|
Post by caveman on Nov 28, 2022 13:37:38 GMT -6
12 gauge 870 with rifled slug barrel. Iron sights. She has her battle scars.
|
|
|
Post by benmnwi on Nov 28, 2022 13:44:52 GMT -6
You're shooting deer, not elephants. I started with that same shotgun I believe. Knocked a fork down with it. He beat the ground with his head a few times got up and ran away. I sat there in stunned silence. Parents got me a .243 the next year. Retired that last year as I bought a 6.5 Creedmoor a couple years ago. Finally had a chance to use it this year. Deer dropped right there. I'm sold! When the one of the deer run off after you shoot it with your 6.5 Creedmoor or for that matter .243, talk to me. I cringe when a hunter tells me he is shooting a 243 or 6.5 creedmoor when guiding for bear, they leave very little to no blood trail and that is when they shoot them in the wheel house. A guy on facebook group for game recovery dog tracking just listed the calibers that he at the least success in recovering, 243 and 6.5 creedmoor were on the top of the list. I will stick with my 300 win mag. Large calibers can kick, but they sure make tracking jobs a lot easier. My dad uses a .300 short mag on bear and deer and the blood trails are short and bloody.
|
|
|
Post by badgerfowl on Nov 28, 2022 14:39:37 GMT -6
You're shooting deer, not elephants. I started with that same shotgun I believe. Knocked a fork down with it. He beat the ground with his head a few times got up and ran away. I sat there in stunned silence. Parents got me a .243 the next year. Retired that last year as I bought a 6.5 Creedmoor a couple years ago. Finally had a chance to use it this year. Deer dropped right there. I'm sold! When the one of the deer run off after you shoot it with your 6.5 Creedmoor or for that matter .243, talk to me. I cringe when a hunter tells me he is shooting a 243 or 6.5 creedmoor when guiding for bear, they leave very little to no blood trail and that is when they shoot them in the wheel house. A guy on facebook group for game recovery dog tracking just listed the calibers that he at the least success in recovering, 243 and 6.5 creedmoor were on the top of the list. I will stick with my 300 win mag. 20 deer killed with the gun. 19 for .243 and 1 for 6.5. No issues yet. I'm good. Only a couple I didn't see fall. Double lung so plenty of blood to follow. There are no bad calibers. Just bad shots. Most of the shots I've taken on those 20 were under 100 yards and not moving. The few running shots I've taken they dropped in their tracks. Our neighbor shot a buck Thursday night and it came on to ours. They lost blood right at the line. We helped them look the next morning. Found an additional two pin head drops. Caliber? .270 I don't bear hunt so no experience there. I will repeat this til I die. There are no bad calibers (.243 and up). Just bad shots. People think they can make any shot because they have a gun. They'd be wrong. Edit: When I say bad shots I don't necessarily mean the shooter. Although that does factor in somewhat.
|
|
|
Post by biglakebass on Nov 28, 2022 16:00:08 GMT -6
100% agree badg
|
|
|
Post by Freeborn on Nov 28, 2022 16:40:55 GMT -6
The old rule of thumb was 30 caliber with 180 grain bullets as they would not deflect off branches and would kill deer immediately. Anybody remember that rule?
After my 1903/06 I went to a 308 and have been happy with the short action and quick handling of a shorter weapon. In my opinion the 308 does not ruin as much meat as the 06 but that could have been just me. :-)
Lots of choices but 6.5 was designed for long distance shots out to 1000 yards and all that efficiency is not needed for most deer hunters. If I was shooting a long shot at a huge buck I would choose a large caliber weapon just because the larger wound channel, increased knockdown power and the higher level of forgiveness provided by the heavier bullet.
3006 and the 308 are very good 400 yard guns for deer but anything past that and I would go to a 300 mag or 7mm mag just for the hitting power.
The old saying is "shoot the gun you're the best shot with", if that's 6.5 then use that gun.
|
|
|
Post by biglakebass on Nov 28, 2022 17:45:14 GMT -6
I have never shot a deer over 100 yds in my life. I shot a .243 until just 5 years ago.
I did lose a couple deer,,,,, I hate to admit it, but it was my fault. not the caliber. One deer lost was an off hand shot.... no rest. the other one, yep,,,, an offhand shot with no rest. Surprise deer that I didnt have time to set myself and looking back, shouldnt have shot.
I only went to a .308 because I wanted a new gun and something new to shoot for a caliber. I have shot one deer with it, at a whopping 50 ish yards. My .243 would have killed it just the same.
From Freeborn: The old saying is "shoot the gun you're the best shot with", if that's 6.5 then use that gun.
Agree
And from Badger: Its not the gun, its the shooter.
Agree
|
|
|
Post by badgerfowl on Nov 28, 2022 18:09:03 GMT -6
I was just making a joke, thought the wink gave away my sarcasm. Didn't mean any harm by it. Don't want to start an argument over caliber because they all work and people have their preferences.
The biggest thing is learn to shoot w/e you use and learn what a good shot is and what the gun is capable of.
I prefer low recoil so didn't change much from .243 to the 6.5. Heavier bullet w/ the 6.5. Both are pretty flat shooters. I needed a new gun like I needed a hole in the head but change is fun sometimes.
|
|
|
Post by biglakebass on Nov 28, 2022 18:14:07 GMT -6
I was just making a joke, thought the wink gave away my sarcasm. Didn't mean any harm by it. Don't want to start an argument over caliber because they all work and people have their preferences. The biggest thing is learn to shoot w/e you use and learn what a good shot is and what the gun is capable of. I prefer low recoil so didn't change much from .243 to the 6.5. Heavier bullet w/ the 6.5. Both are pretty flat shooters. I needed a new gun like I needed a hole in the head but change is fun sometimes. 'zactly! Haaaa And at least there is ammo to find for most things now too.
|
|
|
Post by badgerfowl on Nov 28, 2022 18:29:48 GMT -6
I was just making a joke, thought the wink gave away my sarcasm. Didn't mean any harm by it. Don't want to start an argument over caliber because they all work and people have their preferences. The biggest thing is learn to shoot w/e you use and learn what a good shot is and what the gun is capable of. I prefer low recoil so didn't change much from .243 to the 6.5. Heavier bullet w/ the 6.5. Both are pretty flat shooters. I needed a new gun like I needed a hole in the head but change is fun sometimes. 'zactly! Haaaa And at least there is ammo to find for most things now too. I've got about 10 boxes for the 6.5. Only about 4 for the .243. That's been tougher to find. I used 129 grain Hornady for the 6.5 this year. I've got some Winchester deer season cheap shit and some Nosler 135 gr. I really like Hornady or at least did for the .243. Tougher to find for the 6.5 but I haven't looked lately either. Passed the first test though.
|
|
|
Post by Foggy on Nov 28, 2022 22:25:37 GMT -6
SS/DD Yawn. ( Good read tho ) As always.....gotta shoot em in the right place with a big enough wound channel.....or put out the nervous system. I really like putting out the nervous system.....cause I do not like tracking. Everyone has a choice. I choose the high shoulder shot on deer with a 25 to 30 caliber. 7mm is about ideal. Edit: I did not shoot a deer this year. What do I know? Grin.
|
|
|
Post by Sandbur on Nov 29, 2022 6:31:25 GMT -6
SS/DD Yawn. ( Good read tho ) As always.....gotta shoot em in the right place with a big enough wound channel.....or put out the nervous system. I really like putting out the nervous system.....cause I do not like tracking. Everyone has a choice. I choose the high shoulder shot on deer with a 25 to 30 caliber. 7mm is about ideal. Edit: I did not shoot a deer this year. What do I know? Grin. I hate to ruin the shoulder meat and usually hold back just a bit. I like the 7mm’s and also.06. I won a .243 at one time and quickly traded it without a shot.
|
|
|
Post by wklman on Nov 29, 2022 8:15:11 GMT -6
SS/DD Yawn. ( Good read tho ) As always.....gotta shoot em in the right place with a big enough wound channel.....or put out the nervous system. I really like putting out the nervous system.....cause I do not like tracking. Everyone has a choice. I choose the high shoulder shot on deer with a 25 to 30 caliber. 7mm is about ideal. Edit: I did not shoot a deer this year. What do I know? Grin. I hate to ruin the shoulder meat and usually hold back just a bit. I like the 7mm’s and also.06. I won a .243 at one time and quickly traded it without a shot. Same. I put it behind the shoulders, pull the trigger and watch them run 40 yards and topple over. Wastes way too much meat shoulder shooting them.
|
|
|
Post by Sandbur on Nov 29, 2022 8:24:03 GMT -6
I hate to ruin the shoulder meat and usually hold back just a bit. I like the 7mm’s and also.06. I won a .243 at one time and quickly traded it without a shot. Same. I put it behind the shoulders, pull the trigger and watch them run 40 yards and topple over. Wastes way too much meat shoulder shooting them. in certain circumstances, foggy’s shot might be the best, if you were very near an area where it would be difficult to retrieve a deer.
|
|
|
Post by Foggy on Nov 29, 2022 8:51:26 GMT -6
Same. I put it behind the shoulders, pull the trigger and watch them run 40 yards and topple over. Wastes way too much meat shoulder shooting them. in certain circumstances, foggy’s shot might be the best, if you were very near an area where it would be difficult to retrieve a deer. Actually......I aim for the "off" shoulder......or the shoulder on the other side of the deer. Typically the deer is at an angle to my sights.....so the bullet enters behind or in front of the near shoulder. I really do not get lots of blow-up meat from such a shot.
|
|
|
Post by smsmith on Nov 29, 2022 8:57:23 GMT -6
Same. I put it behind the shoulders, pull the trigger and watch them run 40 yards and topple over. Wastes way too much meat shoulder shooting them. in certain circumstances, foggy’s shot might be the best, if you were very near an area where it would be difficult to retrieve a deer. I don't want to be tracking a deer into my tamarack swamp. I want them to drop where they're shot, or very close to it.
|
|