Range Finder

[Randal Zartman]

Okay so at the range I am comfortable shooting out to 50 yds with open sights. Now I go to the woods hunting for deer. There are alot more trees, bushes and whatever else. How do you guys judge or measure the distance of 50 yds or whatever your comfortable shooting? :hmm:

 

[Gary]

Use the same method used to train the Confederate sharpshooters or the artillery men during the unpleasantness.

They would spot an object, estimate the distance, and then march out to it, counting the paces. After several days, they got to be pretty proficient.

The technique described was in their manuals or if you have a Civil War buddy who has Gibbon's Treatise on Artillery it is in there too.

Doubts? Well, consider that the artillery fuse had to be timed just right. Too slow and it explodes prematurely before it reaches the target. Too fast and it explodes after it passes. Some of those artillery men were excellent shots and could not only place them but set the fuse perfectly.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Practice, practice, practice. When you are out for a walk, pick an object and guess the range, then pace it off.

In the woods, I sometimes break it down into 5 yard increments. "That tree is 5 yards away, another 5 to the rock, another 5 to the next tree, etc.

I've seen and read of events where a stake is set out in a field and shooters are asked to estimate the range. I can't remember any of the details, but, as an example, it would be something like 125 yards and the guesses would be everywhere from 50 to 275 yards! I know of a couple hunter's safety instructors who have the students write their estimate on slips of paper and then later read the numbers anonymously to humble the class.

My backyard archery "range" is 25 yards and my backhill gun range is 50 yards, so I get a fair guess on objects at those distances.

If you sight in so a roundball from a rifle is 2" high at 50 yards you should be able to aim at the center of a deer's chest and hit vitals anywhere from 0 to 100 yards (point-blank range). With flatter shooting heavy loads maybe a bit farther.

 

[tg]

If you have a chance make some life size deer cutouts of cardboard and practice at known distances and observe the relitive size of the animal in relationship to your muzzle/sights at different ranges in time you will KNOW how far the deer is from you.

 

Then you will restrict your hunting to an area where all of the deer are the same size, or where all of the deer are very patient and wait for you to walk out to where they are and then back to your stand. Or, if yopu do not have a buddy with the Civil War manual you will just have to stay home!

It is totally a matter of practice at estimating the distance, like Stumpy said.

Of course our wives, girlfriends and kids get irritated at us for constantly staring off into infinity and giving the whispered "bang" that these pursuits always result in!

Go out in the yard, park or street in forn or back of your home or apartment. Establish a 25 yd point that is immoble, then a 50 yd point, then 100 yds.

Now ignore the 25 and 50 yard marks! Concentrate on the 100 yd mark. If you sight the gun to hit at 100 yds you will hit any deer you aim at between the muzzle and 100 yds with the average load.

The distances you need to concentrate on are the two points where the bullet crosses the sight line going up (usually 25-35 yds), and where it crosses the sight line conmming down ( usually 75-100 yds.), and how far out of the sight line it gets in between (normally not more than 6"). If you know this you will hit anywhere in between those points.

:m2c:

 

[Randal Zartman]

tg, cardboard cut outs might solve two problems at once. First like you said I can judge distances. Second, they could act as decoys come deer season. I am sure that cardboard would soak up the doe in heat urine :crackup: thanks.
Zman

 

[tg]

I like useing them for practice, makes it more fun, If your gun is sighted at 75 or 100 yds you might see where it hits at 50 and 25, often the same POA will work from the muzzle out to the point the gun is zeroed with the point of impact being only a bit above or below the POA but still within the kill zone.