What distance are you comfortable iin shooting deer

TimC said:
It makes me chuckle when people describe rifles achieving XYZ moa at ABC distance. Moa is the same at any distnce I think its group size you mean as moa is measured as group size at 100 yds and it mathematically increases with distance but the figure is the same. Moa being 1 inch at w00 yds ergo 2 inches at 200 yards. Good result with the M1, soft point feed ok? Much damage/spillage from the stomach?
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Well, groups don't open up in a cone shape, they open up more in a parabolic fashion in proportion to time of flight, so a 1MOA rifle at 100yds is unlikely to shoot 1MOA at 400yds. And my eyes are fuzzy enough that the groups will open up at longer distances with iron sights.

The SST feeds fine with the pointy plastic tip. I have used 165gr BTSP Hornady's as well with no issues, but only ran a few dozen of those through, so it wasn't really an exhaustive test. Hornady Amax's also feed with no issues. The Garand doesn't seem fussy at all regarding bullet type, ogive shape and OAL.

The mess wasn't too bad, the bullet just clipped one end of the stomach and I got most of it out without too much contamination. We carry water jugs in the truck to wash out the cavity for these occasions so it all ended ok.


Mark
 
After been sure i have a proven load, i can says that i would not be shy to shoot up to 125 metres with my 77-44... JP.
 
Surprised at the honesty here.

I was expecting the computer desk jockeys to make all sorts of outrageous claims.

Personally with irons I like to keep it under 100 yards, even with optics I don't go beyond 150 unless I can go prone or have a comfortable rest.
 
I think the mere mention of woodland stalking with older rifles and iron sights has the techies running back to their macs!
Nice to see some honesty here, I have found despite 30 years pratise that judging distance with depends upon the species, when you have that deer in your view everything else falls away!
Oh the Army teaches groups open mathematically but empirical testing shows it to be somewhere in between parabolic as you described and mathematical as taught to target hunting types!
That said empirical testing good as it is isnt always a true representation or so the maths heads call!
 
Shot a doe at 92yds with irons, have to say that not all irons are the same, I think cooey had some good ones (better then my TC Impact)
 
Well we were out testing this week and saw a herd of Red Deer at the neighbours farm, we lazered them at 346 yards but before that we all had a go at judging distance, none of us were keen on a scoped shot from a rest and even less when the true distance was discovered.
I would now be less happy at deer beyond 250 yards with a scope, just personal. I'm sure the furthest one I shot in scotland was about that distance!
 
Last year it was .270 WSM bolt action with 3-9x50 scope good for 4-500 yards. Actual range of deer shot...20 metres. Am selling the .270 (hopefully) and now practicing with the recently acquired 1895 in 45-70 with fairly light loads and PEEP sights!
 
I only shoot open sights these days. Offhand, 100 yards maximum. Off a rest, 150 yards, though that depends on which rifle I'm using. My two rules of thumb are (1) practice, practice, practice, and (2) if your front sight completely obscures the target area, you're too far away.
 
TimC said:
Using iron sights only?
I ask as it seems a fair few folk still hunt using milsurps sportered and in original form. If original then iron sights on a large deer but how far away? 100, 200 or further?
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It all depends on the situation and the irons I'm using.
The express sights in this rifle with a rest I can hit clays at 200 meters, but with a good set of receiver sights , prone , with the target ranged, I can take it out there.
However, I hunt with open sights for the most part.
This deer went down on the dead run at 61 yards ( lasered after the shot) with my custom built Ruger single shot in .303 Brit.
Cat
2011buck1.jpg
 
Nice I like that, I wonder though how many people actually understand how much bullet drop there is out beyond 300 yards?
 
With my .270, 200yards as I know my cartridge/ rifle combo shoots very well to that distance. I'm not confident enough in my shooting to stretch my shots further as I don't spend enough time on the range with that rifle.

All my other deer-capable rifles have irons on them, so I'd say 100 yards +/- (I really need to shoot more rifle and less handgun if I'm going to actually bag anything this year)
 
koop said:
Shot a doe at 92yds with irons, have to say that not all irons are the same, I think cooey had some good ones (better then my TC Impact)
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I'd have to say my TC impact has the best open sights I've ever used. Mine came with tru glo front and rear sights. I wish all my rifles came with them.
 
I would say 100 yards is the farthest I would try to shoot with iron sights. I hunt in the bush and haven't even had a shot past 75 yards in the past 15 years.
 
30 years ago I was very confident out to 175 yards or so with my old M1894 in 30WCF using the full buckhorn rear and brass bead front. Today half that would be more like it.

I have my Marlin 1895 fitted with an Ashley peep and a Marble florescent red front site and I can still hit the 200 yard gong more often than not. Target shooting however is not the same as hunting as a gong won't run off gut-shot so I hold my shots while hunting to under 100 yards. On a big target like a moose I might stretch that a bit.
 
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