Hunting with Lyman Plains Pistol

[Ferret Master]

I have a .54 Plains Pistol and my son gave me a.50 kit. Does anyone hunt with one? Any sharing of loads and projectiles would be appreciated. Shot or round ball.
Thanks,
Ferret Master

 

[Phil Coffins]

I’ve used my 54 Lyman on small game. Round ball and 30 grains is quite accurate. I try for head shots but hitting the neck counts.

 

[Sam squanch]

You might be able to get a deer VERY close up, you would need nerves of steel…

 

[Hermit Tim]

Yep, you can take deer at archery range with a patched round ball and whatever your gun's max powder charge is. Just mind your shot placement and keep it close. Download the powder like Phil said and have a ball hunting small game.

 

[Ferret Master]

I have a CVA Crocket .32 pistol that I have been using for squrirels and rabbits with pretty good results. Just wanted to see what others experiences have been with deer sized game.

 

[Pete453]

I haven't done it with a single shot like yours, but I've killed a couple deer with revolvers. If you can shoot well and know deer anatomy, do like Hermit Tim suggested, you'll be fine.
You have months to practice, sight it in and get away from the bench. Practice in field positions, in the woods preferably, and you should be fine tuned by season opener. Luck to you!

 

[morehops52]

I've hunted deer size game with both 50 & 54 but only with a rifle in barrels down to 24 in. Over decades I've killed many with BP and I personally consider a minum charge of 60g 3F for either caliber. That is a very stout charge for a pistol and again I wouldn' t hunt with it until I could hit every shot within 4 in. That is going to be some close up shooting for most pistols to get a humane kill. For reference I use 80g 3F in my 50 and 90g 3F in my 54 rifles. I don't want to discourage you from hunting this way, only bringing the reality that it will require some effort to ensure a clean quick kill. Some may disagree but those are my standards.

 

[cynthialee]

I have never got my chance to take the shot with my .50 single shot pistol (CVA Hawken) but I have no doubt inside of 30 yards it would do the job.

I have seen a number of deer kills with single shot pistols in this very forums hunting forum over the years. I know I am rather accurate inside of 30 yards with my pistol so I wouldn't hesitate to take my shot.

Know where to shoot a deer, shoot it with an adequate powder charge in the boiler and it is over. (Now many states have a minimum powder load for pistols used in deer hunting. So be sure you are compliant. )

 

[Cionweest]

Personally, I've always been curious about using pistols like these for hunting. Seems like it'd add a whole new challenge to the hunt, you know? Plus, there's that old-school vibe that's hard to beat.

 

[ChuckJonesWagon]

When Pennsylvania permitted the use of flintlock pistols for hunting many years ago, I built a .50 caliber pistol and used a 12" DeHass pistol barrel. Shooting a Pa Conical over 50gr FF the velocity over my chronograph was (is) 939fps. At 30 yards it's 882fps.

I've taken it out but never had a close enough shot. My personal max range on a whitetail is 35 yards. Energy according to my ballistic shows 400-ft\lbs at that range.

 

[BillinOregon]

I wonder if, in the intervening year since Ferret Master posted this, he has had a chance to hunt with it. Always seemed really doable as the Plains Pistols had a reputation for accuracy.