Guns & Outdoors Forum

Disclaimer: It wasn’t a hunt. It was a target of opportunity cull. But, I wanted to use my new Sharps.

The owner had asked me to take an axis for a needy family she knew. When she asked, I knew exactly which management buck I wanted. We’ve taken a lot of axis does lately and I try to balance and manage the buck/doe ratio. So, I needed to take a buck.
When Joe and Chris were down, my intent was to take him them. But, the sucker eluded the opportunity for the past month.
Sunday, I was leaving the ranch and saw him. Didn’t have my rifle. So, I ran home and got it. Returned to the ranch and found him again. Fighting with other bucks in the pasture. When I got near him in my truck, they all ran. It took about 30min of cat and mouse to get close enough. Finally, he was distracted fighting another buck and when they broke up and he started posturing, I shot him in the neck at 120yrds w/ a 405gr Cast Bullet. Dropped him on the spot.
It was 95 deg at the time so I had to rush and take a few pics then get him to the barn, skinned, cleaned, quartered, and on ice.
He’s a management buck because at his age he should have longer brows and he’s missing a fork on his left side. Not a trophy. But, still a cool buck to take with a sharps.

Damn fine rifle, cool looking buck and a great shot! Who could ask for more.

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 9:29 pm Who could ask for more.

He could have done it with bare feet and a loin cloth. Ok the feets a given. He could have been wearing a loin cloth.

very nice was to bloody the Sharps.

I like culls in general.
I think this one is exceptional.
Beautiful Rifle!

He looks like a trophy to me. Great rifle to take him with

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 9:46 pm

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 9:29 pm Who could ask for more.

He could have done it with bare feet and a loin cloth. Ok the feets a given. He could have been wearing a loin cloth.

I still have the video of the 600 yard shot he did with his big toe

AWWWWWW YEAAAAH!!

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 9:29 pm Damn fine rifle, cool looking buck and a great shot! Who could ask for more.

It all worked out perfect for a cat and mouse cull. I like that it was a bit of a challenge. Took a month to find him again. And the a bit of movement and distraction.

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 9:46 pm

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 9:29 pm Who could ask for more.

He could have done it with bare feet and a loin cloth. Ok the feets a given. He could have been wearing a loin cloth.

Hell, if you’d have said naked I’d have obliged. .

sakodude wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 10:31 pm very nice was to bloody the Sharps.

Yeah. First game with a sharps.

Ernie wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 12:03 am I like culls in general.
I think this one is exceptional.
Beautiful Rifle!

I do too. I like odd.

Diver43 wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 12:36 am He looks like a trophy to me. Great rifle to take him with

Thank you sir. It’s been a desire for a long time.

Bigslug wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 2:58 am AWWWWWW YEAAAAH!!

Not any terminal testing. A 405 through the spine is pretty definitive.

Zee wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 3:14 am

Bigslug wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 2:58 am AWWWWWW YEAAAAH!!

Not any terminal testing. A 405 through the spine is pretty definitive.

The one elk I shot with my C.Sharps 40-65 Win was a neck shot at just over 100 yards. Also a 1 shot stop Those big lead bullets just work.

Zee wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 3:14 am

Bigslug wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 2:58 am AWWWWWW YEAAAAH!!

Not any terminal testing. A 405 through the spine is pretty definitive.

Yep. Note that I didn't ask about bullet recovery.

Until you soften those bullets down into maybe the 10-11 BHN range, you won't likely see anything in terms of meaningful deformation with those solid flat points - certainly not in the Trapdoor/Sharps speed range. Commercial cast is typically gonna be a good bit harder than that - mostly to prevent having a bunch of dented up bullets when they arrive after shipping. A bullet with that profile of12 BHN (wheel weights) or harder is just gonna truck on through.

And the older stuff can surprise you. I melted down a couple boxes of commercial cast .45 pistol bullets that Pop and I bought WAY before we started casting that I found in the dark recesses of our component storage. They tested at 22 BHN - linotype. Linotype is currently regarded as almost gold among casters due to it's high tin content (a very helpful additive), but back in the day, the casting company probably just lucked into a print shop that went out of business or had switched to more modern printing tech.

Cast bullets excel at hole punching, not expanding, at those speeds. No margin of error, just put it where you are supposed to and it will drop. Other than that, they aren’t special or magical.

Perfect

Zee wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 3:10 am

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 9:29 pm Damn fine rifle, cool looking buck and a great shot! Who could ask for more.

It all worked out perfect for a cat and mouse cull. I like that it was a bit of a challenge. Took a month to find him again. And the a bit of movement and distraction.

That's great! It is a better hunt when they are sneaky!

Zee wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 3:11 am

CPJ 2.0 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 9:46 pm

Wambli Ska wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2026 9:29 pm Who could ask for more.

He could have done it with bare feet and a loin cloth. Ok the feets a given. He could have been wearing a loin cloth.

Hell, if you’d have said naked I’d have obliged. .

Note to self....

Very cool, axis is some good eating and I would take those horns in a heartbeat.

Bigslug wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 12:23 pm

Zee wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 3:14 am

Bigslug wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 2:58 am AWWWWWW YEAAAAH!!

Not any terminal testing. A 405 through the spine is pretty definitive.

Yep. Note that I didn't ask about bullet recovery.

Until you soften those bullets down into maybe the 10-11 BHN range, you won't likely see anything in terms of meaningful deformation with those solid flat points - certainly not in the Trapdoor/Sharps speed range. Commercial cast is typically gonna be a good bit harder than that - mostly to prevent having a bunch of dented up bullets when they arrive after shipping. A bullet with that profile of12 BHN (wheel weights) or harder is just gonna truck on through.

And the older stuff can surprise you. I melted down a couple boxes of commercial cast .45 pistol bullets that Pop and I bought WAY before we started casting that I found in the dark recesses of our component storage. They tested at 22 BHN - linotype. Linotype is currently regarded as almost gold among casters due to it's high tin content (a very helpful additive), but back in the day, the casting company probably just lucked into a print shop that went out of business or had switched to more modern printing tech.

No idea what the hardness of the bullet Zee used is. They’re powdercoated cast bullets on IMR4198 going just a touch over 1500 fps. I’m sure it made a fine spine smasher.

It’s the same load Zee tried at 700 yards, when we found out gravity works REALLY well on that bullet…

Yeah, that sucker drops like a rock!

Awesome way to 'blood' a rifle.
Well done!!

Henry nice, and a great way to bloody the rifle!

Jay wrote: ↑Sat May 30, 2026 1:52 pm

Bigslug wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 12:23 pm

Zee wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2026 3:14 am

Not any terminal testing. A 405 through the spine is pretty definitive.

Yep. Note that I didn't ask about bullet recovery.

Until you soften those bullets down into maybe the 10-11 BHN range, you won't likely see anything in terms of meaningful deformation with those solid flat points - certainly not in the Trapdoor/Sharps speed range. Commercial cast is typically gonna be a good bit harder than that - mostly to prevent having a bunch of dented up bullets when they arrive after shipping. A bullet with that profile of12 BHN (wheel weights) or harder is just gonna truck on through.

And the older stuff can surprise you. I melted down a couple boxes of commercial cast .45 pistol bullets that Pop and I bought WAY before we started casting that I found in the dark recesses of our component storage. They tested at 22 BHN - linotype. Linotype is currently regarded as almost gold among casters due to it's high tin content (a very helpful additive), but back in the day, the casting company probably just lucked into a print shop that went out of business or had switched to more modern printing tech.

No idea what the hardness of the bullet Zee used is. They’re powdercoated cast bullets on IMR4198 going just a touch over 1500 fps. I’m sure it made a fine spine smasher.

It’s the same load Zee tried at 700 yards, when we found out gravity works REALLY well on that bullet…

At those distances you have to think mortar…