A flintlock hunting question

[Bugman]

I have a .44 over 65gn FF. A question for the BP hunting experienced:
What is the approximate killing range for deer with the above load? I want a clean kill; assuming I place my shot correctly of course. Would 50 yards be about the outside limit? Never hunted with a flintlock and look forward to it this season. If I'm in the wrong forum, sorry.

 

[rich pierce]

80 yards, no problem.

 

[bender20]

I don’t know your abilities with a firearm but would guess as far as you can comfortably shoot it with iron sights. One hundred yards is a long way with no magnification.

 

[tenngun]

A clean hit at 80 yards might work you just have to work it and see. I would aim for closer, might stay at fifty or less. A . 44 though the kings or heat will make him French and will go through or almost through at 75 or 80 yards.

 

[Bugman]

shotgunner87
I would be very reluctant to shoot a deer at 100 yards with a .44 ball. I question it's penetration abilities and assuring a clean kill. It will probably still have a high muzzle velocity, but, the soft lead would deform and not penetrate far enough to put it down.
I'm sure subsequent posts will possibly prove me wrong. I'm ignorant about PRB hunting, that's why I'm asking the question.

 

[bender20]

Roger that. If that’s the case then your roundball will do everything you need it to. I shot a deer at 80 yards with a .490 rb with 75 grains of ff and had a complete pass through. Even hitting some bone.

 

[Davemuzz]

My late Uncle used nothing but a 45 cal. He was an excellent shot and killed many whitetails out to 100 yards. OTOH, he knew what he could do and for long shots, he always had some type of rest to shoot from. (Tree, stump, fence post, etc.)

I have a 50 cal T\C with a GM barrel. I have not issues taking whitetail out to 100 yards. But, that's a 50 caliber and I use the Hornady Pa. Conical. A PRB for a 50 cal is 180gr. The Pa Conical is 240gr.

I hope this helps.

 

[nit wit]

BM:
Look at what Boone and Crocket killed with .38-.40 caliber rifles. Learn what your rifle will do and practice. Lung shots are the way to go.
Nit Wit

 

[Loyalist Dave]

What is the approximate killing range for deer with the above load? I want a clean kill; assuming I place my shot correctly of course. Would 50 yards be about the outside limit? Never hunted with a flintlock and look forward to it this season. If I'm in the wrong forum, sorry.

I think the first question is at what range do you shoot? :wink:

YES the .440 round ball with 65 grains has enough velocity to take a white tail at 100 yards, assuming a broadside shot to the lungs or lungs/heart. I don't know about shoulder shots, and you can always switch to an alloy ball to get better penetration, although you may have to work up a new patch combination.

The drawback to distance harvesting is the possibility of a lack of pass through..., which may mean longer time before the deer lays down, and less blood trail (regardless of the caliber you use). At too far a distance, you run the risk of a mortal wound, but not a quick harvest, so the animal suffers.

So...,
Do you practice shooting at 100 yards?
Can you correctly estimate in the field to that distance?
Can you accurately hit within a 6" to 8" circle at that distance?
:idunno:

I know a few folks who shoot at 75 yards, and a whole bunch at fifty yards, not because their rifle isn't accurate out farther, or because their load isn't enough, but simply because they can't reliably shoot farther.

I hunt within woods, or from a woodline out into a meadow, and I always use a rest. I've been trained at range estimation and I have very good distance vision, but still, I use a rest. :grin: I figure why not increase the odds, since I'm already using a difficult delivery system..., a flintlock. My favorite is I place the palm of my left hand on the trunk of a tree and use the space between my left thumb and forefinger to rest the rifle.

So figure out at what maximum range you are comfortable with consistently hitting the target area on a deer, and work to ensure your load is good for that distance.

LD

 

[Loyalist Dave]

What is the approximate killing range for deer with the above load? I want a clean kill; assuming I place my shot correctly of course. Would 50 yards be about the outside limit? Never hunted with a flintlock and look forward to it this season. If I'm in the wrong forum, sorry.

I think the first question is at what range do you shoot? :wink:

YES the .440 round ball with 65 grains has enough velocity to take a white tail at 100 yards, assuming a broadside shot to the lungs or lungs/heart.

Do you practice shooting at 100 yards?
Can you correctly estimate in the field to that distance?
Can you accurately hit within a 6" to 8" circle at that distance?
:idunno:

I know a few folks who shoot at 75 yards, and a whole bunch at fifty yards, not because their rifle isn't accurate out farther, or because their load isn't enough, but simply because they can't reliably get their rifle to shoot farther.

I hunt within woods, or from a woodline out into a meadow, and I always use a rest. My favorite is I place the palm of my left hand on the trunk of a tree and use the space between my left thumb and forefinger to rest the rifle.

So find out at what range you are comfortable, and work on accuracy at that range and closer. OH and kudos for being concerned about your load. :thumbsup:

LD

 

[coloradoclyde]

So find out at what range you are comfortable, and work on accuracy at that range and closer. OH and kudos for being concerned about your load. :thumbsup:

LD

Hunt within your range, not the gun's .... :thumbsup:

I have often positioned my hunting stand in places where my distance was limited so that I wouldn't be tempted to take a long shot.

That said, close shots can also be difficult....I've missed deer are really close ranges when running or walking....especially with a flintlock....

 

[azmntman]

I would be able to kill a mule deer with a.440 ball at 100 yds in "most" situations. Not sure of your shooting abilities. The ball will do it. May wanna go a bit higher on powder if yer expecting to shoot that far.

Drop down to Traditional Muzzle-loader Hunting. A great thread on deer with the .45 going on now :wink:

 

[Rifleman1776]

If you know your rifle and can place the shot properly, 100 yards with the caliber and load you state is a good killer. But, the rifle I used the most, a .45 flinter, the ball would drop rapidly past 100 yards. Also, know your ranges. If you cannot judge range accurately do not attempt a shot past 'close enough'.

 

[Katahdin]

Know your limits and those of the rifle you are shooting,and practice. I have a modern rifle that is right on/capable out to 400 yards,,, I'am not. I went from Archery to Black Powder, so I am use to HUNTING close,not SHOOTING far..
I hunt with a 45 cal. 65 grns FFF, PRB.You shoot then good they DRT.

 

[tenngun]

A ml with ball or conical is a short ranged weapon. I will tell folks about a hundred yards. Out west with more open vista some boys can push that, maybe to hundred and fifty. However over the years folks have tried to make magnums out of their rifles, it don’t work.
Ml should be thought of as archery on steroids. It should not be how far you can shoot but how close can you get.

 

[smo]

Just part of the Allure :haha:

 

[Davemuzz]

...Hunt within your range, not the gun's .... :thumbsup:....

I couldn't agree more. When I shoot my "deer load" 44 magnum revolver at the range, I will quite often shoot at 100 yard targets. However, when I hunt with that revolver I choose spots where the longest shot will be 50 yards.

No temptation to shoot farther......and at 50 or less, making that clean lung shot odds go way up.

FWIW

 

[Grimord]

Check your state regulations. Many states have a .45 caliber minimum for big game.

 

[Zonie]

That's a good point Fyrstyk.

If the gun is actually a .44 caliber rifle that typically shoots a .433" (11mm) diameter roundball it won't meet the states requirement for the gun to be a .45 caliber.
These .44 caliber guns were somewhat common back in the 1970's. I really don't know why.
My first Kentuckian rifle was a .44 caliber flintlock.

If the gun is marked .45 caliber and it is shooting a .440 diameter lead roundball, it will meet the states requirement.

All the G&F rangers know is what they see marked on the barrel. They usually don't measure the size of the .440 balls we use in them.

 

[bud in pa]

A 44/40 would be legal for deer in most states, and has probably taken more than it's share of deer. Check out the ballistics of that round and your 65 gr. load. I would not hesitate to use a 45 cal. for deer, as long as you can place your shot accurately. My friends first Muzzleloading deer was shot from 15 feet out of his tree stand. The 60 cal ball backed by 80 gr. of 2f entered the top of the back in the chest and exited the bottom of the chest. The deer still went about 100 yds.