RE: Longest Shot You Would Take
 

An there have been deer killed with 22 LR too, but that doesn't make it an intelligent choice for that purpose, now does it?

RE: Longest Shot You Would Take
 

With the bow, good conditions and enough light, I have no problem with a 40 yard shot and that's my limit. I practice it alot.
With a gun, I shoot about 500 rounds a year thru my 7mm mag and reload my own shells. I have no problem with 300 yard shots. I practice at 400 but have never had the opportunity to take a deer at that range. I've seen them at that range, but it was either windy or I wasn't sure of the distance so I haven't taken that 400 yard shot. I have a laser range finder now and there is one power line I hunt that gives me a possiblity of a 430 yard shot. If that opportunity comes and the conditions are right, I have no problem trying it.

RE: Longest Shot You Would Take
 

Jetblast, you are right, I have no experience with shooting deer with a .22 caliber rifle. That is why I was asking the questions that I did. I was simply basing my opinion on what I have read from all the gun writers for the past 48 years about foot pounds of energy and how it falls off at longer distances. Also, the weight of the bullet calculated into energy vs mass. I personally feel that the .243 is minimum for deer. 2cents

RE: Longest Shot You Would Take
 

under perfect conditions, with a 30-378 that shoots .25 moa consistantly i'd say u could nail a deer at 500, 600 or maybe even 700 yards. it all depends on how good a shot u are and most of all on the conditions u are facing when u have to make that decision.

cheers

RE: Longest Shot You Would Take
 

Good point, the gun is usually more capable than the shooter. The only problem with killing them that far away is having to drag them back.

RE: Longest Shot You Would Take
 

Edited by - jetblast on 11/01/2002 20:28:15

Edited by - jetblast on 11/02/2002 11:09:41

RE: Longest Shot You Would Take
 

I would say you got lucky 20+ times if you are being truthful about the numbers and the fact that you had one shot kills. 22 caliber bullets are not constructed to hold up to big game. They are for the most part thin jacketed and fragile which means the disintegrate when they hit bone. That works fine on varmints because it creates massive tissue damage and limits ricochet. It is not however conducive to ethical and humane kills on larger animals. I had a 222 Rem blow apart on a hog after only going about an inch in behind the shoulder, and then the head shot did the same thing which caused me to drop the rifle and dispatch a rather large, enraged hog with a 44 Rem Mag Blackhawk at less than 5 feet. Now this was me personally, but there are several more stories of the same thing happening to others. Jetblast, you sound like a maintenance troop. Would you use a pair of vise-grips on an aircraft just because they sort of work when the TO calls for a 5/8" socket?

RE: Longest Shot You Would Take
 

Sorry everyone. This wasn't the place for this stuff.

Edited by - jetblast on 11/01/2002 21:13:02

Edited by - jetblast on 11/02/2002 11:07:14

RE: Longest Shot You Would Take
 

Deer = 30 yards @ 67#
Elk = 40 yards @ 67#

Bowhunter

RE: Longest Shot You Would Take
 

Last year I shot my buck from 330 yards away from the prone position. It nearly dropped in its tracks. Before I shot it, I tried to get a shot from sitting and kneeling positions, but it just wasn't steady enough. The shot was rock steady from the prone, however. I would feel comfortable taking a shot out to 400 yards in ideal conditions from the prone position.