Sighting and Shooting the Deer
Mitch Johnson
Each of guns will have different caliber. Each caliber will have
the different effect with the sight of the deer rifle while a
hunter shoots the target.
Many calibers will not permit this two-hundred-yard sighting
range and keep within the six-inch limit. For example, the 170-
grain bullet in the popular .30/30 caliber will drop about one
foot in 165 yards. This does not mean that this is the limit of
the six-inch variation from the line of sight because the bullet
starts below the line of sight and the highest point of its
flight is beyond the half-way point between the gun and target
and thus the six-inch limit is extended beyond the distance of
the twelve-inch drop. It does mean that if the sights are set for
much over 150 yards, that there is a good chance of missing the
vital area of a deer at mid-range unless there is some effort to
compensate for trajectory. Similarly the .30/06 with the 180-
grain load will drop a foot in about 200 yards. I have never
tried the 270 calibers, but have been informed that this gun may
be safely sighted for 250 yards, with telescope sights, and the
six-inch limit will not be exceeded either above or below the
line of sight for at least 350 yards.
For the greatest satisfaction in relatively flat country, most
deer guns should be sighted for one hundred yards. This gives the
hunter a hunting range of about 150 yards without the need for
making allowances for trajectory. The average hunter will have
difficulty in hitting a deer beyond this distance unless he has a
standing shot and in such cases he will have time enough to make
the necessary allowances for the distance. I find that it is not
desirable to make any changes in the sights while actually
hunting. Aiming high for those long shots may not be as accurate
as changing the rear sight to compensate for the increased
distance, but, since the distance must be estimated rather than
measured, there is about as much chance of error in either
method. In aiming high, there is no danger of forgetting to
return the sight to its original setting and thus missing an easy
shot at some future time.
The sights on a deer gun are important because they are the only
control that the hunter has over the bullet's course. These
sights are made in many different shapes and sizes. Blade, post,
bead, ring and a few other types of front sights are made in
different sizes in order to accommodate different shooters and
different shooting conditions. Rear sights are made in so many
different styles, shapes and sizes that it is difficult for the
non-hunter to select any one that will give him satisfaction in
the woods. Some of these sights are only adjustable vertically,
while others may be readily moved to any position, which the
shooter desires. Some of the leaf types have several different
sights that may be snapped into position so that the shooter has
a choice of sights to suit different shooting conditions. Most of
the aperture-type sights have several sizes of apertures for the
same reason. Telescope sights vary in power and field of view and
are adjustable in all directions.
All of these sights will direct a bullet to the desired spot if
they are adjusted properly; but some of them are practically
useless to the deer hunter; and some of the others, while giving
satisfactory results, are too complicated to be practical. The
deer hunter needs a sturdy sight which will not be knocked out of
adjustment by rough handling and he needs a sight which may be
seen easily without cutting side vision.
The sights on a deer gun are important because they are the only
control that the hunter has over the bullet's course. These
sights are made in many different shapes and sizes. The deer
hunter needs a sturdy sight which will not be knocked out of
adjustment by rough handling and he needs a sight which may be
seen easily without cutting side vision.
Mitch Johnson is a regular writer for http://www.best-scopes-n-
binoculars. com/ . His articles have also appeared on
http://www.hubforcamping.info/and
http://www.interactivecamping.info/
Find More Related Information
See Also:
Index of All Hunting & Fishing Articles
Index of All Sports Articles
