remingtonman_25_06
Handloader
- Nov 17, 2005
- 2,807
- 402
Some people seem to think some cartridges wont/dont/or cant kill deer or elk at 600-800 yards efficiently or effictively for that matter. For those that dont have a ballistics program theres free ones on the net. Try www.biggameinfo.com Plug in your numbers and it gives you the numbers out to 1500 yards in 10 yard increments if you want. Now we can all agree that you only need at most 1500lbs for elk and 1000 lbs for deer at the bullet impact. 1600fps is a good number for reliable expansion. Ok with those numbers set I'm gonna do some calculations for deer and elk, and the max range that the caliber would and could kill very well. The first will be my beloved 25-06. With a 115g btip with a BC of .450 and muzzle velocity of 3200fps. This is what it gives me for numbers. At 625 yards, it still has 1010 ft lbs, and still traveling along at 1989 fps. So that would make it a 625 yard deer killer reliably. Now lets take a 270 with say a 150g btip BC of .495 at 2900fps. At 700 yards, it still has 1018 ft lbs, and still traveling along at 1748 fps. So that particular .270 load gives me about 75 yards over my 25-06 for its max killing power for deer. Lets take my 300 RUM with a 210g vld at 3100fps with a BC of .640. Still has 1202 ft lbs at 1175 yards, and still going 1606 fps. Now that particular load for elk would run out of energy at 1500 lbs at around 975 yards. That 300 RUM load doubles the 25-06 max range for deer, and will still kill deer at about 1200 yards with a well placed shot, the numbers still meet the required criteria, do they not??? As you can see from my examples with a ballistics program, it will give you numbers farther then the reloading book will and will show you what your bullets going to have for energy and velocity way out there. It will allow you to make a decision based on what kinda performance your looking for. I tend to always look at the far side and ask myself if the cartridge I intend to use will kill deer at 600 yards or an elk at 800 yards. My deer cartridges are nothing extraordinary, just your standard 25-06 and 270. The so called magazine experts say these rounds should not be taking game at or past 300 yards. they are not considered long range deer calibers. But by my numbers, look at the ballistics, they still meet the criteria to 600 yards, for energy and velocity. So why would they not work out to that distance with a well placed shot is beyond me. None of the deer I ever shot at 500 yards knew what hit them with my 25-06 and that 115g btip loading. Maybe those expert gun writers need a detailed look at a ballistics program as well. Ballistic programs will open your eyes and see how your cartridges perform in a way you never thought was possible, only to extend your maximum range if thats what your looking for.
Lets look at a .243 with a 95g btip at 3100fps since were talking long range deer. It still has 1000lbs out to 375 yards, and traveling over 2000fps. Now most magazines I read say a .243 is at most, "marginal" for deer. In my eyes, 375 yards is a long ways off from being marginal, dont you think?? I dont think a 243 would have any problems taking some big bucks out to 375 yards with 1 well placed shot. Its all about numbers. Playing with cartridges and bullets on the ballistics charts will tell you what you need to know. What I'm trying to say is dont believe everything you read in the magazines. There just trying to sell you on somethign bigger and better when the truth is that standard calibers will take deer out to farther ranges then most can hit them.
Lets look at a .243 with a 95g btip at 3100fps since were talking long range deer. It still has 1000lbs out to 375 yards, and traveling over 2000fps. Now most magazines I read say a .243 is at most, "marginal" for deer. In my eyes, 375 yards is a long ways off from being marginal, dont you think?? I dont think a 243 would have any problems taking some big bucks out to 375 yards with 1 well placed shot. Its all about numbers. Playing with cartridges and bullets on the ballistics charts will tell you what you need to know. What I'm trying to say is dont believe everything you read in the magazines. There just trying to sell you on somethign bigger and better when the truth is that standard calibers will take deer out to farther ranges then most can hit them.
