How Far Can You Make Successful Kill Shots ?.

[Jedidiah]

Over the last 20 years I've took note of the yardage of shots taken.
Noticed that the average deer shot (archery, ML or rifle) taken has been around 18 yards. Patience results in not spending hours on tracking.

Yes, I also have noted my shots over the years. Always thinking they were farther then they really were, my deer shots were 30-60yds!

 

[LME]

All my shots at game are well within 100 yards. When you start shooting out past 300 yards it takes a split second for that animal to take one step. Which in turn makes an ethical shot a bad shot. The animal deserves better than that...
Plus just because you can doesn't make it ethical...

Well put! I have shot my M.L. 200 yards at a target and hit it well but an animal doesn't always stand still like a target. I don't think any ethical shooter would even consider shooting an animal 200 yards away with a M.L. rifle.

 

[earlwb]

When I look back, most of my hunting shots have been around 25 yards, some shots out to about 50 yards and a rare few out to about 100 yards. I never really tried to shoot anything beyond that except for paper or steel targets.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Things actually heard said by "hunters" in a primitive camping area.

"If it's brown, it's down."
"Shoot into the middle of them and see if anything falls."
"Anything that draws blood is a good hit."
"I don't bother following a light blood trail because I'll have other chances today."
"I haven't fired this gun but it's a good, accurate brand in the reviews."

I could go on but I hate making myself feel like vomiting.

One of the most common I used to get when working at the LGS...,
"You need at least a [fill in modern magnum cartridge name here] to take a deer where we hunt. Anything smaller won't get it done."

Translation: I'm a mediocre marksman, with ill fitted ammunition, and also probably have an improperly cleaned barrel that has deposits, so instead of getting better at shooting, guncare, and range estimation, as well as improving my tracking skills, I will try to make up for all of that with way too much power, and nothing else.....,

Which is why I like ML hunting and hunters because with only one shot, we have to be sure a) the piece is accurate at X maximum range and b) that the target is within that maximum range...., and the quarry is down after a short distance. Which would be true for modern guys too, if they worked more on the basics... imho.

LD

 

[LME]

When I was was putting on a show I used .22rifles mostly witha few large calibers as well. I dearly loved my Browning Bl.22 lever action rifle for the task. I needed to add to my show as it was getting boring to me and desided to include a M.L. rifle. What a learning curve it was! Leading a moving target on the ground or air was difficult. The lead was so much more than my little .22 bullet it was funny. the target I liked best was a car tire with cardboard inserted in the center rolled down a a steep incline. This type of shot was about 35 yards and was a lot of fun. You will miss a lot to start but once you determine the lead you will be able to hit it practically every shot. I finally loaded my Ml to where it was the speed of a .22 bullet. This saved me a lot of time getting the lead down pat as it was practically like shooting my .22 rifles You fellows need to try this it is a lot of fun..

 

[LME]

One of the most common I used to get when working at the LGS...,
"You need at least a [fill in modern magnum cartridge name here] to take a deer where we hunt. Anything smaller won't get it done."

Translation: I'm a mediocre marksman, with ill fitted ammunition, and also probably have an improperly cleaned barrel that has deposits, so instead of getting better at shooting, guncare, and range estimation, as well as improving my tracking skills, I will try to make up for all of that with way too much power, and nothing else.....,

Which is why I like ML hunting and hunters because with only one shot, we have to be sure a) the piece is accurate at X maximum range and b) that the target is within that maximum range...., and the quarry is down after a short distance. Which would be true for modern guys too, if they worked more on the basics... imho.

LD, The number one problem I found with rifles in my shop that had lost accuracy was due to improper cleaning.

 

[SOLANCO]

One of the most common I used to get when working at the LGS...,
"You need at least a [fill in modern magnum cartridge name here] to take a deer where we hunt. Anything smaller won't get it done."

Translation: I'm a mediocre marksman, with ill fitted ammunition, and also probably have an improperly cleaned barrel that has deposits, so instead of getting better at shooting, guncare, and range estimation, as well as improving my tracking skills, I will try to make up for all of that with way too much power, and nothing else.....,

Which is why I like ML hunting and hunters because with only one shot, we have to be sure a) the piece is accurate at X maximum range and b) that the target is within that maximum range...., and the quarry is down after a short distance. Which would be true for modern guys too, if they worked more on the basics... imho.

LD

Worked with a guy who grew up on a farm on the edge of Delaware Bay. He spent decades taking ducks and geese and small game and deer with 2.5 inch shotgun cartridges. When the 3.5 inch magnum shotguns came out he decided he couldn't hunt without one. Go figure.

 

[DuncNZ]

Worked with a guy who grew up on a farm on the edge of Delaware Bay. He spent decades taking ducks and geese and small game and deer with 2.5 inch shotgun cartridges. When the 3.5 inch magnum shotguns came out he decided he couldn't hunt without one. Go figure.

2½" shells can be hard to find , especially in steel .

 

[Loyalist Dave]

LD, The number one problem I found with rifles in my shop that had lost accuracy was due to improper cleaning.

Yeah in our case with muzzleloaders, leading is rarely a problem and there is no copper fouling, but I have two or three old customers who still remember me as the guy who "saved" their favorite modern rifle, and all I used was some copper removal solution and JB Bore Restore.

Still there were guys who told "the new guy" to buy something huge, and I fitted the guy with something "accurate" instead, usually saving them money, and gave him sighting-in tips...., and these guys always brought home venison even though they were laughed at in "deer camp"....

Now this isn't to be confused with folks who simply want a larger ball going downrange from a muzzleloader. Guys shooting .62 rifles or even a .72, rifle or a .720 ball from a musket, "get 'er done!"

Pedersoli Gibbs Rifle, "African" (.72 caliber)

Because...., That's still a single shot and the shooter still needs develop an accurate load, know the max range for the accuracy, and then choose a stable position in the field when firing at the game to make it all "work".

OH and I've asked a few guys about the really big bores..., several used historic repros, but one guy with a .72 SxS rifle asked me if I had always had a BANG-FLOP result or had I once in a while tracked a deer.? I have tracked two of my deer in the past, but I've done a bunch for friends of mine, and he said, "I've never had to " and winked.


LD

 

[Rifleman1776]

That's still a single shot and the shooter still needs develop an accurate load, know the max range for the accuracy, and then choose a stable position in the field when firing at the game to make it all "work".

Amen, Bro.

 

[mikesto44]

Two of the dumbest comments I've heard are..If the tail of the deer is up and it runs. You missed so yeah don't need to go check....
The second is I bought a such an such caliber cause it kills them deader..!
Funny I always thought dead was dead....lol

 

[Jedidiah]

Two of the dumbest comments I've heard are..If the tail of the deer is up and it runs. You missed so yeah don't need to go check....
The second is I bought a such an such caliber cause it kills them deader..!
Funny I always thought dead was dead....lol

I we were all honest with ourselves and each other, we would freely admit that there are many people in the "woods" hunting, so they think, that should not be there and probably should not own firearms. Anyone with experience knows that shot placement is key, not caliber. We also have learned that deer etc do funny things. Some drop in their tracks and some run for amazing distance before expiring. An ethical hunter will always make sure that they did not "wound" a deer, and if they did, they will look for it diligently. The wannabees and losers will have an excuse, (If the tail of the deer is up and it runs. You missed) "It is what it is.

 

[hanshi]

I no longer hunt but when I did I made a few fairly distant shots. Farthest was a couple at at least 100 yards and possibly a few feet more. One shot kills, too.

 

[david w]

Well, when I had twenty year old eyes, I could shoot out to 150 yards with a .50 caliber patched round ball. My eyes are now 70 years old. I can still shoot squirrel at 25 yards. but if I were shooting deer, I think 50 to 75 yards max.

 

[Stykbow]

Well, I’m just 46 years old and a Tennessee, woods stomping deer hunter, but I been shooting since I was a kid. I know if I’m comfortable with a shot when it presents itself. If I am I take it. If not I don’t. I practice at 100 yards and I’m comfortable at that range, but dang if it doesn’t look a lot further when a deers standing out there. I like my deer as close as possible when I go to shooting.

 

[Jedidiah]

I do not hunt these days. I stopped worrying about distance long ago. I shoot at whatever distance is available at the "club" which is usually from 10 yds to 60 yds, because they allow BP on one of the Pistol ranges. The rifle ranges start at 50 and go out from there. way to far for these old eyes!

 

[Nobody85]

I say take what you’re comfortable with taking. If you don’t know what you’re comfortable with, do some more shooting.

 

[Jedidiah]

duplicate deleted

 

[1BadDart]

I we were all honest with ourselves and each other, we would freely admit that there are many people in the "woods" hunting, so they think, that should not be there and probably should not own firearms. Anyone with experience knows that shot placement is key, not caliber. We also have learned that deer etc do funny things. Some drop in their tracks and some run for amazing distance before expiring. An ethical hunter will always make sure that they did not "wound" a deer, and if they did, they will look for it diligently. The wannabees and losers will have an excuse, (If the tail of the deer is up and it runs. You missed) "It is what it is.

Truth. There is a local guy here that has probably killed more deer with a .22 rifle than 90% of the hunters will ever take. Yes, he was an outlaw and I'm in no way condoning shooting deer with a .22 rimfire.

Learn your rifle, learn your capability and stay within your ability to make a clean ethical killing shot.

 

[user 53891]

Farthest with a muzzle loader: cow elk - .50 cal. - off hand - open sights - 147 yds.