J-Bar
Member
Sorry I misunderstood. Glad you are an experienced BP hunter. Enjoy your hunt whatever you choose.
Which gun should I use next deer season?
- Thread starter Bfh_auto
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Don't get me wrong. Everyone should try black powder hunting. Even if it's a cartridge gun. Peering through the cloud of smoke too see your game is nothing like using smokeless.
mustanger98
Member
For a spot where, knowing the terrain/trees/brush, you expect your farthest shot to be 50yds...
1- The .357 Mag levergun with improved iron sights or low-power optics sounds pretty good to me.
Question- Are you familiar with PPU's 158gr JHP? Specs are listed with the description. Seems to me, given a good broadside shot, it ought to get the job done.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/7...58-grain-semi-jacketed-hollow-point-box-of-50
2- If you have a muzzleloader you know real well, why not? OTOH, it may be considered a tad more time consuming.
I don't know about psychobabble, but I recall reading that nostalgia was a major reason hunting with a sidelock frontstuffer regained popularity 40 years or so back.
Right off, I wouldn't recognize either of those for a wrong answer.
And then I saw post #25.
1- The .357 Mag levergun with improved iron sights or low-power optics sounds pretty good to me.
Question- Are you familiar with PPU's 158gr JHP? Specs are listed with the description. Seems to me, given a good broadside shot, it ought to get the job done.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/7...58-grain-semi-jacketed-hollow-point-box-of-50
2- If you have a muzzleloader you know real well, why not? OTOH, it may be considered a tad more time consuming.
I don't know about psychobabble, but I recall reading that nostalgia was a major reason hunting with a sidelock frontstuffer regained popularity 40 years or so back.
Right off, I wouldn't recognize either of those for a wrong answer.
And then I saw post #25.
What about cast bp loads in the Krag?
That would fit the early 1900's ancestors.
J-Bar
Member
The Krag was a smokeless cartridge from day one, and I have never taken a deer with one. Making it a customized BP cartridge sounds interesting but unfortunately I can’t provide any guidance in that regard.
A lot of people loaded 30-30 and 30-40 with BP at the beginning of the 1900s.
I will see if I can get the time to test some.
mustanger98
Member
You know, BP loaded by volume is why .30WCF and .30Govt became .30-30Win. and .30-40Krag. But the fact that it came from handloading mostly seems to get glossed over.
I don't know, but I've heard bottleneck cases don't give as good a pressure with BP as they do with smokeless. I wish I knew the True/False or particulars there.
I don't know, but I've heard bottleneck cases don't give as good a pressure with BP as they do with smokeless. I wish I knew the True/False or particulars there.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I voted .357, but for the cartridge, not the rifle. I think it's a dandy deer cartridge in a rifle/carbine under 100 yards. I'm not a fan of lever actions, but any scoped .357 rifle would work well.
My second choice would be the 7mm Mauser, even though it's overkill at such short ranges.
My second choice would be the 7mm Mauser, even though it's overkill at such short ranges.
At the ranges I'm looking at, a large rock would almost be a overkill. Maybe I should go caveman on them.
mustanger98
Member
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...BMAJ6BAgMEAs&usg=AOvVaw0VTJzWxrN8ZFOD4xbU2nov
This would be me throwing a spear.
This would be me throwing a spear.
MCgunner
Member
Is there really such thing as "overkill at short ranges"? I've killed plenty of deer at 25 yards or less with .257 Roberts AND .308 Winchester, neither of which is thought of as a short range only proposition. They worked just fine.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
No, "overkill" was probably the wrong choice of words. Just unnecessary power for close range. The .357 won't fly as far, either, if you miss your mark. I've killed plenty of deer under 100 with a .308, too, mostly from elevated stands, so carry wasn't really a factor. But if I knew I was limited to 50 yard shots, I'd opt for the .357.
My 7x57 loads are 30-30 levels with a 154sst. I don't see the point in hotrodding if I'm limited by iron sights.
mustanger98
Member
Well, I handload and I don't really see the point in hotrodding in general. I usually say reduce the recoil and go for repeatable accuracy across the distance I'm dealing with. In my part of the country, deer are many times shot within 75yds... many times you can't see farther than 25yds and, most times, 200yds is a long shot.
.30-30's are good to 250yds, but get the most use inside 50yds. The .357 levergun will usually run out of gas sooner than the .30-30, but in the 50yd brushgun role, they should be about even.
Overkill... how dead is dead? I remember reading where somebody described overkill as the deer being dead and reincarnated before it hits the ground. As funny as it sounded at the time, you really can only kill 'em once.
.30-30's are good to 250yds, but get the most use inside 50yds. The .357 levergun will usually run out of gas sooner than the .30-30, but in the 50yd brushgun role, they should be about even.
Overkill... how dead is dead? I remember reading where somebody described overkill as the deer being dead and reincarnated before it hits the ground. As funny as it sounded at the time, you really can only kill 'em once.
mustanger98
Member
At the same time, that 154 SST will have a higher BC than the .30-30's 150gr RN, also a Hornady product. If I had a 7x57, I'd have to try this and see what the difference in trajectory is.
Is that why some of them run? They were reincarnated.
If we want to talk overkill. I had 5 does cut across at 30 yards. I head shot one and neck shot the second with a 240 Wby. I lost very little meat but could have used a much quieter option.
mustanger98
Member
2 for 2, or 2 for 1? Either way sounds like good results. But yeah, the noise level.
I've been having good results... one shot kills... with a .243, but it seems to be another of several to draw complaints from some retirees at a range I used to attend.It wasn't mine that drew their ire... it seems another guy was trying to hotrod his. IIRC, it had a mean sonic crack.
2 for 2. I think it was so loud, it was like I froze them for a little bit.2 for 2, or 2 for 1? Either way sounds like good results. But yeah, the noise level.
It wasn't mine that drew their ire... it seems another guy was trying to hotrod his. IIRC, it had a mean sonic crack.
MCgunner
Member
I never really noticed that my .357 carbine was all that quiet. I still have to wear ear protection at my range. It has a 20" barrel, too, not particularly short. The one rifle I shoot that is audibly louder is my 7 mag. When I first got it, I set the chronograph up same distance as I used for all my other rifles, fired a shot, and the muzzle blast blew the tripod over. 
I had to back that chrony off about twice the distance to keep it on three legs. 
I had to back that chrony off about twice the distance to keep it on three legs. 
buck460XVR
Member
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Sounds like a perfect time to get into handgun hunting......and an good excuse to get a new .44 mag as a primary hunting weapon.
Otherwise, I'd go with the .357 lever. Accurate, and adequate. Plus, ammo is relatively inexpensive so one can practice extensively and get highly proficient. Outta all of my long guns, the one I and most others enjoy shooting the most, is my .357 lever.
MCgunner
Member
I already have a 357 revolver. I might carry it, but it won't be my primary arm. The way in is a power line right of way. I would like to be able to shoot father than a hand gun will if I need to.
mustanger98
Member
Well, now, my go to hunting handgun is a .30-30!
Contender? BFR?
I wonder what .30-30 velocity is from a 10" or 12" barrel.
The Bushmaster
Member
Use the .357 and take off the scope. At 50 yards you surely don't need the scope. Use the irons.
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