Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Who has hunted with a 1911?

Of course when we think of hunting handguns revolvers and single shots rule the roost but I'd like to hear some hunting experiences with 1911 pistols. It seems like a platform that would lend itself well to hunting especially in 10mm.

I use 1911's - both .45 ACP and 10mm - as "woods carry guns" a lot. I've dispatched varmints around the camp with them, also shot a few hogs. My 10mm 1911's and an HK USP 45 wear Holosun red dots for these purposes. This isn't from "necessity", as I have several revolvers in .44 Special, .44 Mag, .480 Ruger, and .45 Colt. I also have 10mm in other semi-autos than 1911's. I DO like the 1911's a lot, though, like to carry and shoot them.

Mike Holmes

Never have found a reason to use a 1911 while actually big game hunting. I have used it for targets of opportunity in off season, but in this state any semi auto rifle or handgun is limited to 5 rounds in the mag and 1 in the pipe during center fire big game seasons. Hell if deer hunting I can’t even carry a G26 on me for a CCW weapon, I have to switch to a GP100. With that in consideration I would say that using my 41 Mag Blackhawk is more advantageous than buying a 1911 platform in 10mm. YMMV

I haven't, but I would. I hunt small deer in thick brush so the shots are short. I've taken several with a 44 Magnum loaded to +P 230-grain 45 ACP ballistics.


Okie John

I have used several different brands of 1911 10mms to hunt deer and pigs. They work well. I have my a Fusion 10mm that I am having the slide milled for a Holosun holographic sight. This will be a dedicated hunting gun. I use primarily 200gt LBT style hard cast bullets

I’ve shot multiple pigs and a few deer with 45 acp. For whatever reason the internet makes it seem impossible

Here’s a 230 “black talon “ after passing through both shoulders of a deer

Cool!

Killed a couple dozen hogs and a few deer with a 1911 45acp with ball ammo. Actually never had anything NOT drop with it... no shots were more than 40 yards though...

230 ball? That's surprising.

Not really , if it goes in the correct spot

Both shoulders. Impressive.

My understanding is that 230 grain ball is under estimated a lot in this regard. Apparently, it tends to deform and tumble inside the body pretty easily. That lead inside the copper is soft. If it hits any bone, it's deforming and tumbling.

Sounds good to me because that's what I carry for self defense in my 1911. I don't find myself in crowds much.

Not yet, but I just bought a Springfield TRP Operator 10mm that’s going next season.

I’ve shot deer with a 1911 in 45 acp but it wasn’t hunting.

Only animals I've killed were woodchucks. Did a couple penetration tests on "found" deer carcases on our land the day after deer season. My favorite load of a 255 grain swc had no problem going clear through the heart/lung area and on out the other side. Same for high shoulder and neck. I wouldn't shoot one past forty or so yards, though.

Killed quite a few hogs here at the Ranch with 1911’s in 10mm and 45 acp. And a few deer too.

First deer I killed with a handgun was with a Kimber 10mm .

I have used it on prairie dogs and feral cats.
The bullets don't seem to expand much on small critters.

How much expansion do you need from a .45 on prairie dogs?