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Doe with a .454 Casull. #176880 12/31/2016 4:19 PM
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Zee Offline OP
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It was a nice cool and overcast afternoon yesterday, so I headed over to my friends to take another management doe. Setting up in a box blind on another location of the ranch, I had my 12" MGM barreled Encore in .358 Win for the longer shots and my 5" barreled Ruger .454 Casull for the close-up opportunities.





Turned out to be a much slower evening than I would have expected with the weather as it was. Nothing much got to moving until around 4 o'clock when two bucks, a yearling, and a trio of axis showed up at the feeder.



Te axis only hung around a short while and wandered off. Leaving the bucks and the yearling.



Then, down the sendaro to the south............behind the Chilean Deer...........came this monster!





Yeah..........wow. He hung around the rest of the evening. Chasing does in and out of the brush, making scrapes along the sendaro, and bedding down right in the middle so he could watch up and down the lane. Anytime a doe would cross the sendaro, he would get up and run over to her. Checking to see if she was in season or not.

Eventually, two mature does came out by the feeder along with several yearlings. The meandered and fed over by the feeder. Well within range of the Encore Pistol, but I wanted to wait and see if something would be enticed by the corn we'd put out closer to the blind and within range of the Casull. I'd use the .358 Win if it looked like nothing would be coming closer before they left. Keeping an eye on the two does as they moved around, one eventually came to the 75 yard mark and fed. But, she just never gave me a comfortable angle with the 2x scope on the Casull and I decided to be patient.

Eventually, the closer (and larger) doe wandered off into the brush. Leaving the lighter colored doe behind. I began to question myself as to whether I'd screwed up passing on the larger doe with either of the guns. But, I still had hope and the lighter doe was still around and within range of the Encore. I waited some more.

After eating all the corn under the feeder, the band of deer began following the "crumb trail" of corn towards the blind. The lighter doe among them. She eventually worked her way to about 40 yards and I was ready to shoot, when I saw the darker doe come back out of the brush and make her way over to the others. Holding fire again, I waited.

Through all the second guessing........the patience finally paid off.........and at 49 yards........I put a 250gr Hornady XTP through her on side shoulder and dropped her on the spot.

Video:

http://vid26.photobucket.com/albums/c106/lovinmycaitlynn/Hunting/DSCN4195_zps7m8zfqdn.mp4

The blast of that Casull inside the blind was like a NFDD going off in a broom closet! Dust, fabric, and sundry particles blew out the open windows like an M80 in a mailbox!

"Good Lord", my friend said. "What IS that thing?!?"

Hehehehehe...........

It's a definitive Beast.



You can see the white belly of the doe where she fell in the left side of the open window.

We gathered our things and made our way over to the doe. Another successful outing.



After loading the doe, we took a drive around the ranch in the light of the setting sun. Watching deer and generally having a good time.



Another good day in God's creation.



"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Zee] #176883 12/31/2016 4:44 PM
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Mark Hampton Offline
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Nice Shot -- Nice gun -- Congrats!

Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Mark Hampton] #176884 12/31/2016 5:00 PM
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KRal Offline
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Well done, again! Congrats!


It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: KRal] #176885 12/31/2016 5:01 PM
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Zee Offline OP
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Science!

Gun: 5in Ruger .454 Casull "Toklat"
Bullet: 250gr Hornady XTP
Muzzle Velocity: 1,510 fps
Distance: 49 yards
Angle: Quartering Away
Impact Velocity: 1,316 fps (est)
Distance Traveled: 0

Entrance:





The bullet passed through and broke the on side scapula and 1 rib. Sending bone fragments into the thoracic cavity and lungs.







Severe hemorrhaging was discovered in the chest cavity.



The bullet passed through the bottom of the spine and damaged the top of the lungs/esophagus/wind pipe.



Entrance to Lungs:



Exit:



Damage to Spine:



Exit Under Shoulder:



Exit in front of Shoulder:





Not traveling overly fast from the short barrel, the bullet still induced severe damage to the bone and soft tissue of the doe. For comparison, I push this bullet out of my two .45 Colt Lever Guns at 1,733 fps (16") and 1,815 fps (24") on up to 2,388 fps from my .460 S&W. On the slower side, I run this same bullet at 1,315 fps from my 4" Redhawk and 1,367 fps from my 6" SB Bisley. Regardless the velocity, it has worked well on deer and pigs from 5 yards to past 120 yards as I suspect it should.

I continue to be pleased with it's performance for my application and also pleased with the performance of the short Casull.


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Zee] #176887 12/31/2016 5:14 PM
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SChunter Offline
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Nice work Zee!

Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: SChunter] #176891 12/31/2016 6:03 PM
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Ernie Offline
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Good shot my friend!
Is that 8 or 9 deer so far this season?


Ernie the Un-Tactical
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Ernie] #176894 12/31/2016 6:09 PM
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Zee Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: Ernie
Good shot my friend!
Is that 8 or 9 deer so far this season?


3 with my tags and 5 with management tags for a total of 8 so far. We ain't done yet.


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Zee] #176896 12/31/2016 6:34 PM
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Ernie Offline
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What is the most deer you have ever taken in a season?


Ernie the Un-Tactical
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Ernie] #176898 12/31/2016 6:38 PM
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Ramjet-SS Offline
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I have been eye balling that gun but man o man I have purchased so many in the last 6 months I might get in big trouble !!!!!


You can't fix stupid!
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Ernie] #176901 12/31/2016 7:16 PM
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Zee Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: Ernie
What is the most deer you have ever taken in a season?


Hmmm, I honestly don't know. Back in the 90s when I was culling a lot, it would be whatever management tags were left at the end of the season that paying hunters didn't take. Could be 30 or more.

Much less fanfare back then. My weapon of choice for the mass clearing was a Remington 700 VLS in .22-250 and Federal Premium 50gr HPBT ammo. It was a head shot kinda thing. No science tonit. Just get the numbers down and take to meat to town for donation.


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Ramjet-SS] #176903 12/31/2016 7:17 PM
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 Originally Posted By: Ramjet-SS
I have been eye balling that gun but man o man I have purchased so many in the last 6 months I might get in big trouble !!!!!


One more can't hurt.
;\)


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Zee] #176906 12/31/2016 9:42 PM
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Seminole Wind Offline
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Another great post! Thanks for the effort you put into sharing your experiences.

Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Seminole Wind] #176907 12/31/2016 10:17 PM
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jamesfromjersey Offline
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science......


Life member-NRA-SCI
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"I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: jamesfromjersey] #176962 01/02/2017 12:02 PM
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racksmasher1 Offline
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Great shot Zee!

Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: racksmasher1] #176965 01/02/2017 2:41 PM
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High Tide Offline
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Congrats Zee! Hope you like that Weaver Classic as much as I like all 4 of mine!

Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: High Tide] #176970 01/02/2017 4:07 PM
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Zee Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: High Tide
Congrats Zee! Hope you like that Weaver Classic as much as I like all 4 of mine!


I have several as well. Good solid scope for the price.


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Zee] #176985 01/02/2017 9:52 PM
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FA834ME Offline
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Great Hunt!

like an M80 in a mailbox!

Got the visual on that one. Memories of my youth . . .

Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Zee] #177034 01/03/2017 4:32 PM
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TM Offline
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Nice Toklat, I have the same gun. Are you handloading for it? I only see 240 and 300 gr XTP in Hornady factory loads.

Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: TM] #177035 01/03/2017 4:36 PM
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Zee Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: TM
Nice Toklat, I have the same gun. Are you handloading for it? I only see 240 and 300 gr XTP in Hornady factory loads.


Yes. I'm handloading the 250gr XTP for a couple reasons.

1. They work well in every gun I've tried them in from .45 Colt to .460 S&W
2. I have a bunch of them.
3. The internet said I couldn't load them in a .454 Casull without ripping the jacket off (no one here), so of course........I had to try.


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Zee] #177093 01/04/2017 4:12 PM
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LABRAT Offline
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Zee, i always enjoy your autopsy posts. just curious as to your background. it seems to help in good informative technical posts.

Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: LABRAT] #177094 01/04/2017 4:42 PM
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it's not about ripping the jacket off, the deformation of the bullet can and i will damage your forcing cone. i've done this to mine in the past, with those exact bullets. it was spectaluar to get a new freedom arms barrel. i never had the bullet come apart from pushing it, did have a barrel/forcing cone issue. it'll take a bunch of rounds, but it can and will happen.

Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: tradmark] #177095 01/04/2017 4:43 PM
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tradmark Offline
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btw, good write up as well. always enjoy the pics.

Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: LABRAT] #177098 01/04/2017 5:35 PM
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Zee Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: LABRAT
Zee, i always enjoy your autopsy posts. just curious as to your background. it seems to help in good informative technical posts.


Attention to detail has always been important.


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: tradmark] #177099 01/04/2017 5:59 PM
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Zee Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: tradmark
it's not about ripping the jacket off, the deformation of the bullet can and i will damage your forcing cone. i've done this to mine in the past, with those exact bullets. it was spectaluar to get a new freedom arms barrel. i never had the bullet come apart from pushing it, did have a barrel/forcing cone issue. it'll take a bunch of rounds, but it can and will happen.


It was more about doing something folks (on the internet) said I shouldn't/couldn't do. So, I had to try.

Now that I've done it, and killed something with it, I'll likely shoot the 90 or so rounds I have left over the next couple years and call it good. Then switch to the 350gr WFN-GC load I have for all my Casulls.

Make life simple.


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Zee] #177100 01/04/2017 7:31 PM
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tradmark Offline
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good choice, it is a great bullet i have loaded for my son's casull for deerhunting at 1300 fps. then it won't bust up my [censored]. i would, however, not fill the case with unique and fire it cuz anyone says it's not a good idea.

Re: Doe with a .454 Casull. [Re: Zee] #185077 10/17/2017 2:19 PM
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MrMcPorkchop Offline
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 Originally Posted By: Zee


The blast of that Casull inside the blind was like a NFDD going off in a broom closet! Dust, fabric, and sundry particles blew out the open windows like an M80 in a mailbox!

"Good Lord", my friend said. "What IS that thing?!?"

Hehehehehe...........

It's a definitive Beast.



My dad shot a fallow deer from a box blind in Texas last year with his .460, I don't think he was fully prepared for the blast, even with ear muffs, he said it was most certainly not fun...


Choot em!

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