First cast deer (pic)

[Grendel99]

Got my very first cast bullet kill this past Tuesday, a nice fat doe! It's also my first big game with a revolver, I was using a Super Blackhawk Hunter in .44 Mag. Using the Lyman 429421 Keith SWC, cast of wheel weights with a little tin, Lyman Super Moly, sized to .430". The load was 20grs of 2400 and a Winchester large pistol primer and velocity was just over 1300 fps. Accuracy was less than 2 inch groups at 50 yards. I was in a ground blind next to a really tiny stream that runs through an oak flat and I also managed to put in a very small food plot. This doe and yearling came in just after 7pm and gave me a perfect broadside shot at 30 yards. At the shot, the big doe took off like nothing happened and I was a little worried, but then I heard a crash. I went over to where she was standing and there was no blood at all and hardly any blood trail. I kept walking to where I heard the crash and found her stone dead with a double lung shot not 30 yards from where she was standing at the shot. I was very surprised at how little a blood trail there was. There was no blood at all for the first 20 feet and then just little globs of blood the rest of the way. The picture shows how she was found and the exit wound and gun used. I thought I remembered reading on here that with these types of bullets, there is usually a decent blood trail? Minus the blood trail issue, I was VERY happy with bullet performance. I will try the Lyman Devastator hollow point sometime this season hopefully and see how that does.

http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy182/Albatross926/photobucket-3306-1379626159459_zpsf44d9d4e.jpg (http://s790.photobucket.com/user/Albatross926/media/photobucket-3306-1379626159459_zpsf44d9d4e.jpg.html)

[nickE10mm]

Thanks for posting. I'll hopefully be taking my first cast, first revolver and first .44 deer this season. I have a SBH Bisley nearly just like yours. Can't wait!

Looks a little low for a double Lung. Looks like a heart shot almost. Hmm

Good shot!!

[aspangler]

Nice! That's some gud eatin'.

[waksupi]

Atta boy! Considering 30 yard is pretty much as far as they go, is a huge blood trail a real issue? I'll bet there was still a blood trail present from the point of impact.

[292]

Congrats! I hope to duplicate your success later this Fall.

[Djones]

Congratulations. All of your work pays off, good job!

[btroj]

Well done

[largom]

Not always a big blood trail. When you opened her up I bet the cavity was full of blood.

Larry

[missionary5155]

Good morning and Congradulations !
That is the way to start a fun journey with lead.
My first cartridge corn cruncher was with a revolver pushing lead also. Happinees only increases.
Mike in Peru

[M Hicks]

Very nice work. You should be gratified with your work.

[randy_68]

That is awesome! I have never shot a deer with a handgun or cast but hope to this fall. I recently aquired two lever actions and took up casting bullets.I also have been looking at the Super Blackhawk Hunter and I just handled one at my LGS. I like it. The wheel is turning!

[Browningshooter]

Congrats! Nice job. I'm hoping to take a couple this year with a lee c309-170-f out of my marlin 30-30 this year. :castmine:
- Will

[NVScouter]

Congrats! Another hooked handgun hunter

[Grendel99]

Well I got another one this morning in the same spot! So now I have two revolver and cast bullet deer in one week! Saw a small 4 point at first light and three hours later without seeing anything I was about to leave but decided to wait 15 minutes. I'm glad I did, as this medium sized doe came right into the little food plot. Same gun and load and almost identical reaction and run as the first one. This doe definitely hunched up at the shot and was found dead within 10 feet of where the first one was. However, hardly any blood trail again. Yes, both does chest cavities were filled with blood. I thought I might of clipped the heart of the first one, but it was completely intact while I was skinning it. I've been handgun hunting for 3 years now and absolutely love it. Hardly ever use a rifle though I still like them too. Usually use a T/C Encore with jacketed but really wanted to get one (or two :)) with the SBHH and cast. waksupi, I looked and looked and looked for blood on both deer and there was not a single drop at the impact site or for the first 10+ ft. I literally got on my hands and knees and looked. I'm usually very good at finding blood and have great vision (I'm only 28). Yes, it didn't really matter in this case because I heard where they went down and it wasn't too thick. However, anywhere else on my property and it would have been interesting. Btw that's the entrance wound. With the size of the entrance and especially exit wounds, it's baffling why there wasn't a huge blood trail. Can't complain though, have two deer in the freezer in one week. randy_68, I really like the Super Blackhawk Hunter, it handles well and has been very accurate with several loads and especially my hunting load.

http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/yy182/Albatross926/photobucket-3413-1379690611113_zps1a956502.jpg (http://s790.photobucket.com/user/Albatross926/media/photobucket-3413-1379690611113_zps1a956502.jpg.html)

[nickE10mm]

WHOA! TWO IN ONE WEEK!!! Great work (although, admittedly, not true "work" :P )

[Grendel99]

Come say that after you help me drag these deer out! :)

[nickE10mm]

Come say that after you help me drag these deer out! :)

Hehe .... touche....

I hunt in the Ozark mountains of SW Missouri and I KNOW what a tough drag is.... so, I understand ya. But somehow, its ALL worth it. ;)

[Lefty SRH]

Congrats, I hoping to get one with my cast this year. It will be with a SBH Bisley Hunter in .44 mAg or .45 colt. I also have 2 SRH in 44 and 480 I want to try with.

[missionary5155]

Howdy and Congradulations again !
How wide is the nose on your boolit ? Is it possible both your shots exited between ribs ?
The mix I use with my actual hunting load GC boolit (revolver) is 50-50 (WW-pure) up to 1250 fps. At about that velocity I run 75-25% (WW-Pure). So far have had ping pong ball exits with lots of leakage. Not worried about leadding as never had to pop the target more than once.
But in the end.. what you have works ! Blaze away. You are doing good community service !
Mike in Peru

[BK7saum]

I know that when you catch the back edge of the shoulder there are more layers to plug the hole and a void space to fill as well.

[300savage]

the chest cavity would need to fill with blood first before it leaks out. with a ground blind it takes a bit longer than if you were elevated so the exit could be lower on the body. but no worries,with shooting like that they just expired before that could happen.when you can hear them crash, and about see them from the spot they were standing at the shot is as good as it gets.
congrats.

[another gunslinger]

Hehe .... touche....

I hunt in the Ozark mountains of SW Missouri and I KNOW what a tough drag is.... so, I understand ya. But somehow, its ALL worth it. ;) I'm at the other side of the MO Ozarks, but I'm glad to see another 10mm fan here in the hills! As far as the work goes, I'm told the work starts as soon as you pull the trigger.

[Grendel99]

Mike in Peru, I'm not sure what the meplat is on the Keith SWC (Lyman 429421) in .44 cal. I'm sure some of our more experienced casters know it off the top of their head. Lefty SRH, you have quite a few good revolvers to choose from! I wouldn't mind a .480 Ruger Encore barrel and a .41 Mag Blackhawk one day!

I didn't think about the bullet path compared to a tree stand shot. I imagine the deer would bleed out a lot faster with an exit wound much lower on the body.

[pmer]

Those shots look great. This fall I'm hoping to do likewise with a Redhawk 45 Colt. It has a 2 power scope and is shooting Cast Performance 300 grain LFN lights out with 18.0/2400. They are as hard as rock but should work fine if I do my part.

One year I had one run over a 100 yards without damage to its heart or lungs, with a exit hole over the right jugular at the base of neck (down Low). Not much blood on the ground but its cavity was full of blood. No dragging that one because I was able to drive the tractor with the loader bucket right up to him!

[richhodg66]

Great job! Does the deer season down there in the low country still begin August 15th? I used to wonder why they ever bothered to close the season.

[Grendel99]

Yeah, in most game zones the season opens August 15th. It's buck only until September 15th, then it's either sex in my game zone. It's the longest deer season in the country! Some of the other game zones toward the north west part of the state open a little later though.

pmer, you should have no issues with that load I bet. I used to have a 2X scope on this gun but didn't like it at all. It now wears a Simmons 2x-6x and I really like it. The 2X did nothing but have a crosshair for aiming. It doesn't even look like it magnifies! Some people really like them though and don't want a bunch of magnification. I usually have my scope on 4 power when hunting. It's amazing how far deer will run sometimes without a heart, lungs, or blood.

[Lead Fred]

See flat or round nose, dead is dead

[44man]

Yeah, the SBHH is a fantastic revolver. I do prefer the plain Jane Ultra Dot to a scope, I wiggle too much.
I never used a Keith but I have shot many deer with the Lee 310 and 320 LBT and had huge blood trails. I made a 330 gr WLN and it also works. I don't know if the boolit weight helps or not. Sounds like your load is fine.
Anyway great job, you will soon forget rifles. I don't even want to use my ML's anymore.
The front shoulders are very good for BBQ pulled meat or a roast. I like to smoke them a little first.
I bone my deer and if you take a roast, cut into nice steaks, coat heavy with seasoning like Emeril's, toss into a blazing hot cast iron skillet with a little oil, 4 min a side, you will be in Heaven.
It spatters so I do it on the side burner of my grill.

[OnHoPr]

Fine shootin there for the vittles. I have shot deer in the same general area with the 44 and have not seen blood either on snow, but for a couple of pepper sprinkles later in their run. I thought possibly that the lungs could have been collapsed quicker and resting in the bottom of the chest cavity for the 100 yard run after the shot. Basically, in essence there wouldn't be anything near the entrance or exit holes but the actual ribs wounds to bleed from and the hair soaking up the blood from them.

[nickE10mm]

I'm at the other side of the MO Ozarks, but I'm glad to see another 10mm fan here in the hills! As far as the work goes, I'm told the work starts as soon as you pull the trigger.

Yep, you're right! :) And yes, I'm a big 10mm fan, too ... I've taken three deer now with a 10mm in one form or another. Hoping to snag one with the SBH .44 this season (in addition to poking one with an arrow).

Be safe, hunt hard!
Nick

[Grendel99]

44man, I'll have to try the steaks that way! I know you were using a different bullet, what were you shooting from a tree stand or on level ground? I wonder how the position of the exit wound effects the trail?

[HiVelocity]

Nice start to filling the freezer. Mmmmm, cube steak with mushrooms, yummm.

HV

BTW- I'm in Columbia.

[RugerFan]

Very nice! My son has the same pistol. That's a fine sidearm.

[sixshot]

I've used that exact same bullet on many deer & also 4 elk, sometimes fat or lung tissue can plug the hole for a short distance, its never the same. But, a deer can cover a lot of ground in 3-4 seconds, heck I've had back surgery & I can be hard to track!
I've also seen some odd reactions back in my rifle days, you just never know whats going to happen. Just remember, with a sixgun its really exciting no matter if its a doe, a buck or a bull, great job.

Dick

[Wolfer]

Most of my deer hunting is done with a Ruger new Vaq in 45 colt. I started with the lee 452-255RF but the several deer I shot acted just like yours. Skimpy blood trail but not very long. Bought a Lyman 452-424 and results were a little better on the blood trail but the end result about the same. Sent it off to Eric and had one cavity made into a hybrid cup point. Definitely get bigger exit holes and a usable blood trail that's about 30 to 50 yds long.
I've come to the conclusion if you hit em right it doesn't much matter what you hit em with. However when I go deer hunting the gun is loaded with the HP.
I'm running about 1050 fps. Faster than this and HPs can get pretty destructive.

[sixshot]

This is a large cow elk I whacked a few years ago with an old 3 screw Ruger 45 with 7 1/2" barrel. My load was 23 grs of H110 & the 260 gr Keith slug, the shot was on the long side but because of the white background I could see her as if she was sitting in my lap. You'll notice there is quite a bit of blood, she covered maybe 30 yds.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k3/6shot_01/6shot_01004/100_1054_zpse9a466a8.jpg (http://s84.photobucket.com/user/6shot_01/media/6shot_01004/100_1054_zpse9a466a8.jpg.html)

Dick

[Bo1]

That is what I'm talking about sixshot....
I'm gonna bring my 45LC, and my 44Mag next year on my Elk hunt...
Thanks for sharing,
Bo

[**oneshot**]

Awesome!!! Great shooting, good eating!