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Originally Posted by Superman
When I finally acted on Jeff's suggestion of a single-action .45 Colt, THEN I understood. It is not the large-frame version that Jeff would likely choose for pig-hunting, but it can still spew a 255-gr Keith bullet at around 1000 fps. Plus....the ergonomics of it are such that it practically points itself. This is my "just in case" spoon in the woods. I think he said it would go through a deer lengthwise.
But yeah, the .45 ACP is also a good choice. Also, it spews projectiles at a faster rate and holds more than six.
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Funny, but over the years, I have actually settled upon the smaller framed Single Actions like yours, shooting "mid range" loads identical to what you describe, as my "woods bumming" combination. They are just so light and handy we really don't even know they are there, which is very attractive on multi-day sojourns with backpack. Any .44 or .45 caliber Keith type semi wadcutter, out of a .44 Special, Magnum, or .45 Colt at 1000-ish fps will indeed shoot lengthwise through a large deer. I've done it often enough to satisfy myself that it works. Unless I'm hunting elk, or black bear, I never grab the large framed guns and stoke them with the heavier loads. We just don't need 'em.
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Originally Posted by otto_kretschmer
Thats where I'm leaning right now. I shoot my 45 much better with thousands of rounds thru the pistol. And the safety is more secure.
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That's a huge part of this as well - pick the one you shoot the best.
As an aside, I really wish I could get heavier semi wadcutters to feed well in my 1911's. I've just never been able to get them to work reliably. The 185's and 200's are dead reliable, but going up to what I would use in the .45 Colt just really throws a wrench in the spokes. There are, however, 230 grain "truncated cone" solids available that I hear cycle just fine. I've just never used them, so I can't personally recommend them to others.
Another aside, that "truncated cone" shape was developed by the Germans during WWI for use in their Lugers. Hollow points and soft points had, by then, been barred from military use due to their overly destructive nature. These truncated cone bullets were seen as a "cheat", or a "workaround" skirting that rule, and were every bit as destructive as those that had been banned. As a result, any German caught carrying the truncated cone rounds was deemed to be in violation and summarily executed on the spot. The Allies really wanted to discourage their use... They were that effective...