***UPDATE***45 caliber round ball for Deer???

Well! I used the 45 caliber muzzle loader for my first Deer hunt of the year. Muzzle loading season ends on November 12th, so I have a few more days. I hunted with a good friend near Raymond NH......no luck! Saw a few (FAT) gray squirrels, a bunny and some birds who haven't headed south yet, they better hurry. Anyway, a great day in the woods with a great friend, it doesn't get better then that. Here is a picture of the 45 taking a break.

stevenjay1 said:

no luck! Saw a few (FAT) gray squirrels,

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45 makes a nice squirrel rifle if the deer don't pan out.

Yea, squirrel or deer with a .45 is meat in the pot. My experience says to head shoot those squirrels tho!! Nice pic. Thanks for posting! Greg

Sorry to hear about your lack of luck....keep at it!

LD

I have killed bunch of deer with a .45 flintlock rifle, I found they all run about 50-75 yards before they expire.
I use a .445 ball, 70 gr of 3F and a .015 patch.

stevenjay1 said:

Anyway, a great day in the woods with a great friend, it doesn't get better then that.

Click to expand...

That is the best part of hunting this way. You don't have to kill anything to still have a good time in the woods.

Like Eric, I've killed oodles (a scientific term) of deer with a couple of .45 rifles. I never had one run far and quite a few of them were "bang-flops".

Tried to finish the muzzle loading season Tuesday (Nov. 12) afternoon but it was nasty, freezing rain, snow, wind.....but who says I can't use my ML for the rest of the regular hunting season which ends on Dec. 8. I'm on a mission, will keep you posted. Gotta say, the .45 is sure a lot lighter then the .54 Browning mountain rifle.

Good idea. I simply use my flintlock all through the seasons and never feel under-gunned.

Steven, good luck as you continue the hunt! No need to go to modern arms just because there may be a modern season! Stick with that 45 flinter! Love your posted picture. I'd have my carcass plopped right next to it taking a break too.

While I've never personally used a 45 on deer, there's enough proof on this forum and throughout history that they work and they work well, within the given limitations as it is with any firearm. My preference is the 54, but that's just me.

Eric...that looks like one absolutely gorgeous stock on your pictured flinter!

Most encouraging! I have a .45 flinter and am hoping to bag a deer with it before the season runs out (Jan. 1). All I need is for one to show up in enough light for my aging eyes and iron sights.

It is;

That is delicious pretty wood.

That piece of wood really is eye-catching, to put it mildly.

she is very pretty!