Shooting Question

[Mccallister25]

Its been awhile since Iv been on here, but Im back! I have a question for you guys. Today marked the last day of my regions hunting season, so I went out and started some prep work for next year. I moved my stand to a different location and thought about using my rifle next year. (usually thr woods I hunt I just use a bow or shotgun). The area I hunt is around houses and such, but they are a couple hundred yards on the other side of the woods. My question is; if I were to hunt with a rifle back there, and I was 16' in a tree, probably 35-45 yards away from a pile of corn, would that give me a good shooting angle where the bullet would hit the ground after hitting a target, or would I be at risk of shooting bullets through the woods? I want to be as safe as possible, and am curious about this. If the bullet isnt hitting dirt from my stand, I dont wanna risk hunting with a 30-06 back there. Thanks!!

[VolFan]

I wouldn't remotely risk it, probably not even with a shotgun. Bullets can do funny things, and 200 yards is not a long way at all.

[nick76]

I am gonna assume that you can hunt with a rifle in your area? Today was my last day for deer as well, but in my area we are not allowed to use a rifle. I would be concerned with house closer than 500 yds. You do know how far a 30-06 can travel right? If you are insisting on using a rifle you probably should shoot a practice round from your blind into something so you can predict trajectory. Have you considered using a muzzleloader? I hunt strictly with my muzzleloader for deer, very accurate and I am not afraid to reach out 200 yds with it. Just something to consider.

[clayton86]

Is it thick woods?

[RoLo]

I know just how you feel, and have been in similar situations.

Nonetheless, I'd perish the thought of firearms,

and embrace the bow & arrow which is far more predictable, and quiet to boot.

 

Roger

[Mccallister25]

Yea, the woods are pretty thick. I took a practice shot earlier at a piece of plywood and there was a spot on the ground behind the target, maybe 5 feet away, that looked like the bullet coulda entered the ground at. Im not 100% if thats where the bullet went in though, because like I said im only 16' in the tree and less than 50 yards from the target. For safety purposes, i may just continue to use my shotgun.

[Mccallister25]

Yea, the woods are pretty thick. I took a practice shot earlier at a piece of plywood and there was a spot on the ground behind the target, maybe 5 feet away, that looked like the bullet coulda entered the ground at. Im not 100% if thats where the bullet went in though, because like I said im only 16' in the tree and less than 50 yards from the target. For safety purposes, i may just continue to use my shotgun.

[Mccallister25]

As far as the muzzleloader goes, iv never shot one. Do the projectiles not fly as far or something? Would that be a safer alternative to a rifle, but more reliable than a shotgun?

[VolFan]

Block -

Please, for safety's sake, if you're 200 yards from houses, and shooting anywhere remotely in the direction of the houses, use a bow and not a firearm. Even a handgun round will have a good amount of energy at 200 yards.

[Teal]

If you even have to ask anout taking a shot, then you probably shouldn't...

[clayton86]

Lets just simplify it...when you look at your target what do you see in the background? Skyline? Dont shoot, houses? Dont shoot, other deer? Dont shoot, trees or dirt? Let her bark and smoke that deer.

[nick76]

Muzzleloaders definitely don't fly as far as a rifle does, but in my opinion are definitely more accurate. The downside for some hunters using a muzzleloader is that you get one good shot, if you are like my neighbor who sprays and prays when he shoots for deer then it isn't for you. If you like the idea of getting one good clean shot and you are relying on your ability to shoot, then a muzzleloader will fall between the shotgun and rifle range. Just my 2 cents.

I was intimidated by them at first too, and once you get the initial walk through on how to use one of the new modern ones, it is a piece of cake.

[Mccallister25]

Any time i shoot a deer, i rely on one shot. Very rarely do I go back for more. With that being said, im probably gonna look into a ML. It almost sounds like its my best bet, since Im keeping shots within 100 yards. One more thing is, if I were to miss a shot, how quickly does the projectile lose its energy? I did a quick search, and some people were taking animals at rediculous ranges. If I cant get the ML to act as a "short range" weapon, I might as well just relocate my stand for shotgun hunting.

[nick76]

You can change the energy of the round by changing the amount of powder used. I like to use pellet form powder and I usually use two pellets (50 grains each). This will get me from 50 yds to 200 yds easily. If you want to shoot more distance, use 3 pellets or a higher grain pellet. For most of my shots, I could probably get away with using only 1 pellet of powder as I try to keep them between 50 and 100 yds. Like I said, I am fairly new to ML hunting, but this is my basic understanding from shooting and learning.

[clayton86]

Why not get a 30-30 or a lever gun in the larger pistol calibers like a 45lc or even a 45-70

[Mccallister25]

Would anyone happen to know how quickly a slug loses energy after making contact with a target?

[clayton86]

Depends ive shot some with slugs and they never exited some passed threw and who knows where they went

[Mccallister25]

Iv researched different websites, on the topic of buckshot vs. slugs and most people seem to opt for slugs over buckshot. With the circumstances and area Im faced with to hunt, I believe Im just gonna continue to use buckshot. Im gonna buy some more shells, and do a spread test at various yards. Im hoping I can put a few down next year between the 30-40 yard mark. I took a doe this year with 000 that was at max 10 yards from me, so I have zero expirience with buckshot from any greater distance.

[clayton86]

If your only looking to shoot 30-40 heck under 100 its tough to beat a plain Remington or Winchester cheap slugs from Walmart in a smoothbore barrel. My father in law and my brother in law both use bird barrels with a IC choke and a sadle mount an red dot they take deer out to 100yds regularly. I used to run this set up when I had a 12ga now I run sabots out of a 20ga and shoot 200 no problem.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Why not get a 30-30 or a lever gun in the larger pistol calibers like a 45lc or even a 45-70

This.

I use a 45-70 for my pig gun. It makes them turn flips at close ranges. 100 yards or less.

[MDBowHunter]

With today's type of saboted slugs and and sabots for muzzies, they will fly pretty much as far as a rifle. I can take 200 yard shots all day long and group them less then 1.5" with my 20ga ultra slugger or my encore in muzzie trim. With that being said stats show rifles are no more dangerous then shotguns or muzzies. Also with the velocity of a rifle round they're more likely to disintegrate upon impact as where a slug will just keep on keeping on. The big question is how far is your furthest possible shot going to be? If they're under 75 yards I would go with a shotgun, a rifle bullet at that range would never really expand and probably zip right through the deer. Not that it wont die but you'll be tracking it, as where with the size and weight of a slug, the deer will most likely be knocked off it's feet at the point of impact. I dont know the laws where your at, but here in MD as long as your 150 yards or more you good to go with any weapon legally that is

[clayton86]

With today's type of saboted slugs and and sabots for muzzies, they will fly pretty much as far as a rifle. I can take 200 yard shots all day long and group them less then 1.5" with my 20ga ultra slugger or my encore in muzzie trim. With that being said stats show rifles are no more dangerous then shotguns or muzzies. Also with the velocity of a rifle round they're more likely to disintegrate upon impact as where a slug will just keep on keeping on.

I've been argueing that exact statement for years when the subject comes up about making rifles legal in my county. I'm in one of the last shotgun only counties an everyone says were to "flat" to have rifles....we can and do use them for everything else but deer you can't take a deer with a rifle but you can take any other game you want with one if so desired. I always state that about a rifle will stop or break up when it hits a branch or tree and a slug keeps on trucking.

[Mccallister25]

I patterned some buckshot out of my shotgun today, and it looks like ill be using that. Ill set my stand up about 20-25 yards from the corn. Side question for you guys; if i buy a lock on stand, does anyone know of any creative ways to conceal the stand more, so im not just sitting with a gun out in the open to get spotted?

[MDBowHunter]

I patterned some buckshot out of my shotgun today, and it looks like ill be using that. Ill set my stand up about 20-25 yards from the corn. Side question for you guys; if i buy a lock on stand, does anyone know of any creative ways to conceal the stand more, so im not just sitting with a gun out in the open to get spotted?

I generally look for a tree that has another smaller tree growing right beside it, and then I hang my locon so its kinda buried in the smaller tree. whatever you do make sure they cant skyline you or the game will be over. Also make sure where ever you hang it try and keep the sun out of your eyes and in the deers eyes when they're looking up at you. 

[MDBowHunter]

I've been argueing that exact statement for years when the subject comes up about making rifles legal in my county. I'm in one of the last shotgun only counties an everyone says were to "flat" to have rifles....we can and do use them for everything else but deer you can't take a deer with a rifle but you can take any other game you want with one if so desired. I always state that about a rifle will stop or break up when it hits a branch or tree and a slug keeps on trucking.

Same thing here Clayton, we have shotgun counties and we have rifle counties. Also you can use a rifle here for yotes and stuff but when deer season comes all rifles are illegal to use period. It's way confusing and pretty stupid in my eyes