Maxis don't deform? Aww.. seeing is believing

[morehops52]

I'm a die head Maxi shooter, i know some don't like 'em and that's fine. One of the raps they get is that they go thru a deer like a bowling ball thru match sticks. little deformation and no expansion. I've only recovered one maxi and it was just as described by others. The nose was pushed a bit down into the groove. Well I finally recovered another one and it is a totally different story. This one shattered two heavy bones and lodged inside the skin. The deer dropped in it's tracks and was dead by the time I reloaded and walked up to it .
The original weight was 368 gr and the recovered weight is 278 gr or 75% weight retention. At it's widest point it measures 68 cal or 36% expansion. I'm not sure how a "lessor " bullet would've performed in this case but I've never had a deer go more than about 20 yards and most dropped in their tracks with my Maxis. Happy hunting.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Put one through a empty freon drum. Straight through! I can image the energy released in the boiler room of a Deer.

 

[longcruise]

I've never had a deer go more than about 20 yards and most dropped in their tracks with my Maxis. Happy hunting

There's a lot to be said in favor of a 1/2" hole!

 

[The Crisco Kid]

A lot of it depends on the alloy hardness, or softness. But as the wise man asked, "At what point in the death of the deer did the bullet fail?".

 

[morehops52]

It was 100% lead from Rotometals that I cast myself.

 

[Pete G]

I always have wondered how people who said that a pass-through shot didn’t expand knew that it didn’t.

 

[Rifleman1776]

A lot of it depends on the alloy hardness, or softness. But as the wise man asked, "At what point in the death of the deer did the bullet fail?".

Ye said it fer me, Crisco.

 

[bpd303]

Most bullets that fail can be attributed to poor shot placement IMHO.

 

[tenngun]

I like round ball because it fits the historic aspects of the guns I shoot.
And these days I shoot smoothbore the most, conicals don’t work there.
However a well placed 1/2 inch hole is going to turn deer French, or hog or bear, ( venison used to mean any wild meat)
Failure of a shot is more often shooter not shot

 

[The Crisco Kid]

However a well placed 1/2 inch hole is going to turn deer French,

You mean to tell me that they run away, never to be seen again???

 

[tenngun]

You mean to tell me that they run away, never to be seen again???

, no no insult here. It comes from Ivanhoe by Scott. A Saxon a century after the conquest, is complaining that even good Saxon food is even ruined. Good Saxon swine becomes pork on a Norman’s table, cattle becomes beef and good deer become venison
So turning deer French is just an expression for me

 

[The Crisco Kid]

The French have been the butt of many jokes, sort of like my Irish ancestors. Usually no offense meant or taken. For example: " If France invaded Turkey from the rear would Greece help".

 

[07Kingpin]

Good shooting!

What was the rifle/load combo? Barrel twist?

 

[stikshooter]

It was 100% lead from Rotometals that I cast myself.

If you hadn't noticed Roto metals (PURE AIN'T) the BHN on my Roto metal pure is 8-9 on a Lee tester and 10.4 is what I call 20-1 for shooting long ! Can't say on a Cabin tree (sold mine) and went back to the Lee as it confirmed the Lee /Ed

 

[Sir Boniface Harrison]

The French have been the butt of many jokes, sort of like my Irish ancestors. Usually no offense meant or taken. For example: " If France invaded Turkey from the rear would Greece help".

Now, now...!

 

[morehops52]

If you hadn't noticed Roto metals (PURE AIN'T) the BHN on my Roto metal pure is 8-9 on a Lee tester and 10.4 is what I call 20-1 for shooting long ! Can't say on a Cabin tree (sold mine) and went back to the Lee as it confirmed the Lee /Ed

I hadn't been aware of that but I must say they're working for me. Thanks for the info

 

[morehops52]

Good shooting!

What was the rifle/load combo? Barrel twist?

Lyman Deerstalker 50 perc. 1:48 twist 80gr 3f onder a 368gr Maxi. About 50 yds.

 

[07Kingpin]

Good to know thanks.

 

[Sidney Smith]

I gave up listening to what other people think decades ago. I've used maxis and had no issues whatsoever with them. I'd still use them today if I hadn't decided to go with roundballs out of a round ball suitable barrel. I just prefer the less modern stuff. My grandson still uses maxis in his flintlock. They work, there's no denying that. If someone else doesn't like them, his problem not yours.

 

[Christophero]

Shot my first deer with a T/C Maxiball. Killed her quickly after a run through the trees. Then T/C came out with the Maxihunter conical. I cast a couple thousand of those and they killed well. A bit more expansion, which is what I wanted. The past 10 years I've used PRB after running out of the conicals. They work, too. Just have to be a bit more careful of placement due to being half as heavy.