Deer hunting with light muzzleloader loads

trevj said:
Someone that said something stupid.

Cheers
Trev
Click to expand...

Just speaking from my own personal experience. Over thirty years of hunting deer and the only one that did not drop within twenty feet was my 300+ lb trophy deer. Lung shot but still had to chase it.



And your attitude is a glowing example why people dislike hunters/gun owners.

Everybody has different experiences and opinions.
 
Last edited:
yomomma said:
Just speaking from my own personal experience. Over thirty years of hunting deer and the only one that did not drop within twenty feet was my 300+ lb trophy deer. Lung shot but still had to chase it.



And your attitude is a glowing example why people dislike hunters/gun owners.

Everybody has different experiences and opinions.
Click to expand...

Gee. Sorry you feel that way.

Dragging out some "What if?" low odds event as a possible reason to not use any particular load, though, I still think was stupid as poo!

So, really, you think I am the reason people dislike hunters and gun owners? Maybe you should look in a mirror and bite your tongue when you come up with something dumb to say.

MY attitude is that a deer is gonna die just as dead from a not quite as energetic load, as it would from one that will loosen the kid's teeth. It only has to die once, and they are not armor plated. So, what if the biggest deer in the province walks in front of him? If he shoots it in the vitals, it'll die, that's what if. If he beats the crap outta himself and starts to flinch, ya think that'll make him a better hunter? Not likely.

Give yer head a shake and maybe encourage someone to go do some hunting instead of trying to turn it into some kind of idiotic pain endurance contest. It's not required.

So. Maybe you are the problem, not me.

Have a nice day, eh.

Cheers
Trev
 
No, your a pretentious prick.

With your line of thinking we should all be using .22's "because they're going to die anyways"

You elude to a point. Practice, build up your abilities before you go out hunting. Your making excuses for not putting the time in and learning the craft. If you do your part before the hunt you won't have a flinch when you do go hunting.

Its not like I'm saying he should be using 4 pellets.

Anyway, what ifs..

Seen enough new hunters who can't tell the difference between 50 and 80 yards. Seen enough new hunters who take shots beyond their capabilities.

My experience, your mileage may very.
 
yomomma said:
No, your a pretentious prick.

With your line of thinking we should all be using .22's "because they're going to die anyways"

You elude to a point. Practice, build up your abilities before you go out hunting. Your making excuses for not putting the time in and learning the craft. If you do your part before the hunt you won't have a flinch when you do go hunting.

Its not like I'm saying he should be using 4 pellets.

Anyway, what ifs..

Seen enough new hunters who can't tell the difference between 50 and 80 yards. Seen enough new hunters who take shots beyond their capabilities.

My experience, your mileage may very.
Click to expand...

Gotta agree here.

If the kid can't handle the right load to do the job, he shouldn't be hunting big game. Pretty friggin simple.

There are plenty of suitable loads that will do the job, and shouldn't "rattle his teeth loose".

Regardless, when hunting recoil is rarely felt. I've rifled off a volley of 3 inch slugs and in the thrill of the hunt you don't feel it like you do at the range.

If your worried about the practice time at the range then load em light and adjust the sights for range practice, then load em up hotter and re zero before the hunt. You won't even notice as long as everything else is the same.

Not rocket science....
 
Shooting from a bench will tend to produce more felt recoil with the same loading than from a standing position.

I'm presuming the positions used in the field will likely be standing or kneeling.
Closest likely field position equivalent would be from a tree-stand.
 
rodregier said:
Shooting from a bench will tend to produce more felt recoil with the same loading than from a standing position.

I'm presuming the positions used in the field will likely be standing or kneeling.
Closest likely field position equivalent would be from a tree-stand.
Click to expand...

Yes. Because of changes to our canadian resident hunting application this year, the only zone he is likely to pull a tag in is a "bush zone" up at our cabin. Like set up near a trail intersection and wait. So yes, either hunting from a treestand or a ground blind.

Slightly veering off topic here, but will round balls even get decent accuracy from a 1-28" barrel like my impact? My old flintlock was 1-60", obviously designed for shooting round balls.
 
Ok boys let's calm down here before this gets locked and some of us end up with infractions or bans.
Resorting to name calling is childish. Let's be men and listen to each others perspectives with a grain of salt.

Yes putting in some range time is wise, might even get your cousin loading 3 Pellets just for fun!
That being said a patched round ball with 40gr. Of black powder FFg from a 44cal flintlock will penetrate 2 hard packed bails of shavings and a 1/2" of HDPE at 25yds so I'm sure it will kill a dear.
I have noticed that the pellets do not hit as hard grain for grain as loose compacted powder.
Practice and experiment with the loads. Build skill and tolerance, hey you might just have fun at the same time.
 
Brutus said:
Need more info here.

Was it recovered?
Click to expand...

Yes it was after some tracking. Another hunter thought Buck shot to the head would do it (don't get me going in that) i ended having to put another round in it after that.

Sorry folks I just get all riled up when people don't have the common courtesy to listen to other peoples opinions.
 
yomomma said:
No, your a pretentious prick.

With your line of thinking we should all be using .22's "because they're going to die anyways"

You elude to a point. Practice, build up your abilities before you go out hunting. Your making excuses for not putting the time in and learning the craft. If you do your part before the hunt you won't have a flinch when you do go hunting.

Its not like I'm saying he should be using 4 pellets.

Anyway, what ifs..

Seen enough new hunters who can't tell the difference between 50 and 80 yards. Seen enough new hunters who take shots beyond their capabilities.

My experience, your mileage may very.
Click to expand...

Wow. Just wow. Gone full 'tard in one easy step.

Pretty easy to see that you don't have much in the way of reading comprehension there. Or spelling either. It's you're. Shortened up form of You Are.

At which time did I ever suggest that an inadequate load be used? I didn't.

I said that a deer will die just as well with a lot lighter load than most seem to think is required, and that rattling your teeth loose, while some see it as 'fun', isn't a requirement for a clean kill. So cool your jets jerk.

Really. Look in the mirror if you want to see who's the problem.

A half inch hole through the right part of a deer will kill it. Cleanly, and humanely. Without beating the pee outta the shooter. It's not a requirement.

So. I'm saying that the guy can humanely and effectively harvest a deer without having to run the loads to the nuts. You on the other hand, are saying that anyone that cannot handle the recoil, shouldn't hunt. Nice.

You work at Wholesale Sports? Help like yours isn't help at all.

Cheers
Trev
 
yomomma said:
Just speaking from my own personal experience. Over thirty years of hunting deer and the only one that did not drop within twenty feet was my 300+ lb trophy deer. Lung shot but still had to chase it.



And your attitude is a glowing example why people dislike hunters/gun owners.

Everybody has different experiences and opinions.
Click to expand...
I take it you have never have used archery gear?

To myself, a lung shot but still had to chase it, reads it ran on adrenaline for a bit but it was bleeding out & was destined for death anyways.

I don't get it how that is some kind of degradation of a 12 gauge slug. Maybe you would rather endorse a 10 gauge or maybe an 8 gauge would be better?? :rolleyes:

Sorry, but that's the message you seem to convey.
 
Last edited:
Sorry if it came across that way.

My point, as vague as it seems, is you you shouldn't degrade your tools to match your abilities but you should bring up your abilities to match your tools.

Would you set your bow to 30 lbs pull because you can't pull the 50 lbs? Not saying you need an 85lbs bow.

If I had chosen that day to use a 410 with a slug, I think the chance or recovery would have been greatly diminished.
 
Last edited:
yomomma said:
Sorry if it came across that way.

My point, as vague as it seems, is you you shouldn't degrade your tools to match your abilities but you should bring up your abilities to match your tools.

Would you set your bow to 30 lbs pull because you can't pull the 50 lbs? Not saying you need an 85lbs bow.

If I had chosen that day to use a 410 with a slug, I think the chance or recovery would have been greatly diminished.
Click to expand...
Yes but yomomma you are now changing your words. It's your own issue with a 12 gauge with slugs that I question, not your added statement about a 410.

Anyways, I think I've stated my opinion gracefully enough. It's time for me to leave this thread now as it's obvious this is now a waste of time.

Cheers!
 
Last edited:
There is a reason why 100 grains is generally used as the starting point.

Can you go less? Will it still kill a deer? Sure. Probably most of the time there won't be an issue.

If your shot isn't 100% will it be enough to kill it humanely? In my opinion... not as well as 100+ grains. And it is for this reason why I go with 100 grains.

It is legal to hunt with as little powder as you see fit. I just wouldn't recommend it to anyone because I have had to help track wounded deer that other people have shot with muzzleloaders with less than 100 grains. One included a very well placed shot that didn't end up killing the deer until we had tracked it many hours and many kilometers later. While I happen to be pretty good at tracking I do not enjoy it as much as having a bang flop. If that means that my shoulder takes a little bit more of a nudge and a deer doesn't have to run scared ####less for four kilometers I will gladly make that trade.
 
In some cases if you can't draw the bow you can't hunt with a lesser tool. Example moose in Ontario require a draw weight I'm not sure the exact number but I know I can not draw and hold that weight therefore I can not hunt moose with my compound. My compound is 30lb draw. I know it will kill a moose if I stalk in close and take a broadside shot however this is not legal. I can #### my crossbow with ropes though. I have a shoulder injury which prevents me from drawing heavier bows

As a side to the op
I tried my gun 1/28 twist with 50 gr pellet 777. It did not stabilize the bullet at 75 paces. It hit sideways in the paper but yet it managed to rip thru both sides of my burn barrel. A typical drum style burn barrel. To me it will kill a deer but I'd personally add more pellets to get it to preform As designed. A round ball may work I don't have any to try. What ever load the op chooses make sure it is accurate in your rifle
 
kyle700 said:
What would a good minimum amount of powder be to take a deer at say, 50 yards?
Click to expand...

I think you'd be able to get away with 70-75 grains loose pyrodex no problem for a short range load. ML's don't really buck very much with this powder charge, and you'd still have a .44 cal sized hole punched in the creature. I would look for a dead soft cast bullet to run with the sabot though.

Just to add, my kids don't shoot very often, and this load was "no problem" according to them.
 
My old caplock .50 with a 365gr Maxi-hunter, and 80gr of Pyrodex RS penetated a deer from stem to stern....3 feet.

I wouldn't try 50 grains, that seems VERY light. Get a lb of loose powder and try 70gr+++
 
beefman said:
My old caplock .50 with a 365gr Maxi-hunter, and 80gr of Pyrodex RS penetated a deer from stem to stern....3 feet.

I wouldn't try 50 grains, that seems VERY light. Get a lb of loose powder and try 70gr+++
Click to expand...

What range would you be comfortable with that at?
 
Heavy and " slow " versus " light and fast " to me the heavier bullet will likely penetrate further due to its greater energy to get moving thus making it harder to slow down. Sound about right ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom