Deer Hunting with a Spencer?

[Regret Chancy]

This is a tricky subject but curious about possibility of hunting Kentucky whitetail deer with my Taylors 56/50. In Kentucky zone 1 counties we have access to bonus antlerless tags and regular 1 buck and 1 doe standard tags. This gives me the option to try out some of my cowboy guns on slickheads. I would like to try for a few memorable hunts and taking one doe with each. I have my Taylors Armisport 56/50, a '76 in 45/60, a Sharps in 45/70, and my faithful 270. I could also use one of my '73s in 45 colt but will probably not use it. In KY any centerfire rifle (i know)  or pistol (i think)  is legal to hunt deer but I would like to hear from anyone who has used a 56/50 or 45 colt on performance pluses + or minuses - to help with decision. Where I hunt is a great spot and the farthest shot possible would be 75 yards anything further than that has just to much brush and limbs for quick clean kills. Thanks for looking and any comments will be appreciated,
                                                                     Regret Chancy

[Shotgun Franklin]

I've killed a bunch of deer with .45 Colt in both revolver and rifle. The only failure I had was shooting a Buck in the shoulder with a WW Silvertip, broke the bone but failed to penetrate.  I have gotten my best results with a heavy lead flat nosed bullet. I keep 50 yards or closer with my Colt and no more than 100 yards with my '92. There is a bit of bullet drop so sight in the rifle at both 50 yards and 100 yards. BTW, I do my best to take broadside shots only.
Be sure and get photos. Taking a deer with a old time lever gun or SAA gives real bragging rights around the campfire.

[French Jack]

The 56-50 on deer is a real stomper.  They don't go far with a solid hit. 

[Jbar4Ranch]

I've got my Spencer and some BP loads handy in case an elk walks across the field close enough to the house. Three years ago, I killed a cow elk with a S&W .500 mag and a gas checked 350 grain WFN bullet on a neighboring ranch, and also took a small 3x3 mulie on my place using the same bullet in a Freedom Arms M555 .50 AE with a head shot at a lased 145 yards from a prone position.

[Regret Chancy]

I have my eye on a big 11 point buck but during the summer he ran with a bachelor group of 6 or 7 others and he had a couple of buddies that will also class as shooters to me. One had more points (I think 13 but couldnt tell if there were more around the bases because they were all in velvet still) but not alot of mass, and another was a big 7 point with about a 24 inch spread and bases about as big as a pepsi can on each side. I will update as the season progresses with photos and weapons and ammo used. Thanks pards, RC

[Montana Slim]

I wouldn't hesitate to use that Spencer or 76 on Whitetails...sounds like fun!!

Regards,
Slim

[Regret Chancy]

You guys have convinced me . I will be loading up my Spencer and my 73 along with the 76 and my 270. I am glad I have a big 4 gun carrying case with a lock and an anchor point through the frame of my explorer so I can cable lock everything when I am away hunting. Here in my area the home invasions and burglaries are sky rocketing but with these safety measures I wont be so nervous leaving them at my campsite. The 76 is a real sweet shooting rifle and extremely accurate but alas extremely heavy also so I may leave it and my 270 at home this year and do it up cowboy style right down to boots and wardrobe. I had a spell when I was in my early teens that me and the man who raised me couldnt agree  so he kicked me out and I lived under a rockledge for 6 weeks and with no money and no food I used a single shot 22 with shorts to hunt squirrels and stuff for my eats. At that time I did illegally kill a whitetail doe with one shot right in the white throat patch . She dropped and never twitched so I have to say I believe a shot in the right place will drop just about anything no matter what the caliber in the hands of a competent marksman. Not saying I am always a competent marksman but that time I picked the best shot I had and maybe I just got lucky        
                                                                                                          Regret Chancy (never probable)

[Montana Slim]

Good Luck Pard....& be sure to let us know how the hunt goes!!

Slim

[Regret Chancy]

Went out today for opening day of rifle season saw 4 slickheads at about 60 yards. Passed on them as they were all yearlings. Unseasonably warm for opening day    so deer movement was low overall so figured to let the woods come alive for a fresh start tomorrow. Did shoot a large boar raccoon with my Schofield 45 lc at 50 yards or so. Remington express 225 grain wadcutter did the job as it sprayed innards over 10 foot circle. That one wont be back in the chicken yard. RC

[.56/50 Iron]

     My Spencer carbine was new in my hands less than a month ago. I've been through many final adjustments with the gun and have been doing some targeting and find that the carbine is an accurate, potent firearm at 75 yards (Have not tried longer range, no need to!). Sunday, I did the last of my range shooting with it before our gun deer season (Wisconsin) kicks in this Saturday. I fired a total of 42 rounds through the carbine. I'm now putting the rounds together with a set of RCBS .56/50 dies and I find they are perfect and working as they should be. My load for deer remains as follows: Lyman 350 grain #518145, soft lead, SPG lube, sized to groove diameter of .512".  42 grains of Swiss FFg blackpowder, Remington 9 1/2 large rifle primer. Overall length of the finished cartridge is 1.580" . Starline cases.
    Started shooting Sunday when the temperature was about 28 degrees at 1:00 PM. Cold on the fingers! Gray day, light not real good but typical of what you run into during deer season in Wisconsin. Shooting from the bench, I fired six rounds into my sighter target to make sure my point of impact remained the same: Sighting dead on and hitting dead on---pretty much! All cartridges brought up through the magazine. This is now working very smoothly as long as the overall length of the cartridge is religously measured and no variation allowed.  Changed to a fresh target at 75 yards (bench) and then fired 36 more rounds into that target to get a final, "master group". The rounds were fired from the magazine, three shots at a time, then reload three more in the tube and fire those. I use a blow tube to blow four puffs of air in the bore between shots to keep the fouling soft. There would have been 38 rounds used, except that two failed to chamber as I failed to notice that some sealant (Super Glue) that I was using to hold the slugs in the case (pre loading dies) had run down the side of the casing and hardened. This master group turned into a group a little less than 3 inches wide by 4 inches in height. I have photographed the target and the url is noted below. Also have included a picture of the "dirty Spencer" and the pile of "dirty cases" as they were at the end of the firing.
     I am truly impressed with the Spencer. With the magazine situation worked out, it is quite reliable for a follow-up shot on a deer if needed. I find myself more worried now about the casing that is extracted and falls to the ground! Sure don't want to lose those!! Someone suggested they are made of brass, but I think they are closer to gold!
     Here are the url's of the photos:
http://www.fototime.com/9008B4D11E6A889/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/3BF8F45E5BD0EA6/standard.jpg
     That is all for the present.
.56/50 Iron
     

[Regret Chancy]

The Spencer is definitly a buck buster. I got the before mentioned 'coon Saturday but havent seen any deer on Sunday and skipped a day to wait for a change in the weather to get them moving . Overall reports from fellow hunters in the area have shown that my experience was pretty much a common one and the only major source of success was predominantly in areas that had a high concentration of hunters . The bump them up coming and going and keep them moving until the deer break out to a safe refuge. It isnt planned but it works out that way. I will continue updates as to my success or lack there of .
Hey 56/50 Iron, It sounds like you have a good ammo worked out and hope you will also be posting your results. Good luck in Wisconsin . There are alot of really knowledgable people on this site and they truly show the cowboy way . They also will help anyway they can with any problems or questions.
                                                                       Regret Chancy