cherokee75

I took my New Englander in .50 out this past weekend for IL's late season antlerless. I have taken it hunting before but never had a shot at a deer including this weekend. I am using 385 grain conicals with 90 grains RS. Anyone have experience with this bullet for deer?

idahoron

I have a lot of experience with the 410 gr 50 cal on deer and I have shot the 385 a lot at target. They are butter soft and best used on nothing bigger than deer. I don't know why they dropped the 410 I think it was superior to the 385. I used 100 gr of pyrodex RS with those bullets.
Ron

cayugad

I agree with Ron. I have shot the 385 grain but found them accurate with low powder charges. The 410 grain were much more accurate out of most rifles. Good luck with your hunt.

aafadca

I used to use them when I first started ML hunting (over 20 years ago) and they were accurate. But they the ones I found in deer seemed to be broken up pretty bad. I would still use them if I had to, but I just prefer some of the other conicals

Semisane

DITTO Ron and Cayugad. The 410's are what I shot in my New Englander for years. The were accurate as the dickens and real deer killers. I almost cried when Hornady dropped them and kept the 385's. I suspect the 385's were better sellers because of the "sexy" hollow point, which is not only not needed - but reduced performance. I used them over 70 grains of Pyrodex RS for a while in my New Englander. Never lost a deer with them, but they were clearly not as good as the heavier flat points.