LAST EDITED ON Sep-30-11 AT 09:38PM (MST)[p]
Nice shooting liecabucks. When I shot BPCS I shot a .40-65 Sharps with open sights. The ram was a 24" target at 500 meters (~550 yds). The apex of the trajectory of the bullet was something like 18' above the line of sight. I have a .54 flint/percussion and shoot a 475 grain maxi over 110grns 2F. I fitted it with Remington Credmore sights and have it marked up out to 375 yds. You might be able to step out of the way if you knew it was comming, but you definatly wouldn't want to catch it.
As has been already observed, those are not practicle hunting distances. The bullets are cast lead and would not expand. With using a rear peep sight the way that light is gathered and comes through the peep will cause a deer to just disappear in low light at that distance. But if you were wearing a red uniforn with a white belt, that is a whole different story.
Longun, I believe the incident you are referring to was a shot made by Timothy Murphy who was a member of Daniel Morgen's Sharpshooters. Mr. Murphy had a double-barreled rifle which he used to kill British General Simon Frasier at a range of 300yds at the Battle of Bemis Heights near Saratoga, NY. He then shot and killed Sir Francis Clarke, an aide of General Burgoyne, who was attempting to deliver a message on the battlefield. I don't know if those guys and gals knew what kind of impact they would have in the future but they believed in it so strongly it was worth dying for. Never forget.
