Hunting ballistics: long-range shooting

Knowing the effects of a shot higher than 200/300 meters, allows the hunter to optimize the result and keep the surrounding environment safe. Below we will describe in detail the effects of a shot at long distances, also distinguishing the type of projectile used.

The rifle often presents some problems with regard to shooting at a distance greater than 200-300 meters: it all lies in knowing how to distinguish according to whether you want to perform a target shooting at a known distance and without terminal energy problems, or whether you want to do it. hunting shooting at an animal whose distance is unknown.

As for target shooting, generally the weapon is calibrated to hit the target at the distance at which it is located and the only aspect to deal with is to find a stable projectile, not very sensitive to the wind and which, in relation to the weapon from which it is fired, ensures good accuracy. The weight and speed of the bullet are secondary aspects, even if generally one will favor a bullet? quite heavy. The reason why it makes no sense to use fast but light bullets can be found in the fact if you compare the loss of speed over the distance of 1000 meters? of a 222 Rem bullet of g 3,24, of an 8x68S bullet of? 11,66 g, of an ultrafast bullet such as the 22-250 Rem. with 3,43g ball. and a 7 × 57 R bullet of 11,21 g.

In all these cases, can we see how quickly the light bullet is lost? its speed, so it would be foolish to shoot with it beyond 400 meters, since if it slows down so consistently it means that the trajectory becomes very curved and gradually loses the initial taut trajectory. Therefore, it cannot be said that the initial straight shot is useful for long range shooting. For a valid comparison, the data relating to a very particular bullet, suitable for long-range shooting, can be reported: the 12,7 x 99 cartridge (50 US Browning) with a 48,5 gr bullet and Vo = 883 ms. , maximum range about 7 km.

The optimal zeroing distance is 190 meters, a feature that requires precise distance assessment and precise target distance calibration.

Below are the data relating to the loss of speed up to 1000 meters:

Lime.	Vo	100	200	300	400	500	600	700	800	900	1000
222 Rem	980	795	645	523	424	344	279	226	183	149	120
8x68S	980	870	772	686	609	540	480	426	378	336	298
22-250R	1130	970	833	716	615	528	453	390	334	287	246
7x 57R	750	674	605	544	489	439	394	354	318	286	257
12,7 × 99	883	843	803	865	730	695	663	632	602	574	547

For a shot at 400 meters it is necessary to evaluate the distance by eye with a margin of error of? +/- 25 meters, a very modest approximation.

cal m	375	400	425	Wind 10 ms
222 R	cm +15	0	-18	230
8x68S	cm + 9	0	-10,5	110
22 250	cm + 8	0	-10	133
7 × 57 R	cm +14	0	-17	132
12,7 × 99	cm + 7,3	0	-8	46

In case the rifle is zeroed at the distance of 200 meters, we will have these results:

cal m	250	300	350	400	450	500
222 R	-12	-31	-60	-100	-152	-222
8x68S	-9	-22	-42	-67	-97	-137
22 250	-10	-25	-47	-76	-114	-162
7 × 57 R	-15	-38	-68	-108	-159	-220
12,7 × 99	-8	-20	-35	-56	-81	-110

It is clear that up to 300 meters and with the first three cartridges, an eye correction can be made by shooting a palm over the desired point, but that beyond this distance it is senseless to shoot. In any case, the smallest deviation is obtained with the heaviest bullet and not with the fastest originally. However, a question arises spontaneously: what are the cartridges that allow you to have a tense trajectory?

If we take 250 inches (= 635 cm) over 1000 yards (= 914 meters) as the waste limit, we find that the following cartridges fall into this category:

CALIBRO	Grams	Vo ms	Offset in cm at 1000 yards
7mm SWT	9,39	1050	-487
7mm SWT	10,36	990	-508
.284 Lazzeroni Firebird	7,77	1200	-393
.308 Lazzeroni Warbird	8,42	1210	-416
.338 Lazzeroni Titan	11,9	1082	-480
.30-378 Weatherby	11,6	1051	-505
.222 Rem	3,56	945	-571
257 Weatherby Magnum	6,48	1097	-619
.270 Winchester	8,42	910	-566
.270 Weatherby Magnum	9	1005	-607
7mm Remington Magnum	9	990	-599
7mm Weatherby Magnum	9,7	1005	-571
7mm Dakotas	9	1036	-541
.308 Lazzeroni Patriot	8,42	1088	-533
.300 Dakotas	11,66	990	-584
.300 Weatherby Magnum	10,7	1021	-568
.300 Remington Ultra Mag	11,66	990	-586
12,7x 99	48,5	883	-570

The difference is in any way such as to make the concept of a "stretched trajectory" entirely theoretical.

We consider it necessary to remember that it is very dangerous to shoot at distances greater than 300 meters: in addition to the fact that you risk hitting the game in non-vital points or wounding it without adequate bullet energy, inflicting a slow death on it, there is the danger. to hit other passing hunters.

Some statistics say that one of the main causes of a decrease in roe deer in a territory is precisely attributable to those who shoot over 300 meters, condemning the animal to unnecessary agony. Furthermore, such great distances do not allow you to have, so to speak, the area in which you are shooting under control. The possibility that other hunters are nearby should always be considered. Having said that, it is advisable that the hunter shortens the distance between him and the prey.