Flintlock for first whitetail hunt.

[JDBraddy]

Am considering using my .40cal flintlock for my first whitail hunt. Wanted to make sure it would be adequate to kill ethically at 50-100yds. 89gr round ball moving 1800fps for 617 foot pounds at the muzzle.

Accuracy at 50yds.

If not, have a .58cal caplock, 277gr round ball moving at 1600fps for 1, 575 foot pounds at the muzzle, that should get the job done, but would prefer to use the flintlock if ethical to do so.

 

[Buckskinner]

Great group! I would go with the 58, in my opinion the 40 is a little lean for whitetails. I made a 40, 54 and 20ga smoothbore from Jim Chambers kits
and have used the 54 and 20 for whitetail/bear and use the 40 for small game. 20 also for turkey...

Top is unfinished 20, then 40 and 54 on bottom. Flintlocks are so much fun!!!

 

[Buckskinner]

Completed 20. Cutting in that side plate was a B!!!

 

[HSmithTX]

Hunting with a flintlock is awesome, I encourage everyone to try. I would shoot a small whitetail at 25-30 yards and in with a 40 if I had a perfect shot opportunity, and I mean perfect. No way in hades would I push it to 60+, there is just nothing left for energy at longer ranges. Round balls have the absolute worst BC possible and still fly straight. They bleed velocity super fast. The wind also blows them off course very fast, worse than a 22LR. Below is a calculator that has matched my trajectory testing spot on so I assume that the velocity calculations are also very close. Run your 40 cal load in it and watch how fast it slows down and how early it runs out of energy.

I shot my last muzzleloader buck with a flintlock 54 at mid 90's yards, 1550-1600 muzzle velocity, I think the ball weighs 235 grains and the wound channel showed NO evidence whatsoever of expansion of the ball. The deer went 150-175 yards with a perfect double lung shot. I just flat ran out of energy to upset the swaged pure lead ball, so it was a half inch pencil wound through and through. I shot farther than I should have. Blood trails can be really bad with a round ball too, if the skin slides up over the hole it won't leak much if at all. That buck took me an hour and a half to find with help. I am building a 62 and a 67 cal so this is less likely to happen again if I get out toward that 100 yards.

Round Ball Ballistics Calculator for Muzzleloaders

A ballistics calculator, primarily for round ball ammunition used in muzzleloading arms

www.ctmuzzleloaders.com

 

[shootist7]

Enjoy the crap out of the 40, but for deer hunting, the 58 all the way! I'm 54 exclusively, with a PRB and Goex, and keep my shots about 70 and under. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Baker Alvin]

Nice Work! and a ton of patience. Was just at The Gunmakers Fair at Kempton, Pa. Is an amazing display of all things Muzzleloader.

 

[Bobby Bailey]

I've used a .40 and a .50 since 1983 for white tail. I use 60gr. of fffg in both and have never had a deer go more than 50 yards from me before hitting the ground, most not over10 yards.
I shoot through the shoulder and get very good flattening of the ball for excellant blood trails.
Their like any other bullet, placement is key.

 

[Critter Picker]

Completed 20. Cutting in that side plate was a B!!!View attachment 682925
View attachment 682923

Truly a work of art. I love it!!

 

[Critter Picker]

I've used 50 and 54. Both do nicely with a patched round ball. I think to 40 would be light,but the lowly. 22 LR has killed a lot of deer. It's just got to be delivered to the right place.

 

[Rick Richard]

I tried the "fire in the face" just couldn't take it so went to a percussion 50 cal. Really really accurate with PRB and Goex.

 

[Kimber.204]

I've used a .50 cal flintlock a fair amount - in PA we have a dedicated Flintlock only season after Christmas.

I've never used a .40cal, but I would think I'd want to limit the range on that. A soft lead round ball can do great at transferring energy to game, but if it doesn't have a lot to begin with it's tough to do the job. I know that my uncle used the family heirloom .36cal rifle that belonged to my 3-times great grand father to kill a deer, but he felt it was underpowered after that one.