My 206 yard doe kill

[ScrapbinBobber]

That is a nice shot. Very well done

 

[bowtech83]

Thanks Kirk, Please do explain this gun more along with the load and how its loaded ?

I load 73 grain IMR 4198 loose powder down the muzzle, then load my 275 gr Parker Ballistic Extreme down the muzzle. Then i put the cut down 6.5x284 brass with my primer that is seated in it in the chamber and close my bolt. The case with primer is against a Knight breech plug and nipple which is threaded in my barrel. Its ready to rock and roll after you take the safety off.

 

[bowtech83]

6.5X.284? Can you tell INGO more about this? At what kind of ranges are you taking deer? My gun zeroed where it is now has a maximum point blank range of 300 yds. That means you can put the crosshairs on the deer where you want the bullet to hit at any target 300 yds and under. Its super flat shooting, its a .45 cal not a .50 cal. The .45 cal smokeless ML designs are basically a centerfire rifle with the ballistics they are pushing, except using a much heavier bullet. My buddy has a Savage 110 .338 Lapua and his hand loads are 280 grain, my ML load is 275 gr traveling at 2900 fps at the muzzle, still has over 3000 ft lbs kinetic energy at 200 yds. The furthest I have taken a deer so far with this is 206 yards....

 

[spaniel]

For people looking at the 6.5X284 referenced, realize that is only a cut-down brass used as a primer carrier and has absolutely zero else to do with the charging of the rifle. You could use a .308, .243, or a custom plug for 209s like I do.

It's a bit misleading to call these the equals to centerfire rifles. The equal to centerfire rifles legal under current IN deer hunting regs...almost. I have both a smokeless ML shooting 200gr Shockwave bullets and a .358 WSM 1.8" shooting 225gr Accubonds and the .358 is superior in every way. Even if you go to the Parker bullets in the smokeless ML and tolerate the brutal recoil, you are barely going to equal the WSM ballistics and perhaps not at longer ranges.

No smokeless ML will equal centerfires not constrained by current IN deer hunting regs. The ballistic coefficients of available bullets are simply too low.

That said, very nice shooting. I nailed a doe at 175 yards offhand with mine this year. I've hit deer at >300 yards but I'm more proud of this careful offhand shot, much more challenging.

 

[bowtech83]

Spaniel, these are pretty good BCs for a heavy .45 cal bullet pushing 2800-2900 fps. I agree, centerfire rifles are extremely accurate, weigh less, most have less recoil than my smokeless ML. I dont shoot my ML off hand, absolutely weighs too much for a steady shot, so I use my shooting stick or whatever else aids me in holding for a precise shot. This shot was taken from the prone position, I have never fired my ML in this position before. I rested my ML on my backpack which was on the ground. And my scope bit me really good too, lol. Congrats on that 175yd off hand shot, thats impressive! pasted below are the BCs for the Parker Match Hunter .45 cal

• B.C. .384 @ 2800 fps (Match/Hunter 275)
• B.C. .420 @ 2800 fps (Match/Hunter 300)
• B.C. .453 @ 2800 fps (Match/Hunter 325)

 

[CathyInBlue]

Kirk can start a fist fight talking about the weather.

 

[diver dan]

thats a good example of not needing high power rifles in indiana, practice and ya dont need multiple rounds,