How many of your rifles have killed deer?

Eric Krewson · Apr 27, 2023

I was thinking; as soon as I build a new deer caliber rifle or smoothbore I always hunt with it until I kill a deer with it. I have one .40 that is legal to hunt deer with in Alabama but I haven't used it on deer yet.

I have killed deer (lots of them) with my first build in .54, 12ga smoothbore, 20ga smoothbore, a gifted .44, the TC Hawkins kit I put together and random parts TC Hawkins have both taken deer.

I haven't killed a deer with my pre-carve from hell Issacc Haines rifle because I only found out what it likes to be fed to shoot a tight group at the end of deer season last year. It is up to bat this year.

Loja man · Apr 27, 2023

So far I have with my Kentucky .50 (now my oldest sons) and my GPR .50. I had a New Englander .50 that I sold to my brother in law before I ever got a deer with it. I still have a young family and funds are limited. So the guns that come in need to have a purpose in the hunting lineup. Working a a Chambers PA Fowler that will be my designated hunting gun as my next son will probably step into using the GPR this year.

appalichian hunter · Apr 27, 2023

Everyone except the .32 has killed deer, the .32 has took a fair number of tree rats and a few ground hogs. If I own a gun its used for hunting.

Grimord · Apr 27, 2023

I have taken deer with a former T/C .50 High Plains Sporter, a T/C .54 Renegade flint lock, a John Browning Mountain Rifle in .58, and a Lyman .54 Plains Pistol.

andy52 · Apr 27, 2023

I've got about 10 rifles and have killed deer with only two of them. My old Hatfield mountain rifle in .54 has taken the most, with my custom SMR .45 coming in second. I think for me it's just a confidence thing, when I'm heading out I grab the ones I know will get the job done.

Sparkplug · Apr 27, 2023

3 of mine have dropped one. Didn't get my 45 till after season was over. Next season I will rotate through starting with it. But I will always have my 1858 at hand in case a shot presents itself.

What part of Bama?

Steel Hayes · Apr 27, 2023

I can say with certainty, none of mine have dropped a deer.
they've dropped a lot of pheasant, duck and turkey. I could never get used to the taste of venison.

tenngun · Apr 27, 2023

Only have one rifle right now and it’s earned it’s spurs. Beto of my tgree smoothies have done their job.
Before about 2000 all my deer hunting was with rifles.
I’ve had a few that never got a chance to hunt, but in general that’s what put the gun on my harem

springfield art · Apr 27, 2023

Eric Krewson said:
I was thinking; as soon as I build a new deer caliber rifle or smoothbore I always hunt with it until I kill a deer with it. I have one .40 that is legal to hunt deer with in Alabama but I haven't used it on deer yet.

I have killed deer (lots of them) with my first build in .54, 12ga smoothbore, 20ga smoothbore, a gifted .44, the TC Hawkins kit I put together and random parts TC Hawkins have both taken deer.

I haven't killed a deer with my pre-carve from hell Issacc Haines rifle because I only found out what it likes to be fed to shoot a tight group at the end of deer season last year. It is up to bat this year.

View attachment 217916

I don't hunt but appreciate ethical hunters that use their harvest. It's a nice idea for an owner to know that he 'got meat' with his rifles; kind of puts icing on the cake.

Stykbow · Apr 27, 2023

One, my GPR in 50 cal. I only have two and one is just a severely abused CVA that I inherited which isn’t in shooting condition.

LongWalker · Apr 27, 2023

"Deer" or big game in general? I've got one rifle that has never taken a whitetail or mule deer, but I have taken antelope, moose, caribou, etc.

Sidney Smith · Apr 27, 2023

So far only one, my TVM late Lancaster kit gun that I built. It's a .54 caliber. I've taken 3 deer with it so far. Have shot at a few with my Lyman Great Plains rifle, but have not yet connected with it. Hit one with my TC Renehade years ago but never recovered that deer.

Christophero · Apr 28, 2023

Every muzzleloader I own, or have owned, has taken a deer or so, except the .32. Squirrels with that one. I'm with you, Eric, this dog hunts and enjoys using these tools as intended.
Looking forward to your upcoming post when you share the success with the Isaac Haines rifle.

Marshhawk · Apr 28, 2023

Nothing yet. But this will be the year for the .45!

Eric Krewson · Apr 28, 2023

I should have trashed the stock on my Haines rifle because it had so many major flaws, serious flaws. As you can see it has some pretty spectacular wood so I forged ahead, I could have built three guns in the time it took me to fix or cover up the flaws in this TOW pre-carve gun kit that I bought 3rd hand. I paid $650 for the kit with a rice barrel, a deluxe Siler lock and that spetacular wood. I ran the numbers on the TOW on line order form and came up with $1100 not counting the wood upgrade, all of the dove tails cut and buttplate installed by Track, plus every drill bit, countersink and thread tap needed to complete the build.

I have posted this picture enough to make people sick of seeing it but here is the lock position in the pre-carve inlet.

pajeepman · Apr 28, 2023

3 of mine have from what I was told. Not by me. I will shoot an animal when grocery stores cease to exist. I don't judge people for hunting, it's just not for me.

Bruce · Apr 28, 2023

Eric Krewson said:
I was thinking; as soon as I build a new deer caliber rifle or smoothbore I always hunt with it until I kill a deer with it. I have one .40 that is legal to hunt deer with in Alabama but I haven't used it on deer yet.

I have killed deer (lots of them) with my first build in .54, 12ga smoothbore, 20ga smoothbore, a gifted .44, the TC Hawkins kit I put together and random parts TC Hawkins have both taken deer.

I haven't killed a deer with my pre-carve from hell Issacc Haines rifle because I only found out what it likes to be fed to shoot a tight group at the end of deer season last year. It is up to bat this year.

View attachment 217916

oldwood · Apr 28, 2023

Over the 50+ years hunting deer in Pa. , and building multiple m/l deer rifles , I would do better listing the different calibers , than each rifle. Lets say......two .50 's , one .58 , three .62's. All these long rifles , and two were Jaegers , have killed multiple deer each. I current;y use a light weight .50,w/peep sight. Can't see well enough to shoot w/o a peep sight. My over all favorite , was a .62 cal. longrifle. It was a distance rifle due to the ball weight , and 38" long sighting plain. The rifle weighed in at just 8 lbs. , powder charge was 90 gr. FFG. Longest deer killing shot was with the gun rested on a rock , and was just under 200 yds. . Wish I had built it , when I was younger , but who knew , it would shoot so well. .......oldwood

springfield art · Apr 28, 2023

LongWalker said:
"Deer" or big game in general? I've got one rifle that has never taken a whitetail or mule deer, but I have taken antelope, moose, caribou, etc.

I think in general. Plus, taking antelope, moose, etc. is much more difficult than deer, which are practically "tame" at this point.

springfield art · Apr 28, 2023

oldwood said:
Over the 50+ years hunting deer in Pa. , and building multiple m/l deer rifles , I would do better listing the different calibers , than each rifle. Lets say......two .50 's , one .58 , three .62's. All these long rifles , and two were Jaegers , have killed multiple deer each. I current;y use a light weight .50,w/peep sight. Can't see well enough to shoot w/o a peep sight. My over all favorite , was a .62 cal. longrifle. It was a distance rifle due to the ball weight , and 38" long sighting plain. The rifle weighed in at just 8 lbs. , powder charge was 90 gr. FFG. Longest deer killing shot was with the gun rested on a rock , and was just under 200 yds. . Wish I had built it , when I was younger , but who knew , it would shoot so well. .......oldwood

Pa. has a good game commission, I believe. The magazine is interesting.

How many of your rifles have killed deer?

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