bear22,
The general rule of thumb is about 1000 ft. lbs. energy for deer (probably no less). I don't know what speed that caliber/bullet-weight combo shoots at the muzzle but you can poke around the internet and find out. Visit the bullet manufacturers website and determine the BC (ballistic coefficient) of the bullet you want to use (example: http://www.hornady.com/store/7mm-.284-139-gr-BTSP/ ). A reloading manual can give you a pretty good idea of what muzzle velocity to expect with your caliber/bullet choice or you can go to the Hodgdon reloading site which is a good reference as well ( http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp ). You can then go to one of the many ballistic calculators online and plug-in the specific criteria to determine effective yardages that are meet your minimum energy standards for taking game.
Ballistics Calculator - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc
Keep in mind that because the calculator said I could do it, it has nothing to do with real-world conditions. These numbers are a point of reference only and should never overshadow good judgement. Good luck, have fun, be safe.
The general rule of thumb is about 1000 ft. lbs. energy for deer (probably no less). I don't know what speed that caliber/bullet-weight combo shoots at the muzzle but you can poke around the internet and find out. Visit the bullet manufacturers website and determine the BC (ballistic coefficient) of the bullet you want to use (example: http://www.hornady.com/store/7mm-.284-139-gr-BTSP/ ). A reloading manual can give you a pretty good idea of what muzzle velocity to expect with your caliber/bullet choice or you can go to the Hodgdon reloading site which is a good reference as well ( http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp ). You can then go to one of the many ballistic calculators online and plug-in the specific criteria to determine effective yardages that are meet your minimum energy standards for taking game.
Ballistics Calculator - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc
Keep in mind that because the calculator said I could do it, it has nothing to do with real-world conditions. These numbers are a point of reference only and should never overshadow good judgement. Good luck, have fun, be safe.
