36 cal. maxiball.

[Pioneer flinter]

Hello in the camp I took my .36 cal. southern mountain rifle out yesterday, I had cast up about twenty maxiballs for it, I found a mould I had picked up years ago. I was limited on time so I poured seventy grains of ffg down the bbl. loaded the maxi's. five shots later I had a group of
of 1 3/4" at fifty yards. how do you think this would work on deer if I was inclined. as far as being legal my state is ok for any muzzleloader for deer. tank you all.

 

[Patocazador]

Hmmm, hard to say.
Excellent shot placement would silence any arguments though.

How much do the maxis weigh?

 

[Kylongrifle]

I think they weight 128 grains. someone correct me if Im wrong?

 

[Bugflipper]

Yeah that sounds about right on the weight. I've shot coyotes and small pigs with them. They are illegel here on deer so I have no idea. They would deliver about the same as a 130 gr prb in a 45 if the velocities were the same. The bullet may actually hold on to velocity a bit better at the far end. The smallest I use is a 40 with a 175 gr, a 40 is legal here and it puts them down fine. The weight is comparable to a 50 with a prb though. I imagine you need to read up on how effective the 45 is on deer.
Good Luck

 

[galamb]

Before I switched to a muzzle loader in my shotgun/muzzleloader area for hunting deer I used 00 Buckshot in my shotgun.

On two occasions it took down a deer with only 1 pellet found in a vital area (one through the liver and one through a lung) both deer were recovered within 100 yards of where they were shot.

Given that 00 buck is about 33 caliber and it was "thrown" at the deer (wouldn't shoot further than 40 yards with buck) at maybe 1300 fps (with a good tail wind) I would feel more than comfortable using a 36 cal if legal where you are hunting.

I have taken deer with my 40 cal - simply wait for a good broadside shot, keep it under 75 yards (my sight in) and go for a heart/lung shot.

I read in a couple places that you need 800'ish pounds of kinetic energy to take down a deer - never make it with sub-50 cal (according to the experts).

I wrecked my black powder season this year when I took a 9 pointer on opening day of bow season with my recurve which produces a whopping 37 lbs of KE at 25 yards (my max range - no sights/instinctive shooter).

I guess the deer didn't know I was 763 lbs light on the KE.

Sorry for all the blabbing - but if you work within the limitations of your rifle, it's more than fine for deer...

 

[PA16th]

I would not hunt deer with less then a .45 cal. However
at 50 yards or less on a small deer (100 lbs or less) With excellent shot placement I think it would be ok.
I just saw a mold like yours at a recent gun show. Asking price was $80.00 It was as new, made from aluminum. Seller said it was not a common mold and was uncertain the maker of it.
Don