ORIGINAL: 12 pointer
I got an Omega and shoot 250 grain SST's with 100 grains of Pyrodex. In the paper that comes with the SSTs, it says with 100 grains at 200 yards the bullet has 975 ft lbs of energy. I have heard that 1000 ft lbs is the minimum for deer. Is 975 enough to kill a deer or should I use more powder? I dont want to use more powder unless I need to because of accuracy and it gets expensive after a while. What do you all think? Thanks
Simply not true...too many variables for an absolute like that to be accurate across the board...it's a general rule of thumb that seemed to have been established as a magic minimum that will hopefully offset a lot of poor or marginal shots.
By contrast, I was squirrel hunting this past fall with a throttled back .45cal Flintlock using a little Hornady .440/128grn ball and only 40grns of Goex 3F...a doe came wandering along, I had a couple doe tags, shot her in the heart, she sprinted 25-30yds and fell dead...probably only a 150-200 ft. lbs. of energy at the target...shot placement is everything.