Vintage Hunting with the 1873

[Dirty Brass]

I'd say you did very well with the rifle at 65 yards and open sights. Sounds like there was plenty of oompf~ left in the projectile to the job done on both lungs after penetrating the hide. Well done!

[MJN77]

So much for 44-40 not being enough gun for deer!!

No kidding. I've hunted deer with the .44-40 for sixteen years and have been told time and again that I need something with more power. While I wouldn't try to kill deer at 200 yards, all the ones that have crossed my sights at 100 or less never knew I didn't use a 30-06. I've said on here before, when I got my first 44 rifle, I killed three deer with Magtech .44-40 "cowboy" loads before I knew better. Of all the deer I have taken with the old 44WCF, "cowboy" or proper ammo, I never had to use more than one shot and all fell in 10-15 yards.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
Today I was hunting for a Doe when a coyote came slipping through the woods . I got a good hit on him and he was down . He was at about 75 yards . I knocked him down and he jumped up and ran about 30 before giving it up . He was shot through the lungs .

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[w44wcf]

Rowdy,
Wow! That is an awesome buck!  Great adventure with the 44WCF!  

A few questions please.....
Swiss or 777?
Bullet?
Alloy?
Did the bullet pass through?

Thank you for making 1 less coyote roaming around.

w44wcf

[Rowdy Fulcher]

w44wcf
I used 777 and the bullet was a 200 grain .429 dia . I purchased them from Valiant Bullets from Alabama . That was the reason for using the 777 because I didn't have bullets with black powder lube . The ammo that I had left over from Powder Inc. the bullets were actually a .428 even though the box was marked .429 . The load that I used did an excellent job ,when I field Dressed the Deer the bullet had destroyed the lungs . I'll be honest when I saw that Buck my fist thought was I hope I brought enough GUN ,   after shooting he ran about 20 yards and went down .

[w44wcf]

Rowdy,
Thank you for the information. Much appreciated.
Did the bullet pass completely through?

w44wcf

[Rowdy Fulcher]

w44wcf
Yes the bullet shot completely through the Buck . I was really pleased with the performance of the round . I plan on testing the olde E this summer . If I reload it , I will know EXACTLY what's being used .

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
Plan on one last day of Hunting , looking for a nice doe for eating .

[stuck_in_73]

Ok I know it's obvious to kill a deer with a 73. I got my first deer (an 8 point) last weekend with my Marlin 336ss 30-30. But I want to fill my doe tag and am tempted to take out my uberti 73 using cowboy load 45 colt. How close is lethal range with this caliber? Thanks, and nice deer btw to the guys who have recently posted pics!

[pony express]

Probably depends more on how far you can hit the right spot reliably. But at least 125 -150 yards, but then the trajectory gets a little loopy..

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Stuck in 73
When you say Cowboy loads for your 45 colt ? What weight bullet and what is the velocity ? I killed a doe several years back with a yellow boy carbine in 45 colt . I was using a 250 grain bullet loaded with Unique powder . I would keep my shoots under 75 yards .
Also if I was thinking about using my 45 for Deer hunting I would spend time at a range , that way you can put your bullet in the kill zone . One shot one kill is a good thing . Hope this answered your question , Good Luck hunting .

[stuck_in_73]

Stuck in 73
When you say Cowboy loads for your 45 colt ? What weight bullet and what is the velocity ? I killed a doe several years back with a yellow boy carbine in 45 colt . I was using a 250 grain bullet loaded with Unique powder . I would keep my shoots under 75 yards .
Also if I was thinking about using my 45 for Deer hunting I would spend time at a range , that way you can put your bullet in the kill zone . One shot one kill is a good thing . Hope this answered your question , Good Luck hunting .

I'm not sure of the velocity. They are 250gr. I got them from georgiaarms.com

[MJN77]

"Cowboy" ammo is a low velocity target ammo not really suitable for hunting. It can be used, but you need to keep your shots close (50-75 yrds) and shot placement is important. Personally, I would advise getting better .45 ammo.

P.S. On the Georgia Arms website, the ammo is broken into two categories, "cowbow loads" and "hunting & self defense loads". That should tell you something. http://georgia-arms.mybigcommerce.com/

P.P.S. The Georgia Arms site lists the 250gr .45 colt "cowboy" loads with a velocity of 725fps. Not what I would choose to hunt with.
http://georgia-arms.mybigcommerce.com/new-45-long-colt-250gr-round-nose-flat-point/

[Cliff Fendley]

My 44wcf loads with the Accurate 215C bullet and FFFG Old Eynsford averaged 1315fps last time I chronographed. I haven't shot a deer with it but would choose that load over a standard Cowboy load.

That is 215 grain bullet with 36 grains of powder by weight out of a 24 inch barrel. It's got a bit of a kick to it compared to shooting regular cowboy loads.

[pony express]

While I've never chronographed it, or hunted with it, my triple seven .45 Colt loads from a 19" carbine barrel used toring the steel loader than most anything anybody else had at the range. Used a 250gr bullet, and I don't remember the exact powder charge, but it did hit with authority! I wouldn't hesitate to use it hunting, it just needed some sight work to get it "on" at greater than CAS distances.

[MJN77]

Well, it isn't a big buck but today wasn't a total waste of time.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

MJN77
Great job . Looks like excellent eating . What caliber is your rifle . How about that Vintage Hunting , I love it .

[MJN77]

Rowdy, my rifle is a .44-40. It's my favorite cartridge. As for the vintage hunting, is there any other kind?

[Cliff Fendley]

Nice job MJN77

[MJN77]

Thanks Cliff.
 I'll say this, the .44-40 impressed me yesterday. My shot hit and passed through a small tree 3-4 inches wide before hitting the doe. It hit her in front of the last rib on her right side and came out through her left shoulder. She only made it about fifteen yards before she dropped. I have always liked the 44WCF, but that much penetration surprised me.