ACP Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 Gents, I’m looking for some tried and true powder and bullet combinations for taking deer with an 1873. I see plenty of hot load data out there for running out of six guns that’ll handle the pressure, but I’m not too interested in blowing my lever gun up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 Without me giving you specific load data that I use in my Marlin 1894, I will tell you that there are some powders that will give you better performance in a .45 rifle which increase your ballistics greatly. Favorite bullets: Hornady XTP, Norma, etc..... Powders: LilGun, H110, WW-296, AA9. Factory stuff: Big Bore, Underwood, 'some' Hornady XTP stuff. Stay away from hard POINTED bullets in your magazine fed lever gun. ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 I had a Rossi 92 and Hornady’s Leverevolution .45 Colt round was very accurate from that rifle, but alas, I did not get a shot at a deer so I never got to find out how it performed. That round is also very accurate from my 7.5” Vaquero. If interested, I would call Hornady and ask about firing it from an 1873. The round is not hot rodded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CASS, Singing Hills Ranch Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 Rossi 92 24" barrel, Miroku 73 24" barrel Unique is not a good powder to try to get higher fps, but I have it available for CAS, so why not. When I use smokeless, I run a 200 gr RNFP soft lead over 8.5 gr Unique. BP I load 2.2 dipper 3F under the same bullet. Both have enough giddyup to put down a whitetail between 50-100 yards. Any further, I use my Marlin 30/30 or Model 70 30-06. Why 200 gr RNFP? I didn't want to stock another size. That bullet runs for me BP or smokeless, 1911, Ruger OMV, both rifles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawMan Mark, SASS #57095L Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 Shot placement is a lot more important than the specific load in killing a deer. A RNFP 200 grain bullet at 1200 fps will drop most any thin skinned game (deer included) if you hit a major blood bearing organ, or the central nervous system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 For a deer? full load real black powder (3f) with a 250gr projectile will work. GG ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rip Snorter Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 3 hours ago, Pat Riot, SASS #13748 said: I had a Rossi 92 and Hornady’s Leverevolution .45 Colt round was very accurate from that rifle, but alas, I did not get a shot at a deer so I never got to find out how it performed. That round is also very accurate from my 7.5” Vaquero. If interested, I would call Hornady and ask about firing it from an 1873. The round is not hot rodded. Got some of the same for my son, also for a Rossi no results to report as yet. https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/handgun/45-colt-225-gr-ftx-leverevolution#!/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckshot Bob Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 1 hour ago, LawMan Mark, SASS #57095L said: Shot placement is a lot more important than the specific load in killing a deer. A RNFP 200 grain bullet at 1200 fps will drop most any thin skinned game (deer included) if you hit a major blood bearing organ, or the central nervous system. I’ve been hunting deer since I was a child, killed my fist one with a 40# recurve . If that will do it just about any firearm will . I 2nd shot placement is everything. That’s the limiting factor as long as the projectile can penetrate to the vitals , but preferably pass through them . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cusz M. Dutch SASS Life 55326 Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 case full of 777 will do the job and almost be period correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 1 hour ago, Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L said: For a deer? full load real black powder (3f) with a 250gr projectile will work. GG ~ Thats what I use. I have shot several mule deer with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 2 hours ago, Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L said: For a deer? full load real black powder (3f) with a 250gr projectile will work. GG ~ Ya was reading my mind ! It works just fine on our big Northern Deer ... Some of them field dressed exceed 350 pounds. Jabez Cowboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 28 minutes ago, Jabez Cowboy,SASS # 50129 said: Ya was reading my mind ! It works just fine on our big Northern Deer ... Some of them field dressed exceed 350 pounds. Jabez Cowboy Dang Jabez, that ain't a deer........ that's one of them Jurassic type Antelopes. A 350 pound deer in Tennessee will get you arrested for pouching in another country. ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 Florida got little deer. Maybe 90 pounds soaking wet. The last one I shot, and I'll admit it was just a spike, field dressed 45 pounds. They closed a local management area for 10 years. Went up to Michigan or Montana or SOME OTHER Northern State that started with an m, and brought back some big Yankee deer, and released them into this closed area, with the idea that they would breed with our little native deer and grow bigger deer. That's a great idea. Let's cross a Saint Bernard with a toy poodle. Should get a bigger dog. If the huge puppies don't kill the poodle on the way out. Anyway, 2 years after they opened the area to hunting again my brother-in-law got one that field dressed 195 pounds. Took three of us to get it in the truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckshot Bob Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 27 minutes ago, Alpo said: Florida got little deer. Maybe 90 pounds soaking wet. The last one I shot, and I'll admit it was just a spike, field dressed 45 pounds. They closed a local management area for 10 years. Went up to Michigan or Montana or SOME OTHER Northern State that started with an m, and brought back some big Yankee deer, and released them into this closed area, with the idea that they would breed with our little native deer and grow bigger deer. That's a great idea. Let's cross a Saint Bernard with a toy poodle. Should get a bigger dog. If the huge puppies don't kill the poodle on the way out. Anyway, 2 years after they opened the area to hunting again my brother-in-law got one that field dressed 195 pounds. Took three of us to get it in the truck. If Bergmans rule is true in a couple of generations they will be small again https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergmann's_rule Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Jake Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 250 gr RNFP, 8.2 g Unique. Uberti 1873 w 24" barrel. Shot placement was superb; right through the heart. Slight downhill angle from a tree stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 I hear they have to grow them bigger up North to help the hunters hit them..... ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rip Snorter Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 Nah, we can stalk within close pistol range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACP Posted March 3, 2022 Author Share Posted March 3, 2022 Thanks to all for the replies, completely agree on the shot placement, with correct placement a .22 would get it done, just want to keep the loading safe on the ‘73 action not looking to knock em off their feet. For those suggesting a full load of BP, is this a loose case full then compressed at seating? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Jake Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 56 minutes ago, ACP said: Thanks to all for the replies, completely agree on the shot placement, with correct placement a .22 would get it done, just want to keep the loading safe on the ‘73 action not looking to knock em off their feet. For those suggesting a full load of BP, is this a loose case full then compressed at seating? I';ve seen a YouTube video by Plowboysghost compress a full case of BP (Roughly 40 grs) beneath a 250 gr bullet, but that's really tight. I've loaded 38 gr (volume) of FFFg Goex and my rifle didn't explode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster Ron Wayne Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 I have hunted many years with hand loaded 44 Magnum with 10gr of Unique and a Hornady XTP 240gr bullet. With great success. So when I started using a 44/40 in my Henry 1860 I loaded the same load but with a 200gr hard cast lead Lee bullet . Also with great success. Rooster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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