hunting with cap and ball revolvers

[bubba15301]

has anyone hunted big or small game with cap and ball revolvers?

[Dan Chamberlain]

Bubba;

I've hunted squirrel, rabbit and I've taken a fox with cap and ball revolvers.  After you've worked up a load that shoots where you want it, taking small game isn't difficult.  Big game is another matter.  Short of a Ruger Old Army, I don't think deer should be attempted with any C&B revolver unless the shots are at archery range, and I mean 20 yards or less!

Dan C

[Blackhawk44]

Dan is correct on this one.  I've taken uncounted jackrabbits, a couple of turkeys, and a couple of foxes and performance on these has been spectacular.  The problem with larger game comes with the lack of a heavier projectile for penetration of heavier bone and muscle.  Also, the round ball looses mementum quickly.  When you try to load something like 45 Colt bullets in these pieces velocity drops to unacceptable levels.  As Dan said, small deer at 20-30 yards are in real danger, but longer ranges, larger deer, and less than perfect shot opportunities are out.

[454Puma]

Taken a few squirrels and rabbits with mine-44 cal Confed Navy! Don't think I'd try it on any bigger then yote's! I only shoot RB's out of it- shot some 180 gr bullets but they never came out as accurate as I'd liked- good for short range protection, but not good enough to hunt with.  :?

[v-man]

To follow up on Dan's remark about the ruger old army, I carry one as a back up during black powder season but having chronographed the maximum "pack'em tight" loads I still can't feel comfortable using it as a primary deer gun past about 30 yards. I probably wouldn't consider it at all if I hunted in a state with full sized deer rather than the midgets we have here in Florida. It is a nice feeling to have six follow-up shots handy after lighting off the smokepole.

[Ed Harris]

The Old Army will take deer if you keep the range short.  About 30 yards is right for any iron sighted handgun.  I use the Lee 250-gr. R.E.A.L. bullet and 30 grs. bulk measure of Pyrodex "P" for about 900 f.p.s.  I use an Ox Yoke Wonder Wad over the powder, which results in heavy compression when I seat the bullet.  In cold weather I also apply a small blob of Crisco, about the size of a pea, over the bullet to help keep the fouling soft.  I also have a spare cylinder which I keep loaded and securely covered in a leather belt pouch for a quick field reload.

[Lloyd Smale]

I too want to hunt deer with a cap and ball. Dave Clemments is talking of making a .50cal 5 shot old army which should work great. I asked him about a cheap hunting only version and this is what he suggested. He told me that there is alot of extra meat in the back of the old army chambers he has one that he has opened up and can shoot 200 lee rfs with 40 grains of 777 He will do this work for $50 What I then did was contact Dan at mountain molds and he helped me design a 240 wfn and a 240 swc that should work in them the mold will cast at .457 out of pure and the bullets have no crimp grove but two larger grease groves. He claims over 1100fps with a 200 so if i can get the 240s at 1000 or close to it it ought to be everything a .44 special is other then the fact that the bullet will be softer. Ill keep you posted as to how the project works out.

[Jeff Vicars]

I am getting 1140 fps shooting a Lee 211 gr. bullet in an unmodified Old Army using 44 grains by volume of 3f 777.

[Lloyd Smale]

Jeff ive got the mold designed to throw .457 bullets am i going to need to size them down smaller to get them in. They will have a longer bearing surface then the lee. If so what do you recomend i start with for a try.

I am getting 1140 fps shooting a Lee 211 gr. bullet in an unmodified Old Army using 44 grains by volume of 3f 777.

[Lloyd Smale]

Jeff with 44 grains did you have to eliminate the wad.

[Lloyd Smale]

one more thing JEff did you do any velocity tests with 777 in 2f Ive got a few pounds of it id like to shoot up and was wondering how much velocity loss to expect.

[WD45]

A colt walker should work fine also I would say even with a round ball at short distance. The walker like the ruger will hold more powder than the standard army 44 in remy or colt.  A 240 / 250 grain conical running over 900 FPS will kill deer no problem. I only have a remy now and it takes smaller game no problem provided I can keep the sights on target....  :lol:

[Jeff Vicars]

I lubed the Lee with liquid Alox, no wad. I haven't clocked 2f 777.