W/O thinking too hard I can recall dozen deer and countless nuisance animals--racoons, groundhogs, dumped mean-ass dogs--I have dispatched with 44 and 45 caliber handguns using 230-325 grain cast or jacketed bullets running 850-1350 fps. With equal placement, I couldn't tell a nickel's worth of difference in any of them.
In short I would feel real comfortable packing a 45 pistol or revolver for the rest of my days. If I anticipated spending them anywhere big biters or stompers lived, a 480 Alaskan would be kept within reach and it would be loaded with heavy WFNs about 1000 fps.
