antelope & flintlocks

[buffalo]

Has anyone ever taken an antelope with a flintlock rifle? If so, with a round ball or conical?

 

[BrownBear]

Idaho Ron here on the site has done it, and not just once. I'll let him speak for himself on guns and loads. He's pretty dialed in, and a fine hunter by all indications.

 

[buffalo]

Thanks for the insight.

I hope he responds.

I'm trying for a muzzle loader antelope tag in my home state of Nebraska. Might take a couple of years to earn a tag but that will give me plenty of time to practice with my T/C 50 caliber flinter.

 

[Kapow]

Plenty get taken by bow so why not? You only need one opportunity to make a shot, surely that isn't impossible? Imagine the satisfaction when you get one down. Go for it!

 

[tenngun]

Yes with a full stock home made sorta looked like a hawkin. .54 with a 42/1 inch barrel and an l and r 'waterproof' lock. Shot at about 30 yards.Gun was well overcharged 120 grains 3 f .526 prb. Was in 1980 days walk north east of fort bridger, three days south of pindale wyoming.

 

[hoochiepapa]

I posted a pic of a pronghorn buck I took with my late Lancaster, .54, at about 70 yards. It was percussion then, but has since been converted to flint.

 

[nchawkeye]

Any caliber adequate for whitetails is plenty for antelope...

 

[Idaho Ron]

I actually use a Cap gun. But the ignition is not going to matter in my opinion. Antelope are not tough animals but, I have seen them hit wrong with a centerfire rifle and run for miles. I use a conical but they are certainly not needed. We used my most accurate rifle and load. I have set up on water holes and I had my son use a decoy over scrapes. Both work very well. Ron

 

[buffalo]

I actually use a Cap gun. But the ignition is not going to matter in my opinion. Antelope are not tough animals but, I have seen them hit wrong with a centerfire rifle and run for miles. I use a conical but they are certainly not needed. We used my most accurate rifle and load. I have set up on water holes and I had my son use a decoy over scrapes. Both work very well. Ron

Those are both mighty fine antelope. I see you are shooting a T/C Renegade but the barrel isn't the original barrel unless i'm mistaken.

I have a T/C Hawken 54 caliber percussion that is getting re-bored to 58 caliber this summer. Want to hunt elk, bear for sure and maybe moose if i get lucky.

My newly acquired T/C Hawken 50 flintlock has top priority this hunting season.

Bought the gun used but it had been treated with love and care. Can't wait to shoot a deer this fall since I don't have enough points built up for earning an antelope tag.

Thanks for sharing your photos.

I need to take some pictures of my refinished flintlock stock and post them here. The wood is best I've ever seen.

 

[Herb]

Here is a 13.5" buck (scored 71.5 points Boone & Crockett) I took with my .54 Green River Leman I built. About 90 yards with 120 grains of Goex 2F and a patched round ball. With a flintlock, be careful you don't start a fire if you shoot laying down in the grass. Also with a flintlock, if it is very windy, the prime can be blown out of your pan when the hammer falls and before the pan ignites. But I would hunt antelope with a flintlock before I'd use a percussion rifle again, bragging rights, doncha' know. I probably will use a flintlock on my mule deer hunt this fall, unless I can't leave by Bridger Hawken at home.

 

[chironomidkraut]

Nice work fellas!
Hope to get to get a crack at one with the flinter or my bow in about 6 yrs, that's how long it takes up here in alberta to build enough priority to apply for a draw and hopefully get chosen

 

[MattC]

You don't need to use orange up there?

 

[Idaho Ron]

No we are not required to use orange.
Ron