Dumb female question......
 

Hi everyone,

I don' t know much about hunting and I think my dad and uncle are pulling my leg on this question so I thought I would ask the experts.

Here it goes: When you are hunting a deer in an open feild do you lead the deer in order to have a clean shot? We are shoting a 300 ultra mag, 3400 ft/sec, and the deer is about a 100 yards away.

I am saying I would not shoot a running deer because I am not that good of a shot.


Help me out here.

tlc

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RE: Dumb female question......
 

Ifferd said it best.....You shouldn' t shoot period.

RE: Dumb female question......
 

With a rifle at that distance I would swing on the front shoulder, I am not saying neccessarly a true lead like you do with bird hunting, but you do want to be " swinging" your gun with the deer. Now to be honest, I would not take a shot at a deer running flat out at 100 yards with a rifle, now if the deer was 40 yards or less that is a different story.

RE: Dumb female question......
 

Taz has it, following through on moving targets are important, a common mistake is to stop following through as soon as you pull the trigger causing the shot to hit further back than intended and yes if moving even with a rifle you should allow some room for the bullet to get their how much depends on distance and speed of the target.

Now determining if you should take that shot depends on your ability and knowning your limitations, which is something only you can determine or decide.

RE: Dumb female question......
 

I agree with those that say you should at least have a good follow through if you are going to have a chance to hit the deer. I think that you would have to lead the deer a little, especially if it is running fast. However to me, the best shot on a running deer is no shot at all! A running shot is just too iffy for all but the best shooters. You would be better off waiting for another chance at a still deer.

RE: Dumb female question......
 

Taz and the guys are right, but if you don' t practice that shot, don' t take it. You' ll feel like crap when you blow a leg off or like a guy I knew that took a running shot and blew the deers nose off. It ain' t worth it.

RE: Dumb female question......
 

I have to agree with the rest, follow through when you shoot. yuor best bet would to wait for a still shot. all up to your abillity. Good luck!!:)

RE: Dumb female question......
 

I wouldn' t shoot, I don' t practice moving shots with my rifle so I don' t shoot at moving deer. I happened on to a fellow who had just shot at a moving buck and shot his hind leg off, it was a terrible sight I felt like throwing that fellas gun in the river.

RE: Dumb female question......
 

i agree with everyone else. when it comes down to it, only take the shot if your comfortable.
practice shooting at moving objects by putting a target inside of a tire and having a buddy roll it for you to shoot at.

and remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question, only a stupid answer!!

RE: Dumb female question......
 

tlc,
I surprised no one has asked for a clarification, I cannot find any info about a 355Magnum.

I can guess; however, assuming is not a good idea. It does make a difference. How much if any you lead would depend on whether we are talking pistol velocities (1300fps) or beefed up magnum velocity (3000fps).

Please check again, what is the cartridge the firearm is chambered for: 357mag? 35 Whelen? 350 Magnum? It the difference between the tortise and the hare.

EKM

RE: Dumb female question......
 

seeing that we are the EXPERTS;) I would go with the rest,no shot

RE: Dumb female question......
 

With your inexperience with hunting, it is a no brainer that you personally should not take this shot. The only time to shoot at a running deer is after you have already wounded it and are taking a follow up shot. In that case you would either have to " follow through" your swing or lead the buck.

If you want to really do some figuring and impress your Dad and uncle, figure out this problem: Find out the muzzle velocity of the gun in question. Now figure out how long it takes for it to go 100 yards. Then figure out how far a deer would travel going, say 20 mph, in that length of time. Better get your calculator out!

Let' s assume a muzzle velocity of 2500 ft per second. 100 yards is 300 feet, so it will take the bullet 300ft divided by 2500 ft/sec = .12 sec!

Now if the buck is traveling 20mph = (5280ft/mile X 20 miles/hr) divided by 3600 (number of seconds in an hour) = 29.33 ft per second. A deer traveling 10mph would travel 1/2 this distance and a deer traveling 30 mph would travel 1-1/2 times this distance.

29.33 ft/sec X .12 sec= 3.52 feet.

SOOOO, from the time you pull the trigger until the bullet reaches the deer the deer will travel 3-1/2 feet!!!

This should answer your question. Of course, you have to plug your numbers in the equation: speed of the bullet, speed of the deer.

And you thought all those math courses were a waste of time!

RE: Dumb female question......
 

And don' t forget your Radar Gun when you go hunting.

RE: Dumb female question......
 

In the original post, I see no request for advise as whether to take or not take the shot.
The request is whether to lead or not lead and (implicitly) if so then how much.
As has been demonstrated, the velocity of the particular round is quite relevent.

tlc, do you have a read on that cartridge name yet?

EKM

RE: Dumb female question......
 

The best way to learn how to swing/follow through on a moving target is wingshooting, shooting clays will help also, I should have said that a shot on a running deer should not be taken by someone who has not practiced a lot on moving targets, even though I consider myself a pretty good wing shooter, I still would not take a shot on a running deer unless he was at 40 yards or less and it was a wide open area to shoot in.

RE: Dumb female question......
 

If you're confident in your abilities to make a killing shot on a running animal at that range then shoot. It can be done....

RE: Dumb female question......
 

I'd pratice awhile before taking a leading shot. Too many things can go wrong

RE: Dumb female question......
 

txhunter If you move your barrel so that it follows the speed of the deer (stays on the same spot on the deer as the deer moves) and continue to do so after the shot, will you eliminate the need to "lead"?

RE: Dumb female question......
 

Welcome to the board first. More information is needed to try and make an answer. You didn't even say if the deer was moving.:)

RE: Dumb female question......
 

I think alot of you just like to see yourselves talk. read the question she doesn't say any where that the deer is running, nor does it say she hunts or intends on shooting a deer. she didnt ask for a lesson on proper hunting and if she should take the shot or not. Man you all blow alot of smoke in the air...
Simple Answer, NO dont lead the deer.

.308

RE: Dumb female question......
 

if you are referring to "lead" as in compensating for bullet drop, the answer is no. You shouldn't have to compensate for drop on any center fire rifle at 100 yards.

If you are referring to lead as in "leading a moving target" then I would have to say that unless you are willing to trail a gut-shot deer for hundreds of yards and probably lose it, then dont shoot and wait for another deer to present a better shot for you.

RE: Dumb female question......
 

tlchickson,

Never and I repeat never say "DUMB" female question! Any questions is a good one and welcome to the board. Feel free to visit and interject whenever you desire. If you don't ask a question, how will you ever learn?

Tomster

RE: Dumb female question......
 

Thanks for all the help.

You all have saved me in many a debate with my dad.

And it was a 357 my mistake.

RE: Dumb female question......
 

Okay,

the gun is a 300 ultra mag. the velosity is 3400 ft per sec.


the question is do you have to lead a deer in an open area at a 100 yards away.

I was telling them that I would not shoot because my experience is almost none.

If you have any more questions just post them.

tlc

RE: Dumb female question......
 

I agree with those that talked about the swing and follow through. It's very important.

On another note, I personally think a 300 is to big for deer. JMO

RE: Dumb female question......
 

"In that case you would either have to " follow through" your swing or lead the buck. "

Reread my post, you will find the above quote in the first paragraph. I agree that learning a "follow through" shooting technique is much easier for most people.

TLCHICHSON: You still don't answer the question for sure of is the deer is moving and approximately how fast. We are all making the assumption that the deer is indeed moving. We are 99% sure you are talking about a moving deer, but you need to make that clear.

Also, the "follow through" technique that many have suggested will make any mathmatical calculations unnecessary, because you will automatically adjust the follow through for any speed the deer is moving.

However, for interesting conversations, a bullet traveling 3400 ft/sec will take 0.0882 seconds to travel 100 yards