Frontal Shot With Muzzleloader

D

-Doug-

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I’m new to muzzleloader hunting.
If the opportunity for a frontal shot on a whitetail occurred would you take it?

Let’s assume:
-stable rest
-within 60 yards
-deer is either not moving or very slow walk

Also how about a heavily quartering towards you shot (would be shooting through shoulder)

Obviously a broadside is ideal but just wondering rifle capabilities.
CVA Wolf
295gr Barnes
100gr 777 Pelets
 
The Deer will die very quickly, on the othe hand, meat damage may be severe if the impact is low.
 
On the frontal shot, it would depend how accurate the gun is....can it hold a center of aim point at your range. The troat opening you are trying to hit is only a couple inched wide so your rifle must be able to shoot within that parameter before I would try the shot....miss that throat opening & your just putting a slug into a shoulder or maybe breaking a rib or two that will probably mean a badly wounded animal for a long time period.
i would never use a "quartering shot" with any rifle, muzzle loader or not, even on a 200 " WT...meat damage would be far more than I would want.
 
I'd have zero hesitation taking that shot. You'll have plenty of penetration and it's hard to miss the vitals on a level-ground frontal shot, as you've basically got a straight-on view of the lungs/heart. The only catch is that if you do plant your shot perfectly, the bullet will most likely travel through into the guts, which means you better be quick and thorough with your field dressing job to avoid spoiling.

fingers284 said:
i would never use a "quartering shot" with any rifle, muzzle loader or not, even on a 200 " WT...meat damage would be far more than I would want.
Click to expand...

^I've never understood this train of thought^ granted, meat damage is never a good thing, but you'll always get more meat off the deer you recover than the one you leave in the bush...
 
Rifle is on out to 100 yards and holds a grouping as long as I do my part.
My preference will always be broadside but if the ideal situation presents itself and I have one coming in frontal when I’m on ground level and it’s close it’s good to know it has the punch.
 
Doug: Some years back, a hunting pal of mine dropped a very nice Saskatchewan white tailed buck on a frontal shot, with his .50 caliber muzzle loader. Patched ball. 65 grain powder charge. Range: About 70 yards. The buck went maybe 20 yards, then folded up. The shooter in question knew his gun and capabilities well.
So the moral of this story is: If you get the shot. Are confident of your aim and shot placement. Then take it and collect your venison.

Al
 
I have experience with frontal shots on moose, bears and deer with a .58 Hawken. All one shot kills and none went far if at all:cool:
The furthest was the moose at 90 paces .one and done with a 280 grain round ball.
Cat
 
I have shot a lot of deer with the CVA Wolf using 303 grain sabot. That shot would definitely kill the deer. I would likely wait for a broadside but my hunting situation and opportunities are likely different than yours. I took two eight pointers at around 80 yards last year Both broadside and neither went more than 7 yards. Any I have tracked after being hit have never gone far and leave massive blood trails. This deer was shot on the other side and the bullet exited through shoulder.
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From experience, within 60 yds and he is not turning, the base of the white spot on the throat is my aim point. High or low 3-4 inches does not matter and if you are wide it is usually a clean miss, but you still have a good 6 inch horizontal target. I have blown more than one over backwards usually within 30yds and the bullet usually is in the body cavity. I am using a 195grm pure lead 357 bullet in a two part sabot yours is plenty heavy to do the job. If you have a clean shot take it!
 
Great info guys, hopefully things pan out this year.
I have been pleasantly surprised by the accuracy I am getting at the range from my CVA but I haven’t had a chance to field test it.

Seems to give the same sort of thump that my 20ga Hornady SSTs do in terms of recoil but I wonder how they compare downrange.
 
I find the CVA shoots well above it's price point. I bought mine used for less than $300 and the optic or the Cerakote it wears are worth more than the gun. As stated above if you get a clean shot don't hesitate to take it, good luck!
 
Only BP deer i shot was with a 45 cal ML and a round ball.
I hit a big doe quartering away from me. Went in through the near side hind quarters, the ball exited at her offside front shoulder, and the loss of meat would not have made a decent cup of soup.

The Gold Standard, that I was taught, was to aim for the normal broadside point of impact, on the other side of the animal. My usual point of aim is a hand span behind the point of the elbow, and 1/3 up from bottom. Pick that spot on the deer and you do OK!
 
I shot a nice big buck in-between the front legs dropped it on the spot with my 20 gauge savage 220. I was using Federal trophy tipped sabot from 80 yards. Specs are 275 grain all copper round at 1900fps
 
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My buddy shot a mule deer buck in the front with .58 minie ball the bullet exited 3" from the anus the deer didn't go far. One tip I'll pass on is try to take the shot when the animal looking away if it sees the smoke they could react instantly spoiling your shot.
 
Taken mule deer, white tail and elk from this angle. All were one shot kills. Shot placement was higher than heart level but base of the visible windpipe, just above the breastbone.

Bullet recovery on one was a liver stop, another never did find, the white tail bullet deflected upwards into the spinal column.
 
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Got this little guy Oct 7. Hard quartering to. About 100 yards. 250gr sst went in infront of onside shoulder and exited by last rib. The buck made it farther than I would have thought but still died with 100 yards.
 

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