Got about a 120lb spike buck yesterday. Was hunting a powerline from an elevated position with my .300WM and 180 BTs @ 3000 fps. Lasered him @ 808 yds. The power line and one of those huge insulators was right in line with my vertical crosshair, putting them right in my trajectory arc and I wasn't going to risk it.

Watched him for about 20 min, and mentally dropped the hammer on him a couple times. Finally, he stepped 10 feet to the left, putting him in the clear. Wind was as close to a ZERO as you can get. Put the 800 yd circle on him and let him have it.

Dropped like a rock, kicked a couple times, and he was done. Didn't take a step. Computer says terminal velocity was 1692fps, and dumped 1147ft-lbs in him. Bullet didn't exit (I'm pretty sure, it was dark by the time I got to him)
Stuck him directly amidships, blew up the lungs and diaphragm. Certainly made a mess of him in there- fortunately, that's the part I dump on the ground

One shot, one dead deer. Almost a total bullet failure, huh?

marc

800 yds
???
??
?


Mike

Eight hundred EIGHT, to be exact

Most hunters in the Western World do not realize that velocity is useful ONLY to flatten trajectories and make long shots a bit easier. The close range energy generated by velocity is a major negative. The best impcat velocity for most big game is between 2000 and 2500 fps, depending on bullet construction.

I shot an antelope in eastern Montana last year at 300 yards with a 150 grain BT out of a 270 Win. The bullet broke a rib going in, and destroyed lungs and everything else inside, and did not exit. I thought at that range it would have slowed down enough to not be so explosive, and I really expected complete penetration, on an antelope standing broadside. Oh well, if that animal had gone anywhere there sure wouldn't have been much of a blood trail, but he dropped in his tracks, which was good, but I can't say I trust that bullet anymore, especially on a large mule deer buck. I think I'm going to save all my BT's for coyotes.

Sabot- I do quite a bit of long range shooting-I use Premier reticles in my long range guns coupled with a Lecia range finder. If I read your comment right-you stated that hunters in the west use speed only to flatten out trajectory. For me, and this is just me (but I would guess that a lot of long range shooters would agree). I use as much speed as I can get to help with the wind drift more than worrying about drop.

Just my thoughts....

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dogz