.45 Colt is indeed a great plinker, and a good walk about caliber. It is also a wonderful hunting round. I have killed hogs, deer, rabbit, squirrel, possum, 'coons, armadillos..............well you get the picture.
I put a 225 grain Silvertip clean through a medium Doe two seasons back. She dropped like a sack of spuds. Range was maybe 25 yards. Revolver was a S&W Model 25, 6 inch barrel.