Caliber question

[GoodOlBoy]

I have read and been told that 36 caliber will work both for small game and whitetail. I would like your opinions and info on your experiences.

Thanks

GoodOlBoy

[Skinny Shooter]

With everything being perfect a 36cal could do it but for me I won't go less than a 50.
My Pennsylvania rifle is a 54 and the Bess is a 75.

[skeet]

Minimum of 45 for deer..50 is better..36 will kill 'em but not the best. I use a 50

[jplonghunter]

GOB

.36 was designed for squirrel,rabbit not for deer IMHO.

jplonghunter

[Adam Helmer]

GOB,

The question has already been answered for PA hunters; the minimum legal caliber is .44 for deer. A .36 caliber ball weighs about 70 grains and the T/C Max charge is listed in their booklet at 60 grains of BP.

The .36 may work in a pinch for deer, but a bigger caliber is fairer to the deer, IMHO.

Adam

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Minimum caliber requirement here in MI is .40 (where they came up with that, I don't know.....I don't think I've ever seen a .40 cal muzzleloader). I remember reading Sam Fadala's book on muzzleloading, and he said that the .32 & .36 calibers were good for things like turkey, coyotes, and javelina, but not deer, for the reasons Adam sited (ball weight, amount of powder).

I'm just curious as to where you might have read such a statement, and if they were refering to traditional muzzleloaders or possibly inlines? I have seen deer shot with pistol bullets from inlines, and all I can say is that I think this practice should be banned....huge gaping holes that were not fatal, and a long, drawn out tracking/trailing job. Muzzleloaders are supposed to be close range weapons....stretching the distance with pistol bullets isn't helping the 'sport' any.

[Joe Boleo]

I would use a .45 caliber in a pinch with a maxi-ball. My preference would be a .50 or a.54. Take care...
Joe

[skeet]

Originally Posted by Mr. 16 gauge

I have seen deer shot with pistol bullets from inlines, and all I can say is that I think this practice should be banned....huge gaping holes that were not fatal, and a long, drawn out tracking/trailing job. Muzzleloaders are supposed to be close range weapons....stretching the distance with pistol bullets isn't helping the 'sport' any.

Well I've shot a few(35-40) deer with pistol bullets with my muzzleloaders..mostly inlines. Never had a "gaping" hole or any such thing. Every one was a one shot kill. I had more problems in the past with maxiballs than any bullets. I did however use the heavier weights of pistol bullets. Found that most of the lightweights just didn't shoot well..didn't stabilize. If you find gasping holes in an animal it is probably indicative of a lightweight projectile shot at higher velocities at very close range. About the most velocity you can get in a muzzle loader would be 2400 ft per second. As far as muzzle loading being a close range "sport"?? What is close range?? The right projectile in the right caliber is easily good up to 200 yards. Now then..most hunters aren't good up to 200 yards....sad to say and as far as calibers..the originals used 36 for deer and bear...but there was a very good reason. First it was what they had..and the game wasn't being pursued like it is today..thirdly...those people knew how to track. My father in law was born in 1904 in West "By God" Virginia..shot his first deer in 1911 and he used of all things a 36 cal flinter. He used it until he left home at the age of almost 15 and got his first real job. He told me he helped keep the family in meat..from deer to rabbits and squirrels cause he was the youngest and father being dead his brothers were working. He also told me his first new rifle was a Savage 99 in 22 Hi Power and he killed many deer with it. In fact he used it to kill at least a couple of bears. He hunted at times for the logging camps he worked for.

[Larryjk]

My son and son-in-law both shoot in-line 50 caliber muzzle loaders. They are scoped and they use 250 gr. pistol bullets in sabots. They can sit down any time and hit the gongs at 300 yards. I watched my son shoot a coyote in the head (that is all we could see) at about 300 yards. Yes, there was a large gaping hole but it was where the right side of the coyotes head used to be. He wasn't sure he could hit him, but gave it a try.
I have to bear down to hit the 300 yard gong with a 8mm Rem mag.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Skeet;
The problem as I see it is two fold....1.) they are using pistol bullets that are designed to expand at a certain velocity & range and 2.) they are buying the hype that these are 200+ yard weapons. Those pistol bullets shed velocity quickly, and when they arrive at the target they don't perform as they were designed to, and don't penetrate into the vitals as they should. You might be able to ring gongs or punch paper with them all day long, but they aren't efficient deer killers at that range/velocity.

What is close range?? The right projectile in the right caliber is easily good up to 200 yards.

Close range is 100-125 yards......and while the 'right' projectile' and 'right caliber' are probable/possible, you forgot to add "in the right hands of a capable marksman", which there are damn few of where I hunt! I've seen too many mangled up does late season that limp about until the cars or coyotes get 'em because some jackass thinks his 'inline' can shoot 'just as far and hard as his 06" I don't care how many pellets you cram down the barrel....it can't and it WON'T!

[GoodOlBoy]

Keep in mind that I am a "marksman" and if I can't hit my mark I won't take the shot. I am only interested in shooting round ball I. A traditional flinter, not an online, etc. Most ranges around here (unless you hunt a pipeline or high line) are less than 75 yards, although I guess some might be shooting across a cow pasture as well. I was brought up a shotgunner, learned early to be a rifleman, and I am not interested in bp so that I can turn around and try to magnumize it, add a jacketed pistol bullet, etc. I want to cast my own round ball, shoot my own round ball, and bring home meat. I am also not a sport hunter and I dang sure don't subscribe to the spray and pray method of hunting.

Thanks for the info..

GoodOlBoy

[Larryjk]

Some of the problems with the in-line shooters is that they feel their in-line guns are better and---they are. There are also some in-line shooters that aren't any better shots with those than they would be with their whiz-bang 28-32 WSSSSM cartridge guns. They don't shoot enough of anything to be a good shot. But there are others who do shoot often and can hit what they shoot at and put the bullet in a vital spot.

[powell&hyde]

I have used a traditional smoke-pole front stuffer for just about 30 years in 50 cal during our mz season. Cast my own using a Lyman mold, brings me the deer home just about every year. Imo, I think 36cal would be to light on deer.

[skeet]

Mr 16..It doesn't matter what you may believe.... a good Encore and quite a few other inlines ARE 200 yard guns...and as I said in the previous post not all can hit a deer that far..And as Larry said..in the right hands even farther is more than possible. I personally use a 250 gr 45 cal Hornady XTP bullet in a MMP sabot in my 50 caliber inline. I do not use black powder or 777 ... I use snmokeless(5744) and I push the bullet to about 2400 ft per second(Actual chronoed speeds) and have NEVER had a bullet blow up on a deer..possibly inside but most have gone completely through. Longest kill was at 194 yds checked with my Leica rangefinder. It like most of them was a bang flop. Closest was at about 25 ft. Accuracy of the load is very good with under 2 inch groups as far as 150 yds. Never tested past that. A friend also shoots the exact same loads as I do and he has taken approx 80 deer so far..all one shot kills and as he told me an hour ago by phone never a blown up bullet and only 6 recovered bullets. His longest shot was a 230 yd shot which took four or five steps and fell over dead. He lives in Md and can take approx 18 deer with a firearm every year. He also does crop damage shooting...mostly with the Muzzleloader or a Contender in 357 Max. He is an excellent shot with both..in fact better than me. He has had a few groupd in a 1/2 inch with the muzzleloader..Not me..an inch is a good one for me..BTW the rifle is a Savage

[skeet]

GOB..even if you wait till they get inside 50 yds..using a roundball use at least a 45 cal. a 36 RB is not very heavy and will not be a good killer. I killed a few with a 45 RB in a TC Hawken..but found the 50 RB to be much better...MUCH. I also liked using a roundball but just gotta say..a maxi or minie or other bullets are certainly better killing projectiles