I have two .45's, and have ordered another one. Oneis a slow-twist for round balls. I load it with 100 grains FFFG or equivalenbt in a substitute, and a 130-grain RB. It produces 2100 FPS MV. I put a 4X scope on it, and use it to shoot woodchucks. The other two use sabots ro caonicals (1/22" twist), and they shoot OK, but I have never shot anything except a paper target with these two. However, I see no reason why they would not be just as good as a .50 cal. for deer, assuming oine uses the right bullet. The load I've developed for these two .45's for deer uses the Lyman .457122HP bullet cast of pure lead (349 grains) and 90 grains of Pyrodex P. The MV is right at 1600 FPS. Have not shot a deer with this load yet, but it groups well. I have no doubt that it would do the job on anything up to a cow elk.

I tried several weights of the .45 Power Belts, and they did not shoot well in either gun.