long range shooting with patched round ball

[nkbj]

If you were setting up a round ball rifle for the longest useful deer hunting range what would you make?

 

[Skychief]

Actually, I started this thread because I am really interested in folks sharing their experience using prb at ranges over 100 yards..

Rifleman, within the last few weeks, I fashioned a cardboard deer silhouette and shot it with my .45 flintlock.

I was kneeling and using its fame of as a monopod. Out of several shots, all but one hit the "deer" in the lungs. Range was an honest 150 yards.

With my load of 70 grains 2f, sighting on the backbone dropped them right in there. :thumbsup:

Best regards, Skychief

 

[nhmoose]

Targets are one thing but I respect what I hunt and 150 yard deer is not a round ball target, no mater the caliber, as to much to go wrong and wound.

 

[Idaho Ron]

I am using paper patched bullets. Yes they are slug guns. Round Balls are of no use to me.

Um.. what relevance does anything you post have to do with the OP's question about "long range shooting with PATCHED ROUND BALL"??

Sorry, just seemed a good question to ask since that was what this thread was supposed to be about...

Maybe I'm being a bit overly crotchety tonight? did have an argument with me son earlier, but we made up... :idunno:

Every post that is made about bullets some one like you gets on and starts talking about PRB. I figure it is about time I do the same. You are the only one feeling crotchety. :thumbsup:

 

[Zonie]

As my mom always said, "Two wrongs don't make a right."

 

[Elkeater]

Patched round balls are bullets too.

 

[Skychief]

Actually, I started this thread because I am really interested in folks sharing their experience using prb at ranges over 100 yards..

Rifleman, within the last few weeks, I fashioned a cardboard deer silhouette and shot it with my .45 flintlock.

I was kneeling and using its fame of as a monopod. Out of several shots, all but one hit the "deer" in the lungs. Range was an honest 150 yards.

With my load of 70 grains 2f, sighting on the backbone dropped them right in there. :thumbsup:

Best regards, Skychief

"Fame of" should read "ramrod".

 

[Skychief]

Targets are one thing but I respect what I hunt and 150 yard deer is not a round ball target, no mater the caliber, as to much to go wrong and wound.

I could not agree more nhmoose.

 

[George]

Remaining energy at 150 yards with a .54 caliber ball fired with an adequate hunting load is more than adequate to kill a deer cleanly, velocity is still 1000 fps. I've seen two good-size mule deer killed at 125 yards, both were pass-throughs, both went down about the same as if they had been shot close-up.

These shots are not the kind a hunter should ever take on a whim, or a 'i think I can'. If you haven't practiced that shot, don't understand the trajectory of the ball, haven't proved you can make it, don't have more than acceptable shooting conditions, etc., you absolutely should not take the shot. It's not an impossible shot for a shooter who knows what he's about and has prepared for it, though.

Spence

 

[nkbj]

Patched round balls are bullets too.

Amen!
There's short bullets and then they's long bullets and all of 'em has their uses.

That's why I like a rifle that has a twist that's just barely slow enough to work with round ball.

 

[Skychief]

I agree that a big enough caliber can and will get the job done at longer ranges. Years and years ago, I killed an old eight pointer at 120-some yards with a 50 caliber roundball. Hit through both lungs, the ball whistled through.

The only sign that I'd hit him was his tail spun, much like a propeller. Other that, he slowly walked a hundred yards to some cover, where I later found him, quite dead.

I wouldn't want to try the same shot with a .45, but realize a larger caliber would most certainly have more effect at longer ranges, where a prb is likely, if not assured of no expansion.

In thinking about it, I'm making your case while trying to make mine :haha: .

I like shooting them closer, in hope of some ball upset (hydrostatic shock? :wink: ) and shorter trails with more spoor.

All that said, long shots will work, especially in the open where an unseen branch won't ruin your efforts.

As written, a guy had better be very familiar with his gun if he intends to bring home long-range bacon.

Best regards, Skychief.

 

[Rifleman1776]

If you were setting up a round ball rifle for the longest useful deer hunting range what would you make?

I interpret "longest useful" as max range for a humane kill and reasonable assurance a capable shooter can hit Bambi. My answer is any decent rifle of .45 cal. or larger at no more than 100 yards. Choice of sights is up to you. In woods I prefer open.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Actually, I started this thread because I am really interested in folks sharing their experience using prb at ranges over 100 yards..

Rifleman, within the last few weeks, I fashioned a cardboard deer silhouette and shot it with my .45 flintlock.

I was kneeling and using its fame of as a monopod. Out of several shots, all but one hit the "deer" in the lungs. Range was an honest 150 yards.

With my load of 70 grains 2f, sighting on the backbone dropped them right in there. :thumbsup:

Best regards, Skychief

Good info. Thanks.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Targets are one thing but I respect what I hunt and 150 yard deer is not a round ball target, no mater the caliber, as to much to go wrong and wound.

Amen, Bro.

 

[George]

I'm much more interested in being a good hunter than a good shooter when it comes to game, and I work very hard to get close before I shoot. I've killed a lot of deer over the last 30+ years, in a lot of places and different terrains, including the wide open west, but my longest kill was at 80 yards. So, I don't recommend those very long shots, but I know it can be done, and done well. My hunting buddy for several years lived and hunted in Arizona and Nevada, was well practiced in longer shots, and I've watched him prove my point several times.

Spence

 

[Skychief]

Absolutely Spence :thumbsup: .

A couple random thoughts occur to me. When I shot that buck, it was next to dead calm. The kind of day when the smoke refuses to clear to reveal the results of a "game shot". When plinking at my cardboard deer it was absolutely calm.

Always a huge benefit at those ranges and beyond :hmm: .

Best regards, Skychief

 

[BrownBear]

Would I make such long shots on game? Oh, hell no.

In warfare would I try 300 and 400 yard shots on massed troops standing in the open? Betcher bippy I would. With the little practice I've had and the sight picture I use along with the chance to refine my aim with several shots, I could hit close enough to really worry a single man. Gimme 30, 40, 50 of them all wadded up in a knot? I'd cut flesh often enough to make them really sorry, and a wound is usually as good as a kill on troops.

Gimme my own company suitably trained and sighted, I bet we could redefine volley fire at those ranges. Really makes me wonder why I've never read of it being done, cuzz it could sure be made to work. That puffed up officer sitting on horseback and waving his sword would have made a dandy aiming point for my company, too. :thumbsup:

 

[RAEDWALD]

The traditional answer is for them all to run at you with pointy sticks. Unless they have horses in which case they run at you much faster on half a ton of horse with a shorter pointed stick. Meanwhile their light infantry is treating you to concentration disturbing bits of flying lead PRBs and odd small bits of your colleagues. Did I mention artillery?

Colonel Washington worked hard to get a musket armed disciplined army instead of irregular riflemen. I presume he knew what he was doing.

However. I have just acquired a genuine Baker Rifle and will see how far it can send a reliable PRB. Rob at youtube 'britishmilitaria' seemed to do well at up to 300 yards which is beyond the specified range of 200 yards. His TRS replica will be more representative than my genuine one which has been knocking around Spain for nigh on 200 years. He has the advantage of being a respectable shot; unlike yours truly who is much better with a pointy stick than a bunduq.

 

[Stumpkiller]

If you were setting up a round ball rifle for the longest useful deer hunting range what would you make?

Personally, I 'd check out Kindig's works and images of original rifles and pick one that matched my tastes.

I don't see much point in modernizing a traditional round ball rifle.

When I was new and fresh 120 yards was dooable - but now I limit myself to 80 yards because of my limitations . . . not the round ball. I like the .54 for 200# to 250# (dressed) game.

 

[nkbj]

Yeah, .54 with a moderately slow (not really, really slow) twist and eight grooves. 1:1 land to groove ratio. Long sight radius. Octagonal to tapered round to have thick breech and help control the muzzle weight.