40 cal. Hunting loads

[Wayne/Al]

A fellow black powder shooter was hunting with his 40 cal. and took a 70yd shot at a deer. The load was PRB over 35 gr of 3f. It was a heart/lung complete pass through. Is this a fluke ? Would you 40 cal shooters be comfortable using that load for hunting deer?
I would like to know what your thoughts are on this and what loads you use in your 40 cal for hunting deer.

I know some folks think a 40 cal is not enough for deer but here in Alabama it is legal and is used for small and large game.

Thanks, Wayne/Al

 

[roundball]

A fellow black powder shooter was hunting with his 40 cal. and took a 70yd shot at a deer. The load was PRB over 35 gr of 3f. It was a heart/lung complete pass through. Is this a fluke ? Would you 40 cal shooters be comfortable using that load for hunting deer?
I would like to know what your thoughts are on this and what loads you use in your 40 cal for hunting deer.

I know some folks think a 40 cal is not enough for deer but here in Alabama it is legal and is used for small and large game.

Thanks, Wayne/Al

Not sure what you're after Wayne...sounds like you're OK with the idea...you gave the example of a 70yd shot...you mentioned it's commonplace there in AL to use a .40cal for deer hunting, etc, etc.
And you mentioned that some here don't view the .40cal for deer the same way.

I've read where there are a lot of deer in AL, and that they may average a little smaller in size than some states...don't know if that's true or not...if it is, that might make smaller calibers a little better match to them than deer hunting in other states...dunno.

I use 40grns Goex 3F for my .40cal squirrel load...

 

[David W.]

A fellow black powder shooter was hunting with his 40 cal. and took a 70yd shot at a deer. The load was PRB over 35 gr of 3f. It was a heart/lung complete pass through. Is this a fluke ? Would you 40 cal shooters be comfortable using that load for hunting deer?
I would like to know what your thoughts are on this and what loads you use in your 40 cal for hunting deer.

I know some folks think a 40 cal is not enough for deer but here in Alabama it is legal and is used for small and large game.

Thanks, Wayne/Al

40 cal is OK, but only withing 50 yards. IMO I would also use a little stouter load than 35 gr, FFFg.

 

[wattlebuster]

I live in Bama an I dont think I would want to use one when there is bigger medicene available. If everything goes right then it is fine an dandy but I go by the old rule (WHAT CAN GO WRONG WILL GO WRONG) so my line of thinkin is use the most you have available. BUT that is just this rednecks opinion :hatsoff:

 

[smo]

Being from the N. Alabama area myself I have 1st hand expierience with the size of deer in the area. I know that they can run from small young deer to some bucks up over 200lbs. The big ones were few and far between in the years past, but since the WMAs have started putting restrictions on antler size and alot of private clubs have started to manage for larger bucks using year around supplements and such... It seems to me that bigger deer are becoming more the norm. As to my thoughts on using a .40 cal for deer. It's very well know that a .40 cal is more than capable of taking deer( a .22 will take a deer) even the larger sized deer with a well placed shot. Will it have the same knock down power as a .54 or .62... NO. Will it kill deer...YES. If I were going to use a .40 for deer, first I would work up the most accurate/powerful safe load I could. I would do some penetration testing (Such as shooting gallon jugs of water like Wattlebuster did in the past) at different ranges to see what the maximum effective would be for the .40 cal. Taking this into consideration along with personal shooting abilities would determine my decision on using the .40 cal and at what range I would try a shot. Just my 2cents worth... OOMV :v

 

[Rifleman1776]

That little (apx) 90 grain pill loses energy fast. Not all shots are perfectly placed.
I believe a .40 roundball muzzle loader is an inappropriate rifle for deer hunting.
I'm sure you will feel terrible when you hit a deer and only wound it with that teensy gun. Use for squirrels and paper targets. Enjoy. But, limit it to those uses. That's IMHO.

 

[Wayne/Al]

Thanks to everyone for the opinions. It seems that no one was as suprised as I was about the complete pass through at that range and load.I dont have a 40 cal but have been thinking about getting one. I guess the key to sucess with the 40 is hitting the right spot. I have been hunting with a 54 cal and it will drop them no problem.
Didnt have any luck this year though. I guess I was just snake bit. :idunno:

Thanks again, Wayne/Al

 

[smo]

No i'm not surprized at the pass through sounds like he completly missed any bone structure. :thumbsup: Which was a good thing with 35 grns of powder. I myself do not own a .40 cal. :idunno: I do own a .32 & a .36 and I would not shoot a deer with those for sure even though I think either one will kill a deer if you get a clean pass through like you discribed(Heart& Lung).I'm just not in good enough shape to chase him down into the next County now. :wink: :shocked2:

 

[Rat Trapper]

If I was real hungry, I'd use what ever I had, and get close to make meat. We all have heard the stories of deer being killed with the 22 long rifle and some with the 22 short. Now I think most of us will agree that still doesn't make the 22 a good deer calier.
I'm sure with good shot placement the 40 will do well. If I ever try to use mine, it will have to be a close shot and I'd use more than 35 grains of powder. Like bowhunting, you should get real close with the 40 and aim well.

 

[Ft. Jefferson]

The second deer i took with my 40cal SMR was a 115# doe. 71yds, broadside, with 50gr-3f w/PRB. Result was a complete passthrough. 30yd recovery.

 

[hanshi]

If I hunt deer with the .40 I use 60 or 65 grains of 3F. My all around load is 40grns which gives nearly 1700fps. Though this is my small game load if presented a good shot I have confidence in it.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I am surprised that the round went through. 60 grains of 3Fg, maybe so, especially if you used a bullet made of wheel weight, but 35 grains...., :hmm:

I wonder too at range estimates. Usually, unless you have a LASER range finder or other gadget..., they are over estimates, as it's pretty tough to properly pace out a range except on a playing field or very level ground.

LD

 

[aeatwood]

Well, the thing w/ pure lead PRB's is that they flatten out, and I do mean FLAT when driven fast. You can get better penetration at close range by dropping the powder charge back. I prefer to put 1-3% tin in my PRB brew and get a slightly harder ball that penetrates really well. Then use a heavier load than my target loads to flatten the trajectory over hunting ranges.

I will say that 70 yards w/ a .40 is on the very ragged edge of a shot I would take even w/ hunting loads. I would prefer less that 50 yards with that sized ball.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Yeah that is true, get all an lead round ball moving really fast and it mushrooms really fast on impact, especially when hitting something like bone. Some folks compensate for this by using a harder alloy, by adding some solder to the lead so add some silver and tin, or actually use wheel weight metal or harder stuff. Some folks are actually using less than pure lead and don't realize it. :wink:

Some people using the smaller calibers may be enjoying "longer range" success as they are delivering a lead ball at 80 yards at a velocity that the majority deliver it at 50 yards. Consider folks if 60 grains of 3Fg delivered a .395 ball at 50 yards at 1000 fps, and say 90 grains delivered the same ball at 80 yards at 1000 fps, the impact results would be the same. Hopefully the accuracy would be acceptable.



LD

 

[bonron]

I use my .40 cal for deer and small game. In Ohio it's legal. However I use 55 grains of 3F for deer and 30 grains for squirrel. Won't consider a shot over 50 yds on deer.

 

[Rat Trapper]

Bonron,

I've got a few questions regarding using a 40 caliber on deer. I also have a 40 and am very interested in the performance of the 40 on deer.

How well did your 40 work on deer? How many have you taken? How do you rate your 40 compared to larger calibers?

 

[wilded]

I have taken quite a few Central Texas whitetails with a Vincent .40 loaded with 60 grains of 3F with no problem. I have also taken a bunch of feral hogs from 30-150 pounds with the little .40. Very few drop on the spot unless head shot, but they drop in a reasonable distance and usually leave a good blood trail. Our deer rarely weigh over 100 pounds. Many shots are pass through, some are just almost pass through with the ball lodging in the far rib cage or just under the skin. I have not lost a deer or a hog with the little gun, but I pick my shots and do not take marginal shots. If you were to make a bad shot you will have problems, but I have seen bad shot deer hit with modern magnums run off crippled. Stay within 75 yards and with proper bullet placement you will be fine. JMHO :idunno:

 

[Camoman051]

A fellow black powder shooter was hunting with his 40 cal. and took a 70yd shot at a deer. The load was PRB over 35 gr of 3f. It was a heart/lung complete pass through. Is this a fluke ? Would you 40 cal shooters be comfortable using that load for hunting deer?
I would like to know what your thoughts are on this and what loads you use in your 40 cal for hunting deer.

I know some folks think a 40 cal is not enough for deer but here in Alabama it is legal and is used for small and large game.

Thanks, Wayne/Al

Lol it's all shot placement I'm a elk hunter here in Washington where scopes are not allowed muzzleloader hunters here use 50 cal and also the muzzleloader hunters here wound the most animals because they have no choice to hunt with open sight I like the idea of the 40 caliber cuz it shoots like a rifle every elk I've ever seen dressed in the field has muzzleloader wads and broadheads in there body people should stop worrying what caliber they are using and start worrying about putting cross hairs on lungs this will put meat on the table otherwise you can shoot an elk as many times as you want they will not die unless you hit a vital

 

[rchas]

Yes, you can hunt deer with a .40 caliber rifle. I think the more important question is should you hunt deer with a .40 caliber. A .45, .50, .54, .58, .62 (take your pick...) doesn't make up for poor marksmanship/shot placement, but why use a marginal caliber on large game? Bragging rights? Because it makes a good story? My personal opinion, for what it is worth, is that hunting deer with .40 caliber isn't ethical. Your mileage may vary, and that's fine.

 

[azmntman]

.40 on deer bother you rchas? Hell. Head over to AZ and you getcha a tag for bull elk and dont fegit yer.32 crockett cuz they is just as legal as the .58? But we cant shoot a javalina with a revolver? Appears not a lot off thought by our AZGFD goes into muzzleloader hunting here