36 caliber deer hunting

Sparkitoff · Oct 10, 2024

I am not going to do this, and I am not asking if you think it's a good idea. I just want to know if anyone has used a .36 rifle for deer hunting and how that turned out. The details of the load and shot distance is helpful.

There are some deer species where the .36 might be the bomb, like Muntjac, Chinese Water Deer, Pudu, Brokett Deer, and some deer-like antelope like Reedbok and such.

Any used the .36 rifle deer hunting?

morehops52 · Oct 10, 2024

Not legal in many states

Rifleman1776 · Oct 10, 2024

There are those who will disagree. But, IMHO, anything under a .45 with prb is too small for deer hunting. Reason is their small size and light weight allows them to run out of energy very quickly. You want your hunt to be humane. A .45 does fine but stay away from smaller.

andy52 · Oct 10, 2024

.40 in the minimum here in Missouri and I won't even go that small to make humane kills.

The Crisco Kid · Oct 10, 2024

I have a nice light 35 caliber half stock I'm thinking about using for javelina next spring. A big javelina might weigh 50 or 60 lbs on the hoof. I've also shot some double patched ball loads at 25 yards with good enough accuracy for the purpose. 2 1/2" group total with two distinct groups. It should be a real killer of a load. Has anyone tried it?
I do have bigger medicine for deer.

rafterob · Oct 10, 2024

What is legal in your state dictates the answer. But a .36 with enough power would probably do the job. But you know, the right tool for the right job!

nchawkeye · Oct 10, 2024

You gonna shoot them between the eyes or behind the ear?

The Crisco Kid · Oct 10, 2024

nchawkeye said:
You gonna shoot them between the eyes or behind the ear?

With skillful stalking and some careful shooting I figure I can do both with one shot.

I googled what caliber muzzle loader for javelina in AZ and this is the jibberish that AI, Artificial Intelligence came up with:

A muzzleloader can be a good choice for hunting javelina in Arizona, and you can use either a primitive or modern inline style. However, there are some regulations to keep in mind:

In-line ignition, scopes, and smokeless powder: These are prohibited in Arizona.

Javelina are tough: Javelina are considered big-game animals in Arizona and are protected by state law. They are very tough and often get away injured from smaller cartridges.

Stykbow · Oct 10, 2024

I think this is an interesting question. So I can see a ball being a bit too little for deer, but what about a conical? They should be considerably heavier. Think that would do it with a big enough powder charge?

The Crisco Kid · Oct 10, 2024

Stykbow said:
I think this is an interesting question. So I can see a ball being a bit too little for deer, but what about a conical? They should be considerably heavier. Thank that would do it with a big enough powder charge?

I've thought of that too. I have a couple of .313 molds for a 32-20 that I could paper patch that might work. One of these days I'll try it. I doubt the bullets would be stable in a 48" twist but who knows. Right now I'll concentrate on the multiple round ball loads. My rifle is a true 35 caliber with a .350 bore and there aren't any off the shelf .340 molds available. I'm shooting 00 buckshot out of a Lee mold which measures .328 -331 depending on where I measure it. With a .018" patch it loads with ease in my barrel that I coned with a Joe Woods tool. It's not supposed to shoot as well as it does with those dimensions but the accuracy is pretty amazing at typical squirrel hunting ranges. I know, I could just use a single 00 buckshot or carry my 45 but it is fun to experiment. It's not something I'd try on a deer sized animal since I have a 45, a 54, and a 58 for that sort of hunting.

The Crisco Kid · Oct 10, 2024

rafterob said:
What is legal in your state dictates the answer. But a .36 with enough power would probably do the job. But you know, the right tool for the right job!

There are no muzzle loader caliber requirements for javelina in AZ. A magnum rimfire is legal and a 36 caliber round ball can be loaded to beat that by a bunch.

yellowhammer · Oct 10, 2024

Anyone ever tried a patched 9mm or .357 bullet in their .36 cal muzzleloader rifle? Maybe run thru a sizer die? 125 grain is almost double the weight of a .350 round ball.

Don't flame me, just askin'

SDSmlf · Oct 10, 2024

Never ‘tested’ 36 caliber patched roundballs, but at 100 yards had 32 caliber roundballs (1-1/2 buck) bounce off a plywood target backstop. Doubt a patched roundball out of a 36 caliber would do that much better, though at a real close and personal distance it should at least penetrate into the chest cavity of a deer. Just don’t see a 64 grain roundball being that much more of a killer than a 45 grain one.

A bit off topic, but I have dropped a number of coyotes from the backdoor with a 32 roundball, all well under 30 yards. They typically don’t drop where shot, but haven’t gone much farther than 20 to 25 feet. About the same as with 22RF hi velocity hollow point loads. Shot placement as always is important. The largest of the backyard coyotes are maybe 35-40 pounds, but there seems to be an endless supply of them to pick and choose from if you want to be fussy.

ETipp · Oct 11, 2024

Unless you plan on using a Maxi Ball (if available in .36) or unless you do a head or neck shot, you best get out your hiking boots.

Open terrain would definitely be best.

DKNoffsinger · Oct 11, 2024

The Crisco Kid said:
I've thought of that too. I have a couple of .313 molds for a 32-20 that I could paper patch that might work. One of these days I'll try it. I doubt the bullets would be stable in a 48" twist but who knows. Right now I'll concentrate on the multiple round ball loads. My rifle is a true 35 caliber with a .350 bore and there aren't any off the shelf .340 molds available. I'm shooting 00 buckshot out of a Lee mold which measures .328 -331 depending on where I measure it. With a .018" patch it loads with ease in my barrel that I coned with a Joe Woods tool. It's not supposed to shoot as well as it does with those dimensions but the accuracy is pretty amazing at typical squirrel hunting ranges. I know, I could just use a single 00 buckshot or carry my 45 but it is fun to experiment. It's not something I'd try on a deer sized animal since I have a 45, a 54, and a 58 for that sort of hunting.

I am using this bullet in a T/C Seneca .36 with 60/40 beeswax/Crisco lube on top of a .36 cal felt Wonder Wad and 35 grains of Shuetzen 3fg.
I am not setting any speed records here, but it groups 3/4" and better at 45 yds and gives good, clean kills on coyotes, marmots, and javelina. I have not tried it on anything larger but it's all about shot placement anyways.

TCMonts · Oct 11, 2024

yellowhammer said:
Anyone ever tried a patched 9mm or .357 bullet in their .36 cal muzzleloader rifle? Maybe run thru a sizer die? 125 grain is almost double the weight of a .350 round ball.

Don't flame me, just askin'

View attachment 354490

I've heard good things about .357 hollow base wad cutters for low/medium powered loads but haven't tried it yet. May try 158 g DEWC for a heavier load.

The Crisco Kid · Oct 11, 2024

Shot placement is always the most important thing. That's why I don't take a head shot unless the animal is still, very close, and I have a good rest. An animal can go a long ways with its jaw shot off.
I'm thinking that if a 45 ball is good enough for a clean kill on a 100 lb. deer a 36 caliber ball should be good on an animal that weighs 25 or 30 lbs average. Two balls in the boiler room should be pretty lethal and I'm confident I can put them there at 25 or 30 yards or less.

ppg1949 · Oct 11, 2024

45 caliber is the smallest I have used and still be legal in my state. If it is legal in your state, then a lot would depend on the terrain. If you’re talking woods so thick 30 yards is a long shot, then I think maybe. But if 50 yards is an unusually close shot, then no. As always shot placement is the key.

smokeum54 · Oct 11, 2024

.45 and bigger here in Nebraska. If i could i still wouldn't just because deer can get huge here and i wouldn't feel comfortable shooting a big one with a .36, even with a maxi within 50 yards.

36 maxi does exist, but they and the molds are very rare. I've also tried the paper patched .357 158 gr option and got keyholes at 25 yds with my Seneca but the maxi shot under 4 inch at 50.
Also, accurate does have a pretty much identical mold.

kelljp · Oct 11, 2024

36 is legal here in Tennessee, but haven't tried it. Did buy some of the TC maxi-balls like in the previous post picture, they shoot very accurately.

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