Has anyone ever white tail deer hunted with a 32/40 or 25/35 ?

[koger]

I have a stalking rifle that is very accurate with J words in both calibers, it is a takedown, posted pics on here about a year ago. I hunted with the 25/35 last year but never saw any thing, most shots would be within 100 yds. I have J words loaded for both of them that shoot right around 1" or less at 100 yds.

[dverna]

I don't believe there is any "magic" when it comes to calibers. Selecting the right bullet for the application is the key and putting it in the right place.

With a muzzle energy over 750 ft-lb for the BP and over 1100 ft-lb with smokeless powder, .32/40 it would seem adequate to me. Plenty of folks think believe the .357 Mag is good enough at shorter ranges.

The .25/25 has plenty of ME.

Compare them to the .300 BO and that should make you feel more confident. Plenty of deer are harvested with the .300 BO every year.

[Shawlerbrook]

I shot a doe with my 1907 vintage 1894 SRC in 25 35. Kept my shots to 50 yards and broadside and one shot kill was no problem with factory 117 gr.

[TNsailorman]

Way back in the early 70's, mu BIL found and bought himself a Winchester lever rifle (94 I think) in 25/35 and he killed his first ever whitetail with it. He was so proud. On a limited budget at the time, he still found the money to have the horns mounted on a wooden plaque along with the spent cartridge case and the date of the kill. I wonder what ever happened to that plaque as he has been dead for several years now. james

[jonp]

I've watched a number of videos of someone using a 25-35. Worked but the guy kept the shots under 75yrds I think? Maybe 50yrds. He did say to not get ambitious on the distance and he was very sure of the shot before taking it

[marlinman93]

I've never shot any whitetail as we mostly have mule deer, but doubt the species has much difference when it comes to killing power. I've taken a number of mule deer with my .32-40 rifles and a 140 gr. cast lead bullet.
I've only used my 1893 Marlin takedown in .25-36 Marlin, which is almost identical to the .25-35 for one hunt. My load was a 122 gr. cast lead gas checked bullet at 1750 fps. I took my buck with a shoulder shot at about 85 yds. and he dropped. I had practiced shots out to 150 yds. with the tang sight set at 150 yds., but at 85 yds. I didn't use the tang sight.