35 gr. 3F + .440 RB=Bambi,,,,, (?)

[roundball]

Was thinking about this thread at the range this morning, practicing for squirrels with a .45cal flinter, .40grns Goex FFFg, Hornady .440 ball...using 1" stickers at 25yds to practice head shots, this rifle is extremely accurate with that load.

The place I'll be sitting will still be thick with leaves in October here in NC, and I've taken a couple of bucks there over the years as they walk along a trail only 25yds away.

As accurate as this rifle is with that load, and sitting braced against a tree, I should be able to put a ball in a buck's ear at that range like it was a squirrel head shot, and the 40grn load will plenty in that situation

 

[Ohio Joe]

When I started hunting with muzzleloaders almost 25 years ago, 100 yards was my imposed limit. Then came 75 yards about 7 or 8 years ago... Now my limit is 50 yards...
Over that time when using one of my .45's, I always used a 65 grain charge of Goex 3fg under a .445 PRB. I always felt I was giving up 5 to 10 grains of powder to patch fouling over the charge and figured I had 55 to 60 good grains of powder working for me, no matter how long the load was in the barrel any given day...
440 to 500 foot pounds of energy at fifty yards is not bad energy for a .45 PRB... Nor did I feel at the time, 330 to 360 FPE @ 75 yards was bad either. And when the ol' eyesight was sharp I felt 265 to 285 FPE @ 100 yards was good...
Earlier on this thread I posted the idea of using a 2x8 with a plastic jug behind it. That was to check and see if you would happen to hit bone, would the roundball continue through and go into or through the jug which would represent the lungs, or heart of a deer... 25 years ago the load I used and still use today would go through the 2x8 and cardboard milk container...
The longest shot I ever took deer with using the .45 caliber load above was in the 60 yard neighborhood. Never had a problem with her going down, and I also knew I had a 40 yard buffer beyond that range...
What buffer would you have using only 35 grains of powder on a deer at 75 yards??? Anyone can crunch the numbers and make them work, but field testing the idea will always be paramount in any field situation...

 

[riarcher]

Not sure, but I think I saw Mr. 35 gr. last weekend shooting a .22cal. rifle. He stayed down the far end and I wasn't askin' no questions.

 

I would consider the use of 35gr.,.45 cal charge on whitetail deer out about to the same range I would feel comfortable shooting them with an 1860 Army. That would be about 20 to 25yds. PERIOD.
; I know that the .45's or .44's were popular in the Army model and other models of the day, for shooting buffalo from horseback at the range of just a few feet to perhaps 10' or so. I also know they were marginal and generally needed more than one shot per buff & that the .54 to .70 cal smooth or rifled pistols only needed 1 shot.
; So I would think this RABBIT load (what I now use 35gr. for) suitable, power-wise, to about 25yds max on deer. THE problem is a quartering shot that looks broadside, or hitting leg bones what will STOP or deflect a slow ball.
; Personally, I wodn't do it.
; About the same as a 44-40 - NO WAY. 1st of all, the 44-40 shot a .43 cal. 200gr. conical using 40gr., not a .44 cal. 128gr. ball with 35gr. The conical loses much less vel over the same range than the round ball, maintaining it's weight advantage for penetration.
: On large 250lb. deer, the 44-40 is borderline at 75 to 100yds.IMHO The .45RB with 35gr. is much inferior as shown, so as far as I'm concerned, it's suitable for smaller deer to about 25yds.PERIOD - and I wouldn't do it personaly. I'd much rather use my .54 RB with 45gr. 3F and 220gr.of ball at a chron'd 1,220fps. at it's 25/30yd. max range. Notice a similarity between the 44-40 and the .54 pistol's load? The pistol, of course has an big advantage of ball dia. :applause:, besides, it's a flinter, and that's an advantage. :bull:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Toss my 2