I've taken deer with my .32-40's and pretty similar to 8.15x46R, so can't see why it wont do an equal job.

You all just made Elmer roll over in his grave. And I would add, ill advised.

Might have to try that next season if really will make that arrogant “gentleman” roll over.

A lot of deer were killed with calibers we wouldn't find appropriate today. I had an old friend who told me he took a number of deer with his .25-20 Winchester Low Wall as a young man. I was surprised, but didn't doubt his statement.
I've taken them with my 1889 Marlin in .38-40 and a 170 gr. cast bullet at around 1400 fps, at 80 yds. Never saw a deer react so violently from a bullet strike before, or since. I was very impressed with the knockdown power.

If you want "humane", shoot them in the head. A shot through both lungs and the heart will still let them run a bit before they realize they are dead. I remember a friend shooting one with the then new 7mm Mag. He shot it in the neck hitting an artery and the hydraulic shock blew up the heart and popped out an eyeball. It dropped, humane?

I was poking fun at Elmer, but I do believe there are much better cartridges to use for deer than the 8.15x46R. I am not saying that you cant't kill a deer with the cartridge, but that there are far better choices. Perhaps make your choice from a deer,s perspective, not just your own.

You are right John. A lot more to the equation than the cartridge itself, but it is an important consideration. Shot placement, Bullet choice, range, velocity, energy, are some of the others. Choose wisely so that you can live with your choice. One man's opinion, and as we see here, there are many others. Elmer Keith had his, as did Jack O'connor, although miles apart, they did agree on some. Krag

No doubt My choice of 185 gr cast 20 to 1 was wrong. I did know that 8.15 x 46 was loaded for hunting. If I remember correctly, the jacketed hunting load was approximately 150 gr thus the Buffalo Arms bullet, I have their .318 175 gr I shoot in my Mauser sporters 
but feel that it is heavy for the 8.15x 46. Right now I am trying to get a 6mm krag with a 1 in 12 twist to shoot a deer suitable bullet if you can find any.
Mike

It all boils down to to being willing to wait for the deer to be within proper range and being able to place your shot exactly where it needs to go. 
Lee Gibbs pres.ASSRA 
Pretty simple but hard to do for most people

I agree completely. I hunt alone I don’t remember the last time I took a shot over 100 yards. The important thing that dictates where I hunt is how far will I have to push the game cart, at 77 yrs old it matters.
Mike

There is a partial box 8 of 10  rws 8.15x46 softpoint ammo on Gunauction coming up in 7 days,   Odd looking bullet, flatnose softpoint bore rider can't tell if its a stopring bullet or not. Bid at 5 bucks now.
LD1
Auction by,  Lock Stock and Barrel   also 3 boxes of 32-40 ammo

What rifle chambered for 8.15x46 are you using?
Thanks Mike

BlackPowderLove - I must apologize for the off topic post, just couldn't help it. I too am interested in the type of rifle in question. It could have an effect on the answers to your question as to it's suitability for hunting large game.

From my perspective, you made a wise decision. Too, we like to see photographs of neat rifles, if you would be so inclined.  Krag

I would guess your 175 gr. bullet and Unique load will be around 1200 fps, and maybe a bit too light for clean kills on deer. I'd want to bump it up a full grain if I used it for deer. Or choose another powder like 2400 or 4759 (if you've got any) to bring the velocity up another 150 fps.

My first attempt to take a mule deer with a single shot was with my #8 Union Hill Ballard in .38-55, and I had some question about how it might shoulder if I had to take a quick shot. Never found out as I was watching a draw opening morning when one of the best mule deer I've ever taken came up the far side, giving me plenty of time to properly shoulder the small Farrow buttplate. I took him at 140 yds. with a 255 gr. cast lead bullet at 1350 fps, and he dropped with one shot.

I wasn't giving my example of using my Ballard Union Hill in .38-55 as a comparison to knock down power. I was using it as an example of using a schuetzen type rifle to hunt deer, since he mentioned some hesitancy to use his schuetzen for deer.
And bumping up a full grain isn't something I'd do if the charge was close, and I was trying to define a perfect load. But his load for the .32-40 using 7.5 grs. of Unique is so anemic he can easily go up 1 full grain, and not be putting anything into jeopardy. Once he's bumped it up to 8.5 grs. Unique, he can then begin to refine it slowly until it's what he wants. But as it is it's much to mild for deer hunting with a .32-40 and 175 gr. bullet.

Again, BlackPowderLove stated that his rifle in question is a German schuetzen rifle from the early twenties. Unless one gets lucky, and the rifle fits, it would be from an offhand position, not a good or best situation for a hunting rifle regardless of cartridge. In my estimation even more so with the cartridge in question. To use the example of taking a large Mule deer buck at 140 yards with a 38-55 to justify the use of the posters rifle to do the same, albeit at shorter range, is not a credible comparison nor a wise choice. This is my opinion and may not agree with others, but is none the less, just as worthy of consideration. I do wish BlackPowderLove the best of luck on his deer hunt, but also pleased with his decision to use another and better choice of rifle and cartridge. Krag

Granted, it would help to see the rifle in question, but it was described as a German schuetzen rifle, and "very much a target rifle", hence my notations. As I always say, everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Let's make this simple, you do things your way, and I will do them my way.

It was, I was just done.

Until a big fire burned my traditional hunting area (1959 on ...) I used several rifles but settled on a handi-rifle in 30-30. LVR and good hunting bullet. Worked rather well!
Now we hunt family property in a muzzleloader only area so .50 cal, short range i.e. 50 yds.  Tree stand, area is too small for more than one hunter at a time, bounded on two sides by public trail so one has to carefully make certain that everything goes into the ground.

Interesting in that you brought up the 30-30 and what I killed my first deer with when still a wee lad and in the 7th grade. Still a good choice now as it was way back then and so would the 8.15X46R be as far as I am concerned within its own effective range. Also reminds abit about going to Colorado to hunt and the care taker of the private land he allowed us to hunt on was a Native American. He used to joke about and shake his head at some of the firearms the out of state per-say elephant hunters would typically bring with them. He shot a 243 for everything including elk and bear and myself a 6MM Rem on a Ruger #1B so I could easily relate to him.

yamoon
Good point about not trying to reload a cartridge to make the rifle into something it wasn't intended to do.

     I'd like to ask the original poster a question. With all these responses can you honestly take an 8.15 into the woods with 100 % confidence ? I've taken maybe 6 deer with a 32/40 Ballard or Highwall and would do it again. Every one of those deer needed 1 shot. I've also held back on 30 or so shots because there wasn't a high chance of dropping them cleanly.

As I stated before, the average European deer is one half the size of the average North American Whitetail or Mule deer. Yes, you can kill a much larger animal with the 8.15 x 46R, but it is far from the ideal. If you limit the range to 100 yards or less, and make bullet design and placement paramount, then go forth, but there are still much more efficient cartridges for the task. As someone once said, don't take a knife to a gunfight, the outcome is generally less than stellar.

Seems like some need to get to know some European deer species....

I am well aware of the deer species native to Europe. It should be rather obvious that I don't feel the 8.15x46R is the best cartridge for any deer species native to Europe, from the small Roe deer to the much larger Red deer, and the even larger Moose (a member of the deer family)for that matter. Those of you who would disagree are more than welcome to your opinion, as am I. I have allowed, that within certain parameters, the cartridge in question(and rifle it is chambered in) could, and am sure, has been used to hunt for and killed untold numbers of the smaller deer species of Europe, but not for the larger deer species native to North America, from the Coues deer on up. There are exceptions to every rule, but there are rules in place for a reason. Some states have either caliber and or energy requirements for hunting big game. Sometimes it is prudent to read the entire post so that some do not have to repeat their opinion and considerations again and again. I will again(for the last time) state that the cartridge in question is not the best choice for the task in question.

MartiniBelgian  One does not need to be European to be aware of the most common deer species in that part of the world. That being said, I am one generation(thankfully)shy of being such.

Much better choice!!!

I am comforted to know that you do not make up the rules that govern what can or can not be used to hunt deer, or any large game in my state of residence. I have witnessed large bull moose dispatched with a 22 caliber rifle in northern B.C. albeit from a canoe alongside a swimming animal. Again, not the best choice.  I suppose I like to consider how I would feel if I were in the animals place. A sporting chance and the right tool for the job at hand.

I would not argue otherwise, but the 22 should be used for squirrels, the 458 for elephants, not the other way around. There are rules to make the likely hood of the latter happening somewhat less likely. As someone once said, you can't fix stupid, and therefore we have rules. And as always, there are those that can't or won't read.

And then there are those who follow the "rules", get a 325 WSM, and then gut shoot an elk at 673 yards. Stupid is as stupid does.

Could have, but didn't, because you were willing to follow the rules. Unfortunately not all are, nor are they aware of the need for them. Thanks

There are rules imposed by authorities, and then there are self imposed "rules" that are part of hunting etiquette that we impose on ourselves. Neither ensures 100% that even a perfectly placed shot will always take game down with one shot.
And of course we've all heard the stories of game taken with cartridges we'd never consider, or the mythical stories of cartridges so powerful that no matter where the bullet strikes they'll drop deer. Both are possible, but highly unlikely.
I hunted deer for many years with a .30-06 and had as much confidence in that cartridge and rifle as any could have. But I had a stubborn little forked horn that took 3 shots well placed before he finally stayed down. It puzzled me, and my nephew when it happened, but it didn't make me abandon the combination based on the one incident.
In Oregon a .22 CF is legal for deer also, and after years of varmint hunting coyotes, and other varmints I decided to use my .22-250 for deer one year. Even my long time hunting partners were not enthusiastic about the odds I'd take deer cleanly that first year. But taking a buck at 365 yds. opening morning, with one shoulder shot convinced them. I took bucks with one shot using the .22-250 for over a decade, and within a few years my hunting partners also switched to the same caliber and took bucks easily with them too. But I still get guys telling me it's foolish, and not reliable, regardless of proven history of success.
I have used a lot of old single shot and lever action rifles to take deer the last 20 years, and so far al have been successful one shot kills. I try to use a different cartridge and riffle each year, just because I consider it fun to look at a gun in my safe and recall the hunt with it.
I've used .38-40, .32-40, .38-55, 40-60M, and .45-70 in Marlin lever guns. I've used .32-40, .38-55, .40-63, .40-70SS, and .45-70 in single shots also. None of them had any issue taking deer, but the most impressive kill was with the short .38-40 in an 1889 Marlin. Impressive because of the deer's reaction to being hit by it, and no sign of movement after it dropped to the ground. No larger capacity cartridge was any cleaner kill than the stubby .38-40 was.

Another comment of using cartridges like the 8.15x46R for deer.  There are a number of larger (.35 & larger) caliber PCP air rifles that are listed as good for deer.  Many of those air rifles are not as powerful as the 8.15x46.  From videos that I have seen, people successfully kill deer with air rifles.

Anyone else seen the video where an archer drops a moose in its tracks?

85lc wrote on May 16^th, 2021 at 6:24pm:


Lewis & Clark Expedition had Giradoni air rifles and took many deer using them on the trip to the Pacific. I've fired one of those Girandoni's and they'll shoot about 20 shots without recharging the buttstock air tank, and at a high enough velocity to kill deer with the .40 caliber air rifle.
In his writings Lewis credited the air rifle for a huge part of the expedition success. First for being quiet when they wanted to not be heard, and second because they demonstrated it's use at every village they stopped at. The natives saw the Girandoni being fired without reloading rapidly and assumed all the rifles the Expedition carried could do the same. So they left them alone knowing they were out gunned by the repeaters.

rkba2nd,
You are correct, but I think people need to look critically at any hunting video.  The deer shot was not a large Canadian deer but a smaller Georgia doe.  The shot was at close range and the deer wasn't excited.  In those situations, the 357 PCP apparently was successful.   
My thoughts are that in the hands of a serious, competent hunter who can accurately shoot and carefully takes his shots, smaller (or less powerful) guns can be used successfully.  Those are a lot of caveats.  From the limited amount that I have seen, shot placement and having an unexcited animal are most important in one shot kills

While I do not want more laws and rules, I do like (at least parts of) the German model (as I understand it) that hunters take hunting courses to learn about hunting & gun safety and then need to pass a competency course.  What I have read and heard is that German hunters are fairly knowledgeable and respect the game they hunt.

This type of proof was also mandatory when I was hunting out of state in Colorado. My hunters certificate had to be included for their review when buying my license and my tags.

Yes and I was born in 1951. In California one just had to use their last Hunting License. When Colorado changed their Law my original Safety Certificate from back when I was 10 was no where to be found. So I had to go take the test all over again.

Born in 1943 so I hope not. I was taught to hunt and safely handle firearms by my grandfather.
Mike

yamoon  Most of us were taught by our father, grandfather, or in my case a neighbor mentor, my father having just returned from years of war in the Pacific, and saw enough killing. Times have changed, and I would not send my son or grandson into the outdoors during hunting season on public land without the knowledge that others have at least a rudimentary understanding of basic safety protocols and and awareness of pertinent laws pertaining to the use of firearms and hunting related laws in their state of residence. Rural Kansas, and now even the rocky Mountains of the mountain states have much much more in common regarding the number of hunters afield during hunting seasons. There are those that reside in large cities and have never seen a deer, or handled a firearm of any persuasion, and I would shudder to think of them out in the same area as my son or grandson, without at least a bare minimum of instruction. The good old days are not quite so good anymore in this respect at least.

This post has moved away from the original question, but it is good to have these conversations. I hunt deer every year, last year COVID-19 ruined my deer season. I have noticed there seems to be fewer hunters each year. Here is an excerpt from Kansas Wildlife and Parks harvest report.
total deer permits sold in Kansas for the 2018-19 deer season was 179,247 (Fig. 1), which is a decline of 1.85% from 2017-18 and 7.00% below the five-year average. This is the fourth year in a row that deer permit sales have declined. Most of the declines are in resident over-the- counter permits. The largest declines were in Whitetail Any Season General Resident, Whitetail Any Season Landowner/Tenant, and Whitetail Any Season Youth. Non-resident permit sales have been steady since most non-resident permits are limited availability with quotas, but slight variation occurs with Hunt-Own-Land permits.
I hope to pass on everything I have learned to my 13 year old nephew as soon as he can legally hunt. I am afraid hunting is a doomed sport.
Mike

yamoon  I can't speak for the state of Iowa, but Colorado for example has managed to complicate the equation by offering multiple hunting seasons, beginning in late August, and continuing through January,  which puts game under much longer periods of stress and disrupts their normal behavior. What it really boils down to, is money. I would guess that hunter numbers have declined in most states, due, at least in part to the constant cry against hunting in general, and more and more people are gravitating to large urban areas for jobs, schools, etc ,etc. In Colorado, another blow to the Game and Fish department, was combining that department with State Parks, to gain access to game department funds. Again, de-emphasizing the game department. There is still a very large portion of Colorado in(or should be) in the PUBLIC/PEOPLES domain. National Forests, BLM, State lands and wildlife areas etc, many of which are being sold to oil companies, mining interests, power companies, government agencies, developers large corporate entities(read ski slopes) and more access roads to support the above. It will never end as long as large population corridors(cities)dictate policy, and attitudes don't change.            I really have gone off on a tangent, guess I just had to blow off a little steam, and I don't even(by choice) hunt any more.

yamoon   Well, at least there are two of us!!!

Deer aren't hard to kill. I killed one with an 1860 Colt army percussion revolver. Shot her in the neck and down she went. 30 yard shot. Another check off of my bucket list. It's all about shot placement.

I would suggest that nobody should hunt with an 1860 Colt.

Deer are not really that hard to kill by an experienced outdoors man who fully knows how to not wound or to make an animal have to suffer. As well as not doing it in a manner that does not waste allot of precious meat. Some do believe that it is not proper to use various firearms but I have also seen allot of meat destroyed and being wasted. By those being over gunned and not fully knowing how to actually humanly take such easily killed game.

It occurs to me that it's the  ability of the man behind the trigger than what caliber he's shooting.

Redrighthand   It occurs to me, that if a person has spent the time to become competent behind the trigger, that person should be able to discern which cartridge is BEST suited for the game to be hunted, in concert with an HONEST appraisal of their ability behind the trigger.

yamoon   Your approach seems much more responsible and well thought out. I wish you well, and am sure of your success.

You are to be commended, but the discussion started around the use of a particular cartridge. I have a friend who has taken at least two Cape Buffalo, Water Buffalo, and Elephant with a bow, but would hesitate to recommend it's use, unless one is willing to spend a lifetime perfecting the skill and patience to succeed, and I might add survive!!!