Used anything similar?

[Lead melter]

So if I decide to deer hunt this season with my H&R Target Classic 38-55, what do you think about this load?

380-225-GC group buy mold boolit cast of water quenched 50/50 WW/pure
23 grains H-4198
WLR primer
reformed 30-30 brass, OAL at 2.4"

Rifle barrel length is 26", shots from 20-75 yards.
This load will put 5 in 1 1/4" at 50 yards [I know, not the best, but good enough for minute-of-deer].

I'm wondering if anyone has shot a load anything like this in the hunting field, and how it worked out.

[Wayne Smith]

What's your velocity? Do you need the bullet water quenched? I'm concerned it would just punch through.

[Gerry N.]

A deer is not going to care a whit for the specifications of your load. I use 311299 bullets at about 1200-1500 fps out of either a .30/40 Krag or my Ruger #1 .308 Win. The deer I have hit with this bullet fell down and died. Where you hit 'em is much more important than what you hit 'em with. My grandpa used cast bullets in his .25/35 Winchester M94 rifle (26" barrel) for deer and antelope from about 1919 until he died in 1944. Then my Dad used it with the same loads until '76. My brother uses it now. Many dozens of deer and antelope have fallen to 85 grain .25 cal. cast bulletsat about 1200 fps out of that old rifle. Most were lung shots, many were head shots.

Your .380", 225 gr. bullet will prove fatal to any deer sized animal it hits, if you put the bullet in a vital area. It actually sounds like a very effective load. The best thing is to go and practice with it. My experience is one can get a year's worth of actual game hunting if he shoots jack rabbits for an afternoon.

Gerry N.