Hunting rifle velocity?

[Guy Miner]

So - how much velocity do you feel you need for an effective hunting rifle? Given what and where you hunt?

I'll lead off with... I've had dramatic one-shot kills from a 1200 fps .50 cal muzzle loader and quick kills with a 1250 fps .44 mag revolver. At the other end of the spectrum, I've been very pleased with 3900+ fps from a varmint rifle and 3300+ from my .25-06 deer load.

My .30-06, .308 Win, and the .375 H&H all trundle along at about 2700 fps, more or less, and I've done good work with them on target and in the field, out at 300 yards and beyond.

How much velocity do you need or want?

 

[big rifle man]

Guy, I'm not a speed freak and have had very good luck with standard cup and core bullets. My 30.06 is happy with 165 grainers at 2750FPS. My 7-08 pushes 140's at 2650-2700FPS. My .338RUM pushes 225 grainers at 2950-2980. (I've never heard an Elk complain about the 225 grain going to slow). My .300WSM pushes 180's at 3030FPS. While I've shot my gun club's 600 yard range on many occasions I limit myself to 300 yards in hunting situations. Accuracy is excellent with all combinations.

 

[1Shot]

To me speed is not worth much if you can't get it accurately. I shoot too many calibers to list just for deer. But one I will list. In the past 18 years I have killed more deer than hoof and mouth disease has with 117 Sierra Pro Hunters going 3000 fps out of my 25-06 from point blank out to a little over 500 yards. I did crop damage control for 15 years. :mrgreen:

 

[Anonymous]

Tough question... I've used everything from the 30-30 to the .300mag class cartridges and everything tipped over pretty well.

Out here on the open tundra I prefer something on the order of 3000fps. Not that they're deadlier but it does make range estimation a little less problematic.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I guess with me, it depends on for what and where I am hunting. I have killed deer with everything from a .30-30 to a .338 Win Mag. Most of the time, I hunt in the western mountains and use either a .270 Win or a 7mm Mag for those cross canyon shots.

 

[jmad_81]

I'm a speed freak I guess, but I want my cake and to eat it to. All my hunting loads shoot .75 MOA or better. My 280 AI will do 3150 with a 140 BT in the .3xx" range all day, I'm very happy and have all the confidince in the world with this load for deer. My goal for my 270 WSM is a 140 AB over 3200, and under half inch. This will be for deer and speed goats (someday).

For elk I feel a little different, I would rather push a bit bigger bullet at not as fast speeds. I'm shooting the 225 AB out of my 338 WM at 2875, and last years bull fell to a 160 AB out of the 280 AI at 2950.

 

[Woodycreek]

My name is Brian and I I'm a rifle speed freak. I have always liked rifles that shoot flat to 300-400 yards. 3000fps has always been stuck in my head for rifles. Most of my hunting rifles will easily do that and more. Still shooting inch or less groups at 100 yards. The 45-70 and my short barrel 308 are the only rifles shooting under 3000fps. I have backed off of the 300RUM by one grain and still have room in the 243AIs. All of my ARs are cranked up and shoot well.

 

[Bruce Mc]

I'm not a "speed freak" in that I don't need a super velocity round to hunt with. But I do want the most out of what I do hunt with. I'm satisfied with 3000 fps with a 110 AccuBond from my .257 Roberts and I know I'll be limiting my shots to around 300 yds. On the other hand I expect 3250 from my .25-06 with the same bullet but expect I could shoot to 400 or maybe even 500 under favorable conditions. I could make the same comparison with the 7mm rem mag but that rifle will shoot so much farther then I am capable of it doesn't make a very compelling argument. But I like getting the most out of it also. I also agree with those that say "if it don't shoot small groups, it aint' worth messing with".

 

[Scott Spencer]

If I can shoot .5" - 1" groups at 100 yds between 2700 - 2900 I am completely satisfied!

 

[atmoshpere]

I've happily existed within the ballistic limits of the 308 win since I was 18. Since I shoot maybe 3-4 bullets/year at big game, 3X that at coyotes/crows/etc, and several hundred at targets all out of one gun, I prefer an accurate, mild recoiling mid velocity (sub 3k for the most part)cartridge. So far I've never found myself thinking "Boy I wish this were going 200 fps faster!"

...knock on wood :grin:

 

[Elkman]

With me it depends on the area/areas you hunt. Most here know that I shot an 06 up until the late 60's when I had a dismal performance on an elk out past where I should probably have been shooting. After that I moved up to the 300 Win mag, and have not had a similar problem even at longer ranges. With the techonoligy we have now the shot/shots I flubbed would have been made. I hunt canyons, and big open country and have pretty much done so for 50 years. My rifle battery includes, 300 magnums, the 7mm STW, 7mm mag. and a gaggle of 45's and short 30's. But for elk in my typical unit I want flat, and fast along with my favorite, most accurate bullet at 3000+. Just my .02

 

[Woodycreek]

I've happily existed within the ballistic limits of the 308 win since I was 18. Since I shoot maybe 3-4 bullets/year at big game, 3X that at coyotes/crows/etc, and several hundred at targets all out of one gun, I prefer an accurate, mild recoiling mid velocity (sub 3k for the most part)cartridge. So far I've never found myself thinking "Boy I wish this were going 200 fps faster!"

...knock on wood :grin:

My 308 will do just fine with 150s going 2850fps for the majority of deer hunting that I do. But I do love my fast 22s, 6mm, and 30cals. The 7mm stuff is starting to grow on me.

With me it depends on the area/areas you hunt. Most here know that I shot an 06 up until the late 60's when I had a dismal performance on an elk out past where I should probably have been shooting. After that I moved up to the 300 Win mag, and have not had a similar problem even at longer ranges. With the techonoligy we have now the shot/shots I flubbed would have been made. I hunt canyons, and big open country and have pretty much done so for 50 years. My rifle battery includes, 300 magnums, the 7mm STW, 7mm mag. and a gaggle of 45's and short 30's. But for elk in my typical unit I want flat, and fast along with my favorite, mosdzt accurate bullet at 3000+. Just my .02

Sounds like Scotty will be the odd man out in a few weeks :lol:

 

[Greg Nolan]

I load up to the velocity I want using oal and loads. Then I back down on my load as needed for accuracy. Elk are tough so I hit them with all I can accurately shoot at about 3100 fps. That seems to be my magic number with Accubonds for a combination of hydrostatic shock and penetration. So far so good.
Greg

 

[DeerTracker]

Im like alot of the other guys here. I have alot of rifles chambered for alot of different rounds. In the cartridges that I know can do it, I like 3000fps as a good round number. The only accurate load I could find for my 270Win after constant trying and trying some more is only shooting 2600-2700fps. It shoots good and my buddy killed two deer with that load but for some reason, I know how fast its shooting and have seen it work but I just dont want to use it. Sounds kind of dumb but it is what it is. In my rifles chambered for cartridges that wont do 3000fps I just want as fast as possible but also as accurate as I can get. I will shoot a .75"-1" load over a faster 1.5" load.

 

[JD338]

I am old school, "Speed sells but Accuracy kills".

Seems I have seen this somewhere else. :mrgreen:

JD338

 

[Mountain Goat]

I need as much as the cartridge will safely give me while still getting acceptable accuracy, what ever that may be. :wink:

 

[brianwyo]

My name is Brian and I I'm a rifle speed freak. I have always liked rifles that shoot flat to 300-400 yards. 3000fps has always been stuck in my head for rifles. Most of my hunting rifles will easily do that and more. Still shooting inch or less groups at 100 yards.

I think someone is reading my mail again!! Brian

 

[338 Ultra]

I like accuracy and I also like speed in some specific aplications. If I am shooting underground dwelling varmints I want a combo that shoots bug holes at 100 yards as fast as can be driven safely in the rifle cartridge combo. If I am shooting big game I want a load that is consistant day in and day out in group size, because in my situation anything I shoot for the freezer is 99% of the time is inside 300 yards. That is a whole lot of area that is covered by a lot of standard cartridges in the 2700-3000 fps velocity range with drops based on 200 yard zero's that aren't enough to worry about on deer sized game and larger if you have shooting time in at that distance.

 

[baltz526]

I have a few loads i want to get every bit of speed out of, Accuracy is secondary within reason. Cascade elk in the doghair fir i want massive tissue damage. 200gr partions at 2900+fps or 220gr rn hornady interlocks at 2750+fps is effective out of a 300winmag. Shooting deer ultra high energy is un-needed. 140gr ballistic tips at 3175fps out of the 7mm is my fast load for long range deer. Long range elk is a 175gr sierra BTSP gameking at 2900fps or a 180gr Etip at 2890fps. Out in the open sage massive tissue damage is secondary to shot placement. I'll be deer hunt this fall with a 150gr ballistic tip at 2800fps 0-400yds it has plenty of power

 

[FOTIS]

To me speed is not worth much if you can't get it accurately. :mrgreen:

I agree. I use to be a speed maniac, now I have calmed down. :wink: