Close Range With My .44 C&B 12" Buffalo For Deer

[trapper44shooter]

Fellas I am wanting to know if my .44 C&B Revolver For close range during regular Rifle Season Here in VA. My load of 25 Grain Of Triple 7 shoots very well it would kill a deer at 25 yards or maybe a TAD i DO NOT want to just wound a deer & IT GOES OFF & DIES I COULDN'T SLEEP IF THAT WERE TO TAKE PLACE what do any of my fellow cap & ball shooters think let me know :|

[Edward]

I have a lot more faith in my stik bow/cedar shaft than my C+B at 25yds /just my opinion/Ed

[RoyEllis]

Only muzzleloading firearms .45 caliber or larger loaded (propellant and projectile) from the muzzle of the gun.
Muzzleloading firearms must be single shot, capable of firing only a single bullet or saboted bullet (.35 caliber or larger).
Flintlock, percussion, or electronic ignitions are permitted.
Muzzleloading pistols which meet the three restrictions listed above are legal

Copied from Va hunting regs......C&B revolvers aren't legal for deer there.

[Ozark mike]

Only muzzleloading firearms .45 caliber or larger loaded (propellant and projectile) from the muzzle of the gun.
Muzzleloading firearms must be single shot, capable of firing only a single bullet or saboted bullet (.35 caliber or larger).
Flintlock, percussion, or electronic ignitions are permitted.
Muzzleloading pistols which meet the three restrictions listed above are legal

Copied from Va hunting regs......C&B revolvers aren't legal for deer there.

I havent looked at the regs but he should be good because he wants to use it in rifle season not muzzleloader season

Ya should be fine as long as yours is accurate. Those 44s probably took more deer than the 44 mag cartridge dont underestimate that soft round ball it'll turn critters inside out especially if ya load it up a lil hotter

[winelover]

They will work , as long as, you do your part. Must use a conical in Arkansas.

267120

ROA loaded with Pyrodex "P", Lee 220 conical, Oxyoke lube cookie. Bang flop at 15 yards.

Winelover

[Wayne Smith]

I havent looked at the regs but he should be good because he wants to use it in rifle season not muzzleloader season

Ya should be fine as long as yours is accurate. Those 44s probably took more deer than the 44 mag cartridge dont underestimate that soft round ball it'll turn critters inside out especially if ya load it up a lil hotter

Nope, those are the general rules for legal shooting. He can use it for turkey, not deer or bear in Virginia.

[Texas by God]

Close range and precise bullet placement will work. I've never used a cap&ball revolver but I've killed a doe at 25 yards with a .44 Kentucky pistol and a large 8 point buck at 44feet with my .54 Plains pistol. Both dropped right there.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Nobade]

The Kerr bullets from erasgone molds make a 44 c&b revolver considerably more effective compared to a ball. Basically a caseless 44 russian.

[koger]

I have found, that using the lee 220 gr conical, my Ruger old Army, is a lot more potent in the real world, than on paper. I have taken several deer, all under 30 yds, and had great results. I load about 35 gr of 3FFFg real black powder, with felt wad underneath the conical. The gun will shoot the whole cylinder in a 1" group at 25yds when I do my part. The first deer I shot, was a big doe, I shot her in the lungs, 30 yds, she turned and took 2 steps uphill and could go no farther. I didnt want her to suffer, so I put the second slug in her spine between the shoulders looking down out of my treestand. Bang, flop, bullet went thru the spine, out the chest, and into the ground. Another one was a gut shot doe my wife had shot, and we trailed her around in a briar thicket about 4 acrres. The wife climbed up on a blown down tree, and said she is front of you about 10 steps. I threw a rock over, and she jumped up, and I put a conical between eye and ear, she lost her mind. I have taken a small buck thru both shoulders with the same load, he ran about 30yds and flopped over. Just a few examples of my results with a cap and ball revolver.

[444ttd]

I havent looked at the regs but he should be good because he wants to use it in rifle season not muzzleloader season

Ya should be fine as long as yours is accurate. Those 44s probably took more deer than the 44 mag cartridge dont underestimate that soft round ball it'll turn critters inside out especially if ya load it up a lil hotter

when in doubt ..............

https://dwr.virginia.gov/contact/

[Castaway]

The “44” on the cap and ball refers to the bore diameter of the barrel. Actual ball size is 0.452” to 0.457”, that makes it a 45 in today’s nomenclature

[Nobade]

The “44” on the cap and ball refers to the bore diameter of the barrel. Actual ball size is 0.452” to 0.457”, that makes it a 45 in today’s nomenclatureWell, yeah...
The deer don't care. They still fall down dead.

[megasupermagnum]

Even with that long barrel, I doubt you are much over 700 fps. A 140 grain ball at 750ish fps isn't much. About a 38 special wadcutter target load. It will perforate lungs for sure, but I doubt the wound would be impressive.

[Edward]

And according to the regs it is not legal so it doesn"t matter ,shoot em with the 06 /same difference

[Ozark mike]

Get ya a lyman plains rifle if ya like muzzleloaders wont regret it for dear and elk season

[dverna]

A deceased buddy of mine told me about killing a good sized deer at 100 yards with one shot from a .22LR when he was a 12 YO kid. (Back then, poaching was common place to put meat on the table.) The deer dropped instantly. He was a good hunter and had trophies from across NA including a grizzly.

I admit to not understanding the killing effectiveness of bullets or boolits. One animal will drop instantly and another shot in the same place will run 50 or more yards. Interesting. My point is you can kill almost anything with anything. A marksman can place a shot better than the average guy. Field conditions differ from range conditions. Too many variables. The only "sure" instant kill is one that impacts the CNS but that is not an easy shot. That is why I believe in "enough gun". I would use a .22 LR if I had to feed my family but I have better options.

I made a good shot with a .308 on a 150 lb doe last year and it ran 70 yards uphill before buckling up. Thankfully, we had snow and it was easy to track. But there are areas here where the swamp is so thick it would be near impossible to find a wounded deer. Especially late in the day when the light is fading.

BTW that happened a couple of years ago. Two guys wounded a deer late in the day and followed the blood trail into the swamp. Lost the blood trail and got lost. It took them three hours to find their way out and we had vehicles on the road blowing horns to get them pointed in the right direction. One had sunk up to his chest in the swamp and thought he was going to die there. Luckily his buddy pulled him out. They decided not to try to find the wounded deer the next morning. The cidiot who had thought he was going to get sucked into the swamp packed up and went home.

If you have a better option, use it. If you want "bragging rights", or want the challenge, use the C&B and pick your shot. Make sure the gun is legal. Good luck.

[Tripplebeards]

I have used a 100 grains of triple seven Pellets out of my ML rifles along with a 265 grain saboted hornady .430 cal bullet with authority. A 25 grain load out of a pistol sure sounds like an extremely weak plinking round or squirrel and rabbit load. If it were legal imo it still wouldn’t be lethal.

[444ttd]

i use a 44 spl( ruger sbh in 4 5/8" barrel) and 255gr keith type boolit with a skeeter load(7.5gr of unique) and i think its going around 800fps(i never used my chrony). i have killed 4 or 5 deer with out 50 yards. 20-25 yards is average. the deer don't complain either.

[onelight]

71/2 grains of unique with a 255 Keith bullet should be 900 FPS + in most revolvers .
Much more powerful than 140 grain rb over 25 grains of Triple 7. The triple seven load is in the 38 special power range , with less penetration .

[Ozark mike]

71/2 grains of unique with a 255 Keith bullet should be 900 FPS + in most revolvers .
Much more powerful than 140 grain rb over 25 grains of Triple 7. The triple seven load is in the 38 special power range , with less penetration .

Do not put unique in a cap&ball gun this is bad advice

[Geezer in NH]

In NH in the regular season he is A OK. Restrictions are no 22rf, no smaller then 00 buck. Stupid OK as the 17 hmr is okeydokey legal for deer [from the legal dept. of NH F&G]. In ML season single shot rifle, smoothbore, Pistol. One may have a SS longun and a SS pistol together. Only exemption in ML season.

No ever said the F&G guys are smart.

[onelight]

Do not put unique in a cap&ball gun this is bad advice
That was not advice , sorry I should have been more clear. I would never recommend smokeless powder for cap and ball Revolvers

[Static line]

Fellas I am wanting to know if my .44 C&B Revolver For close range during regular Rifle Season Here in VA. My load of 25 Grain Of Triple 7 shoots very well it would kill a deer at 25 yards or maybe a TAD i DO NOT want to just wound a deer & IT GOES OFF & DIES I COULDN'T SLEEP IF THAT WERE TO TAKE PLACE what do any of my fellow cap & ball shooters think let me know :|

Some game hunting laws are down right stupid, no doubt and even go as far as allowing sub par equipment to hunt with. My opinion,if you are going to have a guilt trip for the rest of your life because a deer went off wounded and died a very slow and painful death,because you will,then I would pick a better choice for humanely taking a deer and use you cap and ball pistol for plinking instead. Why take a chance ?
I once had a 270 Winchester that I took bear hunting,because I thought the 270 Winchester was the best thing going and Jack O'Conner was my hero. Well I had a bear come to bait,a big bear,and the first shot was like a bee sting so he ran off after flipping,then I shot and he rolled and got up and ran so out of desperation,I took a running shot because I was afraid he was going to run off and not be found. I shot,he rolled and off he went and we never did find him even after searching for three days. That searched stopped when I slipped and broke my hand. That was back in the early 80's but to this day,that one incident has hunted me ever since. Bad shot,poor ammo choice,poor caliber,I don't know,but I sold that 270 and never bought another one. Just not worth going through something like that again,just because somebody says something will be ok to hunt with or you read that well known hunter has used one all the time.It's your choice and you will have to live with it.Do your best and have fun and enjoy that part of hunting we love and not the part of hunting we hate.

[quilbilly]

I have been hunting with my 45 ML rifle and PRB for 30+ years. My general rule has been the longest range that round ball will still be going 900 fps on impact. I have had more than one deer do a somersault after being hit with a 445 round ball going a leisurely 900 fps. Few have gone more than a few steps. The round ball is an amazing projectile punching far beyond its 132 gr weight which conventional wisdom would say I would be better off throwing rocks.

[Static line]

I have been hunting with my 45 ML rifle and PRB for 30+ years. My general rule has been the longest range that round ball will still be going 900 fps on impact. I have had more than one deer do a somersault after being hit with a 445 round ball going a leisurely 900 fps. Few have gone more than a few steps. The round ball is an amazing projectile punching far beyond its 132 gr weight which conventional wisdom would say I would be better off throwing rocks.
Ya,but the OP is talking about hunting deer with a C&B revolver. We know what a muzzle loader can do.

[Ozark mike]

Ya,but the OP is talking about hunting deer with a C&B revolver. We know what a muzzle loader can do.

I have no problems with taking a deer with my 58 remmie. Ya should look at the accounts of people who had to fight grizz with em when they showed up out west. Deer are powder puff in comparison

[Static line]

I have no problems with taking a deer with my 58 remmie. Ya should look at the accounts of people who had to fight grizz with em when they showed up out west. Deer are powder puff in comparison
Gee wizz,why do you call me on this? Some of the stories you hear about the old west is purely speculation or hear say. I wasn't there so I can't really say, but maybe you know something about time travel that I don't. I just told the OP that if he is uncomfortable about wounding a deer and having it get away, then he needs to choose a better tool for the job. I don't care what you do. You do what you want.They say Davy Crockett kilt a Bear with just his knife. Can you verify that too?

[Ozark mike]

I wasnt calling or telling anybody what to do and i dont think id go looking for bear with a black powder weapon. But i know people who go with bows and arrows and i trust my 44s over a bow for the job. Not looking for a fight just an observation

[carolina sorillo]

Personally, I wouldn't do it. But if I had to have the experience of killing a deer with a cap-n-ball revolver I'd use a Ruger Old Army. It'll handle a heavier load than the reproductions will.

CS

[megasupermagnum]

Personally, I wouldn't do it. But if I had to have the experience of killing a deer with a cap-n-ball revolver I'd use a Ruger Old Army. It'll handle a heavier load than the reproductions will.

CS

I can only get 35 grains in my ROA. Most reproductions should be able to fit that. If I were to deer hunt with a cap and ball, I would be looking at a Walker, and I would be shooting 60 grains of powder.

[winelover]

If you use Pyrodex "P" you could increase that 35 grains by at least ten percent.

Winelover

[onelight]

If you use Pyrodex "P" you could increase that 35 grains by at least ten percent.

Winelover
Yup my Ruger would accept 40 grains Of pyrodex p by volume under a round ball and 35 under the Lee bullet.

[carolina sorillo]

I can only get 35 grains in my ROA. Most reproductions should be able to fit that. If I were to deer hunt with a cap and ball, I would be looking at a Walker, and I would be shooting 60 grains of powder.

HAHA, that's funny. I actually had Walker typed in there and deleted it because I remembered the ROA was a strong gun. I almost left both in there but decided to delete the Walker. I really wasn't sure if the Walkers were as strong as the ROA but I knew they hold a buttload of powder.

CS

[carolina sorillo]

I throw up in my mouth just a little every time I hear someone suggesting Pyrodex!! If you want to destroy a gun sure use it. Yes, it will do most anything you need a BP sub to do. However, it will also flash rust a gun faster than any other powder. I made the mistake of using that crap when I was shooting BP in SASS. By the time I got home from a match, maybe 2hrs after last shot was fired, my guns all had flash rust in and on them. When I switched to Goex 2Fg all that ended. I actually shot a match, put the guns away, shot a match the next month, put the guns away and made it half way through a third match a month later without cleaning. Half way through that third match the revolvers started to bind a little. I gave them a shot of Ballistol and finished the match without a hitch. After that match I cleaned them all and there was no sign of rust, fouling, pitting, nothing! It's true some of the old guns suffered from rust and pitting but it was NOT from the BP. It was from the Mercury in the old primers. Then here comes Pyrodex, "Saving the day" for ML hunters. They go shoot a few times, go home half a$$ clean their guns load'em up for hunting then shoot them after ML season half a$$ clean'em again and put them away. Next season comes, they drag the ol' sewer pipe out and cram a ball in it and blame it on "BP".

The last pound of Pyrodex I had, I poured on my lawn hoping it would at least make a decent fertilizer!!

CS

OK, I'm done, back to the topic.

[megasupermagnum]

Yeah, Pyrodex is not a good powder. It has one thing going for it, it is available in most areas. Outside of that, it is a downgrade. I believe in black powder, but if you really wanted to get more speed from say the Ruger old army, 777 is the way to go. The ROA is far more stout than any other cap and ball out there. I always found it strange they fit so little powder. Boy, can you imagine a ROA built on the 357 maximum frame, and held 60+ grains of powder?

Anyway, back to hunting. It seems 25 gr FFFg might even be slower than I predicted. I'm seeing some sources stating 650 fps. I've only used FFg in mine, and at 35 grains I seem to remember 850 fps. By comparison, I'm seeing 35gr 777 reportedly turning in close to 1000 fps. Some are even loading up to 45 grain, which I'm not sure how they are fitting it. Maybe they had their cylinder deepened? I have shot 40 grains FFg, but it seemed like it took more force on the loading lever than it should. At 1000 fps, I would feel ok about deer hunting with it.

[Castaway]

It isn’t the mercury in the primers but potassium chlorite that accelerates rusting. Mercury is hard on brass though. In my opinion, the only advantage pyrodex has over original powder is it can be bought off of the shelf. Black lights easier, more consistent and cleans up easily.

[winelover]

Not getting into a pi$$ing contest over the use of Pyrodex versus black. Use what you want and believe what you want. I purchased exactly one pound of black and never finished it. Couldn't even give it away. I don't store explosives in my house, period.

Been using Pyrodex over thirty years. Haven't ruined any of my firearms...............because I clean them properly, as soon as I'm done shooting them. My Renegade is still loaded with Pyrodex "P" from last October and is no worst for wear. I am confident that it will go bang when I next pull the trigger. I have went as long as a couple of years, following this procedure.

Use the black if you want but don't complain when you run out of room for more FPS.

Winelover

[Ozark mike]

HAHA, that's funny. I actually had Walker typed in there and deleted it because I remembered the ROA was a strong gun. I almost left both in there but decided to delete the Walker. I really wasn't sure if the Walkers were as strong as the ROA but I knew they hold a buttload of powder.

CS

Walker was king until 357 mag came along