Well ive taken many deer with the old smoke pole over the years.So ive now wanted to try something diffirent. I have asked in another thread about some blackpowder revolvers and learned about the cheapest one at cabelas for 149$. It is model 1858 pietta do u guys out there think this sidearm would be good or powerful enough to take down a deer for muzzeloader season? Please weigh in.
Most people that I've ever heard that hunt deer in black powder season use a 50 caliber rifle.The ones at most gun shops are of the octagon barrel type.They look like they can be fun to shoot.One of my brothers has one of each.He says the pistol is kind of a pain to load.
Can a .44 caliber cap & ball revolver take deer sized game? Sure it can, but can it take it effectively like a modern .44 Magnum revolver can? No, it won't. You have to keep in mind that it may be a .44 caliber, but the bullet is moving rather slow compared to a .44 Magnum load. My 1858 Army revolver with 50/50 solder cast lead balls over 30 grains of Pyrodex was still only peaking at around 940 FPS at the muzzle when I had it chronographed. And my revolver had a 12" bbl so obviously a normal length bbl would have has less muzzle velocity. I'm not into big game hunting, but if I was, I wouldn't trust that on deer sized game.
If black powder pistol hunting is something you want to try, how about save up some extra money and buy a .50 caliber inline pistol. I've heard those things with correct sabot ammo make for a great deer pistol.
Check with your state's DNR office to see if a percussion revolver is even legal for taking deer in your state. Here in ND, they aren't...they specifically state single-shot pistols if you're using a handgun but every state is different.
A typical .44 cap and ball doesn't throw a very heavy projectile very fast.
The .454s balls that I use weigh around 140gr and a conical is around 200gr (I think).
I've never chrony'd my 1858 but I'm going to guess that a normal 30gr load will give around 650-700fps with a round ball. That's less muzzle energy than even a non +P .38Spcl and the large diameter, lightweight ball will shed it's energy faster than a .358" 140gr will.
If you've got a Dragoon (or Walker) and can up the charge to 50gr, you can get around 900fps at the muzzle with a conical bullet.
I think you might get a little closer to an acceptable energy level for deer with that load.
The only two revolvers I see on Cabela's site for 149.00 are two so called Confederate .44 navies which are a Colt's design. The brass frame will not hold up to 30 grain loads. 18 grains should be your max load in them and that is not potent enough to take deer. 30 grains from a steel frame IMHO would be pushing it with a 25 yard shot.
OK! I have a question.
I can see why a 0.44 cal cap & ball revolver might not have the knock down power required for a deer but,...What kind of muzzle velocity would you have with something like a 0.50 cal Traditions Trappers pistol loaded with 40 grains of 3F BP like Goex and a 0.490 ball at about 11.4 grams?
The barrel from the bolster to the muzzle is 9.25 inches
As said,by law I don't think so.
I have a .50 Cal. CVA, magnum rifle.
150 grains of powder,or pellets, 250 up to 405 grain bullets.
Powerbelt,hollow point or aerotip.
OK! I have a question.
I can see why a 0.44 cal cap & ball revolver might not have the knock down power required for a deer but,...What kind of muzzle velocity would you have with something like a 0.50 cal Traditions Trappers pistol loaded with 40 grains of 3F BP like Goex and a 0.490 ball at about 11.4 grams?
The barrel from the bolster to the muzzle is 9.25 inches
I don't have a .50 cal singleshot, but looking at the data in the Hodgdon muzzleloading manual you should get 790fps with 45gr of Pyrodex P pushing a 180gr round ball.
I don't believe they are heavy enough, but it has been done. Of course someone probably killed a polar bear with a 22 LR too...that doesn't make it a bear cartridge.
I have taken one deer with a muzzleloading handgun. A 54 cal. Lyman Great Plains pistol loaded with 60 grs. Ffg under a .530 PRB. It was a yearling doe about 15 yards away. I have not chronoed the load and I do not know what the velocity was/is but I doubt I was getting full benefit from the 60 grs.. It "feels powerful". It's also over the recommended factory charge. That and a 54 cal. ball is a lot heavier and larger in diameter than a .44. Would I do it again...given the same circumstances, sure. But I don't believe I'd stretch it ANY past 25 yards.
Not so sure all BP revolvers are "inadequate", myself . I've done the "phone book test" with several .44s using soft lead ball and have seen 2" penetration repeatedly from a repro 1858 Remington @ 15 yds. I would expect even better performance from a Dragoon or Walker.
Deer are soft-skinned animals and any hit in the "boiler room" ( i.e. not on shoulder bone or in the gut ) is going to fetch'em ), regardless of caliber or arm. I' ve had deer run shot through both lungs with a .54 ML rifle and soft ball @<50 yds. Had others drop almost in place from chest and quartering shots at ranges approaching 100 yds with the same combo. I'd not hesitate to shoot at deer presenting a good angle with any of the "heavy hitter" BP revolvers @ 25 yds.. >MW
Not allowed in Mississippi. Kinda funny because almost everything else is.
This is from the MDWFP website.
Primitive Weapons
"Primitive firearms" for the purpose of hunting deer, are defined as single or double barreled muzzle-loading rifles of at least .38 caliber; single shot, breech loading, cartridge rifles (.35 caliber or larger) and replicas, reproductions or reintroductions of those type rifles; and single or double-barreled muzzle-loading, shotguns with single ball or slug. All muzzle-loading Primitive Firearms must use black powder or a black powder substitute with either percussion caps or #209 shotgun primers or flintlock ignition. Breech loading single shot rifles must have exposed hammers and use metallic cartridges. Cartridges may be loaded either with black powder or modern smokeless powder. Scopes of any magnification are allowed on primitive weapons.
DAMN--I woulda thought "muzzle loader" is a weapon that is loaded from the muzzle... My wife is from Tennessess (Fall Branch)--that explains a few things.
Tennessee laws, Buffalochip, are written rather oddly.
It is illegal, for instance, for someone without a CCW to carry a gun "with intent to go armed".
So, if you carry one WITHOUT intent to go armed, you are OK.
I always figured that was an anti-yankee law. The locals with guns did not INTEND to go armed, but the yankee carrying one DID intend to go armed.
And the interpretation of that no-breach-loading requirement IS met by a revolver; stuffing the powder and shot into the front of the cylinder instead of the back makes it legal to hunt with, from what I can find.
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