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> Which MV for youth deer load?
Which MV for youth deer load?
@ 08:10 am (GMT) |
Jonathan StamperI recently got my 8yo son a Tikka T3x Lite Compact in 6.5 Creedmoor (an outstanding little rifle, btw). I have downloaded some rounds with H4895, and they are producing muzzle velocities around 2150 FPS with the 140g ELD-M. Standard loads get around 2600fps out of the 20” tube.He is more comfortable shooting the softer loads while practicing (much much less recoil), but has shot the full-house loads without flinching. This is his first whitetail deer season, and I want to make sure he is set up for success. So which load should I set him up with (2150 vs 2600 FPS), for 25-100 yards? I have trained him to aim for the shoulder, I have little doubt that’s exactly where he will hit, given the opportunity. |
Replies
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@ 08:46 am (GMT) |
Jonathan StamperRe: Which MV for youth deer load?I also have 140g core-lokts and 140g partitions... |
@ 09:08 am (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Which MV for youth deer load?Hi Jonathan, at least for this season, go with the 2150fps ELD-M load. Just reiterate the shoulder shot placement, over and over.The trouble is, field positions might knock him around at 2600fps and change the POI. The T3 lite is not forgiving in this manner. At an impact of 2050fps, it won't be a spectacular kill but it will work if shot placement is sound. You can easily run a 2600fps load for back up that you shoot if needed. Suggest you have him sighted in dead on at 100 so that your back up load is 3" high and not way off. Others, do not try this with anything smaller. If you want to shoot a .243 or .25, you need to increase velocity. Velocity can only be reduced where the bullet weight is sufficient relative to energy vs the bullet design. 8yrs is young. Some kids are dead keen but you have to watch for the kids that act keen but just want to please dad. Its hard when you want to share everything with them and they want to be a part of everything you do. But it is important to be patient and not get too far ahead. Things have to be thought of in years rather than weeks or months. |
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@ 09:49 am (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Which MV for youth deer load?To further clarify, there are a couple of .243 bullets than can be put to work at lower speeds (depending on twist rate), but it is impossible to develop a reduced H4895 load at 2150fps without safety issues. The tendency is therefore to try and come up using Trail Boss but the energy is not there when we try to come from this end.These factors aside, the goal with any youth load is to avoid runners. As we go lighter and slower, we become ever more reliant on exact shot placement yet may still witness dead runs which can be off putting for youths. Those who want to learn more about low speed killing with the smaller bores will find plenty of information within the Cartridges book. |
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@ 10:32 am (GMT) |
Jonathan StamperRe: Which MV for youth deer load?Thanks for the advice. The cartridges book and the info for low velocity (I.e. long range) killing with the 140 ELD-M is what pushed me towards this rifle/cartridge for him.I can bump up the reduced load to split the difference, (probably around 2300fps MV), I may go that route. As it is, the reduced load is zeroed at 100, and the 2600fps load is 1.75” higher, so that zero is very useful with either load. I agree about thinking long-term; we have already passed on several shots with a muzzleloader that weren’t perfect situations. He has a little buddy who sat with his dad for two hours on the first day before taking a deer. I’m actually glad it hasn’t worked out that way for us, now that he’s “worked” and waited some, I think the first kill will be more special. |
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@ 10:56 am (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Which MV for youth deer load?It does help increase wounding (speed of killing / room for error) if we can get over 2200fps or even have 2200fps at 100 yards. But depending on the youth or cartridge this may not be easy.The .308 110gr V-Max is another good one. can be reduced to around 2250fps, behaves like the 7.62x39. The wide frontal area helps aid performance a bit, also relative to its energy and low SD can produce acceptable results out to 100 yards or so. Smaller stuff like the .243 87gr V-Max and .223 60gr V-Max are best driven quite a bit faster to keep the energy up. https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/Hand+loading+manuals+and+reduced+load+data.html |
@ 01:25 pm (GMT) |
Warwick MarflittRe: Which MV for youth deer load?Full power loads.......AccuratelyWhen your child can accurately shoot full power loads repeatedly. Prone, kneeling and standing. Then they're ready to go Deer hunting. Why? 1. Because you want their first hunting experience to be a memorable one. 2. Shooting animals in the wrong place is a shitty party trick. And not cool for a new hunter or the animal hunted. As a Dad and a Mentor we want to do stuff with our younglings. The hardest part is watching their development. Nurturing and knowing when their ready for the next stage of their life skills apprenticeship..... Don't push them too hard too soon . In our family 14ish is the age, generally for carrying a deer. Hey you shoot it you carry it son. At 8 we go opossum, rabbit, hare and shooting native bird killing Cats with the .22LR Look up and look ahead....... |
@ 08:15 am (GMT) |
Luis VazquezRe: Which MV for youth deer load?Hi All:I understabd where Warwick is coming from, it is the same approach I have taken with my nephew. He is 13 years old and has only been shotting for 4 years. Last weekend was his first time huntng and I started him with rabbits, he got 6 throughout the weekend, all 6 were headshots with his .22. He is now able to handle full loads on my 7x08 with the 139gr SST at 2,850 fps and we are waiting till next year to do his first big game hunt. In my case I started shooting with a .22 when I was 4 years old and high power rifles when I was 7 years old, with .223, 7x08 and shotguns. My dad started me very early and I was taught the value of the life of an animal and how to make a clean and fast kill, if that was not possible then we woukd pass on taking that shot. I took my first deer at the age of 9, I gutted and skinned it myself and no Warwick, I did not carry it Lol, but I did carry my dad's backpack and gear and both rifles for about 4 miles in mountain terrain, and it was worth every step to get back to camp, he thought me how to skin it and butcher it, and it was a memory that to this date is still fresh on my mind. I do agree with Warwick that he should be able to handle full loads, he owes at least that much to the animal he is willing to take. Why? If he takes the roght shit but the animal just shifts one bit, that bullet will not hit where it was mean to. With a full load that bullet will do more damage and bring that animal down faster. I've seen bad shots and I cannot stand to have to track an aninal and see it suffer. This is just my humble opinion. Best regards to all Luis |
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@ 08:23 am (GMT) |
Luis VazquezRe: Which MV for youth deer load?Apologies, correction. Meant: if he takes the right shot and that animal shifts just a bitAgain, best regards Luis |
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