40cal. rifle for deer and small game

[Hanshi]

Since we are mostly civil here and can agree to disagree some of you might like to  read the following article I wrote a while back. It is about modern cartridges but the common sense applies to traditional as well.  JMHO
http://wildedtx.blogspot.com/2009/02/enough-or-too-much-gun.html

You're correct; it's a no-brainer.  I've killed deer DRT with my .22 Hornet (back when I used cartridge guns).  I've also had to track a couple that were randomly hit with a 30/06.  Though I've killed more deer with a .50 prb, my favorite is a .45 I own.  Since it is seldom a shot is offered in the woods (for me) beyond about 40 yards or so, I do aim (pun intended) to use my .40 during the regular rifle season this year.  I've settled on 60 grains of 3f as my deer load.  That is a good 1900 +/- load.  70 grains!  I'm not sure my 38" barrel would burn all that powder efficiently.  In a barrel that does, it must be a hell-raiser.

[Wild Ed]

40 grains of FFFg will get you 2000 FPS.  60 grains is screaming. 

[foxriver50]

I never heard of that illness. 

[voyageur1688]

  The farther north ya go --the bigger the deer. I would not use a .40 for deer myself, but will use a .45 or larger. My current hunters are .50's and they do work great for taking deer. As for the deer here in Mn. starving back in 95..... I remember that all too well. The wintes here can be brutal to all animals and this year is shaping up to be another bad one. Our temps are about 20 degrees below average for this time of year and the other signs are all saying it will be a nasty one. (look at the mountain ash trees berries--theres lots of em this year--more than average)
Voy

[Red Badger]

What is the situation with Chronic Wasting disease up there?   i haven't heard to much about it since i moved to Oklahoma

[hank-aye]

Thanky JJ;   Chronic wasting that's what I ment when I posted eariler an said 'turning' knew it had a  'ing' to it somwheres. Turning is sumtin rabbits can get . there head dipps ta on side an they just go round n round in one direction.
Sorry if I confused anyone  there I did it fer ya.

[foxriver50]

Never heard that rabbits get it.
Five years ago "?" the dnr found a deer in the souther part pf tha stat that had CWD.   Sice then the dnr has spent more $ in the first three years on CWD than any other state has spent on it total.(that I know of) With the same resalts.

[Red Badger]

NP always glad ta be able ta straighten out your goofs....

[Honovi Mahala]

New Castle Disease does the same thing to Birds.....chickens, pigeons, crows etc.....I guess every species has it brain malfunctions.

[hank-aye]

Yep and I have my own...he-he-he-he-he         

[Red Badger]

we'd have never guessed 

[Hanshi]

40 grains of FFFg will get you 2000 FPS.  60 grains is screaming. 

Hmmm...I'll have to get out my chrony and see what's going on in my rifle.  I was calling 40 grains my squirrel load!   

[voyageur1688]

  Not much CWD up here in Mn. Do have a couple spots with bovine TB though. Not a big problem yet--- but it is there and they are givin out licenses for those areas like candy on Halloween if ya wanna hunt there.  They say it isnt able to be caught by people as long as the meat is fully cooked.
Voy

[roundball]

"...They say it isnt able to be caught by people as long as the meat is fully cooked..."

While I'm sure our country's commercial meat butchering / handling / delivery process is probably not always 100% perfect...still, IMO, a shrink wrapped black angus T-bone from a grocery store is far and away the best odds of not ending up with any problem meat...Wife and I quit eating dead animals dragged out of the woods years ago because of all the unknowns...
;)

[Red Badger]

Hmmm time for a new thread..... wildlife diseases you have known?... I personally feel that most of these diseases have been around forever, it just modern science has now developed to a point where we can identify them....  If it don't eat me first - I'll try it...