.45 cal. prb or conical for whitetail hunting

[roundball]

If I recall it was determined that all the modern design/styles conicals were fair fodder here....even though they have no real connection or basis on the original 18th and 19th century bullets...it's that "spirit" thing at work again I think....

Nobody could confuse these with the 'minnie-ball' design of course, but PC aside, they're an outstanding .45cal projectile for deer hunting in my 1:48's, and carry the energy to distance if a .45cal ML is what you've got, or want, to use and have distance to contend with

 

[Tahquamenon]

Something that everyone has overlooked here.

What's the most effective projectile choice for the animal in terms of lethality and terminal performace?

I would not consider a 45 PRB as lethal as a conical in the same caliber. Under any circumstances.

Sure a 45 PRB will "Git Er Done" but will it just as well as a conical? Not in my book.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Something that everyone has overlooked here.

Haven't overlooked it at all.

I've decided to hunt in "special primative" AND regular deer season with a primative round ball, because that is what I consider the proper projectile in a muzzleloader.

If I wanted the ultimate I'd be throwing Nosler Partitions or RWS H-Mantles out of a .375 H&H Magnum or a .338 Win Mag.

I want to hunt with a muzzleloader for what it was, not for what it can be.

 

[Runner]

Your not using a 45, are you?

 

[Tahquamenon]

Stumpkiller,

Have fun hunting deer with your 45 PRB.

:front:

 

[Hoyt]

I'm going to use PRB's also just because..well come to think of it I don't think my Rice .54 C profile will shoot anything else..but I won't to do it like they did in the old days.

 

[harryo]

Your not using a 45, are you?

I will be usin one this fall. FWIW, I have shot more than a few deer in my lifetime with everything from 12ga rifled slugs to .50 patched balls. Of all the deer I've taken with patched balls in .50, .54 & .58cal., complete pass throughs have been the norm and I can honestly say that I have had more deer drop in their tracks, after being hit with a heart/lung shot from a patched ball, than I have had with 1oz rifled slugs or any lead conicals.

Those deer that have run after a heart/lung hit with a patched ball haven't run any further, on average, than those that have run after a like hit with rifled slugs or conicals. Of course I haven't kept any exact statistics, but I would even say of all the deer that have run after a heart/lung shot with all projectiles, those hit with the patched ball have run less on the average.

I do alright tracking myself and I have never had any problems tracking any deer shot in the heart/lung area with a patched ball. I have also never had to track any deer, shot with any projectile, in the heart/lung area, for more than 120-140 yds. YMMV.

These have been on shots from 10-85 yds, with most shots under 60yds and I do use pretty stout powder charges when hunting with patched balls. I have no doubts that a 60 yd or less heart/lung hit with a .45cal patched ball ahead of 85-90 grns of Ffg, will bring down any deer within the same 120-140 yds. IMO, if I can't track a mortally wounded deer for 140yds, even if it leaves no blood trail, I shouldn't be shooting it with anything.

There is a very interesting article in the latest Muzzleloader magazine, written by Mike Nesbitt, about hunting with round balls. It discusses a lot of the same arguments against roundballs that have appeared in this thread. Mike does an excellent job of either debunking most of those arguments or putting them into the proper perspective.

 

[Runner]

Good luck! I hope you are successful and all goes well on your hunt. You certainly don't sound like a beginner.

 

[Tahquamenon]

The original question was 45 cal RB or Conical for Whitetail?

Not 50, 54, 58 on up calibers RB for Deer. I hunt deer with 50-58 cal PRB.

I think the general consensus was if you are within 50 yards or so, ok fine with a 45 PRB.

I raised the point that I happen to sight for 100 yards as my effective range and I felt the 45 PRB would be low on steam at 100 yards. So I'd opt for a conical or a ball-et instead.

:m2c:

 

[Bob J]

I'm going to use PRB's also just because..well I want to do it like they did in the old days.

:front: :front: Me too! :RO:

 

[harryo]

The original question was 45 cal RB or Conical for Whitetail?

Not 50, 54, 58 on up calibers RB for Deer. I hunt deer with 50-58 cal PRB.

I understood that was the question ever since ashtar13 originally asked it. I believe that I gave a pretty clear statement of what my opinion is, as have most others who have responded. It's certainly no surprise that all these opinions vary, so ashtar13 will have to read all the responses, spend some time shooting his rifle and decide for himself what he would be comfortable using.

If you are repeating the question because you think everyone is going to agree on one clear answer, it just ain't going to happen!

 

[Stumpkiller]

From the original post:

I never shot at a deer that was more than 50 yards away with a centerfire, and I don't plan on ever changing.

I'd trust a .45 PRB to 50 yards, slightly farther.

No, I don't use a .45 muzzleloader and it would not be my coice for whitetails. I prefer a moderate load in a .54 over a hotter load in a smaller caliber. My most recent (last Nov.) was taken with a .50 cal PRB and 84 gr FFg. Nothing spectacular, and the deer fell where it stood when I fired (from about 35 yards).

If a .45 is what I had, it's what I'd use.

 

[Tahquamenon]

[/quote]
If you are repeating the question because you think everyone is going to agree on one clear answer, it just ain't going to happen! [/quote]

I less than care if everyone agree's. I'm thankfull that we all don't always agree. If we did always agree, life here at the ML forum would be pretty bland.

:thumbsup: