38wcf

[cwskirmisher]

I have acquired a very nice original Winchester 92 in 38-40. I have an accurate boolit load worked up and am getting about 1280fps average on a 180grain, and I have a desire to take it afield - but am worried it is not enough caliber for whitetail. Opinions?

[elk hunter]

One hundred years ago it was thought to be an excellent deer cartridge. Today is a different story, if you watch the TV hunters it takes at least a 300 Wonderbee Mangleum to kill a one hundred pound deer at one hundred yards. While it wouldn't be my first choice for a western open country Mule Deer hunt, I'm sure that with anywhere near proper shot placement it will take Whitetail very cleanly out to any reasonable range.

[jlchucker]

I grew up with more than one contemporary who used the family 38-40 to hunt whitetails, mostly in wooded areas. As I recall, a couple of them dragged out some fairly large deer. I agree with Elk Hunter. You're lucky to own that rifle, and I suspect you'll enjoy hunting with it. You don't need a cannon to kill whitetails.

[WARD O]

I like the 38-40 or the 38 WCF however you call it. I shoot a couple of '73's, a 92, and a Marlin 94 in that caliber and one of these days I will own a handgun in that caliber as well.

I am sure that if you want you should be able to up the velocity in that 92. My 73 loads are about on a par with yours but the 92 is a much stronger rifle. 180 grain boolits at 1600 fps or more can safely be reached in M92 Winchester rifles.

Even if you do not choose to up the load then you would still be able to cleanly take a white tail if you don't take careless shots. Your load sounds like it is pretty much on a par with the 357 mag pistol for energy. With a reasonable broadside shot I would expect complete penetration unless heavy bones are struck.

Either way, get the classic rifle out and use it!!! I think it's lots of fun to hunt with the old originals.

Ward

[Charley]

I've taken two whitetails with a '92 Winchester and a bullet from a Lyman 401043 over a casefull of FFFg BP. Both hit high lung cavity, both deer traveled about 20 feet. Dead is dead.

[WARD O]

Awww..... come on now - doesn't anyone else really like the 38-40? Can't someone say something about this classic 135year old cartridge?

Ward

[JSnover]

It's a respectable defensive cartridge, too. If you could do it with a .357 there's no reason you can't do it with a 38wcf.