How many fpe is needed to kill big game animals?

[Spitpatch]

Not sure what you mean by big game.... for Deer, and Elk.. the lowest rifle I'd use is a .270 Win.

Here is a guideline that I find helpful: https://www.chuckhawks.com/hunting_rifles_game.htm

If you stick to that cartridge you'll do very well. (It's one of my favorites).

But it's not necessary, and plenty of other cartridges of less power will do the job (and have been doing the job) just fine.

 

[DirectDrive]

Craig Boddington has written a number of books on ballistics, bullet performance, and "the right gun for the game". I don't have my copy at hand but I recall that he set some personal standards of fpe for deer sized, elk sized, and dangerous (generally African) game. I think that he uses 1,000 fpe as a minimum for deer and higher for elk. You can then use the ballistics table to define maximum range for a particular load and target. He notes these are not absolutes but to him represent performance that results in quick kills on well-placed shots.

Yep, that's what I see mentioned oftentimes and it stirs controversy.
1000 FPE - deer minimum
1500 FPE - elk minimum

 

[357 MAX]

Yeah. I heard of a guy using some weirdo cartridge, like a 44 necked down to 357, or something like that.

357 Bain & Davis. you could call most wildcat cartridges weird. if I have never seen it it must be weirdo. wildcatting is the ultimate EGO Trip! i recently read about a .17 caliber on a 44 mag case, called the 17/44 Herret. so if somebody can dream it it can become reality.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

357 Bain & Davis. you could call most wildcat cartridges weird. if I have never seen it it must be weirdo. wildcatting is the ultimate EGO Trip! i recently read about a .17 caliber on a 44 mag case, called the 17/44 Herret. so if somebody can dream it it can become reality.

 

[Howard1955]

"You have to hit'em just right." - Poppa Jones, Arkansas

Pop's not in this video. But these men seem to understand the concept. Hit'em where it counts.

No idea how to measure the energy involved. But there probably was a good deal of adrenaline.

View: https://youtu.be/Hqi44zwBW2s?si=tUTeOjOLL1r6w6m9

 

[ilikegunspdx]

"You have to hit'em just right." - Poppa Jones, Arkansas
...

isxoy.jpg

• ilikegunspdx
• Jan 10, 2024

 

[DeanMk]

This shows the somewhat capricious nature of these rules as I see opportunity to field a weapon that is legal, but would be ill suited for taking a deer. This is especially true in the pistol section.

.25 auto?

 

[DeanMk]

Not sure what you mean by big game.... for Deer, and Elk.. the lowest rifle I'd use is a .270 Win.

Here is a guideline that I find helpful: https://www.chuckhawks.com/hunting_rifles_game.htm

Lotta deer been taken with .257 Roberts and .25-35.

 

[DeanMk]

If you stick to that cartridge you'll do very well. (It's one of my favorites).

But it's not necessary, and plenty of other cartridges of less power will do the job (and have been doing the job) just fine.

Dad used to knock down seals with his .270 at 300-400 yards, when he was stationed at Tin City.
That was his deer rifle from the mid 50's until the mid 70's, when he got a 94 Winchester.

 

[osprey]

.25 auto?

As long as it had a 4" barrel, yes it would be legal.

 

[orygun]

357 Bain & Davis. you could call most wildcat cartridges weird. if I have never seen it it must be weirdo. wildcatting is the ultimate EGO Trip! i recently read about a .17 caliber on a 44 mag case, called the 17/44 Herret. so if somebody can dream it it can become reality.

I was mistaken. It's still weird, but not he Bain and Davis. It's a 357 necked down to a 25.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

As long as it had a 4" barrel, yes it would be legal.

I heard .25 auto is dangerous cuz it bounces off of deerhide and who knows what it will hit.

 

[osprey]

Luckily I think most people would know better than to take a .25 auto deer hunting. Also, I can't say a .25 auto with a 4" barrel is common. I have never seen one. Looking at ballistics the .25 auto has about 60-70 fpe at the muzzle , so head shots only!

 

[osprey]

To further confuse the issue, in firearm restriction areas you can use a revolver or auto type handgun but it must be .40 cal or larger.

 

[bcp]

I was mistaken. It's still weird, but not he Bain and Davis. It's a 357 necked down to a 25.

That's the 256 Winchester.

.256 Winchester Magnum - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

"The .256 Winchester Magnum is a firearms cartridge developed by Winchester, and was produced by necking-down a .357 Magnum cartridge to .257 diameter."

Bruce

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Luckily I think most people would know better than to take a .25 auto deer hunting. Also, I can't say a .25 auto with a 4" barrel is common. I have never seen one. Looking at ballistics the .25 auto has about 60-70 fpe at the muzzle , so head shots only!

Holy moly 60-70 fpe. That is ridiculously low. Cci velocitor 22lr out of 16" barrel is 183 fpe.

.25 acp is just pitiful and weak.

 

[Spitpatch]

I thought my ears were burnin', @orygun, but I didn't wanna step in any Bain and Davis business you mighta known about.

And, thanks to @bcp for filling in in my absence on the .256.

However, as a dedicated quarter-bore enthusiast, a new challenge presents itself on the horizon! I'll start a thread asking opinions as to the best platform bolt action rifle and optics suggestion for a .25 Auto.

...and how much is a Non-Resident Deer Tag in Washington?

 

[bcp]

However, as a dedicated quarter-bore enthusiast, a new challenge presents itself on the horizon! I'll start a thread asking opinions as to the best platform bolt action rifle and optics suggestion for a .25 Auto.

...and how much is a Non-Resident Deer Tag in Washington?

Remington 580 family is often converted to centerfire. I saw one converted to 221 Rem. They're strong rimfire rifles.

580 remington centerfire at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Plans available from:
http://www.jamescalhoon.com/pricelist.php

Bruce

 

[Spitpatch]

Remington 580 family is often converted to centerfire. I saw one converted to 221 Rem. They're strong rimfire rifles.

580 remington centerfire at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Bruce

Yep! I've seen a couple of those conversions. I'm starting to become really uncomfortable giving this idea much more traction. Things could get outta hand real quick.

 

[Spitpatch]

Since the current rage is to "re-invent" cartridges simply by loading long-for-diameter bullets, and barreling with twists to match, I hereby present to you:

The .251 Washington.

Here outfitted with a Hornady 110grain ELDX.

And certainly (as goes the current parlance), I have "Selected My Bullet to Slip the Wind", and most assuredly will be "Dialing For Distance".