Trying to identify through actual field results, the effectiveness of a .40cal as an all around, general purpose whitetail deer caliber. Looking for accurate distances that hunters have shot whitetail deer using the .40cal 92grn patched ball. (shot meaning killed and recovered)

Question:
What is the longest distance you've shot/killed/recovered a whitetail using a .40cal PRB?

Choices:
00 - 20 yards
21 - 30 yards
31 - 40 yards
41 - 50 yards
51 - 60 yards
61 - 70 yards
71 - 80 yards
81 - 90 yards
91 - 100 yards

 

I think .40 is the greatest deer caliber ever.

Just kidding, the little buck I killed this year with a .40, plus one more, will make me two.

The .40 can be effective on whitetail deer, as long as one is careful to pick their shot and keep it within 50 yards (Spot's opinion).

It is not what I would carry if I had limited time to hunt, or if I had to drive four hours to get to my hunting area. But for a guy able to hunt pretty much all he wants, right behind his house, it can be an added challenge and a lot of fun.

On the other hand, I also like a .50 or a .54, and takin' 'em with a .62 is pretty fun too.

Spot

RB, I am glad you asked this question for I intend on using my TVM .40 this coming season!

"aim small, miss small"

I'll never now wether it is or isn't a good deer rifle. The state of Pennsylvania only allows 44 cal or larger for deer. a couple of years ago they ruled that small game may only be hunted with a 40 cal or smaller. We used to go out in the early muzzleloader season and hunt deer or small game. I was told by the game commission office that people were actually shooting squirrels with 50 cal.,Now who would do that. I can only guess that they equated a 50 cal muzzleloader with the 50 cal BMG round.

Same here in VA, big game must be .45 cal or larger. I was thinking a .40 would be a great gun for small game with an occasional deer thrown in but rules is rules. Seems like plenty of guys on this site have no problems cleanly taking deer with their .40's.

Good poll, wish I could answer it, but here the .40 is illegal for deer [or any other hunting at all!]. Food for thought: growing up in a deer hunting culture I never heard anyone recommend the .410 slug as a deer round [and most would not have considered the 20 gauge slug either]--yet the .410 slug has more energy than the tiny .40 rd ball at any 'reasonable loading' [which of course varies with the beholder]. I have killed animals up to 50 lbs weight with the .410 slug, but never tried it on deer as I don't consider it a sporting load for big game. You can kill even an elephant witht the .22, but it ain't proper...

quote:

Originally posted by Mike R:
Good poll, wish I could answer it, but here the .40 is illegal for deer [or any other hunting at all!]. Food for thought: growing up in a deer hunting culture I never heard anyone recommend the .410 slug as a deer round [and most would not have considered the 20 gauge slug either]--yet the .410 slug has more energy than the tiny .40 rd ball at any 'reasonable loading' [which of course varies with the beholder]. I have killed animals up to 50 lbs weight with the .410 slug, but never tried it on deer as I don't consider it a sporting load for big game. You can kill even an elephant witht the .22, but it ain't proper...

Very well said

Where I grew up in NY you had to hunt with slugs I knew alot of people who shot 20 gauge i was told .410 was illegal because it would chamber a 41 mag shell which is dangerus

the comment about hunting squirrels with a 50 ive done it with a 58 head shots are head shots just useing a 58 in kind of a waste of powder i would not flinch at hunting deer with a 40 i have a 36 but here you have to use a 45 or larger but i think it would work great for deer with in its range id say 50 yards or less

Well, I guess I'll have to respectfully disagree that a .40 isn't a proper load for deer. It is a legal load in my state, so it absolutely is proper. Comparing it to a .22 is not appropriate, because .22 is NOT a legal load for deer.

Also, I would point out that most people, even in a deer hunting culture, aren't looking for the added challenge of primitive weapons. People don't want the limitations of a .410 slug - they want to knock a deer off its feet at 300 yards with a .300 mag.

I'm not sure why we're expending so much energy on this and sure don't plan to get into any heated arguments over it, as has occurred on the other forums.

I decided to try the .40 on deer when I saw how devastating it was on small game. I'll never try to argue that the .40 is the ideal caliber for either large or small game, but it absolutely did take a deer cleanly for me just a couple of months ago at a measured 48 yards.

Hopefully we can simply agree to disagree, or at least agree that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Spot

quote:

Originally posted by Spot:
"...that a .40 isn't a proper load for deer..."

Spot-man...where in the world did you see such a statement?

In previous discussions I have mentioned that Davy Crockett is reported to have killed over 100 black bear in one year using [supposedly] a .40 longrifle. And, as Roundball mentioned, the way Davy [and many others] hunted back then was for the market and they used dogs and treed or cornered the game, which when worn out was dispatched at close range with a killing head or heart shot--often followed up with a big knife between the ribs. Just about any caliber would work for that sort of hunting. Deer are not so dangerous as bear can be, so the .40 could work in the right situations. I have seen deer run off not to be found after a .30-06 round through them & a buddy has killed deer with a .22CB--range and shot placement count most with any deer load. Is the .40 a good all-around caliber in rd ball was the question, and I say a qualified 'no' as do most state hunting regulators in the land, right or wrong...Lousyanna even chose to make the .40 illegal for small game too! I gave a very nice little .40 longrifle I had to my son in Arkansas where it is legal. I miss it and I understand folks love of them. Thye are efficient, accurate little rifles, but any consideration of basic ballistics puts them way down the list as a deer rifle...

Wil.54, You might be interested in this and I had to read it several times to make sure it said what I thought it said. According to the Va. game regulations, during the FIREARMS deer season the gun has only to be .23 caliber or larger.

Of course only a very few of us (I'm one of them) shoot muzzies during the regular rifle season. 99.9+% go to their centerfire deer guns. Regs specify that each firearm requirement applies only to THAT specific season. It appears, then, that the .40 (among others) is legal during the general firearms deer season. Muzzies are not specified as exceptions to the .23 rule. I guess we true prb hunters are not considered numerous enough to worry about. That suits me fine.

quote:

Originally posted by roundball:

quote:

Originally posted by Spot:
"...that a .40 isn't a proper load for deer..."

Spot-man...where in the world did you see such a statement?

I suppose I inferred it from Mike's comment about his experiece using the .410 slug on animals up to fifty pounds - he then commented that even an elephant can be killed with a .22, but it wasn't proper. I took that as a suggestion that, even though you could kill large animal with it, a .40 (.410 in this case) wasn't a proper load.

If I misread your comment, Mike, I apologize.

The initial question asked "...to identify through actual field results, the effectiveness of a .40cal as an all around, general purpose whitetail deer caliber..."

I think my personal, first-hand experience in the field with the .40 has shown it to be an effective caliber for deer.

Everything else either of us has said (i.e., what was recommended by whom in a deer hunting culture, my own observation as to the devastating effect of the .40 on small game, what Davy did, etc.) is all anecdotal.

I would like to bow out of the discussion at this point. I value the friendships here far more than the issue at hand, and hope I haven't offended anyone.

Spot

Well, I certainly don't think you should bow out...folks are simply posting opinions based upon their views and that's fine.

I myself have a very accurate GM .40cal barrel that I know I could take deer hunting at a certain spot which overlooks a trail crossing a deep ditch at only 25yds and feel confident I could heart shoot a deer with it as he paused to cross that ditch...but I'm chicken to go into the woods deer hunting with it because it would be just my luck that the P&Y buck of a lifetime would step out and stop broadside down an old loggers road at 100 yards while I was walking in or out of the woods that day with a .40cal in my hands.

I've never taken issue with a .40cal being enough caliber in the right hands under the right conditions at the right distance...its the above scenario that makes me leave it in the rack during deer season

No problem, Spot, everyone is entitled to his opinion, and since you actually have taken a deer with a .40, yours is better than mine. My [former] .40 was built by a local gunsmith friend who had every intention of taking deer with it [even though illegal here-he hunts on his own land and has used every known caliber, probably, to kill deer--all at 50 yds or less]. He needed some funds and sold it to me--but being more aware/afraid of game wardens, I never hunted with it. Sure liked it.

Hello you all, I feel that the 40 cal issue boils down to 2 factors.1 is it legal to use where you hunt( here in Arkansas it is legal). 2 personal preference or feelings on the cal. I have no problem with the fella who wants to deer hunt with it (his choice). I do have a 40 cal gun myself. I am just not comfertable myself with it for deer ( 45 and bigger for me)So everynoe shoot what he is comfortable with, in the long run that is all that matters. yours arkansawwind

Spot, you have good experience w/ a .40 and I like getting the info. I myself do not have a .40 so it's great to hear from those that do. I would like to get one someday but here in the Iowa it's illegal for deer (.440 minimum). At any rate, good discussion. Best regards. Rockerhound

I wouldn't say the .40 is an all around deer caliber, but perhaps the all around single caliber, unless you work on headshots of rabbit and squirrel. I have taken squirrel with my .54..., and head shots are possible. Actually, a 28 gauge or smooth .54 would be the all around gauge, caliber, for both small game and deer up to Elk sized. (imho)

LD

Hanshi...I read and re-read the VA game laws and your right. It seems during the general season a .40 would be legal. I would hate to have to "explain" that to a game warden out in the woods though, they may know something we don't. My bet is they're looking for a .45 when it comes to muzzleloaders, regardless of the season. I have to agree that we all should hunt with what we're confident in and know OUR limitations. For me bigger is better, I need some room for error!