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1858 Remington
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Not yet sir.
Dave Rosenthal
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I wouldn't unless you stoke it up to max with 35 grains of 3Fg Goex and get really good with shot placement. If you're a true Pistolero, you're up to the task. If you're new to hand guns, it's a Pipe Dream IMHO.
Most State's hunting regs don't allow these revolvers unfortunately, so I'd check that out too....
Most State's hunting regs don't allow these revolvers unfortunately, so I'd check that out too....
Even with a 35 grain powder load of GOEX 3Fg powder under a .451 diameter, 138 grain roundball according to the Lyman Black Powder Handbook a 8" barreled revolver will only develop a muzzle velocity of 848 fps.
Unless the range is very close and the shot well made the gun sounds underpowered for taking a deer.
I'm not saying it has not been done. I'm sure it has but I think the game animal deserves something that has a bit more killing power.
Unless the range is very close and the shot well made the gun sounds underpowered for taking a deer.
I'm not saying it has not been done. I'm sure it has but I think the game animal deserves something that has a bit more killing power.
Dave Rosenthal
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Zonie said:
Jim,
I completely agree with you, thus the Pipe Dream comment. I chrono'd my 3rd Model Dragoon with a .454 and 45 grains of compacted 3Fg Goex and barely broke the sound barrier. Up close it's the smallest gun I'd use, but I'd prefer my Walker with another 10 grains of powder. Even that is no rifle!
Here in Illinois BP revolvers are not legal for deer hunting. All muzzleloading pistol hunting here is restricted to the late-winter antlerless seasons.
We also have a 500 foot pound muzzle energy minimum.
In the past I have taken several whitetails with a CF handgun and one of my goals now is to take one with a BP handgun. Due to the late-season only regs it's been hard to do so far... Our deer are all spooky by then from all the other hunting seasons + there just are not as many.
Anyway. I had to study some ballistics charts to be sure I would meet the legal requirements of 500fpme while also meeting my personal desires to take a deer with a PRB from a BP handgun. A .50 can do it with a long barrel and a stout load... barely. A .50 can do it easily with a conical.
Originally I tried with a .54 Lyman Great Plains Pistol. The Pedersoli .54 Colonial Pistol in flintlock is what I use now. It's much easier to meet the fpme minimum using a PRB with the .54 caliber.
Whatever pistol you decide to use keep your shots close. I'm waiting for the perfect broadside shot inside 25 yards. Hasn't happened yet. Been fun tryin' tho. :thumbsup:
We also have a 500 foot pound muzzle energy minimum.
In the past I have taken several whitetails with a CF handgun and one of my goals now is to take one with a BP handgun. Due to the late-season only regs it's been hard to do so far... Our deer are all spooky by then from all the other hunting seasons + there just are not as many.
Anyway. I had to study some ballistics charts to be sure I would meet the legal requirements of 500fpme while also meeting my personal desires to take a deer with a PRB from a BP handgun. A .50 can do it with a long barrel and a stout load... barely. A .50 can do it easily with a conical.
Originally I tried with a .54 Lyman Great Plains Pistol. The Pedersoli .54 Colonial Pistol in flintlock is what I use now. It's much easier to meet the fpme minimum using a PRB with the .54 caliber.
Whatever pistol you decide to use keep your shots close. I'm waiting for the perfect broadside shot inside 25 yards. Hasn't happened yet. Been fun tryin' tho. :thumbsup:
phoenix511
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I'd urge you to reconsider using any BP revolver for hunting big game. I live in MN, and they may not be used for taking big game.
None, even the big Walkers and Dragoons, lack the needed energy to make a clean kill.
Doubtless a white tail deer has been brought down by BP revolver, maybe by someone with no alternative, maybe with a perfect shot in the heart, or severed the spine. These hits are pure luck when in the field.
I'm all for harvesting wild game and bringing it to the table, but not in a manner that can be inhumane.
None, even the big Walkers and Dragoons, lack the needed energy to make a clean kill.
Doubtless a white tail deer has been brought down by BP revolver, maybe by someone with no alternative, maybe with a perfect shot in the heart, or severed the spine. These hits are pure luck when in the field.
I'm all for harvesting wild game and bringing it to the table, but not in a manner that can be inhumane.
BGRooster1
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If you do an online search . You will find that many have used blackpowder revolvers or single shot pistols to take whitetail . The things to consider are , shot placement, distance and of course the stoutest load you can shoot accurately.Accurately as in, being able to consistently hit a 6" or smaller target at a given range.
cowpoke1955
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Black powder handguns are legal here in Alabama, but not in the Wildlife Management Areas. As mentioned, range should be kept short and shot placement is everything. I love my 1858, but have only shot some jack rabbits with it. A friend of mine went into some heavy brush after a wild hog with his 1858. At ten feet, he dropped the hog with a head shot. Not sure what load he was useing, but it worked :thumbsup:
Killing a deer with a cap and ball revolver isn't only about muzzle energy and velocity.
The Colts have rudimentary sights, which make precise placement -- a requirement for sportsmanlike hunting -- difficult.
It's one thing to shoot nice, tight groups from a benchrest, at a measured distance, quite another to do the same when sucking wind from exertion, excited with "buck fever" and have to guess the range.
If you must hunt deer with a handgun, I'd suggest a single-shot pistol of at least .50 caliber with a conical bullet. One with adjustable sights, or sights regulated to an accurate load that are readily visible.
Cap and ball revolvers are fun, but marginal for deer of any decent size. When the .357 Magnum was introduced in 1935, marksmen downed moose, big bears and even some African game with it -- doesn't make it a moose, bear or Africa gun.
The Colts have rudimentary sights, which make precise placement -- a requirement for sportsmanlike hunting -- difficult.
It's one thing to shoot nice, tight groups from a benchrest, at a measured distance, quite another to do the same when sucking wind from exertion, excited with "buck fever" and have to guess the range.
If you must hunt deer with a handgun, I'd suggest a single-shot pistol of at least .50 caliber with a conical bullet. One with adjustable sights, or sights regulated to an accurate load that are readily visible.
Cap and ball revolvers are fun, but marginal for deer of any decent size. When the .357 Magnum was introduced in 1935, marksmen downed moose, big bears and even some African game with it -- doesn't make it a moose, bear or Africa gun.
Blizzard of '93
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as said most states (actually all that I know of) don't allow the use of them on big game.
on 'pest' species anything can be used and I've used my '58 Buffalo .44 and my ROA to take feral hog w/a ;depredation' permit.
my '58 is quite accurate and a head shot on a dressed-out 100+ lb young boar took off a chunk of scalp/skull and blew out brain tissue from about a 30' shot. load was a Lee mold conical slug over 30gr 3F. a shot I took at a larger dry sow that was 'trotting' through my stand a bit more distant with my ROA resulted in a hit too far back and high in the lungs for a quick drop and me and nephew (he backed me up both hunts in the ground blind w/his H&R 20ga mag but this one whirled and ran before he could get on it) had a track in melting patchy snow but seen where it headed. found it about 400 yds away still blowing blood in a low thicket whereupon a coupe to the back of head did it in. they are tough animals. the Lee conical passed thru both lung tips and was stuck under the far side hide after busting 2 ribs.
this was hunts I did under a depredation permit issued to The Nature Conservancy folks on forest land they have near the S.C. line I know a young couple that were in charge of this area for TNC. I took 2 others with (unmentionable here) guns - you talk about some pig roasts now those foraging hogs are fine fare.
on 'pest' species anything can be used and I've used my '58 Buffalo .44 and my ROA to take feral hog w/a ;depredation' permit.
my '58 is quite accurate and a head shot on a dressed-out 100+ lb young boar took off a chunk of scalp/skull and blew out brain tissue from about a 30' shot. load was a Lee mold conical slug over 30gr 3F. a shot I took at a larger dry sow that was 'trotting' through my stand a bit more distant with my ROA resulted in a hit too far back and high in the lungs for a quick drop and me and nephew (he backed me up both hunts in the ground blind w/his H&R 20ga mag but this one whirled and ran before he could get on it) had a track in melting patchy snow but seen where it headed. found it about 400 yds away still blowing blood in a low thicket whereupon a coupe to the back of head did it in. they are tough animals. the Lee conical passed thru both lung tips and was stuck under the far side hide after busting 2 ribs.
this was hunts I did under a depredation permit issued to The Nature Conservancy folks on forest land they have near the S.C. line I know a young couple that were in charge of this area for TNC. I took 2 others with (unmentionable here) guns - you talk about some pig roasts now those foraging hogs are fine fare.
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