Hunting & Fishing Long range hunting effectiveness

[AE287]

I wanted to get some first hand info on how some of the cartridges you guys use perform on game at long range. Hornady says the Eld bullet is effective to around 400 yards, which is probably around 2000 FPS for a lot of cartridges. Would love to hear your cartridge, bullet, distance and how it performed. I hunt deer primarily.

 

[duckhunter175]

I've always been a big fan of the Amax for deer sized critters and it was the first bullet I ever used when I started reloading in 2015 (140gr 6.5-284). They are similar to the ELDM and I've killed animals with both. Most did not exit but the performance inside the chest cavity was absolutely devastating and they work well at modest velocities. Here's a few experiences--

AZ Coues Deer 140gr Amax, 2950fps (mv), distance 348 yards, penetrated to off side on quartering away shot, dropped in his tracks, heart and lungs were jelly.
KY Whitetail- same bullet/mv, distance 47 yards, broke rib on entry, complete pass through, no lungs left, ran 30 yards and piled up.
TX Hog 175lb sow- 140gr ELDM, 6.5cm (2850fps mv), distance 115 yards, entered behind ear (further back than I'd prefer), no exit, dropped in her tracks, spinal column was mush, no follow up needed.
TX Whitetail- 146" 10pt, .223, 73gr ELDM (2725fps mv), 211 yards, no pass through, chest cavity destroyed, dropped in his tracks
Red Stag- .308win, 168gr Amax (2700fps mv), 75 yards, no pass through, lung shot, he absorbed the shot, swayed slightly and then tipped over after about 15 seconds, didn't see the internal damage because went gutless method.
Numerous whitetail doe-- same .308/168gr mostly bang flops 50/50 pass through as most were high shoulder shots

 

[Holliday]

2019 late season doe Antelope at 638 yards. 20 inch rem 700, 280 AI Criterion barrel pushing 168 Berger hunting VLD 2747 fps w/ Thunder Beast Ultra 9 can. Even though the exit looks a bit far back no guts were disturbed.

Ballistics put the bullet traveling aprox 2060 fps w/ energy at aprox 1580 ft lbs

Post hunt gps tracking against gps tagged photos, suggests it went 20 yards before dropping. In my excitement I assumed she dropped where she stood and did not check in the snow. The heart was undamaged. I love game heart.....

 

[XTREM HTR16]

That 8,000’ altitude sure helps the VLD carry the mail!

 

[AE287]

Really cool write ups. Thanks

 

[Holliday]

That 8,000’ altitude sure helps the VLD carry the mail!

Here is what it looks like at sea level. I am still playing with powders and hoping to get another 100 fps out of her in the future.

 

[Holliday]

Here is a buck from last season. Same rifle and ammo aprox 250 yards in the chest. He was actually coming toward us after he heard me put down a doe at 142 yards suppressed. Freakin opening day.... You can see some damage lower right under the left shoulder. Did not really lose anything there because the shoulder was ok and I mostly grind that anyway. Again the heart was missed. He fell where he stood.

 

[gopherslayer]

260 Rem 28” barrel 100gr NBT at almost 3500 fps. Doe at 540 yards shot in the shoulder just below the spine. Never twitched. Lungs shredded. I took an 11pt buck at 30 yards with the same load from a 20” M7 260 At 3150fps. Broke both shoulders. Onside shoulder was a complete loss.

 

[Totoro]

In my 20" 308, I ran SST or BT at moderate velocities as they are rather violent little pills on impact.

Now that it's lead-free in PRK I shoot the Nosler lead-free, groups about 1MOA which is fine since the shot opportunities are under 200yds.

When I roll out of state for mule deer and goats, my 7RM gets a diet of 162 ELDX and 300PRC gets the 225 ELDM and Berger 230OTM.

All pretty much bang flops with high shoulder shots or quartering at sub 1000yds.

I haven't shot an elk yet with the PRC with either the 225 or 230 yet so I cannot pass comment. However, I am relatively sure of their efficacy based on past reports from others that have.

 

[Wading]

For me it’s Hands down my 338 Win Mag with Hornady 225 grain thumping out at 3000 fps. For the average shooter and my Second choice is the 30-06 with 180’s over a 7mm Rem Mag any day! If you’re going to shoot a Magnum Cartridge, shoot a Magnum Caliber and leave the 30 cal Mags at home. If you’re going to get kicked like a mule, then shoot a bullet that gives better performance down range!

 

[AE287]

For me it’s Hands down my 338 Win Mag with Hornady 225 grain thumping out at 3000 fps. For the average shooter and my Second choice is the 30-06 with 180’s over a 7mm Rem Mag any day! If you’re going to shoot a Magnum Cartridge, shoot a Magnum Caliber and leave the 30 cal Mags at home. If you’re going to get kicked like a mule, then shoot a bullet that gives better performance down range!

I’ve got a buddy who has a .338 Lapua and shoots deer over a feeder at 1000 yards. Knows the distance to the feeder, so anything that walks out there is already dialed in. Those cartridges are just a totally different animal

 

[AHorn]

I shoot a 7mmSTW 120gr Barnes TTSX, at 3600fps. Not sure what the effective range is but I do know it’s way past 500yds. It’s a bad dude imo. I once loved my 270wsm but I cheated on her and liked it!

 

[coldboremiracle]

I scribbled my thoughts on the subject some time ago, to avoid having to regurgitate it every time a post such as your came up:

Is Shot Placement More Important than cartridge and bullet selection?

cartridge and bullet selection are important subjects, but are they more important than shot placement on the target?

coldboremiracle.com

 

[HousePlant]

East, a 308 with regular soft points. You're done.
West, a 308 with long range cartridges. All 95% of people need, especially if they're being ethical.

For the remaining 5%, a 300 Win Mag or better if you're going to shoot at the big hoofs past 300 yards. I chose a 300 RUM 'cuz of the cool name. So sue me...

Shot placement is more important than the cartridge. Of course it is. You can drop an elk with a 243 if you use a good bullet... and place it proper.

If you're shooting a white tail you need nothing but a basic factory soft point that shoots out of your gun and practice. Don't over-complicate shit.

If you can't use a soft point, use a 20 grains or or so lighter Barnes TTSX than what you use with a standard bullet and make sure it goes real fast so it actually expands. For copper bullets I use 130 gr Barnes TTSX. For regular softpoints I'm at 150 gr. Both do the job. I actually like the copper -- no lead is a good thing and the TTSX bullets don't come apart and therefore you either never see it because it went through or you pop it out and move on with life.

 

[deersniper]

^
6.5 is more better than 308 for wind if nothing else.
The east can present longer shots 500+ yards.

 

[HousePlant]

6.5 is more better indeed for wind and comparatively you're lofting a 308 vs. a 6.5. But... that's what scope knobs are for.

 

[deersniper]

Yes. Who would want less drop less wind and more energy once past 400 yards?

Comparison made using mediocre 140 65 bullet and one of the best 308 bullets 175s

 

[HousePlant]

Not saying you don't want it. Just saying most people don't need to run to their local gun store to spend $400-1500 on a rifle when they already have one that'll work fine. If you have a 308, use the 308.