Favorite "smaller than deer" cartridge?
- Thread starter RicinYakima
- Start date
9
9.3X62AL
Guest
I shoot the 22 Hornet--25/20 WCF--and 32/20 WCF pretty frequently, all with cast bullets. These cartridges are economical to shoot and accurate and powerful enough for small game and varmints.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
I tried to break into the gun writing business in the late 1980's, sold a few unpublished articles to Gun Digest Books and Precision Shooting. Finally Wolfe Publishing told me that to make the intro, I needed to write articles that sold products to their biggest advertisers. I wanted to write about interesting stuff and not be a whore. So since then I write for The Fouling Shot and Antique Reloading Tool Journal and other collector magazines.
Also, I don't write anything for the internet that just gets passed on with no credit or fees. Been there and done that gig. PM me your personal email address and I will send you an article I wrote for The Fouling Shot on the 32/20.
Also, I don't write anything for the internet that just gets passed on with no credit or fees. Been there and done that gig. PM me your personal email address and I will send you an article I wrote for The Fouling Shot on the 32/20.
Ian
Notorious member
Ric, I think all of use here appreciate you not being a "whore" to a product. I quit buying ANY gun magazines a long time ago, even told the NRA to not bother sending me AR or AH because it's full of paid adverts or "articles" which are the same thing. I can't remember the last time I actually saw an article that offered even the smallest criticisms of the product being hawked by the editors.
However, I do subscribe to Gun Tests.
However, I do subscribe to Gun Tests.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
32-20 in a Savage 23 or a Remington #4 in 32 S+W. In a revolver it's darn hard to beat a K32, but my M48 22Mag wit 22WRF is close, but lots more expensive to shoot. There are others that fill the bill from 218 Bee and 25/20 to 38/357 and 45ACP, they all work.
Rally Hess
Well-Known Member
The .32-20 in a Marlin 1894 or a S&W Mod 15 in .38 Spl. I tend to shoot the Mod 15 the most because I have a Star press for it and it carries easier.
9
9.3X62AL
Guest
My 25/20 and 32/20 rifles are both Marlin 1894 variants, and are delights afield. Grain and alfalfa fields full of ground squirrels are their natural habitat, and desert dry washes with jackrabbits "shaded up" under creosote bushes or sagebrush are a close second place. Over the years my hunting activity has turned away from table fare and now emphasizes predator and varmint control. Marie says it is an outgrowth of the cop work that I am now retired from. I don't chaw over those sorts of gold-leaf distinctions, I just like strafing rats--jacks--and coyotes.
JWFilips
Well-Known Member
For small game in Pennsylvania we are limited to .23 cal or less ( Don't really know why? Also for years it was rimfire only except now cf .23 cal and smaller allowed) Varmints of course are another story anything & Fall Turkey any centerfire
Worked on a good .223 Rem light cast load for squirrel this past year but haven't got a chance to get out with it But looks like I will have lots a time this winter , sans job, & right in prime time winter small game season! I'm starting to feel better about this Especially if I could put food on the table!
Rally; as to the Model 15 S&W .38 Spec. That is the one that is on my hip the most often. Probable the easiest shooting S&W ( outside of my Model 19)
Not the best CC gun but in the winter it hides nice under heavy clothes & it is there in case a turkey crosses my path.
Jim
Worked on a good .223 Rem light cast load for squirrel this past year but haven't got a chance to get out with it But looks like I will have lots a time this winter , sans job, & right in prime time winter small game season! I'm starting to feel better about this Especially if I could put food on the table!
Rally; as to the Model 15 S&W .38 Spec. That is the one that is on my hip the most often. Probable the easiest shooting S&W ( outside of my Model 19)
Not the best CC gun but in the winter it hides nice under heavy clothes & it is there in case a turkey crosses my path.
Jim
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
I am surprised to how many folks are using the 100+ year old cartridges, and very happy about it. I just don't have a good 22 hornet or 223 load that holds up past 50 yards like the 25/20.
When I went from undercover to uniformed in LE, the cream de la cream was the S&W Model 15. Still have mine and still shoot WC's all the time.
When I went from undercover to uniformed in LE, the cream de la cream was the S&W Model 15. Still have mine and still shoot WC's all the time.
Rally Hess
Well-Known Member
That's where my Mod 15 came from. I had a LGS that bought out a PD that was transitioning to Mod 686's. I bought four for $125.00 each. I got the "Chiefs" gun which looked like new and added target trigger and hammer to it,had a buddy of mine smooth it up some and put a red ramp front sight blade in it myself. When my kids get married I give them a .22 rifle and a mod. 15. I have one daughter unmarried, but is talking about it now, so i need to find a mod. 15 soon. She's not getting the "chiefs" gun. LOL
My all time favorite "small deer" cartridge was 25/20 in my Marlin 94CL. I used 4.0 grs. of Unique behind the 257420 for edible small game. I also had a "high speed" load, same bullet, with a compressed load of RL-7 (14.5 grs.). This chronographs just under 2200 fps. It is NOT for weak actioned guns. In the Marlin, I loaded up five cases of this load, twenty times, and was still shooting those same cases years later when I sold the rifle. The finest small game rifle a man (or woman) could have.
I did a lot of "small deer" hunting with handguns. My two favorite cartridges for this (in no particular order) was .32 S&W Long/.32 H&R and the .38 Special. Great small game revolver loads. It just doesn't get any better...
Here is my 631 (use either .32 S&W Long cases or .32 H&R cases):
Here is one of my favorite .38's for "small deer", a 60-4:
Dale53
I did a lot of "small deer" hunting with handguns. My two favorite cartridges for this (in no particular order) was .32 S&W Long/.32 H&R and the .38 Special. Great small game revolver loads. It just doesn't get any better...
Here is my 631 (use either .32 S&W Long cases or .32 H&R cases):
Here is one of my favorite .38's for "small deer", a 60-4:
Dale53
Hey guys,
My go to rifle/ load for varmints and small predators is a Winchester 94, 9.5 grains Unique and a Lyman 311008 WDWW w/ PBGC and lubed w/ FWFL.
I shoot this load in a "homemade" trapper and a pre '64 20" Win. 94. It shoots around an inch at 50 yds. using peep sights. In both guns it doesn't lead the bores and has completely passed through everything up to coyote size (30 pounds) at less than 100 yds. I was thinking about going up to 10 grains Unique but groups started to open up past 9.5 grains. I have used this load on jack rabbits, skunks, coons, foxes, coyotes, feral cats and ground squirrels.
I am going to try the Mihec 314-640 100 grain HP and solid and see how it does. I have loaded some but I have not had time to do a good load development.
Jeff
My go to rifle/ load for varmints and small predators is a Winchester 94, 9.5 grains Unique and a Lyman 311008 WDWW w/ PBGC and lubed w/ FWFL.
I shoot this load in a "homemade" trapper and a pre '64 20" Win. 94. It shoots around an inch at 50 yds. using peep sights. In both guns it doesn't lead the bores and has completely passed through everything up to coyote size (30 pounds) at less than 100 yds. I was thinking about going up to 10 grains Unique but groups started to open up past 9.5 grains. I have used this load on jack rabbits, skunks, coons, foxes, coyotes, feral cats and ground squirrels.
I am going to try the Mihec 314-640 100 grain HP and solid and see how it does. I have loaded some but I have not had time to do a good load development.
Jeff
Missionary
Well-Known Member
Greetings Jeff
Nice job on the home brew Trapper. Amazing what a hacksaw can do to a plain barreled lever gun. Red Fox and "yotes" get my attention when I am up north in ILLinois.
Mike in Peru
Nice job on the home brew Trapper. Amazing what a hacksaw can do to a plain barreled lever gun. Red Fox and "yotes" get my attention when I am up north in ILLinois.
Mike in Peru
Missionary
Well-Known Member
Good to see your jabbings also. My schedule gets crazy some weeks. Christmas time gets busy. Some days I have a few minutes here and there and little time to jab the keyboard. Same for many me thinks.
Have an old abused Win 92 that needed 2 inches removed to shoot groups and not patterns. Have thought often about knocking off another 1.5 inch or so to get to 16 1/4 inches. Have a .357 with a 16 inch that is fun to haul about.
Mike in Peru
Have an old abused Win 92 that needed 2 inches removed to shoot groups and not patterns. Have thought often about knocking off another 1.5 inch or so to get to 16 1/4 inches. Have a .357 with a 16 inch that is fun to haul about.
Mike in Peru
fiver
Well-Known Member
many of you know I'm a huge fan of the x57 case size and this question is going to be answered the same.
anything smaller than deer, the round limit is like 50 a day, and the range is @100yds or less
I will stoop down and shoot cast in the 7x57,yeah I know, I know .
I will also load it up and shoot deer, antelope, wolf, moose, and elk with a 139gr hornady at somewhere around 2800 fps.
or throw a 100gr sp in and shoot smaller stuff further out at 3-k fps.
if I had to pick shoot and keep just one rifle it for sure would be a good 7x57 rifle with a 22-23" barrel.
anything smaller than deer, the round limit is like 50 a day, and the range is @100yds or less
I will stoop down and shoot cast in the 7x57,yeah I know, I know .
I will also load it up and shoot deer, antelope, wolf, moose, and elk with a 139gr hornady at somewhere around 2800 fps.
or throw a 100gr sp in and shoot smaller stuff further out at 3-k fps.
if I had to pick shoot and keep just one rifle it for sure would be a good 7x57 rifle with a 22-23" barrel.