Perfect vs One Gun
- Thread starter JShirley
- Start date
If nothing else, a projectile measured in “ounces” vs “grains” sounds more reassuring. Haha.
I recall(in catching up on this very interesting thread) several years ago in PA (when I was either just out of college or possibly a senior) I shot a doe with a 250 savage (same rifle I’m currently rebuilding) sporting a handload of a 90gr hpbt and a healthy charge of H380. It wasn’t my handload, nor, at the time, my bullet preference, but I had yet to realize the potential problems in the above… it was COLD! And I’m very sure that old powder wasn’t exactly giving peak performance… I fired, and, by George, that thing groaned like granny getting out of a low chair and staggered of into the brush about 30 yards before collapsing into a very large Hickory headfirst… I recovered the bullet in the opposite ribs. Very little (if any) blood trail, but that little 25 cal bullet was about as big around as a dime and as thick as a nickel… I learned a number of lessons from that and it really could have turned out differently! But that little thing called “energy transfer”… I’ve seen people use a cannon and the bullet for something big and heavy on a whitetail, and it whistled through with little damage, and was finally found several days later after being eaten by coyotes… another reason i like variety… and besides, is it possible to have to many guns?
d2wing
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Yeah about forty yards, maybe fifty at the most.they run out of blood fast. If they run further you didnt hit it.
Open ground ive seen em make it 100yds or so with most of their squishy bits hanging out, usually they were already going for broke tho.
hawg
Member
Keep thinking that.
Unpressured? Yes I agree. If they’re wound up tight? All bets off. I’ve seen a flop DRT, and I’ve seen 350 yard trail with the last 275 a nightmare because there was no blood, and yes, and the lungs were like relish….
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d2wing
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It's the heart that you have to destroy. But if your saying they can run that far with no heart, I have never seen anything like that. But I will take your word for it. I have seen lung shot deer go a long way and I agree that tracking can be a nightmare. I should add that I seldom shoot a running or spooked deer. I have shot driven deer with shotguns. That too often results in poor shooting and long tracking jobs. I won't do that again. I prefer careful hunting and precise shots.
Same to you guys that report that they can go a longer distance with no heart. I stand corrected. But they do die. It is a guaranteed kill and my preferred shot. You do what works for you I guess. Dang, I thought I knew everything.
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I may have to pop a few does with the .223 just to see what happens. I'd probably lean towards a solid copper Barnes TTSX or a bonded Federal Fusion.
Growing up I saw myself as a "variety is the spice of life" kinda guy, but in practice I find myself just thinking "well what's this gonna do that my 30-06 doesn't do already just fine?". I inherited my father's impulsiveness and my mother's thriftiness, which made me a compulsive shopper with a mean streak of buyer's remorse. When it comes to random gadgets I'll research and window shop forever and then burn my money without learning my lesson, but since guns are usually 800+ dollars and don't really do returns it's enough to tip the odds. Even the guns i've been hyped since childhood to get because they were so cool in video games like my 1911 left me thinking "well it's nice to have it in the collection... but what's it doing I don't prefer my glock for?" After I got the core essential 4 AR/pistol/shotgun/bolt gun I've started to look at every potential new purchase as something that's very fun to imagine owning, to research, and to go look at in the shop.. but the second I actually get it it'll end up being the toy I was insistent my mom get me and then got bored with instantly.
I've heard owning boats is a pretty similar experience.
I've heard owning boats is a pretty similar experience.
hawg
Member
Yes they do die once they calm down enough to realize they're dead. I won't shoot a running deer. A deer can live without blood and/or oxygen if he has his adrenalin up but when the adrenalin dies down he's going down for the count
Generally more likely to get bang flops like that.
When they are running, if They dont nose dive after taking a round they usually go a decent distance.
When I know Im going to have to shoot running animals Ill usually take a heavier faster rifle. Bigger holes work better and smashing their skeleton help.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The lesson I had to learn is that no physical object is going to make us happy or change our lives. No matter how extravagant or expensive it is. I remember the moment when I realized that and somehow, I consider myself extremely blessed that that nugget of wisdom came very early in my adulthood. These things we are passionate about can enrich our lives but they can't make us happy, nothing external of ourselves can do that. They are just things. Some are meant to stay with us a long time, others are meant to come and go. Like that new Springfield HiPower that just doesn't do it for me, it's going down the road next time something strikes my fancy. No big deal. With that early realization, the countless ponderings that came afterwards and making those adjustments to my own expectations, I found that the enjoyment comes from the journey. Learning a new cartridge, a new firearm, a new way to enjoy them. Not just from having them. There's also no better feeling than unburdening yourself of misconceptions. Be they about things or people.
That said, everyone is on a budget and has to plan accordingly. I understand having to make do with less, been there and done that. The folks I truly pity are those who value money over even their own enjoyment of life. They could have ten million dollars in the bank and still die miserable, because they can't bring themselves to part with any of it. Be careful you don't become one of those.
I had a deer run 200yds uphill after taking a .54cal swaged round ball through the boiler room at 1850fps. At that velocity, they flatten out as big as a quarter and that one exited. You never know how they'll react until you poke a hole in them.
That fact is lost on a lot of folks.
9x56MS
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Not on the 35 caliber aficionados !The lesson I had to learn is that no physical object is going to make us happy or change our lives. No matter how extravagant or expensive it is. I remember the moment when I realized that and somehow, I consider myself extremely blessed that that nugget of wisdom came very early in my adulthood. These things we are passionate about can enrich our lives but they can't make us happy, nothing external of ourselves can do that. They are just things. Some are meant to stay with us a long time, others are meant to come and go. Like that new Springfield HiPower that just doesn't do it for me, it's going down the road next time something strikes my fancy. No big deal. With that early realization, the countless ponderings that came afterwards and making those adjustments to my own expectations, I found that the enjoyment comes from the journey. Learning a new cartridge, a new firearm, a new way to enjoy them. Not just from having them. There's also no better feeling than unburdening yourself of misconceptions. Be they about things or people.
That said, everyone is on a budget and has to plan accordingly. I understand having to make do with less, been there and done that. The folks I truly pity are those who value money over even their own enjoyment of life. They could have ten million dollars in the bank and still die miserable, because they can't bring themselves to part with any of it. Be careful you don't become one of those.
I had a deer run 200yds uphill after taking a .54cal swaged round ball through the boiler room at 1850fps. At that velocity, they flatten out as big as a quarter and that one exited. You never know how they'll react until you poke a hole in them.
That fact is lost on a lot of folks.
Nature Boy
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I like to mix it up. I alway bring more than one rifle to the deer camp. I’ll switch it up one hunt to the next for no other reason than I want to.
I’ll also develop a new hunting load each season for the same reason. I enjoy doing it.
Having said that, if I’m grabbing one rifle it’s my FNchester custom chambered in .308. In my estimation it’s close to perfect.
And my favorite load for it is 150gn Nosler Accubonds and Varget.
This combo stacks bullets in targets and deer in the freezer.
(sshhhh, he’s sleeping)
I’ll also develop a new hunting load each season for the same reason. I enjoy doing it.
Having said that, if I’m grabbing one rifle it’s my FNchester custom chambered in .308. In my estimation it’s close to perfect.
And my favorite load for it is 150gn Nosler Accubonds and Varget.
This combo stacks bullets in targets and deer in the freezer.
(sshhhh, he’s sleeping)
S.Crockett
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- Nov 25, 2022
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- 327
Many continents, … many critters.
One round to kill them all.
One round to kill them all.
Being an proud citizen of these United States, I'd say a stout .45-70 would be preferable, being able to be loaded down to kill small game without much extra damage, or loaded up to "Rhino Roller" stats. Sure, that .404 will work, but it ain't from around these parts- and the one thing we in the US have definitely perfected is the firearm! 
