ethical shot?

[4444]

I have buddy who shot a year and half old doe with his .50 cal. muzzleloader pistol a couple of years ago, and I thought that would be pretty neat to see if I could make it happen with my .50 cal. Trapper next weekend. Obviously it's possible, just wondering what kind of range we're talking? I shot my buck this year on the ground with my bow at 14 yards, so I can get close. But of course that was before gun season opened. Your thoughts.

 

[BrownBear]

Kinda wide open, with lots of variables. Bottom line is how accurately you can shoot, combined with your restraint to pass up marginal shots. Deer are so gosh darned easy to kill with the right shot, yet pack lead with the wrong shot.

Power-wise I've killed a whole lot of deer with a whole lot of different handgun cartridges. Frankly your 50 cal RB probably has as much poop as the 45 Colt and 44 Special standard velocity loads I used (240-250 grain bullet @ 750fps MV), with consistent one-shot kills out to 54 yards. But I sure passed up a lot of shots, too.

I'm betting that if you can get the MV of that 175 grain RB up in the 1000fps range (do-able with 40 grains of 3f Goex, according to the Lyman manual), a well placed shot will do the job out approaching 50 yards. After all, when guys kill deer past 100 yards with a 50 cal rifle the ball velocities are similar.

Whether pistol or longer ranges with rifles though, it's down to the shooter's skill and judgment.

 

[R.M.]

Trouble being is that you can only burn so much powder in that barrel. Sure you can physically add more, but what you gain is nothing.
I think the Trapper will do it's job as long as you can place the shot where you want it, and keep the range to more like archery type ranges.

 

[rabjr]

Is it even legal to use a muzzle loading pistol on deer in your State?

 

[Otter]

Ethical? That depends on you. Assuming it is legal to use a muzzleloading pistol in the state I was hunting, for me, it would have to be within bow range, 25 yards or closer. But I ain't a very good pistol shot (or bow shot, for that matter).

 

[4444]

Muzzleloader pistols are legal in my state. I feel confident if I'm within 25 yards, with a good rest. So I guess that I answered my question, thanks for your help. Just needed your help pondering. Sounds like we might have tracking snow for the weekend!!

 

[buttonbuck]

Illinois allows hunters to use a muzzle loading single shot pistol to harvest antler less deer in the late winter seasons. The pistol must have 500ftlb at the muzzle as published ballistics by the factory. This limited me to a few choices. I of course avoided modern in line type pistols. I chose a plains pistol in 54 cal in a kit form the teenager and I put together. I have to use a prb with 45 gr of goex 3f to achive this or buy some balletts and use less powder. I shot this load and it is as stout as my 44 mag or a 357 with out the rubber grips. However it hits consistently at 25 yards. God willing I will get some more practice time in and hunt in january with my plains pistol it is a hoot to shoot.

 

[Dphar]

I have buddy who shot a year and half old doe with his .50 cal. muzzleloader pistol a couple of years ago, and I thought that would be pretty neat to see if I could make it happen with my .50 cal. Trapper next weekend. Obviously it's possible, just wondering what kind of range we're talking? I shot my buck this year on the ground with my bow at 14 yards, so I can get close. But of course that was before gun season opened. Your thoughts.

If you are getting about 1000 fps its good for 30-40 yards for chest shots. But like everything its shot placement.
I have shot through an antelope buck a 25 yards+- with a 50 cal 6" barreled flintlock pistol using 45 grains of powder. Made big cloud of dirt fly in the sage brush beyond to boot. The buck had been shot in the mouth by a modern hunter and I found him while deer hunting.
I found that this pistol at 25 yards penetrated as far in baffle-board tests as a 50 caliber rifle with 90gr of FFFG at 200. The pistol made just over 800 fps.

This .530 ball killed a full grown mule deer doe at about 30 yards.

It broke the leg bone, took out the arteries over the heart, broke a rib or maybe two and was under the far side hide. Deer piled up in about 35-40 yards.
A 54 pistol with a 9" barrel will get very close to 44 mag energy levels with 60 grains or a little more of powder.
If energy is important to you.
If you can place the shot the 50 cal ball will do the job. If the impact velocity is near 1000 you have the same thing as a 50 caliber rifle at 100 yards.
Dan

 

[Mulebrain]

If it's legal and you get close enough for the kill why not!

I seen some guys put longer barrels on their pistols in order to burn more powder!

 

[rabjr]

There was a show, not sure if it's in Kentucky or one of the other southern States, the guy built a pistol and hunted deer with it. About two or three years ago. I remember the link being posted here but don't remember the name of the show. I would check youtube, "Hunting deer with a muzzleloading pistol" it may pop up there.

 

[tv_racin_fan]

I read an article in a magazine some time back about a guy who used the Pedersoli Bounty pistol to hunt deer. He made "saddlebags" to hang off the barrel to help control recoil. The Bounty has about 16 1/2" barrel, sort of a Contenderish sidelocked handgun, I always wanted to build one for myself.

 

[Mike Brooks]

I'd just like to add that it doesn't take much to kill a deer. I know poachers that use nothing but a .22 LR. It's shot placement that counts. If you can't shoot your pistol well I wouldn't consider it.

 

[Joel/Calgary]

There was a show, not sure if it's in Kentucky or one of the other southern States, the guy built a pistol and hunted deer with it. About two or three years ago. I remember the link being posted here but don't remember the name of the show. I would check youtube, "Hunting deer with a muzzleloading pistol" it may pop up there.

Kentucky Afield has moved their videos to a YouTube "channel". The pistol hunt is there: http://www.youtube.com/user/KYAfield#p/search/0/PmGoIoKltxw

Regards,
Joel

 

[Tinker2]

I'd just like to add that it doesn't take much to kill a deer. I know poachers that use nothing but a .22 LR. It's shot placement that counts. If you can't shoot your pistol well I wouldn't consider it.

I think about 70 deer were shot inside my city this year with .22 lr
It is what our game fish and parks recommends for shooting deer at night in town. And a silencer so the neighbors aren’t disturbed.



Tinker2

 

[Bob Riegl]

:v That was a real nice hunt in Kentuckee, it proves one can down a deer with a pistol. I have an old GP .54 which has scored on two occasions from either two hand or a rest. I wouldn't try the off hand (even though I shoot Bullseye) just because of the sights (which had to be opened up to provide enough room to light the front post.)That specially crafted gun in flint was a real beauty, though the barrel length would make it more difficult to use in a one handed position IMHO. I used to shoot a S&W 41 with a 7" bbl and it was not easy to shoot well. My experience with my TOZ free pistol (11.5" bbl) also confirms the long bbl. concept. Great and thanks for the You Tube a real pleasant show. :thumbsup: "Doc"

 

[rabjr]

There was a show, not sure if it's in Kentucky or one of the other southern States, the guy built a pistol and hunted deer with it. About two or three years ago. I remember the link being posted here but don't remember the name of the show. I would check youtube, "Hunting deer with a muzzleloading pistol" it may pop up there.

Kentucky Afield has moved their videos to a YouTube "channel". The pistol hunt is there: http://www.youtube.com/user/KYAfield#p/search/0/PmGoIoKltxw

Regards,
Joel

Yep thats the program I was thinking about. :thumbsup: