I recently went to my local range and found an unmolested deer-sized steel target (full scale) at 100 yards. I had planned to shoot some paper at 50 and 75 yards, but thought I'd take my first shot at that fresh silhouette. Loaded, fired offhand, and hit dead square in the vitals. So I loaded and shot 6 more; offhand, flintlock .50 caliber, open sights. Orange silhouette, wide open field, measured 100 yards, setting sun behind me. All seven were good solid kill shots.
I shoot six matches per year at an open air range where we shoot steel out to 100 yards. I consistently win or place at 50, 75, and 100. Targets are as small as a chicken and as large as a fire extinguisher. Painted white or orange.
Every day I have two or three does walk through my property. Moderately to heavily wooded. Faces East from my house. Deer between twenty and 90 yards. Same rifle, same sights, aiming offhand, I am not confident of getting a clean vital shot off at over 50 yards. Long rifle open sights, dappled light in the woods, aiming from beneath my deck into the woods, especially early AM or late afternoon, I find it nearly impossible to get a clear consistent sight picture in the kill zone. Could I hit a deer there? Absolutely. Could I be sure of a one-shot kill? Not over 50 yards. Light really changes things.
ADK Bigfoot
I shoot six matches per year at an open air range where we shoot steel out to 100 yards. I consistently win or place at 50, 75, and 100. Targets are as small as a chicken and as large as a fire extinguisher. Painted white or orange.
Every day I have two or three does walk through my property. Moderately to heavily wooded. Faces East from my house. Deer between twenty and 90 yards. Same rifle, same sights, aiming offhand, I am not confident of getting a clean vital shot off at over 50 yards. Long rifle open sights, dappled light in the woods, aiming from beneath my deck into the woods, especially early AM or late afternoon, I find it nearly impossible to get a clear consistent sight picture in the kill zone. Could I hit a deer there? Absolutely. Could I be sure of a one-shot kill? Not over 50 yards. Light really changes things.
ADK Bigfoot