Just bought an S&W Model 25, 6.5" barrel for target work and hopefully for a short range Whitetail deer gun.

What load do you use? Cast Lead or Hollow Point?

Powder type, charge, velocity, etc?

Scope or irons?

How was performance on the deer?

I'm thinking that 50 yard shots or less would be typical for me where I hunt in the thick stuff.

Thanks.

I have only used by .45LC on pigs with hardcast LBTs but I would be inclined to go with a jackets HP or soft for deer. Two that leap to the front would be the Hornady XTP or the Barnes XPB

http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/pistol/

I know Barnes lists the 225 for the .45LC but the 185 at about 1300fps would do just fine on any whitetail and would be easy on your Smith.

I prefer open sight on any pistol unless your vision is really compromising accuracy, if I want the bulk of a scope I would take a rifle.

I use Wide Flat Nose LBT's on all of my deer (iron sights). A friend and I usually shoot one apiece every year during gun season. I shoot 300-325's at 1,300 (H110, Lil' Gun, 2400); he uses 260-280 at 900 (Unique). They drop regardless(especially when bone is hit).

Very few hollow or soft points will always open at the speeds you need to hold your 25 at. None, to my knowledge, will open at 50, but have used SP's on deer and hogs and they work too, just hit the right spot.

See this missive from John Linebaugh's homepage:

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

24.5 gr of IMR 4227 gives me 1300+ in my 7 1/2" Ruger Hunters with a 250 gr XTP & 3 shot 1 hole groups off the bench at 50 yards.

....The Winchester model 92 or the Rossi copy currently in production makes a handy/dandy little deer gun for still hunting/stalking deer and has lots more pop with it's 16" barrel when compared to handgun wobblies (and costs little more than a quality handgun). I've killed deer with my Ruger .41 mag blackhawk, but honestly think of it more as stunt work that unnecessarily limits opportunities for most hunters who have limited time in the field.For a fellow like me, wife gone, family grown, handguns work since I've got lots of days over the course of a season when I can be in the wood, but for the guy who has only a few days each season to collect his venison, I'd recommend going with more barrel on your .45 Colt gun.

What about Ruger Redhawks,can they be loaded to the same pressure as Blackhawks, and if not, why?

Yes the redhawks are stronger than the Blackhawks

Took a large doe once with a 45LC. It did a number on her at 40 yards.

By far most of my handgun kills on deer were with a .44 Mag. but I did use a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt to take a few some years ago. You can't use a Smith in .45 Colt with loads any heavier than factory which are pretty anemic. In the Ruger you can load the .45 Colt to .44 Mag. levels but DO NOT attempt this with the Smith. Still, safe loads should give you 850-900fps easily with a 250 cast bullet and that will be more than enough for deer.

I carried a Ruger BH in 45LC while stationed in Alaska back in the early 70's. I used the 250 gr hard cast SWC Keith style bullets over (??)grs of 2400.
I killed moose, black bear, caribou amd a ton of snowshoe hares with it. It is a great old cartridge and can be loaded to compare with a 44 magnum in the Rugers.