I took my Ruger #1 conversion 470 NE to deer camp this year. I am shooting 500 grain XLC bullets at 2300 fps. I got a small buck at 54 yards and a crippled doe (someone broke it's rear leg with a slug) at 110 yards. The bullets expanded much better than expected, and the deer dropped like hit by lightning.

Ken,

Congrats....and here I was hesitant to use my #1 in 375 on deer! Who did your conversion? Did you recover either bullet? Pics of the rifle or bullets?

Darn, I knew the .470 would work on deer, I need to get this information to Jeffe AKA Elmer Jr. and 500 grs AKA Elmer 111, and let them know he they quite shooting rabbits with their 470s and use them this year on deer and antelope and not feel undergunned....

But they won't believe me!

Sorry guys, the devil made ya ta da....

That is the only problem with X bullets- They most always pass through, so you can't find the expanded bullet. I doubt there is any shot angle on a deer (at least Michigan whitetails) that would keep that large of a bullet inside. It looked like the petals did open up, but did not shed off the bullet. The exit holes in the hides were not huge, but where the bullet hit a shoulder bone, there was some localized destruction of bone and tissue.
The rifle was converted by Bowen Classic Arms. It started as a .458 and was rebored. I also added a recessed safety, Kick-eeze pad, and mercury reducer in the butt. Everything else is stock, and the gun still looks like a 1-H 458. Even with the heavy loads, the gun is quite comfortable to shoot. It just makes a heavy shove rather than a sharp jab. I have shot many other smaller calibers of rifles that are more uncomfortable.

As stated in other posts, thewre are few DG animals in GA so I have been carrying my .458WM deer hunting. Full power 500 gr hornady loads.
If you're careful it doesn't do more damage than my .270.

Hey Ray...
You mean a 470 will work on rabits? I had my doubts, and a 470 double is so heavy that I would have to have a packer carrying my 500 for backup, with that wasskley wabbit charges from being wounded...

jeffe

BTT