So based on the posts so far, is there a statement or rule of thumb the average hunter can go by as a guideline.
Maybe something like:
Know what your bullets minimal fps is for expansion and still have 1000# of energy for deer, 1500# for elk, and use that to determine your max range for taking the shot.
This is the best guide line to use.
It is based on the Taylor knock out values and has been the standard energy to recomend
for good clean one shot kills. This does not mean that less will not do only that 1000 ft/lbs
for deer size game and 1500 ft/lbs for Elk size game works most of the time if the shot is well
placed. 2500 ft/lbs is recommended for animals weighing 1500 pounds and 4000 ft/lbs + for
dangerous game for obvious reasons.
The main thing is to use a bullet at or above it's designed velocity and energy so as to get the
best performance from it under ALL hunting conditions. So to sum it up if you are hunting deer
size game you want to look at your ballistic tables and find the distance where the bullet drops
below any of the aforementioned values (1800 ft/sec,1000 ft/lbs of energy or accuracy is
insufficient to make a lethal hit) and just limit your distance to less than the max you will be
fine.
If you let the bullet performance dictate the velocity, accuracy,energy and the type of game
you will have many enjoyable hunts.
This criteria is for rifle hunting at longer ranges and should not be compared to other hunting
projectiles because they are designed to perform under different circumstances and cannot
be compared and are for the most part shorter range projectile's, Like the arrow (Kills by hemorrhage and not with energy) and the pistol (Not the ones that use rifle cartriges).
This has all ways been a debate and each person has to live with the outcome if they chose to
extend the range or performance beyond the projectiles limits.
You can kill a deer with a rock ,but would you want to.
J E CUSTOM