Author Topic: game range  (Read 676 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline jamaldog87

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1465
  • Gender: Male
game range
« on: September 05, 2006, 09:26:18 AM »
how long are your shots on small game like squirrels or rabbits? i was told by this old man that has been hunting a long time not to take shots past 40 yards.
Most Interesting Man in the World: I Don’t Always Watch Shows for Little Girls, but when I Do, I prefer My Little pony . stay magic my friends

Offline PA-Joe

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 980
Re: game range
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2006, 10:03:52 AM »
That is too far for most shotgun squirrel and rabbits. 20-30 tops. Unless your in the open plains and using a rifle.

Offline SQUACKS

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 224
Re: game range
« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2006, 03:35:11 PM »
the max. range for a shotgun on game is going to depend on the shot pattern density at differant yardages. differant chokes and shell loads are going to be the main limiting factors.

 a shotgunner needs to test his patterns and loads at differant yardages to see how dense they are. if a shot pattern at forty yards is dense enough that there are no holes in it that the game animal you are after could survive, then 40 yards is an acceptable range. a full choke 12ga. gun with the right loads may even have a farther lethal range on the animals mentioned than 40 yards.

 the distance the pattern is lethal is important to know but a hunter should always try to get close enough to be sure.

 it is up to a shotgunner to know what his gun and ammo will do as much as a rifleman to know his trajectories and bullets. 

                                                                    luck!

Offline sniperVLS

  • Remington & Sig Sauer addict!
  • Trade Count: (2)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 893
  • Gender: Male
Re: game range
« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2006, 05:15:24 PM »
I saw "not past 40 yards" and thought wth? Then I kept reading and assume he meant with a shotgun.

Like the 2 b4 me, know your choke and patterns and take it from there.

Unless Im intent on harvesting the meat, I prefer shots of the extra long range variety :)