Deer hunting with an original 1873 44-40

[rodwha]

Like stated in previous posts above, I am very partial to lung shots, due to being a die hard bowhunter of 30+ years. I have shot the hear out of a deer, and had them run 250 yds on adrenaline. Never had a deer make it over 60 yds, with a lung shot. I dont like to mess meat up either. Either one will do the job, but I would take a lung shot behind the shoulder.

I don’t see how this stands up to reason though. A deer without a functioning heart cannot push oxygen through to the brain, whereas a lung shot just reduces the amount of oxygen they can receive, and I can tell you as one who has twice had a lung spontaneously deflate that my oxygen levels, though unique, were still in the 98% range, and had everyone doubting a deflated lung as I could easily walk and talk, most can’t do either. So how would a deer with even just 30% do vs one getting nothing because the heart can’t work properly? I think your results were circumstantial.

[Joe C]

Hi folks .
First off I would like to thank everyone for their replies
Secondly , I would like to apologize for taking so long to get back to this thread. I haven't had much of a chance in the last week to get access to a computer

One reason for asking this question , was that I wasn't sure what kind of results I would get from this bullet .
It has a flat on the nose , but it is nowhere near the size of some of the wfn bullets I have .
Even at a 30-1 alloy I was not sure if it would expand at all on a double lung shot, and maybe just "pencil thru" the lungs without doing the type of
damage I would like to see.
I have shot quite a few deer over the last 50+ years and the lung shots worked well, but I was mostly using a high velocity round with expanding bullets.

I know that a double lung shot will kill the deer , but without knowing how much , if any, expansion I might get with this 30-1 slug I was concerned about how far a deer might run after being hit with this round.

again ,Thanks for all the responses

Joe

[Joe C]

Hi All

Just thought I would update this post .
I did manage to get a deer with the 44-40 last day of the season .
It was a small doe, but on the last day you can't be too fussy .
I didn't just want a deer , I wanted a deer with this particular 44-40 .
Like I mentioned the the original post, it was made in 1884 , and it would be real interesting to know how long it has been since it was hunted with .

As it turns out I did not hit it in either the shoulder ,or make a good lung shot on it .
The shot was only about 60-70 yds or so .
I didn't exactly have a "text book " shot at it, and either between me pulling it a bit ,or hitting some brush on the way to the deer the bullet ended up going through the liver .

The deer ran maybe 100 to no more than 150 yds and dropped.
It did leave a pretty good blood trail in the snow .

The liver wasn't destroyed , like it would have been with a high velocity round , and you could probably have salvaged some of it .

I was happy with the outcome , the old 44-40 with black power and lead bullet did its job, I doubt the deer actually ran for more than 10-20 seconds before dropping .

I don't know how long it has been since this rifle has harvested a deer , I believe it has probably been a " safe queen " for quite a while , but it will be back out again
this next deer season to try for Buck this time .

thanks

Joe

[versa-06]

Congrats on the deer! Glad you had a good result with gun, boolit & deer. As I said earlier (Post#4) we don't always get the shot we want, but we're thankful for the one we get. Now don't quit hunt'n take that fine instrument & create some coyote funerals.

[ChristopherO]

Very much appreciate the follow up report. And congratulations on the deer. Keeps this game engaging, doesn't it?

[pls1911]

Late to this thread, and congratulations on the deer.
The last thing most of us needs is another caliber.... I spent the last few years narrowing my component inventory.

Through unfortunate circumstances, in the collection bought as a favor to an old Marine friends wife, I should have a nice shooting 44/40 Uberti yellow boy, along with at least two new Colt SSAs (44/40 and 38/40).
I know the stash of brass, bullets, and dies (and likely molds etc too) is extensive (same for 38/40).
So, assuming I have the opportunity, next year's hunting will be 45/70, 44/40, and 45 Colt.. and of course 30/30.
All will get a workout on pigs and Hill Country rocks before then,

[M-Tecs]

I don’t see how this stands up to reason though. A deer without a functioning heart cannot push oxygen through to the brain, whereas a lung shot just reduces the amount of oxygen they can receive, and I can tell you as one who has twice had a lung spontaneously deflate that my oxygen levels, though unique, were still in the 98% range, and had everyone doubting a deflated lung as I could easily walk and talk, most can’t do either. So how would a deer with even just 30% do vs one getting nothing because the heart can’t work properly? I think your results were circumstantial.

Not going to try to explain the how's or why's since I fully admit I don't the why. I do know that I have heart shot deer and antelope that have gone way further than I would have believed possible with the heart destroyed. Back in the 70's when I started deer hunting I used a 30-06 with 150 grain soft points. After maybe 1/2 dozen animals that went between 250 and 500 yards missing there heart I went with shoulder or lungs shots. In maybe 175 shoulder or lung shots I don't every remember one making it a hundred yards with the exception of a couple of times I used bullets designed for much heavier game. They acted as FMJ's and I got very lucky I didn't lose them.