Predator Hunting with Lyman and lead free round ball

[James Stella]

I have been working up a "traditional" load that I can use in California's lead free areas (soon to be the entire state). I have been working with the ITX .54 cal. round balls. At 50 yards they shoot about the same point of impact as regular lead PRB. I have been shooting them with my Lyman GPH. Once I had a load worked up I decided to do some predator calling with the load. I had an area picked out that was about 4 miles from any road, and looked like it might be a good bobcat area.

Today I loaded up the horse and GPR, and after about a 45 minute ride I was at my location. I tied Gabe up and moved about a 100 yards from him. I set up in an area that had about a 50 yard field of view, so that if I called something in it would be in range when I saw it. After about 30 minutes of calling in I spotted a bobcat sneaking toward me. When it got about 30 yards away I touched of my shot. He went about 20 yards before going down for good.

The other interesting thing for me was this was the longest I had ever left my rifle loaded. I loaded it November 24th and shot it January 25. Two months. It went off no problem.

It was not a real big bobcat, but the first one I have shot with a BP rifle.
www.flickr.com/photos/90803536@N08/23990915493
www.flickr.com/photos/90803536@N08/24535466581
www.flickr.com/photos/90803536@N08/23990883633

 

[sidelock]

So glad you didn't hit him with lead----- that would have been so unhealthy for him. :v

 

[coloradoclyde]

Glad to hear you have adapted and overcome the lead issue an are continuing to enjoy hunting. :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

 

[Britsmoothy]

Neat.

Can you carry some lead ball for nostalgic reasons :thumbsup:

 

[BrownBear]

Really good to hear first-hand reports on the lead free rather than speculation, chest beating and key pounding.

Keep them coming! :thumbsup:

 

[Spikebuck]

Good story & pics. Congrats on the bobcat! :thumbsup:

 

[nwtradegun]

he could be the makins for a fine bag or hat.

 

[larry wv]

Nothing wrong with the size of that Bobcat. :thumbsup:

Larry

 

[Patocazador]

Gabe must be a stoic individual. I never owned a horse that would act nice. Mine all spent their waking hours thinking about ways to disable me .. that is, if they were capable of thinking. :hmm:

 

[Arrowstorm]

Good story. Thanks for sharing.

Hey, there's nothing wrong with the size of that bobcat. Bigger than any I've ever seen in person!

I was wondering why you had your rifle loaded so long. Was it just cuz you never saw anything to shoot?

Hey, as long as that power and cap stay dry, there's never any reason why it shouldn't fire, I think.

 

[Kapow]

Great hunt and nice moose if you keep scrolling!

 

[James Stella]

Arrowstorm. I went out calling on the 24th and called in a fox but did not get a shot. I did not know when I was going to get another chance to go hunting so just left it loaded. Did not get to go out again until yesterday. I have never left it loaded more than a week. When I was elk hunting I would shoot clean and reload after that. I guess I was just worried about the unknown or untried.

 

[James Stella]

That is too funny. It does seem at times they work at getting you or themselves hurt. He is a good boy. Have had him for about 9 years. He was not real convinced at first that putting a cat on his back was the right way to go, but after I let him get used to it for a few minutes he was fine.

 

[cottonmouth]

" Not a big bobcat"??
It`s a bobcat ain`t it ?? :grin: :grin:
Congratulations!!

 

[robinsroost]

Congratulations Jay, well done! That is a pretty kitty and will enhance what ever you use the fur on.........robin :bow:

 

[lone hunter]

That's pretty cool right there. Nice story and cat. One thing though...where's all the snow? Your pictures are getting me fired up for spring.

 

[rushlake1]

Nice view,horse,cat...Thanks for sharing :v
If I had a horse I'd be packing A Don Sith Hawken..To round out my outfit.
I tip my hat for you finding a lead free way!
Brass would work also.
It's to humid here(Wisconsin) to leave a rifle loaded that long( I'm paranoid) ...glad it worked out.
My only concern with the ITX or other non lead roundball would be dry balling- ball extraction.

 

[TNGhost]

My only concern with the ITX or other non lead roundball would be dry balling- ball extraction.

That and getting the mould to fill out :haha:

 

[Mad Professor]

Nice work on the kitty!

Last I read about lead sub RBs, member Roundball was shooting marbles

Had a look at the ITX website.

Those balls don't seem to be perfectly round, is there a trick to loading them consistently? What sort of patch/lube combo?

How do things group compared to quality lead RB?

Also wondering on larger game if they act like a lead RB and flatten out nicely?

Price wise looks as expensive as CF rifle cartridges.

 

[James Stella]

They are not round like a round ball. They have a belt or band around them. I seat them with the band running around the muzzle of the rifle so that the entire band ingauges the rifling at the same time ( if that makes sense). I am using Cabelas pre lubed patches at the moment. At 50 yards they actually group better than I am getting with PRB. They are expensive about a buck a ball but they group with PRB at 50 yards so I am practicing with PRB now but hunting with the ITX. I do not think they will flatten out like lead. That is going to be the next step is to shoot them into something and compare them to lead. I am thinking phone books. I want to know if they flatten at all. Will post when I do the test.

I am very limited by my choices for what I use. It can't just be lead free it has to be approved by fish and game and be on their web site. The ITX is.