Hunting loads for my .58 black powder rifle

[lou puleff]

If you are going to take a risky shot at an animal I woysuggest you put the gun away and go to Burger King! You should not be hunting anything at all!!!!

I don't eat at Burger King but looks like you do ?

 

[tom mesa]

6B

Our grandson and his daughter hunt that unit up by Navajo Camp.

6B

 

[lou puleff]

Our grandson and his daughter hunt that unit up by Navajo Camp.

Good unit IMO. Do you shoot at RIO ?

 

[tom mesa]

Good unit IMO. Do you shoot at RIO ?

I can't shoo anymore ,I have holes in both retinas. Dr's are trying to help. It is slow going.

 

[longcruise]

Time for me to do my devils disciple act.

If I were the OP, and given my background as a stick and string hunter as well as my admitted desire to minimize the distance of my ml shots, I would focus on understanding the movements of the deer where I'm seeing them and make it a point to be in there well before first light and try to put a shot together.

 

[cjgregory]

Time for me to do my devils disciple act.

If I were the OP, and given my background as a stick and string hunter as well as my admitted desire to minimize the distance of my ml shots, I would focus on understanding the movements of the deer where I'm seeing them and make it a point to be in there well before first light and try to put a shot together.

Proper thought and tactical solution. It makes it a much better challenge and game.

 

[Treetop]

Explore a paper patched Pritchett. Hollow base with plenty of thump'age power.

 

[lou puleff]

Time for me to do my devils disciple act.

If I were the OP, and given my background as a stick and string hunter as well as my admitted desire to minimize the distance of my ml shots, I would focus on understanding the movements of the deer where I'm seeing them and make it a point to be in there well before first light and try to put a shot together.

I do exactly that I get there 40 minutes before first light you have to understand this particular spot it's very unique in terrain it has bedding, escape route and funnel all in one if you can't get in there any further that's why I see deer there, when you find a pocket of coues deer you have to go with the flow so to speak and take what you can get. I have actually shot a deer sleeping I can stalk very well that's my favorite way to hunt I love it. In Arizona it's a much more difficult task with all the loose rock particularly in this spot. I started this thread knowing the reactions I would probably get but it's about a black powder load and shooting at distance not how to hunt I know how to get closer if I could all you folks talking about getting close wouldn't even have got a shot at that buck let alone worry about what load you were shooting. I'll upload a few pics of my spot later on I'm headed to work for now.

 

[lou puleff]

Explore a paper patched Pritchett. Hollow base with plenty of thump'age powe

Explore a paper patched Pritchett. Hollow base with plenty of thump'age power.

I have a Gibbs that shoots a 540 grain paper patch not buying anymore smoke poles I have a flintlock being built then I'm done at my age I should be selling not buying although I would like to build a few more kits when I retire.

 

[beardedhorse]

Before there were state fish and game departments humans were shooting and Harvesting big game with 35 pound pull and lighter wood or backed bows. Colo archery reg might be catering to youth, women and men and elderly with lower upper body strength that might not be able to handle a heavier draw weight but using a compound bow set at 35 lbs gives a speed and force advantage over self bows. Same argument over .54 cal. Round ball minimum on elk. Shot placement rather than just ball size, weight. This is in Colo. How proficient a hunter is with stalking and shooting skills is a better realistic, practical limit than across the bow poundage or caliber restrictions. But how do you test for each hunter before awarding a license? Restrictions not arbitrary but based on real results and aimed at more ethical and clean harvest. I have no objections to .54 minimum but would like to see 35 lb draw weight minimum changed to a force/ momentum figure. I hunt and harvest with self or sinew backed bows rather than compound and strictly round ball.

 

[beardedhorse]

Typo on last post. Should be "across the BOARD."

 

[cjgregory]

Before there were state fish and game departments humans were shooting and Harvesting big game with 35 pound pull and lighter wood or backed bows. Colo archery reg might be catering to youth, women and men and elderly with lower upper body strength that might not be able to handle a heavier draw weight but using a compound bow set at 35 lbs gives a speed and force advantage over self bows. Same argument over .54 cal. Round ball minimum on elk. Shot placement rather than just ball size, weight. This is in Colo. How proficient a hunter is with stalking and shooting skills is a better realistic, practical limit than across the bow poundage or caliber restrictions. But how do you test for each hunter before awarding a license? Restrictions not arbitrary but based on real results and aimed at more ethical and clean harvest. I have no objections to .54 minimum but would like to see 35 lb draw weight minimum changed to a force/ momentum figure. I hunt and harvest with self or sinew backed bows rather than compound and strictly round ball.

I live in Colorado as well. I question the .54 caliber for elk but it’s not important enough for me to put much attention on it.

When I was working in Alaska, I had to do a bow proficiency test to be certified. It’s standard.

 

[Goli0]

Felt wads are a gas seal preventing blowby.Often I hear of people using them with RB's.They wouldn't need them with a thicker patch.

 

[Bad Karma]

Yes, the regs department (for lack of knowing what the actual department is) doesn't seem to have any source of reliable and realistic input. Consequently the basis is SWAG along with the input of various special interest groups.

I'm too old to care about it .

My best friend has been retired from the DOW for jeez, 15 years now! I used to gripe about various rules and regulations to him, and then to his replacement. He always thought I pretty much did as I pleased on my own property anyway…

 

[Absoroka]

Have you thought of setting up a blind and going in 2 to 3 hours before first light. That might get you close enough. Also consider some scent control and prevailing wind direction if you plan to get close. If your hunt area is decomposed granite, that acts like a sounding board when you walk it. Put heavy wool socks over your boots on your approach. It is fun to match wits with them on their turf.

 

[smoothshooter]

Shot was 180 yards

That’s really pushing the envelope for a ball.
I would not take a shot like that; and I am a pretty good rifle shot and use high quality guns.

 

[lou puleff]

That’s really pushing the envelope for a ball.
I would not take a shot like that; and I am a pretty good rifle shot and use high quality guns.

I thought it was 150 and my rifle is a custom hawken with probably one of the best barrels you can put in a muzzleloader. As far as a shooter goes I'd say I'm pretty good myself usually coming in the top two or three if not first in the matches I used to shoot and I even had a rest just not a lot of time. That's another thing everyone say's just put a stalk on ok when he's there for maybe a minute not gonna happen.

 

[lou puleff]

Here's a few pics of my spot you can see my gun rest going across the two trees. They bed in those pines I come in from the road from behind where I'm sitting it's a pretty steep hill and this spot is just high enough after you crest the top to watch this area and not bust the deer out. I saw two hunters on this trip walk thru that far wood line in the back where I took the shot and each time deer were running out in front of them they didn't even know the deer were there.

 

[Lloyd Powell]

I don't eat at Burger King but looks like you do ?

Yes I do! I have harvested several deer in David Mountains but never would even think of chancing a shot. I have taken with bow and percussion. I don’t hunt anymore because I only have one eye left and if I did hunt I’m afraid that if it wasn’t a good kill at 84 I couldn’t track a wounded animal. It’s just hard for me to think anyone would give a slight thought of taking a chance. Hope you reconsider and wish you a great and prosperous hunt.

 

[Lloyd Powell]

Here's a few pics of my spot you can see my gun rest going across the two trees. They bed in those pines I come in from the road from behind where I'm sitting it's a pretty steep hill and this spot is just high enough after you crest the top to watch this area and not bust the deer out. I saw two hunters on this trip walk thru that far wood line in the back where I took the shot and each time deer were running out in front of them they didn't even know the deer were there. View attachment 360468View attachment 360469View attachment 360470

Absolutely beautiful country, I would go to the little trees in middle and wait there. Looks almost like hunting in Davis Mountains of west Texas. A little less rugged.