Cap and Ball for Deer?
08-02-2006, 01:11 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Eastern Shore MD
Posts: 216
Cap and Ball for Deer?
Okay, Ive heard mixed reviews on this, but I'll keep it short and sweet...
Is a cap and ball revolver (lets say .44)a legitimate hunting weapon for deer? Assuming proper shot placement, and a close range can you do it cleanly?
Thanks all...
Is a cap and ball revolver (lets say .44)a legitimate hunting weapon for deer? Assuming proper shot placement, and a close range can you do it cleanly?
Thanks all...
08-02-2006, 02:33 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location:
Posts: 1,470
RE: Cap and Ball for Deer?
ORIGINAL: Whitehair
Okay, Ive heard mixed reviews on this, but I'll keep it short and sweet...
Is a cap and ball revolver (lets say .44)a legitimate hunting weapon for deer? Assuming proper shot placement, and a close range can you do it cleanly?
Thanks all...
Okay, Ive heard mixed reviews on this, but I'll keep it short and sweet...
Is a cap and ball revolver (lets say .44)a legitimate hunting weapon for deer? Assuming proper shot placement, and a close range can you do it cleanly?
Thanks all...
I suspect you can kill a deer with one. How cleanly? I have no idea. If you hunt with one, please report the results of your hunt here for us.
Happy Hunting, Phil
08-02-2006, 03:15 PM
#3
Typical Buck
Join Date: May 2005
Location: NC
Posts: 501
RE: Cap and Ball for Deer?
I've never done it, but I suppose it can be done. I consider a BP pistol a poor choice for deer hunting - but if the deer is under your tree and your shot placement good - top of the deer's head? - it ought to work.
I think that those old cap-n-ball revolvers shot pretty weak loads, compared to modern pistols; I'll go out on a thick branch and prounounce them a Bad Choice for deer hunting, not one I'd call 'legitimate'.
Weak. Check this out, .44 Colt of 1860. 38 grains of powder, 138 grain ball, 725fps at the muzzle for a whopping 160 ft-lbs of energy.
underwhelming, as a deer gun
I think that those old cap-n-ball revolvers shot pretty weak loads, compared to modern pistols; I'll go out on a thick branch and prounounce them a Bad Choice for deer hunting, not one I'd call 'legitimate'.
Weak. Check this out, .44 Colt of 1860. 38 grains of powder, 138 grain ball, 725fps at the muzzle for a whopping 160 ft-lbs of energy.
underwhelming, as a deer gun
08-03-2006, 03:23 AM
#7
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 115
RE: Cap and Ball for Deer?
I had the chance to try it, it was a great experience and one that I would not recomend or try again.
Considering how many people were killed with that type of weapon, I figured that a deer would be no different. I spent a year practicing and I got quite good with a .44 Remington, managed to cram in35grs of 3f with no wad or filler. First shot a little highknocked a 100lb doe over, 2nd missed, 3rd wasclose to the heart as it tried to get up and the fourth was a close range finisher. I was very lucky, in my excitement I underestimated the range and the first shot must have hit some nerves because if she had not gone down I would have been in for a long chase.
I know another guy who tried it, he was also sucessful and he also will not do it again. Killing a person in self defense or time of war is alot different from cleanly taking game.
Doug
Considering how many people were killed with that type of weapon, I figured that a deer would be no different. I spent a year practicing and I got quite good with a .44 Remington, managed to cram in35grs of 3f with no wad or filler. First shot a little highknocked a 100lb doe over, 2nd missed, 3rd wasclose to the heart as it tried to get up and the fourth was a close range finisher. I was very lucky, in my excitement I underestimated the range and the first shot must have hit some nerves because if she had not gone down I would have been in for a long chase.
I know another guy who tried it, he was also sucessful and he also will not do it again. Killing a person in self defense or time of war is alot different from cleanly taking game.
Doug
08-03-2006, 06:00 AM
#8
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Texas - BUT NOW in Madison County, NY
Posts: 6,270
RE: Cap and Ball for Deer?
ORIGINAL: Whitehair
Okay, Ive heard mixed reviews on this, but I'll keep it short and sweet...
Is a cap and ball revolver (lets say .44)a legitimate hunting weapon for deer? Assuming proper shot placement, and a close range can you do it cleanly?
Thanks all...
Okay, Ive heard mixed reviews on this, but I'll keep it short and sweet...
Is a cap and ball revolver (lets say .44)a legitimate hunting weapon for deer? Assuming proper shot placement, and a close range can you do it cleanly?
Thanks all...
I thought I'd try this one fall in central Texas, where the deer are SMALL (not EVERYTHING is big in Texas!!). So I loaded up my Old Army with 40 grains of powder, a Wonder Wad, and.457" balls. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately!!) I never go a close up shot at a deer, so I still don't know for sure if it would work......
08-03-2006, 07:51 AM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location:
Posts: 1,470
RE: Cap and Ball for Deer?
ORIGINAL: Doug S
I had the chance to try it, it was a great experience and one that I would not recomend or try again.
Considering how many people were killed with that type of weapon, I figured that a deer would be no different. I spent a year practicing and I got quite good with a .44 Remington, managed to cram in35grs of 3f with no wad or filler. First shot a little highknocked a 100lb doe over, 2nd missed, 3rd wasclose to the heart as it tried to get up and the fourth was a close range finisher. I was very lucky, in my excitement I underestimated the range and the first shot must have hit some nerves because if she had not gone down I would have been in for a long chase.
I know another guy who tried it, he was also sucessful and he also will not do it again. Killing a person in self defense or time of war is alot different from cleanly taking game.
I had the chance to try it, it was a great experience and one that I would not recomend or try again.
Considering how many people were killed with that type of weapon, I figured that a deer would be no different. I spent a year practicing and I got quite good with a .44 Remington, managed to cram in35grs of 3f with no wad or filler. First shot a little highknocked a 100lb doe over, 2nd missed, 3rd wasclose to the heart as it tried to get up and the fourth was a close range finisher. I was very lucky, in my excitement I underestimated the range and the first shot must have hit some nerves because if she had not gone down I would have been in for a long chase.
I know another guy who tried it, he was also sucessful and he also will not do it again. Killing a person in self defense or time of war is alot different from cleanly taking game.
I like PB's idea of the single shot. Its barrel is alot longer than any cylinder allowing more charge and more time and more bore for the charge to accelerate the ball. Still, for a RB under900 fps, one should be prepared for performance on par with a bow, meaning , it may take a little extra time to kill the game.
08-03-2006, 08:47 AM
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location:
Posts: 714
RE: Cap and Ball for Deer?
ORIGINAL: Pglasgow
I like PB's idea of the single shot. Its barrel is alot longer than any cylinder allowing more charge and more time and more bore for the charge to accelerate the ball. Still, for a RB under900 fps, one should be prepared for performance on par with a bow, meaning , it may take a little extra time to kill the game.
I like PB's idea of the single shot. Its barrel is alot longer than any cylinder allowing more charge and more time and more bore for the charge to accelerate the ball. Still, for a RB under900 fps, one should be prepared for performance on par with a bow, meaning , it may take a little extra time to kill the game.
Code:
Load Data ~~~~~~~~~ Name: .44 180 XTP 60 gr FFFG 777 Ballistic Coeff: 0.138 Bullet Weight: 180 Velocity: 1668 Target Distance: 50 Scope Height: 0.750 Temperature: 70 Altitude: 500 Ballistic Data ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Range Elevation Velocity Energy ETA Drop Max Y 10mph Wind Deflect 0 yds -0.75 in 1668 fps 1112 fpe 0.000 sec 0.00 in -0.75 in 0.00 in 25 yds 0.07 in 1554 fps 965 fpe 0.047 sec 0.41 in -0.19 in 0.28 in 50 yds 0.00 in 1447 fps 837 fpe 0.096 sec 1.71 in 0.15 in 1.11 in 75 yds -1.13 in 1350 fps 728 fpe 0.150 sec 4.06 in 0.80 in 2.69 in 100 yds -3.43 in 1263 fps 637 fpe 0.208 sec 7.59 in 1.79 in 4.88 in
Code:
Load Data ~~~~~~~~~ Name: .44 180 XTP 50 gr FFFG 777 Ballistic Coeff: 0.138 Bullet Weight: 180 Velocity: 1551 Target Distance: 50 Scope Height: 0.750 Temperature: 70 Altitude: 500 Ballistic Data ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Range Elevation Velocity Energy ETA Drop Max Y 10mph Wind Deflect 0 yds -0.75 in 1551 fps 961 fpe 0.000 sec 0.00 in -0.75 in 0.00 in 25 yds 0.15 in 1444 fps 833 fpe 0.050 sec 0.47 in -0.18 in 0.26 in 50 yds 0.00 in 1348 fps 726 fpe 0.104 sec 1.99 in 0.22 in 1.25 in 75 yds -1.34 in 1260 fps 635 fpe 0.161 sec 4.69 in 0.96 in 2.86 in 100 yds -4.05 in 1185 fps 561 fpe 0.223 sec 8.77 in 2.11 in 5.16 in
Speaking on the original question, I believe Cabela's sells a 180 gr conical for use in a cap an ball revolver. It would be a better choice than a ball but still a little too low even assuming a charge of 40 gr FFFG 777. 40 gr is probably overly optimistic since the conical would be longer than a ball. I'm not even sure if FFFG 777 is ok for use in a cap and ball. At best I'd have to say it's amarginal choice. It's not legal here so I've got no desire to see for sure.