James W. Miner
Active Member
Interesting subject. I hunt only with revolvers and 30 years ago when I moved here where I could use them (Ohio allowed it the year I moved) I started with the .44 and 240 XTP's. results were not good. Each went over 60 yards and if I had not been able to watch them I could have lost them. Backtracking to impact showed not a single drop of blood. I recovered all 3 bullets from the first 3. Perfect shrooms against the rib cages.
I bought 320 LBT's and things changed fast, very quick kills and gallons of blood on the ground. I found the Lee 310 as good. Made my own mold, came out 330 gr and it works.
I cast from water dropped WW metal.
Got my .475 BFR and made a mold, 420 gr, WD WW and deer hit the ground instantly. Only one to make 30 yards was a heart shot. A point to make. Tested on gallon jugs of water, it blew up 4, split the fifth and penetrated 17 jugs in a straight line. One day a running buck at 76 yards was shot at, he went behind trees as the hammer fell, stopped and came around facing me on a down slope. Next shot hit below his chin, took the neck, a row of short ribs, went under the back straps to exit the ham next to the butt. I lost no meat at all, cut to the hole.
I like a tough boolit for accuracy, been to 1/2" at 100 many times for 5 shots from bags.
Got my 45-70 BFR and lost 2 deer, boolit too hard for velocity, poked a hole, no blood trails until 100 yards and then another 100 tracking. Made a WFN and it was worse. Shot the next with a 50-50 HP at 420 gr and ruined half a deer.
Bought my .500 JRH BFR and made a 440 gr mold. Poked one hole groups at 50 and 100 but it also poked holes through deer. 120 yard runs with no blood trails. 1350 fps. I got to work and cast half the nose with a mix of 3# of pure and 1# of WW. Deer drop like hit with the hammer of Thor. Then I hit a shoulder when a big doe stopped as the hammer fell. Holy smokes, would you want a HP? Also ruined the neck on exit.
I have over 180 deer with all my revolvers and each needs different except the .45 Colt, .44 and .475. The rest need alloy or nose adjustment and to get all aglow with a big HP and broken boolits or massive expansion can bite your rear FAST. I have learned what velocity, HP's, alloys, soft noses, flat noses and caliber does. Still learning, it will never end.
I really hate to see a hunter look for fast, massive expansion and a jug or 2 busted. I was there long ago myself, Then reality set in and deer don't agree with theories. .475 heart.
. .44 neck. .500 soft nose. .475 exit.
I bought 320 LBT's and things changed fast, very quick kills and gallons of blood on the ground. I found the Lee 310 as good. Made my own mold, came out 330 gr and it works.
I cast from water dropped WW metal.
Got my .475 BFR and made a mold, 420 gr, WD WW and deer hit the ground instantly. Only one to make 30 yards was a heart shot. A point to make. Tested on gallon jugs of water, it blew up 4, split the fifth and penetrated 17 jugs in a straight line. One day a running buck at 76 yards was shot at, he went behind trees as the hammer fell, stopped and came around facing me on a down slope. Next shot hit below his chin, took the neck, a row of short ribs, went under the back straps to exit the ham next to the butt. I lost no meat at all, cut to the hole.
I like a tough boolit for accuracy, been to 1/2" at 100 many times for 5 shots from bags.
Got my 45-70 BFR and lost 2 deer, boolit too hard for velocity, poked a hole, no blood trails until 100 yards and then another 100 tracking. Made a WFN and it was worse. Shot the next with a 50-50 HP at 420 gr and ruined half a deer.
Bought my .500 JRH BFR and made a 440 gr mold. Poked one hole groups at 50 and 100 but it also poked holes through deer. 120 yard runs with no blood trails. 1350 fps. I got to work and cast half the nose with a mix of 3# of pure and 1# of WW. Deer drop like hit with the hammer of Thor. Then I hit a shoulder when a big doe stopped as the hammer fell. Holy smokes, would you want a HP? Also ruined the neck on exit.
I have over 180 deer with all my revolvers and each needs different except the .45 Colt, .44 and .475. The rest need alloy or nose adjustment and to get all aglow with a big HP and broken boolits or massive expansion can bite your rear FAST. I have learned what velocity, HP's, alloys, soft noses, flat noses and caliber does. Still learning, it will never end.
I really hate to see a hunter look for fast, massive expansion and a jug or 2 busted. I was there long ago myself, Then reality set in and deer don't agree with theories. .475 heart.
. .44 neck. .500 soft nose. .475 exit.