The 45lc is definantly a very versatile cartridge. Fun for plinking and the potential for some pretty powerful loads. I have a Vaquero 7.5" 45lc and like it very much(in hindsight however adjustable sights would have been nicer but I liked the SAA resemblance). I shot a deer this fall with it and it got the job done. I was using a 300 grain JHP, I don't know how fast the bullet was traveling I just told my dealer to load them as hot as my revolver would handle. Using recoil as an indication it was considerably stronger than my dad's 44 mag blackhawk. Here is the problem, I hit the deer in the shoulder at about 35 yards and never penitrated the chest cavaty. Although the bone was pretty much distroyed it stopped the slug. This slowed him down enough to get another shot into the ribs, but I was shocked the slug never pennitrated the shoulder. Comments?

Thanks for the info 475. that was my assumption also. The 45 probably won't be used for deer anymore since I just recently purchaced a Taurus Raging Bull in 454 Casull. However there is no doubt in my mind that the 45lc is a more than capable cartridge for deer and other game. My dad has a 44 mag, and my brother-in-law has a 357. Give me my 45 over these anyday for versatilaty and power(not to mention the history).

Evidently, the velocity was too much for the JHP your guy loaded up for you. I never use hollowpoints when hunting anything I'd want to eat. You're lucky you didn't hit it in the ham or the shoulder as it would've destroyed fully 1/4 of your kill. I suggest you insist that JSP's be used if you've just got to use jacketed bullets. I use a 320 gr. LBT cast boolit myself. I bustem in the shoulder and I can eat all the way up to the bullet hole. I always try to break the big bones to limit their mobility after the shot. I just hate to chase anything on 4 legs anymore now that I'm double nickle.