Cast bullets for hunting

The majority of my handgun hunting took place in east central Wyoming, for Mule deer. My first trip was 1977 and for that year and until 1981, I used a sporterized 1903 Springfield. But in 1982 I switched to a handgun, S&W .41 Mag, Model 57 with an 8 3/8” barrel. That year the load was a Hornady JHP with 296.

Then from 1983 on it was only cast bullets, Saeco 220-grain, alternating between H-110 and 296. One trip I used a Hoch 295-grain cast bullet and 19.0- grains of WW680. In 1987 I switched to a modified Dan  Wesson 357 Super Mag. It is chambered in what I call .41 Wyoming. It has an 8” 1:14 Douglas .41 barrel, the cylinder is modified to accept a 220 Swift (rimmed) case shortened to 1.6” and opened up to accept .41 bullets. This revolver is sometimes incorrectly described as the predecessor to the Dan Wesson 414 Super Mag.  It has never seen a jacketed bullet. The last year I took a deer was 2014. We’ve been going in even numbered years since 2000. I go now but don’t hunt, just visit the rancher and his family. My dad started the group in 1956 and the group has been going to the same ranch every year since.

The bullet is a Hoch 323-grain. All of the loads used 17.5-grains of H-4227 but for one trip I used VV N-110.

For both revolvers, iron sights only were used. Muzzle velocities ranged between 1050 and 1150 fps. The S&W took (5) Mule deer and the Dan Wesson took (13) Mule Deer and (2) Minnesota Whitetails. Entry and exit wound holes were usually the same size. Alloy was wheel weights. The largest Mule deer was a 5x5 (western count), weighing 210-pounds field dressed, with the S&W, in 1986. Some years we didn’t succeed in the license lottery and other years we hunted but got skunked. In 1977 the non resident license was $50. Today it is $385…..for a deer!