KISS Ballistics!

[captdavid]

I don't want to 'rain on anybody's parade,' But I think that you guys, and most here in Texas, get hung up on things that mean very little practically. I'll give you my example. I shoot a 7x57, 150gr @ 2700 and a 30-06 165gr @ 2800. These are typical deer loads and general match the ballistics of most. I believe, by what I've read on this board, that most deer are killed under 150yds. This is very similar to my hunting. I hunt blackbuck antelope, about the size of roe, whitetail, Axis the size and shape of fallow, fallow, sika, and reds. I hunt mainly does/hinds. I also hunt feral hogs that are the same size as the deer. Most of my shots are under 125yds, I haven't shot anything over 250yds in at least 15 years with those guns.

KISS. Using a 200yd zero, both are about +2" at 100 and 150yds, -3" @ 250 and 9" @ 300. That's real simple. There is no need for fancy scopes, See deer, aim 1/3 or so up front leg and shoot. If its 'pretty damn far,' that's TTT(Texas technical talk) for 300yds, 'aim at hair' more TTT a couple of inches below the back along the same line. use this JBM - Calculations - Trajectory

KISS. I use a simple 6x42 scope. I seldom shoot anything much over 200yds. At 6x a deer at that distance appears small to me. at 300, tiny.
capt david

FWIW, I do have a heavy sporter 26" barreled 280 that I use when I might be making longer shots that I don't KISS as much.

 

[A Guy Out West]

Capt, They can hunt in really low light levels over there. I have come to the conclusion that is why they go for the large and spendy scopes.

 

[spandit]

Capt, They can hunt in really low light levels over there. I have come to the conclusion that is why they go for the large and spendy scopes.

There's probably an element of that - not allowed night vision/thermal to shoot deer and we are allowed to shoot up to an hour after sunset, when it can be pretty dark. There's probably also an element of snobbery - it can be very expensive going hunting here and can attract the "all the gear and no idea" crowd

 

[paul o']

Agree but most guys inc me have to shoot on pay day events , its mainly as it gets dark or just at first light few hrs each way and why most use 56 OBJ with ill dots . old school was with a x 42 white tail and hold over under texas Hart shots lol , but saying that ASV & BDC,Laser or Thermal ect are a fact of life now and its all out there and what ever you feel should be used , we like bling and its so easy drawn into the bright lights of the trade stands oh and free sweets

 

[kennyc]

Capt, They can hunt in really low light levels over there. I have come to the conclusion that is why they go for the large and spendy scopes.

nah its because large and spendy scopes make a statement I use 6x42 because I'm hung like a donkey

 

[User00003]

It really is amazing how I can shoot deer 59mins after sunset without any trouble using my 30yr old zeiss 4x32..truly defies all modern theory..it does not have a 72mm objective, nor a red dot, nor HD, nor a 34mm tube,,it's just silly how I can think I can ethically hunt deer with such obsolete equipment as that and a 30-06 with 180g partitions...it's for the old world, not todays world of modernity which undoubtedly results in significantly more ethical kills, cleaner kills, faster kills, less meat damage, happier deer, happier hunters, happier families, fairies dancing around with hard on's and diamonds raining from the sky.

I should stop hunting deer until I can sell my worthless zg47 and buy a synthetic T3 in 243 with a moderator and bipod,,only then,,can I of course hunt properly with a clean consciousness again

 

[captdavid]

This was mainly a slight 'knock' to those who try to adjust for windage and bullet drop at 200yds, when the gun is sighted for 100yds, not so much light gathering. capt david

 

[captdavid]

BTW PKL I think you are using way too heavy Partitions. I use 165s

 

[25 Sharps]

It really is amazing how I can shoot deer 59mins after sunset without any trouble using my 30yr old zeiss 4x32..truly defies all modern theory..it does not have a 72mm objective, nor a red dot, nor HD, nor a 34mm tube,,it's just silly how I can think I can ethically hunt deer with such obsolete equipment as that and a 30-06 with 180g partitions...it's for the old world, not todays world of modernity which undoubtedly results in significantly more ethical kills, cleaner kills, faster kills, less meat damage, happier deer, happier hunters, happier families, fairies dancing around with hard on's and diamonds raining from the sky.

I should stop hunting deer until I can sell my worthless zg47 and buy a synthetic T3 in 243 with a moderator and bipod,,only then,,can I of course hunt properly with a clean consciousness again

59 minutes after sunset with a 4x32 is pretty impressive. My 8x56 Zeiss of similar vintage gets me to 40-45 minutes past sunset depending on weather! Though you are of course in Scotland, come try 59 minutes past down south would be interested to see the difference.

The 34 mm tubed, 3.5-21 x 50 ffp mil-mil scope is for target only, doesn’t get a look in on the deer mind as it’s far less suitable......

 

[25 Sharps]

nah its because large and spendy scopes make a statement I use 6x42 because I'm hung like a donkey

Can’t comment on your man bits and won’t comment on the last outing with the 6x42

 

[CarlW]

It really is amazing how I can shoot deer 59mins after sunset without any trouble using my 30yr old zeiss 4x32..truly defies all modern theory..it does not have a 72mm objective, nor a red dot, nor HD, nor a 34mm tube,,it's just silly how I can think I can ethically hunt deer with such obsolete equipment as that and a 30-06 with 180g partitions...it's for the old world, not todays world of modernity which undoubtedly results in significantly more ethical kills, cleaner kills, faster kills, less meat damage, happier deer, happier hunters, happier families, fairies dancing around with hard on's and diamonds raining from the sky.

I should stop hunting deer until I can sell my worthless zg47 and buy a synthetic T3 in 243 with a moderator and bipod,,only then,,can I of course hunt properly with a clean consciousness again

The low magnification helps. 4x will shoot later than an equivalent 6x or 8x or 12x every time...

 

[riflerob]

The one and only 'long' shot I've taken on a live creature was a fox at about 300 yards - mainly because the little git had been causing chaos at a chicken farm, but he'd sit in a paddock on the hillside in plain sight, watching people move around.

A slightly speculative shot, aimed at the top of his head, bullet dropped right on his bib. 223 Remington, no wind. He was tiny in the scope though, and I think it was more luck than judgement.

Virtually every shot I take is 120 yards or less. I did have an opportunity on another fox at 200 yards or so, but I wasn't entirely happy with the backstop (quite a flat stony field)

Scopes on both my 223 and 308 are 6*42 S+B.

 

[kennyc]

Can’t comment on your man bits and won’t comment on the last outing with the 6x42

you know I leave my man parts at home anytime I think the sporttrak is going to be involved

 

[paul o']

I used to shoot smack with on no optics at moving targets that said if you can have what you wish crack on what do's it matter even if my cats blacker than yours your a long time dead spend it or give it to a cats home choices choices

 

[25 Sharps]

The low magnification helps. 4x will shoot later than an equivalent 6x or 8x or 12x every time...

Only if coupled with a similar size front l lens, so an 8x32 yes or a 4x56, not 4x32 vs 8x56.....

 

[kennyc]

Only if coupled with a similar size front l lens, so an 8x32 yes or a 4x56, not 4x32 vs 8x56.....

actually the 4x32 has a larger exit pupil (8mm) than the 8x56 (7mm) so in theory should still be better for light transmission, all other things being equal, glass quality, coatings etc, of course that assumes you are young enough to be able to use an 8mm exit pupil

 

[reiver]

nah its because large and spendy scopes make a statement I use 6x42 because I'm hung like a donkey

I have a tasco 4x20 inc mounts !!!

 

[wraith]

actually the 4x32 has a larger exit pupil (8mm) than the 8x56 (7mm) so in theory should still be better for light transmission, all other things being equal, glass quality, coatings etc, of course that assumes you are young enough to be able to use an 8mm exit pupil

if 7mm is all the eye can handle then 8mm is of no benefit

 

[25 Sharps]

actually the 4x32 has a larger exit pupil (8mm) than the 8x56 (7mm) so in theory should still be better for light transmission, all other things being equal, glass quality, coatings etc, of course that assumes you are young enough to be able to use an 8mm exit pupil

I get the slightly bigger exit pupil (that virtually none of us are young enough to take full use of) but a bigger lens will gather more light surely? So more light is transferred through the 7 mm exit pupil of the 8x56!

 

[CarlW]

Only if coupled with a similar size front l lens, so an 8x32 yes or a 4x56, not 4x32 vs 8x56.....

Agreed. Note my use of the word 'equivalent'.