|
First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
About a year or so ago, I started playing around with the idea of doing some round ball hunting. The discussions were mainly with Dave (Cayugad). I decided this I was the season I was going to do it. I wanted to use a 54 cal to round ball hunt with. The only problem was that I didn’t own a 54 cal. Well, a long came a feller from Pennsylvania named Clem (Bronko 22000). He gave me a great deal on a 54 cal barrel for my TC Renegade and a lifetime supply of round balls.
I haven’t had time to sight the 54 cal barrel in until last weekend. I have had a lot of things going on around work and home. I got the 54 cal barrel sighted in, but I forgot about one little thing, I didn’t have a 54 cal cleaning jag!! Good thing I used 777 and not black powder or Pyrodex. I had ordered a Lyman GPR 54 cal flinter earlier last week. It was delivered Wed night. I cleaned both rifles that night. Well, everything was set, I was going round ball hunting!! I took today off from work so I could go without the weekend crowd at the club. I got to the club on time and made the long walk to my Eastman ground blind that I have in a hardwood creek bottom. As I was easing into the creek bottom right at first light, and a deer eased out of the area. I have been hunting a large buck in this area and judging from this deer’s heavy gait, I am pretty sure this deer was my buck. I eased into my blind and got settled in. I was going to get out at about 10:00 AM to do some scouting to place a stand I had removed from an unproductive area. At about 9:00, I thinking this was going to be another wasted morning. Well, at about 9:30 a nice doe started making her way down the ridge above the creek bottom. I raised the gun to put the bead on her, when I did I think she sensed something and she made a direct left hand turn and started paralleling the ridge. I wear a black pullover and hood in my blind so she didn’t spook. She went about another ten yards and stopped in some scrub oaks and briers and started feeding. About this time my arm was getting tired of holding the gun up, so I eased it down. A few seconds after I lowered the gun another nice doe came down the same trail and stopped in another bunch of scrub oaks and started feeding. I looked at the first doe and she hadn’t moved. I eased the gun up and put the bead on the second doe. She was still feeding in the scrub oaks and then began feeding down the ridge. A few seconds later, she presented me with an almost perfect broadside shot and I let the hammer fly. She ran back up the ridge and crashed about 3 or 4 times before I heard the final crash. I took my time reloading, as I swab with alcohol swabs and a couple of dry patches. I popped off a couple of caps and reloaded. I got my stuff together and started up the ridge to look for the deer. The blood trail was extensive and easy to follow. She had went about 75-80 yards and collapsed just on the other side of the logging road I use to get to the area. I didn’t even have to drag her!! I would be able to drive the truck all the way down to her!!! I had hit her about 2 inches up from the elbow and just behind the shoulder and it passed through just a couple of inches behind the opposite shoulder. I believe I clipped the top of the heart and took out both lungs. The load was 85gr of 777, .535 round ball, a wad and a .010 patch and a CCI #11 magnum cap. This was my first round ball hunt and I scored a doe!! Here is a pic of the gun, the doe and me.  |
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
Congrats,Great story and nice doe.:D
|
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
Awesome! That round ball did the job. I have my elk hunt on the 12th and am using almost the same load as you, only 80gr RS.
|
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
:D:D:D:D:D What can I say... you did it all right. What a great story. Those roundball are the most underestimated projectiles out there. They hit hard, usually pass through, and leave excellent blood trails.
Congratulations on your first roundball deer. That's a nice deer you have there. Looks like some good eating to me.. |
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
Great story and congrats on your deer!
I hope to use my .54 roundball this season also. |
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
cayugad
I am amazed , you left out the fact that a 54 PRB will always leave a better blood trail; think about it , I believe its a fact. As much as I like my inlines they fall short of a good long barreled 54 cal in every thing but range, when it comes to long rangeinlines arebetter. Of course the average distance deer are shot in the US of A is always been under 40 yds. Lee |
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
I agree.. a .54 caliber is hard to beat when it comes to deer hunting. And a roundball out of one of them really does a number. Today I was shooting my .58 caliber shooting roundball. I'd like to tag a deer with that this year. I bet that roundball would do a job too.
|
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
Congrats!
I really like the story:) Excellent Hunt;) |
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
The .54 ball really makes deer sick! I can only imagine what a conical hole will look like or a .58! Good Job enjoy your meat...............Harold PS:did you find the ball?
|
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
ORIGINAL: yakfisher About a year or so ago, I started playing around with the idea of doing some round ball hunting. The discussions were mainly with Dave (Cayugad). I decided this I was the season I was going to do it. I wanted to use a 54 cal to round ball hunt with. The only problem was that I didn’t own a 54 cal. Well, a long came a feller from Pennsylvania named Clem (Bronko 22000). He gave me a great deal on a 54 cal barrel for my TC Renegade and a lifetime supply of round balls. I haven’t had time to sight the 54 cal barrel in until last weekend. I have had a lot of things going on around work and home. I got the 54 cal barrel sighted in, but I forgot about one little thing, I didn’t have a 54 cal cleaning jag!! Good thing I used 777 and not black powder or Pyrodex. I had ordered a Lyman GPR 54 cal flinter earlier last week. It was delivered Wed night. I cleaned both rifles that night. Well, everything was set, I was going round ball hunting!! I took today off from work so I could go without the weekend crowd at the club. I got to the club on time and made the long walk to my Eastman ground blind that I have in a hardwood creek bottom. As I was easing into the creek bottom right at first light, and a deer eased out of the area. I have been hunting a large buck in this area and judging from this deer’s heavy gait, I am pretty sure this deer was my buck. I eased into my blind and got settled in. I was going to get out at about 10:00 AM to do some scouting to place a stand I had removed from an unproductive area. At about 9:00, I thinking this was going to be another wasted morning. Well, at about 9:30 a nice doe started making her way down the ridge above the creek bottom. I raised the gun to put the bead on her, when I did I think she sensed something and she made a direct left hand turn and started paralleling the ridge. I wear a black pullover and hood in my blind so she didn’t spook. She went about another ten yards and stopped in some scrub oaks and briers and started feeding. About this time my arm was getting tired of holding the gun up, so I eased it down. A few seconds after I lowered the gun another nice doe came down the same trail and stopped in another bunch of scrub oaks and started feeding. I looked at the first doe and she hadn’t moved. I eased the gun up and put the bead on the second doe. She was still feeding in the scrub oaks and then began feeding down the ridge. A few seconds later, she presented me with an almost perfect broadside shot and I let the hammer fly. She ran back up the ridge and crashed about 3 or 4 times before I heard the final crash. I took my time reloading, as I swab with alcohol swabs and a couple of dry patches. I popped off a couple of caps and reloaded. I got my stuff together and started up the ridge to look for the deer. The blood trail was extensive and easy to follow. She had went about 75-80 yards and collapsed just on the other side of the logging road I use to get to the area. I didn’t even have to drag her!! I would be able to drive the truck all the way down to her!!! I had hit her about 2 inches up from the elbow and just behind the shoulder and it passed through just a couple of inches behind the opposite shoulder. I believe I clipped the top of the heart and took out both lungs. The load was 85gr of 777, .535 round ball, a wad and a .010 patch and a CCI #11 magnum cap. This was my first round ball hunt and I scored a doe!! Here is a pic of the gun, the doe and me. |
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
Congrats on the nice deer. Doing it the old fashioned way worked well for you.
|
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
Ya done good PILGRIM!!. Excellent shootin', great patience in waiting for the good shot:):)
|
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
That's awesome man! Congrats! Round balls sure do the job!
|
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
Great story! These kind of stories make me want to get into traditional BP hunting- maybe someday...
|
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
Congrats Yak - I know that barrel can shoot. Just wondering why you didn't use the loadon the target I sent you with the barrel. I believe it was 80 gr of Pyrodex RS, felt wad, and PRB.
Its hard to believe the Triple 7 shot better. But you sure can't argue with your results.  |
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
Nice hunt....if I was going to shoot RBs I'd shoot a .54 too. Several hundred years of use prove they are up to the task within reasonable ranges.
|
RE: First Round Ball Hunt and First ROund Ball Deer
Thanks for all of the kudo's guys. I really enjoyed harvesting this deer with the 54 cal RB. I can't wait to take one with my new 54 cal Lyman GPR flinter. I am taking it to the range this Saturday. I will post the results.
|
Originally Posted by yakfisher
(Post 3086017)
Thanks for all of the kudo's guys. I really enjoyed harvesting this deer with the 54 cal RB. I can't wait to take one with my new 54 cal Lyman GPR flinter. I am taking it to the range this Saturday. I will post the results.
I know, i know, its been 7yrs later. I'm a fan of the .54 rb as well :barmy: |
Nice job yak...
Glad to see you done it the traditional way. Enjoy your venison! BPS |
Congrats on a nice fat doe for the freezer. Ya did good pardner.
|
Originally Posted by cayugad
(Post 3083030)
I agree.. a .54 caliber is hard to beat when it comes to deer hunting. And a roundball out of one of them really does a number. Today I was shooting my .58 caliber shooting roundball. I'd like to tag a deer with that this year. I bet that roundball would do a job too.
|
.58 GM barrel
Originally Posted by sabinajiles
(Post 4231312)
I agree that a .54 roundball is devastating on deer, but the .58 is my favorite. That could be because the .58 Green Mountain barreled Renegade that I use is a very well balanced rifle and an absolute tack driver. I have shot 6 or 7 deer with it and all but 1 were dead in their tracks and the one that ran didn't go 40 yds.
I have a 58 barrel on its way for my TC Hawken .54 :barmy: |
Congrats on the deer!!!
Good luck with the flinter, do you have some real black powder for her??? |
Originally Posted by sabinajiles
(Post 4231312)
I agree that a .54 roundball is devastating on deer, but the .58 is my favorite. That could be because the .58 Green Mountain barreled Renegade that I use is a very well balanced rifle and an absolute tack driver. I have shot 6 or 7 deer with it and all but 1 were dead in their tracks and the one that ran didn't go 40 yds.
Originally Posted by Sgt Recoil
(Post 4231313)
I have one on its way for my TC Hawken .54 :barmy:
|
Originally Posted by Sgt Recoil
(Post 4231313)
I have one on its way for my TC Hawken .54 :barmy:
|
Nice shot with open sights, makes me want to get my .54 Renegade out!
|
Am I wrong but did this story start in 2008 when he got the deer. i am seeing guys on this thread that I have not heard of in years.
|
Originally Posted by deer655
(Post 4231436)
Am I wrong but did this story start in 2008 when he got the deer. i am seeing guys on this thread that I have not heard of in years.
Originally Posted by Sgt Recoil
(Post 4231161)
How did you make out at the range?
I know, i know, its been 7yrs later. I'm a fan of the .54 rb as well :barmy: You are correct :D I was doing a google search and this thread came up so I resurrected it. I figured sooner or later someone would catch on :s4: |
Not only a 7 year old thread, but the OP hasn't been on the forum for 1 1/2 years.
|
Originally Posted by Muley Hunter
(Post 4231625)
Not only a 7 year old thread, but the OP hasn't been on the forum for 1 1/2 years.
I never saw the original post and could care less! I'm happy for the man that he went out and took his first ML deer with a sidelock and patched round ball and not some souped up scoped inline. BPS |
Yep I have a .54 cal Thompson Center White Mountain Carbine that I need to get out and work a load up for. I have planned for 3 seasons to do that and hunt late season with it. Its not happened yet.
|
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:13 AM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.