Pretty nice morning. It’s early muzzleloading season in Arkansas, and I took vacation for the entire week. This morning I went up into the woods behind the house with my little .40 and set up on the ground amongst a blowdown, with my back to a tree.

In less than an hour a little yearling buck and a fawn were browsing down the hill from me a ways. Eventually the buck gave me the shot I wanted and I put a .395 roundball behind his shoulder.

He jumped, then ran on down the hill into the brush. The little fawn just stood there, looking in my direction. I scared it off when I stood up to reload. I walked over to where the buck had been standing when I shot, and found bright red blood all over the place. I started off in the direction he ran, and found him piled up about forty yards away.

Maybe the best thing is that it was all downhill back to the house.

According to my old parallax range finder, I shot that deer at 48 yards. I got total pass-through and blood was everywhere. The ball spread out when it hit the off-side shoulder and actually damaged some meat.

I’m sure this isn’t going to convince anybody who thinks a .40 is too small for deer, and that’s fine. I do realize that I had to be very careful about the shot I took, and then keep it at short range. But I like that part too.

With two deer now in the freezer (actually the second one is aging in the fridge right now), I plan to get real picky about my last one. I hope everybody else is enjoying the fall as much as I am. I'm switching to a .50 flintlock now, by the way.

Spot

Got the whole week huh? Good for you. Congrats on your hunt. Obviously, in the hands of one who knows what they're doing, the 40 is a capable round. I've been hankering for one myself for awhile now. Glad you like her.

Sawdust and I are heading out in a bit in the pursuit of grouse and chukkar and like you this time of year is my favorite I belive.

Hope you score well on your next one. Have fun.

way to go Spot. i personaly feel the .40 is fine for deer,like you said,pick your shots and keep them at a reasonable range.same as any other caliber for that matter.congradulations!

People who say you can't do it,shouldn't stand in the way of those who are doing it.Can remember who said that but isn't it true.

I have a splendid little swamped barrel .40 that was born wanting to shoot. Not legal here during the muzzleloading season but will see plenty of use when the general rifle season opens. I like to hear reports from the field like that one.

Sounds like a great morning and good hunt. Of course, nice shooting. Continued luck.
Chasing Crow

What is your deer load for your .40. I use 60gr of 3f goex, .395 ball, and cotton drill patch with olive oil/bees wax lube. I have not killed a deer with it yet. Thought I would get the chance yesterday but they stayed a little too far away. I want the shot at 50 yards or less.

Hi woods loper,

I've played around with this thing a bit, and I settled on 65 grains of 3f Goex under a .015 cotton-patched .395 roundball. Works pretty good.

Spot

Sounds like a great hunt Spot. Best regards Rockerhound

Sounds like we shoot about the same load. Glad to have some verification on what I am doing. I had two does come out the other day at about 100 yards or so. I wanted to try REAL bad but held off. If I wait I will get the 50 yard shot limit I set for myself. My wife cooked some cubed steaks from the deer I shot last week with the .50 cal flintlock. They were smack your mamma good. I cant wait to get one with the .40.

Hey Spot - good hunt! BTW, what barrel mfr is yours?

Hi Dave,

The barrel is a drop-in for a T/C Renegade. It was made by Green Mountain, and I bought it from Fiddlesticks. It's pretty heavy, but I've learned a lot lugging it around the past couple of years.

I'm thinking of having a southern-style rifle built in .40, for an all-purpose gun. I really like the idea of being able to use the same rifle for everything I normally hunt. Not that I have any intention of only keeping one rifle or anything.

I've been out chasing deer every day this week, but have decided to be real picky about the deer I take with my last tag. This morning I saw a buck that would have fit the bill - but he saw me first. Oh well, I've had a lot of fun this week. Still have the weekend, but will be focused on getting my boy on a deer.

Boy, bet by now you're sorry you asked about by barrel, huh?

Spot

Nope, not sorry at all. Always like hearin' about time spent huntin'.

Yes, I've got one of those as well for my "former t/c". The only thing that's t/c is the stock now. Lock & triggers are L&R, barrel's GM and I had the breech drilled for a custom peep sight (eyes gettin' old). And I load it with the same patch/ball combo you do. I use a stiffer powder load, though - 80gr 3f. It holds a <1" group @ 50yds at point of aim. Good shootin' barrels aren't they?!

I've considered the very thing you're thinkin' of, a southern rifle in .40. I like the idea as well. Hope your boy gets his deer this wknd.