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Maximum
Effective Range
Upon
impact, a bullet should expand fully and then transfer
enough energy to cause sufficient damage.
Bullets
are designed to perform at speeds of 2000 feet per
second or greater. When striking game at such speeds,
a bullet will expand and thus maximize the damage
it can do. Most game cartridges produce muzzle velocities
greater than 2000 ft/sec; but the moment a bullet
exits a rifle barrel, it begins to slow down. At
a certain distance it slows to 2000 ft/sec. Beyond
that distance the bullet is traveling slower than
its design speed and it will not properly expand upon
impact. The distance at which the bullet slows to
2000 feet per second is the Velocity Range for that
cartridge to shoot at any game animal.
An
expanded bullet also needs to carry enough energy to
produce damage that is immediately lethal. For deer-sized
animals, 1000 foot-pounds of energy is ample. Energy
is a product of mass and velocity. As a bullet travels,
its weight remains constant, but because it slows down,
it loses energy. At a certain distance its energy drops
to 1000 ft-lbs. Beyond that distance the bullet does
not pack enough energy to inflict the necessary damage.
The distance at which the bullet energy drops to 1000
ft-lbs is the Energy Range for that cartridge to shoot
at any deer-sized animal.
The
certain amount of energy that is sufficient depends
upon the size of the game animal. The amount of energy,
and thus damage, that may instantly put down a small
deer may not be enough to soon put down a large elk.
For elk hunting, a minimum of 1500 foot-pounds is
more adequate. The distance at which the bullet energy
drops to 1500 ft-lbs is the Energy Range for that
cartridge to shoot at any elk-sized animal. For moose
hunting, a minimum of 2500 foot-pounds is more suitable.
The distance at which the bullet energy drops to 2500
ft-lbs is the Energy Range for that cartridge to shoot
at any moose-sized animal.
The
shorter distance between a bullet’s Velocity Range
and its Energy Range is the Maximum Effective Range
for that particular cartridge to shoot at a certain-sized
game animal.
Untold
numbers of big game animals have surely been harvested
using only a .30-30
Winchester with 150-grain bullets. The ballistics
for common factory loads are as follows:
| |
DISTANCE |
VELOCITY |
ENERGY |
| Muzzle _ |
0
yds |
2345
ft/sec __ |
1831
ft-lbs |
| Velocity
Range _ |
95
yds |
2000
ft/sec |
1332
ft-lbs |
| Energy
Range (elk) |
60
yds |
2122
ft/sec |
1500
ft-lbs |
| Energy
Range (deer) |
175
yds |
1733
ft/sec |
1000
ft-lbs |
| Maximum
Effective Range (elk) __ |
60
yds |
2122
ft/sec |
1500
ft-lbs |
| Maximum
Effective Range (deer) __ |
95
yds |
2000
ft/sec |
1332
ft-lbs |
It
is fine for short-range shooting. But for elk-sized
animals, farther than 60 yards away, the bullet doesn’t
pack enough energy to produce damage that is immediately
lethal. For deer-sized animals, farther than 95 yards
away, the bullet is traveling too slowly to cause
it to fully expand upon impact. This load is not
efficient for long-range shooting, which is why you
see very few scopes mounted on a .30-30 Winchester.
Big
game can certainly be taken beyond a bullet’s Maximum
Effective Range;
but long-range shooting intensifies the need for precision,
and long-range shot placement is less exact.
The
following targets reveal the Maximum Effective Range
for certain cartridges and bullet weights. This book
covers all common factory ammunition that delivers
a bullet at 100 yards:
Traveling
at least 2000 feet per second, and
Carrying at least 1000 foot-pounds of energy.
|
