Thread: Calibre for goats and occasional deer?

Originally Posted by Tahr

MD is correct. Back before range finders (sort of prior to the 1980's) the .270 was probably the most respected longer range calibre. It was also before the internet, so long winded comparisons of calibers were not often made and we stuck to what we new.

Kills around about 400 yards were common enough, and this was because we sighted in our rifles to be 3" high at 100 yards. We didn't crawl all over ballistic tables, but we did know that at 400 yards if we held on the top of the shoulder the bullet would strike into the kill zone about 12" lower. It wasn't difficult to do with an accurate .270.

While I agree with all you've said there, how did you know it was 400 yds and not 350 or 450 without a range finder

I've listened to my father recite stories for many years about shooting deer at 400 yds with his 'flat shooting' 270, well before the days of Lazer range finders.

Friday just gone I took him to the range to shoot the classic model 7 243 I got for him. After he put a few thru at 100 we went out to 300 yds to shoot my gong.

We got back to the 300 yd bench and he says 'bloody hell that's a long way, I've never shot a deer that far before'.

I had him on and reminded him of all his stories, he ended up admitting that in hindsight all the 400 yd deer he'd shot years ago were very likey much closer

The old boy didn't disgrace himself at 300 tho I must say.


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