45-405-55 load for hunting

[Marshal Deadwood]

You gents here seem to be more familar with the 45-405-55 load than the 'buffalo boys' on the other forum, so I'll ask you.

How does the 45-405-55 load do on deer ? Max efficent/practical range with carbine vrs rifle with this load ?

My soul is really crankin' for a carbine....and with the afore-mentioned load,,a trapdoor would suffice as well as a Sharps (although I love a Sharps)....I could shoot a 'solid' original trapdoor for less dollars than a repo Sharps.

I will mention this...I have an excellent condition (bore and exterior) 'all originial', 1869 trapdoor rifle ariving this comming week. 50-70 of course. I seem to have developed an unusual fondness for the Springfield trapdoors !

MD

[Drydock]

At Iron sight ranges, say under 100 yards, a .45-55-405 will shoot clean thru a deer.  Lengthwise.

Max effective range?  Depends.  For hunting, I would not shoot any Iron sight gun past 100 yards.   For target shooting, I've reliably rung steel out to 400 yards with a Tradoor carbine, Milspec sights and this load.  The .45-70-500 load has been used in 1000 yard shooting, though that would seem right at the edge of its capability.  Then there's the Sandy Hook Tests . . .  http://www.researchpress.co.uk/longrange/sandyhook.htm

[Pitspitr]

I seem to have developed an unusual fondness for the Springfield trapdoors !

Me too! If you count the original '66 that someone made into a lamp, I have 5!

I've never hunted with the .45-55-405, but it should be plenty. The Army figured it was enough to kill men so it sure ought to be enough to kill deer.

My last year's buck was taken with a .45-70-535 from my sharps. The big ol' slow moving bullet didn't do much meat damage. It went through the scapula, the near lung, cut off both bronchial tubes, was tumbling when it went through the far lung (and turned it to the consistancy of jello), left a neat profile of the bullet where it went through the far rib and skin. He didn't go 25 yds.

I wouldn't recomend the 535 gr postel bullet for your carbine though. It'd likely do almost as much meat damage behind the butt as it did in front of the muzzle. 

[pony express]

I think Lyman used to make a hollow point mould for a 405 grain bullet, that should really work good. But even a solid should do the trick pretty well, especially if it has a good sized flat nose, and maybe cast pretty soft.

[Pitspitr]

I think Lyman used to make a hollow point mould for a 405 grain bullet, that should really work good. But even a solid should do the trick pretty well, especially if it has a good sized flat nose, and maybe cast pretty soft.

Do you have any originals? If so you might really want to consider the Lee 405HB. It can be a little finnicky (sp?) to cast but original barrels seem to like that bullet or the SAECO M-1881 500gr.

[pony express]

I just ordered a Lee 405 solid base fron Midway, the hollow base was backorder. Hopefully I can use that one as cast, or use some of the tricks they have on cast boolits website. the old mould I have is too heavy, I think 450 gr.

[Delmonico]

I think Lyman used to make a hollow point mould for a 405 grain bullet, that should really work good. But even a solid should do the trick pretty well, especially if it has a good sized flat nose, and maybe cast pretty soft.

PE, not sure about a 405 HP, but Lyman still has this one for sale, been around for a long time, it can be kicked up to about 1400 fps with full BP loads in a 45-70 and higher with a longer case.  With full loads in a 45-70 that will give you a point blank range of around 200 with a longer barreled rifle, would be a great carbine load also.

Besides Elmer Keith liked it in the 45-70 for deer, so what more do you need.

http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/bullet-casting/mould-details-rifles.php?entryID=72

[pony express]

I think that's the one I was thinking of, it says it's a hollow point. Marshall Deadwood was looking for something for whitetails, and that hollow point might at least slow the bullet down a little instead of just zipping right through the deer. I just needed one I could use for GAF, since the limit is 405gr. But if I get a load worked up for my trapdoor with this one I ordered, I'm sure it will take a deer down, since most of my shots are anly 25-50 yards. Just need to make a different front sight blade, so I won't have to aim at it's feet to get a hit in the vitals!

[Marshal Deadwood]

I've taken several whitetails with the 45-70,,,but honestly, it's been both lead and jacketed. The 'jacketed's were remingtons cheap but good,,jacketed 405's...but thats a gone deal,,since im all teh way black powder now. I have killed two with 65gr and 500 gr  lead. I was just curious about what ya'll thought the 405 might give ya extra on range,,but again,,,of the heap of deer iv killed here in the mountains,,I rarely shoot one over 75 yrds,,most of the time,,not even that. So, its a moot point i suppose,,if I get a carbine,,I will prob try the 405,55gr,,but in rifle,,,the 500, 65 gr is what I'll likely use again this year. It's got all the range I need,,but the 405 , 55 gr might make a carbine a wee bit more user friendly,,,

..but again,,for hunting,,I never minded stiff recoil anyways. (I turkey hunt with a modern howitzer ,,,kinda,sorta,,,,I hate to mention 'what' on a historic forum) ,,suffice to say,,it'll kill'em at 70yards. And NO, I do not give mercy to tom turkeys...deer meeeybee,,never to a gobbler.

Anyways,,thanks for the carbine advice,,I suppose the first step is to GET a carbine,,but I love the 45-70...might even fall in love with this 50-70,,,will just have to wait and see.

MD

[Niederlander]

You'll like that .50-70.  I've got a '68 Springfield that will shoot into two and a half inches at one hundred yards, and I'm currently building a Remington Rolling Block sporting rifle.  As with any of these big old black powder cartridges, they'll kill a deer at five hundred yards.  The trick is hitting it.  Iron sights, unknown distances, and rainbow trajectories make hitting a distant target much more of a challenge than it is with a modern, scope sighted rifle.  That's just one of the reasons they're so cool!

[Joe Lansing]

    I killed my first deer with my '73 Springfield rifle using a 405 gr. cast bullet pushed by a full load of 2f. The bullet went through the deer lengthwise.

                                                                J.L.

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy Pards
The Trapdoor Carbine and the carbine load will work great in the woods . Most shots in the woods are fairly close under 70 yards .
Also if your walking the light compact carbine will be the Excellent choice .

[Shotgun Franklin]

Both the .45 Colt and the .44-40 are capable of taking deer sized game out to 100 yards. The .45-55 is plenty enough to do the same.