hunting with bp handguns

[mykeal]

Not all are inaccurate with full loads.

In over 30 years of black powder shooting with revolvers, i've never, ever found any that did not lose accuracy with a full chamber load. None. Ever. If you know of one, please publish the details.

I don't think you or I can assume all of anything

It's not an assumption. It's empirical.

why would you load for just enough to do the job

I don't, and I don't believe I said any such thing. I test every gun for the most accurate load and that's what I use. And in EVERY test I've ever done, on dozens of revolvers, the full chamber load was NEVER the most accurate.

 

[RWMC]

As in the words of Clint Eastwood/Dirty Harry, "A mans' gotta know his limitations." Figure out the maximum distance you can keep all six shots on a paper plate, shoot while standing, not using a rest. Once you have accomplished this, stick to your range limitation. The best I could do was 30 yards. I don't claim to be an expert shot, but I do know what I can and cannot do with my handguns, and I do not cross that line. Hope this helps.

 

[MCgunner]

As in the words of Clint Eastwood/Dirty Harry, "A mans' gotta know his limitations." Figure out the maximum distance you can keep all six shots on a paper plate, shoot while standing, not using a rest.

I must say, I will NEVER, EVER shoot off hand at much range with a handgun at deer, no matter the handgun. I've made shots at 60 yards with a .357 magnum, one at 90 with my .30-30 Contender, used a rest to do it. I've passed on off hand shots beyond 25 yards. "ALWAYS use a rest, boy!" Them's my grandpa's words echoing back to me from 1963 when I shot my first with a .257 Roberts. If I should always use a rest with a rifle, why should I then shoot off hand with a handgun? Now, I've made shots off hand RUNNING at 50 yards, that' I've done with a rifle several times. But, with a handgun, I will ALWAYS heed my grandpa's instructions. I can't make those running 50 yard shots off hand with a handgun. 25 yards static is about the limit. You don't get no points for style shooting off hand, nobody there, but you and the game. I want a clean kill with a well placed shot, myself.

SO, I practice for handgun hunting like I shoot in the field, off my shooting stick, cross stix, blind rest, whatever, but rested. I shoot a lot off hand, for fun, but in the field I have some kind of a rest, always. Most I've ever done on game off hand with a pistol is leaning back against a tree shooting off my knees at 50 yard squirrel with an accurate .22 pistol. Now, if you consider shooting from a rest "cheatin'", well then, I happily cheat.

 

[MCgunner]

Not all are inaccurate with full loads. Again you have to know what you have and all variables in your particular situation.

I think I said it earlier, but my Remmy and my '51 shoot best with lighter loads. HOWEVER, the gun I would hunt with, my ROA, doesn't seem to care. It shoots into 2" or less with whatever load I shoot out of it, for deer hunting would be a fully compressed charge of 777 and a 220 Lee hollow point conical. THAT gun just is NOT inaccurate unless the shooter is.

 

[RWMC]

I should have clarified my statement about not using a rest during practice. My reasoning behind this is so just in case you find yourself in a situation where a deer shows up at the right time, but at the wrong place, (no tree, fence post, boulder to provide a rest, and you didn't bring your hiking or shooting stick - have been there, and done that) you could still, with confidence, take the shot and bring home the bacon! Believe me when I say, there was absolutely not one ounce of " I don't shoot from a rest because I'm a good shot ," mentality ever intended. Sorry if anyone took it that way.

 

[MCgunner]

Sorry, didn't quite understand and I have seen the attitude on this board that you "don't shoot BP revolvers except one handed" let alone off hand. That's okay for beer cans, but deer or even hogs deserve a clean kill. I wouldn't stretch range of even a ROA or Walker much beyond your self imposed off hand 30 yard limit, anyway. 50 MAX. But, you can get those shots in the woods.

 

[faustopph]

Again. Know your limitations and your choice of tool for the job at hand.
As far as Cap and ball revolvers that can shoot hunting accurate with a full chamber load.Why would you hunt with anything less? Why would you own one ? It would be my parts gun. That would be like loading your self-defense firearm with paper punching squib loads.
In my 28 years of shooting cap and ball revolvers and almost 40 of other firearms.I don't keep one that can't hunt or be used for self-defense.