I decided I’d pull a gun out I hadn’t shot in awhile to hunt with this year. It’s a 45 cal T/C Cherokee my dad bought for me at age 12, while working up a load today I was simply amazed at the penetration I was getting. Maxi ball over 50 grs of 3f black powder . Target was on a water soaked 7/16 leaned against a Steel drum with another pieces of 7/16 on the back. Complete pass through on all the shots at 50 yards. At 100 yards I was getting pass through on a large jug filled with water and the piece of plywood behind it. I have no doubt the little rifle . will be deadly on deer out to 100 yards if I can do my part. Fun day

Sounds like a sweet shooter. I had a TC Seneca back in the day. It was a sleek little gun that wasn't near as heavy as a Hawken or other comparable rifle. And that lack of weight made her kick like a mule. I do wish I still had it though.

I have only seen one Seneca in my life, dad and I was hunting and a gentleman walk up at our lunch break carrying one. We compared it to the Cherokee . I was young so I only faintly remember the conversation. If I ever run upon one a d have the money it will come home with me.

I had a real knowledgeable muzzleloader junkie tell me he just didn’t think 45 was the callber for deer and he’s killed truckloads of em with a variety of calibers. I always thought I’d like to have one until we talked. Of course, he’s a traditionalist too and shoots a lot of patched roundballs too.

There is a big debate between calibers, most of it stems from the rd ball loads. In that aspect I agree a .45 rd ball isn’t as good as a .54 but I shot a deer with my .45 flintlock with a parched rd ball a few years ago at 70 yards . She didn’t Make it 20yards. By luck it was a perfect shot.. now my .45 Cherokee I am using a 245 gr maxi ball with 60 grs black powder it’s running about 1500fps . I want to do a penetration test someday. I ask my buddy who is a black powder gun expert and he said he was better than many loads used in the era of black powder ammo Like the 44-40 which had been documented to kill about everything in North America. With all that said I plan to move up to a 54 caliber rifle designed to shoot a patched rd ball for deer hunting.

He is probably right if you are talking about a traditional .45 and round bullets, but not true at all with a modern in line. I use a Knight bolt action .45 with Barnes copper saboted 175g bullets at a velocity of 2425 and it is no different than shooting one with a centerfire rifle. The only handicap is that it is slower to load.

I understand wanting to hunt with a primitive weapon, but if you just wanna kill deer a .45 is the way to go