, magnum - I'll go hunting EVERY legal way possible, I just don't recommend "higher risk" tools for the first hunt.
Can't wait to take my G20 hunting. Likely will only use it for pigs though. Or only a sidearm in case there are close quarters attack zombies there!
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