Originally Posted by
hunters_life
Semisane, I've been sending PRB's downrange for over 40 years. Everything from .32 squirrel rifle rounds up to .68 elephant ball. And 457#'s energy is not what I would call ethical with a PRB. The terminal ballistics of the round ball needs a good bit more than that to effectively dispatch a whitetail let alone an elk. More along the lines of 100#'s more. A bunch of paper in books doesn't tell me that. Many years of taking game with my smokepoles does. I've taken squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, groundhogs, with the .32's. Whitetail, black bear, caribou, elk, and moose with from .45 up to .68 all with PRB and I can tell you in no uncertain terms that 175 yards is not a distance I would want anyone shooting at live game with a round ball. The terminal ballistics combined with the poor external ballistics just isn't there and it cranks my critter to see people proposing it.
I understand where you're coming from
hunters life. I too have been sending round balls down range for over 40 years. And I agree that the energy at that range is marginal. However, on a broadside boiler room shot that big .60 ball will certainly get well into the vitals and likely pass through. I have no problem with such a shot if the shooter can consistently shoot a ten-inch group at 175 yards. But as said, the conditions, sight and shooter's experience must be appropriate.