Want to hear about .40 cal for deer.

[PGTMG]

To be honest all this talk has me thinking of giving the .40 another chance. :hmm:


By the way it is an excellent Turkey killer if it is legal where you live.

 

[Travis Gregory]

Im afraid turkeys arent on the menu for a .40 rifle here in AR. I believe Im up for the challenge of using a .40 for deer but as I told a friend today if I was specifically targeting a certain large buck I would go after him with my .50. But for general hunting purposes I have always liked the idea of one rifle for everything thats why my interest in the .40. Im really wanting a BP rifle for hunting squirrels as I said I already have a CVA Mtn rifle with a .50 and a .45 barrel. As of right now building a custom flintlock longrifle is only a dream but hopefully someday it will be a reality.

 

[tg]

If all I had was a .40 I would go deer hunting and get close and feel confident that it will work, confidence in you outfit is a big part of hunting, I can't really recomend it but a head shot at 25yds will anchor them in their tracks this is controversial shot and the individual really needs to know the gun well and be a pretty fair shot and have no doubts about where that ball will hit,i don't want to steal this thread so if anyone wants to whizz and moan about where to shoot a deer, start another thread.

 

[8905c]

Well, as I have posted here before, I have a friend who hunted deer for several years with an original .32 cal. muzzleloader. He was not trying to prove a point, it was just that the .32 was the only rifle he owned at the time and finances weren't great. He killed several deer with his .32, one large buck that I know of, but he was very careful about limiting the distance of his shots. He had to pass on many deer due to range limitations. When finances were better, he built himself a .45 and left the .32 for small game.
Am I saying the .32 is a good caliber for deer, not at all. However, if you are willing to limit your range, I feel you can get by with a .40.
8905c

 

[PGTMG]

Im afraid turkeys arent on the menu for a .40 rifle here in AR. I believe Im up for the challenge of using a .40 for deer but as I told a friend today if I was specifically targeting a certain large buck I would go after him with my .50. But for general hunting purposes I have always liked the idea of one rifle for everything thats why my interest in the .40. Im really wanting a BP rifle for hunting squirrels as I said I already have a CVA Mtn rifle with a .50 and a .45 barrel. As of right now building a custom flintlock longrifle is only a dream but hopefully someday it will be a reality.

You will be fine. If you want one rifle and a .40 you could always use an conical.

Saving for a custom is easier than you think. All you have to do is be focused. Really pick exactly what you want. Who you want to build it and start saying no to little need less speading (it is how I ended up with my first fowler).

 

[PGTMG]

Well, as I have posted here before, I have a friend who hunted deer for several years with an original .32 cal. muzzleloader. He was not trying to prove a point, it was just that the .32 was the only rifle he owned at the time and finances weren't great. He killed several deer with his .32, one large buck that I know of, but he was very careful about limiting the distance of his shots. He had to pass on many deer due to range limitations. When finances were better, he built himself a .45 and left the .32 for small game.
Am I saying the .32 is a good caliber for deer, not at all. However, if you are willing to limit your range, I feel you can get by with a .40.
8905c

Wow several deer with a .32 lead round ball? WHo would have thought. :bow:

On the PS I agee with tg about head shots. :v

 

[hoot gibson]

i didnt read all the stories , but i do hunt deer with a 40 here in ohio . this year i killed two . i shoot 70 gr, of pyrodex , and a prb . i looked all over for a mold for bullets but couldnt find one i liked to experiment with . my thought . its plenty of rifle out to 60 yards . shoot for both lungs or lower for the heart , be a good tracker . i didint get all that much blood , but it sure did the job for me .both an entrance and exit hole . hoot

 

[paulvallandigham]

Look for pistol bullets being sold for the .40 and .41 caliber pistols. The .38-40 shoots a .40 caliber bullet, and the gun caliber has reappeared for the Cowboy Action Shooters. Google Cast Bullets to find venders who are catering to the CAS crowd. You will need a sizer to size the bullets to your bore diameter, or .001" under Bore diameter, but most of the cast bullets come lubed. A simple press that takes 7/8 x 14 threaded dies for reloading, can accept a similar sizing die.

There are .40-410 caliber cast bullets and molds available for a wide range or pistol and rifle cartridges. All can be sized for use in your .40 caliber rifle, depending on the ROT you have. Use the Greenhill formula to determine the maximum length of the bullet you can shoot, but you should be able to shoot a bullet that is just under 1 inch in length( and have it stabilized) regardless of your ROT. Weight of such a bullet will be under 200 grains, but since a lead round ball will weigh approx 90 grains, shooting a 185 grain pistol bullet would give you double the mass( weight ) of a RB, and far superior B/Cs.

 

[Travis Gregory]

Does anyone make a good hollow base conical bullet for the 40? All I have found is flat base pistol bullets for 10mm or .40S&W. If you buy pre-cast bullets they are too hard and wont expand well and if you buy a mould of course you have to cast your own which I dont want to get into. Besides, all the molds Ive found are flat base bullets too.

 

[PGTMG]

shoot for both lungs or lower for the heart , be a good tracker . i didint get all that much blood , but it sure did the job for me .both an entrance and exit hole . hoot

My experience mirrored yours. :v

Where do you live in Ohio? I have friends in Winchester.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I believe my brother has a hollow based .40 caliber bullet mold, but its a mold, and you would have to cast. Since you say your are not interested, it will not solve your problem.

If you go to the Cowboy Action bullet suppliers, they offer sofer lead bullets for those guns. The hard cast are for the magnums. Look for bullets for the .38-40 cartridge, not the .40 S&W, or the .41 Magnum.

Here's a site for a company that will cast the bullets to your alloy requirements.
http://www.customcastbullets.com/

YOu should at least talk to them. And talk to the casters who advertise here, or are listed on the "Links" section on the Index page, under " member Resources". Eddie May, and others are usually willing to work with a customer to get you what you want.

Need the right lead? Contact John Walters:

John Walters

[405] 799-0376

500 N. Avery Drive, Moore, Okla. 73160

who, in addition to providing his famous Vegetable Fiber Wads, also sells lead. Don't want 1,000 bullets at one time? Sell the extras here, or contact the smaller casters like Eddie May and see what he will charge you for 100 bullets. He may be able to both lube, and Size the bullets to your specific bore diameter, too. :thumbsup:

 

[hoot gibson]

shoot for both lungs or lower for the heart , be a good tracker . i didint get all that much blood , but it sure did the job for me .both an entrance and exit hole . hoot

My experience mirrored yours. :v

Where do you live in Ohio? I have friends in Winchester.

i live in licking county . hoot