Speaking of safe gun handling, this should be taught to everyone that handles a shotgun or rifle. Whenever you raise the bolt handle straight-up move the safety to the safe position before you chamber the live round! On a pump action shotgun or rifle, when the action is slide all the way back immediately set the safety! A gun should never be loaded magazine or chamber unless you are in the immediate area of the game you are going to shoot. For many reasons, you are much more apt to have an accidental resulting in shooting a person that is very near you in the field! Think about these scenarios!

Wind drift: A  45-degree wind drift angle isn't half the wind drift of a 90º-angle, but is three-quarters the drift. It has a 70 to 75 percent effect, even though the angle is only halfway between no drift effect and full drift effect. The drift effect is not proportional, due to the aerodynamic ballistics of a bullet in flight. Just remember that halfway between full and zero effect is nearly three-quarters the drift of 90-degrees.  Memorize these aerodynamic ballistic realities.

Recoil using 48 grains IMR 4320, 7 lb rifle, 2700 fps Muzzle Velocity, Recoil: +18 ft/lbs.  That's a mild recoil for a 30 caliber cartridge with good killing power.

Rick Jamison writer for Petersen's Hunting Magazine, July 2002, p- 20, Guns & Loads Article Long Rangers,  - http://www.huntingmag.com  says in essence that for deer sized game you need a minimum of 1000 ft/lbs of energy and 2000 ft/sec velocity at the impact range for adequate bullet expansion. The bullet needs a sectional density between .215 to .265 and a high ballistic coefficient for long range shots. This is a great Hunting Magazine, I subscribe through the local school magazine drives.

You can look at the various ballistic tables I have on the Net and determine the approximate outer range limit your cartridge and selected bullet will be capable of killing a deer with a well placed shot. If you can't put the bullet in the vital kill zone don't take the shot no matter how capable the cartridge you're using is at that range.

Shooting at running game can be a lot more dangerous! Check the background and make certain no other hunters are in the area. Safety first!

Use deer lengths from 150 yards on out. I worked up these charts to give you a general idea of what it takes to instantly gauge the speed, angle, and approximate lead required to make a killing shot on that once in a lifetime trophy buck, and it is now or never! Figure your own cartridge at different deer speeds, etc. One hundred fifty yards should be considered the limit of most of your running shots.

According to the "Ultimate Deer Cartridge," article, in 30 caliber the lighter faster bullets are better for deer. In 30 caliber there aren't many to choose from that produce the right combination of velocity and shock producing rapid expansion. Nosler 125 and 150 grain ballistic tips, Sierra 125 PSP, Hornady 130 PSP, all have done well. Stay away from the heavier slower expanding bullets, they don't produce enough paralyzing shock.

In many southeastern states in the U.S., deer are hunted with trail hounds and running shots are the norm. Those Southeastern states include: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia. They post themselves at clearings where the hounds will push them through so they can get a quick shot at them in full flight! They use both rifles and shot guns with buckshot, quick shots in clearings at running deer is the rule.

Short barreled fast pointing semi-automatic and pump action rifles with very low power, wide field-of-view scopes, are popular for quick action swinging on running deer.

For clean kills the proper leads are required with both weapons. (This information is needed by a lot of deer hunters, so bear with me my friends.)

Norma Ballistics Program    Click on Ballistics - wait for it to load!

Leading Running Game - BallisticsFrames
http://www.udarrell.com/leading-running-game-rifle-frames.htm (Actual Address)
http://www.udarrell.com/wisconsin_coyote_hunting.html

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