cast bullets for hunting

[deerslayermatt]

has anyone ever used cast bullets for hunting deer? if so how did they work/dammage they did? i got a box of cast bullets at a gun show and they shoot good in my 45-70 guide gun i was thinking about useing them for deer this year their 410 grain flat points

thanks,
matt

[RELH]

that bullet loaded up to around 1800-1900 FPS in your guide gun will be good for deer, bear, pig, moose and any runaway locomotive you might encounter. It will do the job, and rattle your teeth at the same time. I perfer 300 grain HP or 305 grain hard cast bullets for deer in the 45/70. Will drop deer like a sack of potatoes and not very hard on the shoulder. Also it will shoot alot flater out to 200 yards .

RELH http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-dancin-red.gif

[deerslayermatt]

yea thats what i was wondering since i know the bullet isnt going to expand hardly at all unless it hits bone and still it wont expand that much so therefore all that will happen is 2 holes so im thinking more in hornady 350gr round noses

[larrysogla]

deerslayermatt,
Those are .458 caliber bullet holes you are talking about. Remember, the .458 cal. bullet does not need to expand, IT IS ALREADY EXPANDED. It will flatten your 200 lb. deer. Some of the 100-120 lb. Texas hogs shot with those big bores are lifted off their feet by the impact of those large caliber slugs, literally bowled over by the impact force. The 300 lb. boars drop on the spot, still breathing but cannot get up.
That is one mighty artillery you are holding in your hands. &#39;Nuff said.
http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-ani.gif

[deerslayermatt]

ya know... i never thought about it that way....good point!

[BigSwad]

So I guess I could use those 1800fps PMC Cowboy loads for hogs then? I was wondering about that. They look pretty awesome.

[AMMOe]

I&#39;m with RELH on the bullet weight. I shoot an RCBS 300 grain GC from my Siamese Mauser 45-70 and drops deer like Thor&#39;s Hammer. The Siamese will take more pressure than the Marlin and in my younger days I would wear out brass loading on the warmish side using a stout charge of IMR4895. I never chronographed those loads but they shot remarkably flat out to 200 yards... for a 45-70, at least. I am now a bit saner and never shoot farther than I care to walk so I shoot that same bullet at 1800 ft/sec. Still kills like nobody&#39;s business with MOA accuracy.~AMMOe

[deerslayermatt]

stout charge... as in how many grains? just wondering because i use 4895 too

[BigSwad]

Okay i just checked and those PMC loads are 1300 fps for the cowboy loads wiht the 405 grain cast bullet. Should be enough I would think for any hog 100 yards or less.

[AMMOe]

Deerslayermatt: Let&#39;s just say that it&#39;s more than the currently listed "maximum" for the Marlin. ~AMMOe

[deerslayermatt]

would it be over 59 grains? lol thats the hottest i loaded and will NEVER do that again ouch

[larrysogla]

Bigswad,
Those PMC 45-70 cowboy loads are surefire hog/deer killers within 100 yds. I was looking at my 2004 PMC Ammunition catalog & the impact energy are 1639 ft. lbs. at the muzzle and 1280 ft. lbs. at 100 yds. More than enough to put hogs or deer in your freezer.
As a comparison, from the same catalog the .44 Mag. Lead Semi-Wadcutter fired from a revolver has 833 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy. The PMC 45-70 Cowboy load at 1639 ft. lbs. has DOUBLE the impact energy of a .44 Mag. revolver round. The PMC catalog also lists a 45-70 +P+ round with a muzzle energy of 3167 ft. lbs.(DOUBLE the impact energy of the Cowboy round).
With the 45-70 +P+ round, you can hunt any North American big game; moose, elk, buffalo, man eater/man chaser brown bears and of course those 500 lb. Texas hogs. You will be among the top of the hill in rifle impact/shock power on big dangerous animals. You will be ready for anything in North America.
With the 45-70 +P+ round, when shooting from the bench at the range, don&#39;t forget your Sims slip on recoil pad or your PAST Magnum shoulder pad or you won&#39;t forget the pounding and the beating from the recoil. It is an awesome cannon you are holding in your hands. God Bless.
http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-ani.gif

[BigSwad]

Thanks larrysogla. That is the information I have been looking for. I look forward to getting the cannon out and launching a few at the hogs on the lease.

[deerslayermatt]

how come you guys are always saying to put those recoil pads and shoulder pads on i still have the stock pad on mine and shoot with a t-shirt on without a problem lol... cept it hurts but still in my opinion if you cant handle the recoil dont buy/keep the gun well im probably not as old as you guys either but still lol i think it makes the gun more interesting when i squeeze the trigger just my opinion or maybe the recoil is just making my stupid http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-hitting-self.gif lol

matt

[BigSwad]

Matt I understand your thinking but there is another reason. I can handle the recoil as well, but when I deal with lower recoil I am inherently more accurate, especially since I will be using open iron sights. If I were using a scope I would up the charge, but I am older and my eyesight isnt as good as what it used to be so I have to take more precautions to make sure it is an accurate shot. LOL

I just want something with iron sights because riding/walking around on the lease we jump hogs alot, and dont really have the time to try and catch up to them with a scope with all the trees and such. Even though with this gun, I could probably knock a couple of trees down to get a clean shot at the hog.... http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-dancin-red.gif

[deerslayermatt]

yea i agree that kind of gun isnt a gun to put a scope on i dont know why i just feel that way about it the most i would do is put a red dot on it thats all but other then that i agree a recoil pad would help recoil n make u more acurate i was just joking around with you but im still not puttin one on it http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-hitting-self.gif which one do u have the guide gun?

[BigSwad]

No i got the 1895SS. But I agree with you, I still may put a recoil pad on it. I knew you were just joking around... http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-faces-toast-beers.gif

[Taos]

The 45-70 is a much better round with 500 mgr. bcast bullets as they seem to penetrate a lot better. I have taken quite a few elk with them and they don&#39;t stop for much. I think I recovered one out about a dozen elk. This with B.P. charges and moving at about 1200 FPS. My buddy shoots 300 gr. hollow points and we nearly always locate them. Remember they don&#39;t need to expand they just need to get to the vitals.

[jmabbott888]

I haven&#39;t tried deer with it but a 405gr slug backed by 70gr blackpowder dropped a whole lot of animals back in the late 1800&#39;s up to & including buffalo. The recoil isn&#39;t bad either out of an 1886 Winchester, heck even my 9 year old can shoot it if he can level that heavy monster over something, its too long & with the octagon barrel it&#39;s to heavy for him to hold it steady.