.40

[Hanshi]

Who all likes/owns/did own/use a rifle in .40 caliber.  What do yall think of .40 rifles, flint or percussion.

[Patocazador]

I think that .40 is a tweener, not big enough for deer except in ideal conditions and too big for small game if you want anything left to eat (unless you use it to "bark" a squirrel.

IMO, .36 is the ideal small game caliber and .45/.50/.54 are the best deer killers.

[flintboomer]

I think that .40 is a tweener, not big enough for deer except in ideal conditions and too big for small game if you want anything left to eat (unless you use it to "bark" a squirrel.

IMO, .36 is the ideal small game caliber and .45/.50/.54 are the best deer killers.

I agree on both counts, but I like my 40 for target shooting. It is an accurate caliber, easy on powder and lead and easy to shoot because of the limited recoil. It also cuts clean holes in the targets.

[beowulf]

I`ve owned two ! I`d say they tend to be very accurate , cheap shooting , and great groundhog rifles ! as for squirrels , aim for the head !

[Hanshi]

That's sort of the way I think about the .40.  I had one and it got blistering velocity beyond beyond my expectations.  I'm talking 2,200 fps.  But I preferred speeds around 1,700 fps.  A while back the bore was injured and had to be bored out to .45.  I considered it a FUN caliber.