njc110381 Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 I've been looking on the Federal website to get a rough idea of the power of various calibres. I didn't realise some of them were so high! A .22 rimmy is about 120ft-lbs, and a HMR more like 240ft-lbs. But that's tiny compared to some. .223 is 1300, .22-250 is 1600, .243 is 2000, .270 is 2700 and .300win is 3500. That's a lot of power, until I scrolled down more - .458 lott runs at 5900 ft-lbs! What do people do with these things round here? More to the point, what is the backstop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 I forget what the .338 Lapau stuff is, but considering that these rounds can take out lightly armoured vehicles, I'd say a backstop had to be something like the South Downs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldrick Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 How about a .50cal/12.7mm? Is 12,000 ft/lb enough for you? Don't let concrete walls stand in your way. Why not down light aircraft and punch holes in lightly armoured vehicles? www.50cal.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 That's just madness. A HMR is a serious power thing for me. Maybe when I've spent some time at the club these things wont be quite as daunting as they are now? I'd be too scared to pull the trigger without some supervision on any centrefire, they have far too much potential damage in them for me to be confident with my experience. Deer stalking calibres need some serious awareness of your surroundings by the sound of things, I really need to get myself to the range I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye ive Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Result of .243 65 grn bullet at 100yds shot at 10mm thick plate steel backstop at 100yds This plate is one part of a total 36mm thick steel backstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 What made the holes? Not the 243 I'm guessing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye ive Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 What made the holes? Not the 243 I'm guessing? nic read my post again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Right, that's some serious power! And someone on here was questioning the capability of a .243 on large deer? How solid are these animals exactly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye ive Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Flesh and bone will absorb the energy generated by a bullet different to solid metal ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 I guess a big red does look a bit like a small pony. Rather a large animal now you come to mention it! At some point in time, I will be looking for a rifle for deer. Mainly roe, which really bug the farmer whos land I shoot. They munch all his maize, and sometimes there can be six or eight of them at one time. I'm not happy about using one yet though, especially after seeing that backstop photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisv Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 I was amazed when we tried a 1/4 inch steel plate with Fister's 22-250 with 50 grain Vmax. The result at 200 yards was the same as in the pic above, bullets went straight through with a crater around the hole. It's no wonder the foxes don't like 'em! As ive implies though, the results aren't always predictable when they hit different bits of an animal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted January 27, 2007 Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 Flesh and bone will absorb the energy generated by a bullet different to solid metal ...... :blink: Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted January 27, 2007 Report Share Posted January 27, 2007 Unless I am mistaken, the chaps on the 'Beyond Belief' DVD were shooting balloons at 1km with a .243 Not to sure about using it on Elk though, unless you really put the bullet in the right place every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 OMG, them .50 cals are mad??!!! some serious fire power :blink: :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 I'm not happy about using one yet though, especially after seeing that backstop photo Remember that the bullet is a small fast projectile and designed to break up and not to "drill" an animal, so if the bullet exits the animal it has expended most of it`s energy and earth/trees/branches will stop the rest of it easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 I see where you're coming from HD, but they still go a bit too far for me to be happy about using one. I wouldn't mind at the range where there is a solid and tested backstop, but on my own in an open field would be scary for me at the moment. I'm a bit over cautious about using new guns, I like to know exactly how a round flies before I fire it and prefer an experienced shooter to be with me at first. Better than being over confident I feel, but maybe it's just because I'm new to all the power available when you get above air rifle standards. I was safely using a phone book as a backstop until recently! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin.y Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 Get out shooitng with someone who knows and has done it before . Its the only way to appreciate the aware ness needed for rifles !! My biggest shock when i started was a .22 rimmie with a moderator, no noise at all you think it is like an air rifle ,lol it certainlly ain`t when you see the damage it can do. Especially if your intending night shooitng go with someone who knows what they are doing . The easyest mistake to make is ,oh it`s night time noo one will be about ,WRONG . Always be cautous and carefull it is not worth having an accident . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter_HMR Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 As long as you use common sense and practice safe measures you should be fine probably the best way to get into it is watching someone who knows what they're doing and you'll learn pretty quickly what you should and shouldnt be doing. If you dont already have a rimmy get one its a good way to get into it i started off with a .22wmr and even that has alot of power body shots on bunnies leave huge exit holes the other side. Would like to post a picture but might be considered a bit graphic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 I've gone for a .17hmr. It's still rimfire but has more power than .22lr, and flatter trajectory than .22wmr. And it fires a bullet that breaks up more easily if it hits something hard. Sounds like a fairly safe round, having centre fire charectaristics but with less power. I know a few people that shoot, I'll see if anyone's willing to take me out with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevethevanman Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 The 22LR is a round that has stood the test of time, the best bunny caliber there is in my opinion, with it you can get 1-2 rabbits possibly even 3 if they do not run. But with a 17HMR if you are close the chances are they will run if you are say shooting 70yds or closer, it is ideal for rabbits out to 150yds 200yds if you are a good shot, zero to 25yds and your flat out to 100yds, it will take foxes(the odd one out to 60yds) but shouldnt be used for them on a regular basis, and you are right it is a much safer round, but that is because it breaks up, so when you hit a rabbit in the chest/body with it , it makes it almost unfit on the inside . 22LR,22R,22LR........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazzyboi Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 Best thing would be to join a club, I know I was a bit sceptical about saying so before, as many would like to go out with the gun straight away, I am actually glad I did join the range side of the club. Not only is it teaching me more about gun safety, disciplines, bullet behaviour in different conditions, ranges, backstops. But i also get to use a wide range of calibres! I haven’t even touched the rimfires yet! iv been having too much fun with the centrefires!! Although the shoulder doesn’t like the 308 when shooting prone.. Unless I have a bipod or a gun rest. Onto the .22 rim fire next week. Then in a few weeks I am purchasing my CZ on the club owners cert, he is going to keep it for my exclusive use down the range until I get my licence back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted January 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 The 22LR is a round that has stood the test of time, the best bunny caliber there is in my opinion, with it you can get 1-2 rabbits possibly even 3 if they do not run. But with a 17HMR if you are close the chances are they will run if you are say shooting 70yds or closer, it is ideal for rabbits out to 150yds 200yds if you are a good shot, zero to 25yds and your flat out to 100yds, it will take foxes(the odd one out to 60yds) but shouldnt be used for them on a regular basis, and you are right it is a much safer round, but that is because it breaks up, so when you hit a rabbit in the chest/body with it , it makes it almost unfit on the inside . 22LR,22R,22LR........... .22lr bounce around like a golf ball on tarmac if your ground is hard! Try shooting them in the head with the hmr, it saves cutting it off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevethevanman Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 I see where you're coming from HD, but they still go a bit too far for me to be happy about using one. I wouldn't mind at the range where there is a solid and tested backstop, but on my own in an open field would be scary for me at the moment. I'm a bit over cautious about using new guns, I like to know exactly how a round flies before I fire it and prefer an experienced shooter to be with me at first. Better than being over confident I feel, but maybe it's just because I'm new to all the power available when you get above air rifle standards. I was safely using a phone book as a backstop until recently! Yes they do bounce but mainly with subsonics, because of there roundness, if you were to use hi velocitys then you would minimise the danger, but if you were to shoot at a bunny with a 22lr sub-sonic then, it may go straight through, but I mainly hunt on muddy fields and paddocks. This is best suited to the 22lr as it is soft ground not prone to bounce. I was talking to a gun shop about the 22lr recently, he is a part time pest controller as well as a gun shop owner and has a 22lr, FAC airgun as well as a 17HMR, he was saying that he was zeroing his 22lr one day with a friend as they were about to go lamping, he shot at a target with his 22lr and then he heard the ricochet, he had his FAC airgun on the floor lying down leaning against his leg in its gun slip, as he was lamping he though nothing of the ricochet but when he came to put his guns in there slips to put them away, he noticed a hole in the gun slip of the air rifle, he imediately checked the gun over to see if it was ok, he then found a 22lr winchester sub inbedded in the stock. His leg was inches a way from were the bullet hit the slip . The 22lr has its drawbacks and its advantages, every caliber does but the 22lr is the best bunny caliber ever , 17HMR owners will say the same about the 17HMR but it is what you like most that counts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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