45-70 vs Pumpkin... i lost

[Al_Bundy]

Guys... i think i want to return my Marlin. I lost to a pumpkin....

I have video but its not worth the time, i'll try to explain. Filled up an 8 pounder with water filled maybe 80-90% to the top (ran out of water). Shot a 405gr FP PC cast boolit and expected it to blow into chunks except it just shot through like if there was no water. 2nd shot took out a quarter of the pumpkin. I have two ideas what could've went wrong. One, shot too high where there was no water. Two, it's because im using 14gr of unique and its just too damn slow at that velocity.

I'd like to see what 50gr of varget would do with this bullet but im afraid it'll need a gas check if i push it too hard using that powder. Wondering if i'll have the same results with a watermelon using this soft load. FeelsBadMan

[buckshotshoey]

Try a hollow point if you are looking for orange splash. You are expecting something a flat point probably won't deliver. Better yet, fill the pumpkin with tannerite! That ought to do it.

[Wayne Smith]

Buckshotshoey has it. FP's are known for penetration - not expansion. You got penetration! I'm not sure even my Gould HP would do it - HP is pretty small.

[Walter Laich]

Pumpkin lives matter!!!

[Beagle333]

You need a big ol honkin' HP! But I've never shot a pumpkin, so I don't even know if these would do it.

[Mr_Sheesh]

Are Velets or the like made in 45-70? LOL

[BCB]

Maybe the water was able to expand enough to absorb the energy of the boolit?...

The pressure was not confined into a smaller area as the interior of the pumpkin might be pretty big?...

I’ve shot 12-ounce cans filled with water with just the tab open and they explode pretty amazing. I’ve also shot cans with the complete top removed and they did deform and split somewhat, but not like the can where the water was more confined…

Might be what happened with your pumpkin?...

Good-luck…BCB

[Al_Bundy]

I expected there to be an avid demolitions expert in produce in this forum. It could be the water was absorbed by the pumpkins insides which is why my my bullet when hit high just passed through. Does the velocity not matter much or does the force of this bullet even at 1000fps good enough?

[Al_Bundy]

Try a hollow point if you are looking for orange splash. You are expecting something a flat point probably won't deliver. Better yet, fill the pumpkin with tannerite! That ought to do it.

That's illegal in .CA :/

[Victor N TN]

Our youngest daughter is a school teacher. After she gets wound up, (she works at an inner city school in areas where gangs run Loose) she likes to fill up 2 liter bottles of water and cap them off tight and back up20 to 30 feet and unleash Mr. 12 Gauge at them. After emptying a box of shot shells she generally feels more human. I don't remember her ever cutting loose at pumpkins though...

[Bohica793]

Pumpkin lives matter!!!

No they don't......

[Uncle Jimbo]

Well Al-Bundy, if the pain of losing to a pumpkin is too much to bear and the gun brings back bad memories, I will take the gun off your hands. Just let me know.

[murf205]

Al, try a 150 gr flat point designed for a 30-30 in a 30 cal magnum at about 3300fps if you are really in the pumpkin eradication business . If you are close, don't forget to wear a raincoat!

[buckshotshoey]

That's illegal in .CA :/

Yea? Tell me something that ISNT illegal in California. You gave no indication you were in the land of the oppressed.

[CastingFool]

I once took a shot at a capped milk jug full of water with my 308 Win loaded with 130 gr hornady spire points at 3000 fps (published fps) The water flew up about 20 ft up, jug was completely split, and I found the cap 3 days later, about 50 ft away. it was awesome.

[Walkingwolf]

Pumpkin lives matter...

[WILCO]

Great looking boolits!

[blackthorn]

Years ago we found a two and a half gallon, metal pail of grease in an old logging show. My friend leaned his trail bike against a stump and set the pail of grease on a stump about twenty feet away. He then got well back and shot the pail with his '06. Took him weeks to get the bike clean again and he still has not lived that down. On this pumpkin thing, I suspect there was not enough tight containment to build enough pressure within the pumpkin to cause it to explode as anticipated.

[crackers]

"After emptying a box of shot shells she generally feels more human."
I don't think the water has an effect, I see it as a 12ga massage.

[whisler]

I can tell you from experience that tannerite inside a pumpkin will send small chunks in many directions.