Mod71-Hunting loads...or not ???

[guido4198]

I load these cast bullets for my Winchester M-71, .348 WCF from a mold I inherited from my Dad. The mold is IDEAL 350447. A hollow point gas check design. The hollow point is 0.480 in. deep. I cast them from 50/50 wheel wt/lead. They run 183 gns or so. Loaded over 37.0 gns. WC846 I get a real mild "practice" load I can shoot a lot of, which groups real well. According to my chrono., they are running 1800 fps, for a muzzle energy around 1295 ft-lbs. I haven't searched for a hotter load with this bullet using another powder. The object of the exercise initially was to find a mild load using the WC846, of which I have quite a bit.
To date, these have been my "practice loads"...the rounds I take out to punch paper, and keep my skills with the rifle current before hunting. Hunting load is a much hotter 200 gn Hornady flat point. These days, I'm hunting S.E. Georgia. The deer are on the small side...125 lb being a real decent body size, many are smaller. I also take a hog now and then. I'm only interested in smaller hogs..125 and down. I have no interest in shooting "Hogzilla"...as those big ones don't make for the best table-fare.
Recently I got to wondering if my mild, pleasant "practice" load might be sufficient for my hunting needs. Ranges are close...25-100 yds.
What say you guys...???? Just looking for opinions.
Thanks.

[elmo123]

They should work great on deer.

[BrentD]

Everyone knows you should never ever attempt to shoot game animals with cast lead bullets. If you aren't using a super premium bullet, you are just stunt hunting. Not a good thing.

Seriously, I used to hunt Georgia deer. Unless things have changed a lot in the last 20 yrs, I might feel overgunned with a slingshot.

If you shoot'em where it counts, those bullets are way more than sufficient. I would slow them down to about 1500 fps and be happy.

[Homer]

I can't see why you couldn't kill a deer with that load. I'd try to keep the shot broadside through the boiler room, but other than that they should work just fine. Deer are easy to kill.

[86er]

Uh - I got a 360DW that looks very similar ballistically and it works just fine. .360 diameter, 185 grain, 1800 fps. Hmmm - you shouldn't have any worries.