Hunting in Desperate Times – Part 6, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 5. This concludes the article.)

In the ballistic charts that follow, the best zero for each type of ammunition is determined and we can see how much to our advantage it is to determine the actual trajectory of the ammunition and find the zero that makes the best use of it’s flat trajectory. I used the JBM ballistics calculator and the manufacturers data to find out what the true maximum point black range is when using a 24 inch barrel. The following data (and much more) can also be found at the highly-recommended  JBM Ballistic Calculator website.

Category #2: Typical Factory Ammunition

Chart #1

.308 Winchester
This chart shows a 150-grain BTSP at 2,850 fps (commercial ammunition). Maximum PBR = 275 yards when zeroed at 235 yards. Highest point or midpoint and rise no higher than 3 inches above the aim point is at 125 yards. Wind deflection at MPBR = 7.7 inches. Ammoseek.com found this ammunition at .75 cents per round.

Chart #2

.30-06 Springfield
150-grain BTSP at 2,950fps. Maximum PBR = 290 yards. Highest point or midpoint, and rise no higher than 3 inches above the aim point is at 175 yards. Wind deflection at MPBR = 8.2 inches. With Ammoseek.com, I found this ammunition for .73 cents per round.

Chart #3

.270 Winchester
130-grain BTSP at 3,000 fps. When zeroed at 250 yards, the maximum PBR will be 295 yards. Wind deflection at MPBR = 7 inches. At Ammoseek.com, I found this ammo for .83 cents per round

Chart #4

.30-30 Winchester
150-grain RN at 2,350fps. Maximum PBR is 230 yards. Wind deflection at the MPBR = 12 inches
Ammoseek.com found this ammunition at .85 cents per round.

Category #2: Hornady’s High-Performance Ammunition

Chart #5

6.5 Creedmoor
143-grain SPBT Hornady ELD-X at 2,700fps. The MPBR is 275 yards. Wind deflection at MPBR is 4.4 inches (10mph cross wind) wind deflection at 300 yard is 5.3 inches. 1,644 foot pounds of energy at 300 yards. Ammoseek.com found this ammunition at $1.45 per round.

Chart #6

.270 Winchester
145-grain Hornady ELD-X at 2,980fps (modern commercial ammunition). MPBR = 300 yards. Wind deflection at MPBR = 5.4″ (10mph cross wind) 1,949 foot pounds of energy at 300 yards. Using Ammoseek.com I found some for sale for only $1.23 per round.

Looks like I need to get a .270 Winchester. Oh but wait, what can I do with a.308 Winchester and Hornady’s ELD ammunition? Let’s run the JBM calculator once again.

Chart #7

.308 Winchester
Hornady’s 168-grain ELD-M at 2,840fps..MPBR = 290 yards. Wind deflection at the MPBR = 5.6 inches. 2,080 foot-pounds of energy at 300 yards. At Ammoseek.com, I found this ammunition at $1.35 per round. Impressive. These numbers are competitive. And it delivers much more energy on target and that is a dominant factor. The .270 Winchester is now only winning by a half of a nose.

Chart #8

.30-06 Springfield
Hornady’s 178-grain ELD-X at 2,750fps. MPBR = 285 yards. Wind deflection at MPBR = 6 inches. 2,041 foot-pounds of energy at 300 yards. At Ammoseek.com, I found this ammo at $1.35 per round.

Note that energy on target is only part of the equation for killing power. The more mass and larger the diameter of the projectile along with bullet construction the better is the estimate of the potential killing power. Because of the bigger critters around my corner of the American Redoubt, more is better. It is competitive by the numbers. In my opinion, .30-06 is still king in this part of the country. If the big game in your area is not so big, then just about any good rifle will do if you use the correct ammunition and limit the range.

Chart #9

.30-30 Winchester
Hornday’s 160-grain FTX ammunition at 2,400fps. MPBR = 235 yards. Wind deflection at MPBR = 7.7 inches Energy at MPBR = 1,186 foot pounds.
At Ammoseek.com, I found this ammunition at $1.07 per round.

The 200 Yard Zero Rule of Thumb

The following Rule of Thumb that a 200 yard zero is an adapted version of the military’s “hasty 25-yard zero”, but for civilian hunting rifles. A “hasty 25 yard zero” was used by the U.S. Army during WW2 to re-zero, or to calibrate the excellent variable iron sight adjustments on the M1 Garand rifle after an engagement of if another ammunition was issued. The M1 Garand used primarily .30-06 ammunition that is referred to M1 .30 caliber ammunition that is a 150 grain flat based spire point with a muzzle velocity of around 2,750 fps.

Lake City M1 ball could have a lower velocity as low as 2,650 fps and HXP Greek M1 ball could have a higher velocity of 2,800 fps. With ammunition shortages, M2 ball (173 grain) was also used. If M1 AP armor piercing ammunition was used, it was a 165 grain bullet at 2,750 fps, and because of its elongated shape and lighter tungsten or molybdenum armor-piercing core, it has a ballistic coefficient of a 180-grain lead core bullet. (When reloading M1 AP use 180 grain load data). Because of the variations in these ammunition types, calibrating sights in a standard way, or zeroing rifles and machine guns using a standardized method to zero the weapons made possible using various ammunition in the supply line.

Within certain parameters, as detailed in my version of this Rule of Thumb (a 25-yard hasty zero) we can solve a huge issue given the large variety of rifles one might own. Before I define this rule of thumb we need to understand what would be the maximum point-blank range is for a hunting rifle. The MPBR (maximum point blank range) is a trajectory where the bullet rises no more than 3 inches at the midpoint of its trajectory, and falls no lower than 3 inches at the end of what is the maximum point blank range suitable for accurate placement of a bullet into a deer-sized animal.

The Rule of Thumb Defined

If the barrel is shorter than 24 inches then we can roughly estimate the loss in velocity from the manufacturer’s stated numbers by deducting 50fps for each 1 inch of barrel not present or shorter than 24 inches in total length. In other words, if we have a 22 inch barrel, deduct 100fps from the advertised velocity. As most barrels are nowadays shorter than 24 inches, and because most shooters do not use a chronograph, we can not used the trajectory chart supplied by the manufacturer, and should use this rule of thumb and sight the rifle in to be zeroed at 200 yards to attain the greatest hunting range given that we do not know the bullet weight and the cartridges velocity and thus trajectory. And even if we do have this information, we probably will not have a ballistics calculator app handy.

The ammunition purchased will generally speaking provide this information pertaining to its trajectory or at least its velocity. If we do not know the velocity or bullet weight of the ammunition used and if we do not a have way to determine the ammunition’s trajectory and thus ‘point blank range’, then a good zero to use would be at 200 yards for most high powered rifles and most all the ammunition is might use. Because of the different bullet weights that might be us it would be safer to presume that the maximum point blank range would be no more than 225 yards. Of course flatter shooting cartridges zeroed at 200 yards will have a PBR greater than 225 yards. If we accept the self-imposed limitation of this rule of thumb, we can establish a standard that will work for most cartridges including flatter shoot cartridges such are .243 Win, .25-06, and .270 Winchester, and cartridges that have a muzzle velocity of no less 2,400fps using heavy for caliber spire point bullets. It would not work for .30-30. A good zero for .30-30 would be 150 yards with it’s maximum at 200 yards.

As an example of how one would apply the rule of thumb to an unusual rifle, if we are using a short 20-inch barrel to shoot .308 Winchester ammunition, and the velocity stated on the box says the muzzle velocity is 2,800 fps, deduct 50fps (feet per second) for each one inch shorter is the actual barrel length. In this example, the actual muzzle velocity might be 2,800 fps then deduct to find the velocity given a 20 inch barrel: 50fps times 4 inches = 200fps. We should deduct 200fps from the stated velocity on the box, 2,800-200fps = 2,600fps. 2,400 fps is lowest velocity at which we can use this rule of thumb given 180 grain spire point bullet is used there for a hasty 25 yard zero will cause the bullet to be within +/- 1 inch of being zeroed at 200 yards.

This Rule of Thumb can be used to get the most out of whatever rifle and cartridge we might have. Again, It works for most but not all. The exceptions are ammunition that use a bullet that is very heavy for caliber or ammunition that uses round-nosed bullets. To zero most rifles and all cartridges that that it fires, first zero it at 25 yards and then center up the group at 100. The group at 100 yards will be high, but likely off to the right or left, and we want it to group in the center above the aim point. Draw a circle around the group, locate the center of the circle and measure the distance between that center point and the center line or point directly above the aim point.

If the measurement is 3 inches off to the left or right, adjust the scope. With most conmercially-made hunting scopes, for each click of the scope the center of group within the circle drawn around the group, or ‘mean circumference’, will move about 1/4 inch to the right or left as you decide. If the distance we need to move the group so that is it will become centered up and above the point of aim (POA) multiply the number of inches or fraction of an inch times four to move the next group of shots left or right toward the center. If the group was off by 3 inches multiply the distance by the number of s inches time 4 = and we’ll need to adjust the dial on the scope with 12 clicks. This will save one time and ammunition.

This procedure is easy once you have tried it. Use a fresh target and repeat the process until you are satisfied. If the rifle is already proven to shoot 1 MOA, then a single shot can be used at the starting point of the process. Shoot a 10-shot group to make the final or fine adjustments left or right, if you can spare the ammunition. Once this zero is established, the scope only needs to be re-zeroed if there is a change in ammunition or if the scope was removed and then reinstalled.

We want to zero our rifles at the furthest-most point possible to extend our maximum point blank range. It is to our advantage to zero all of our rifles at 200 yards instead of 100 yards, because if we misjudge the distance to the animal the bullet trajectory will still strike the vitals where we aimed out to 225 yards. If we do as most hunters do and zero at 100 yards we are reducing our ability hit the vitals. If we zero our rifles at 100 yards, then maximum point blank range would likely be no more than 175 yards.

It is very easy to misjudge distances, therefore it is to our advantage to harness the flat trajectory of rifle and zero it at 200 yards or further if you know the actual trajectory of the ammunition when fired out of your rifle. If the deer is at 200 yards and you zeroed the rifle at 100 yards, odds are the bullet will drop to a point where the deer might be hit, but only be injured and it runs off to into the woods never to be seen again. If zeroed at 200 yards using this rule of thumb, the deer could be as far away as 225 yards, or further if it happens to be a faster load or a longer-barrelled rifle. This is to our advantage as if we misjudge the range our error is less like to result in a lost or injured deer.

Determining Practical Maximum Range

An area that is 9 inches in diameter or less is the area that we need to hit to reliably take a deer. Regardless of the accuracy of the rifle, the hunter must be able to do his part to put the bullet where it needs to go. The maximum distance that a hunter should hunt deer can be determined by placing standard-sized paper plates at increasingly further distances at 25-yard or 50-yard increments. The hunter must hit the plate to know if he and his rifle are capable of taking deer by hitting it in its vital organs which are the heart and lungs at that distance. If he misses a plate at a further distance, then the plate nearest in is the maximum range. By determining the MPBR of the cartridge we are determining the maximum potential range at which a deer might be taken if the hunter and rifle are accurate enough. But we also need to make sure the hunter is also capable.

To better understand where to aim at a deer for a quick clean kill, see the graphics and descriptions here.

Why Learning to Hunt is a Critical Skill Set

At least 7 million people died due to malnutrition during the Great Depression and at a time when most people knew how to grow and preserve food, and when we were mostly a nation of farmers working rich farmland. This time, it is going to be a whole lot worse. This is because less than 2% of the population feeds the other 98%. Very few people are mostly self-sufficient. The desperation level this time around could peg the meter while a new carrying capacity is discovered. This may occur within a few months or over a few years, yet desperate times will persist long afterward perhaps more than a decade.

The knowledge and experience of our pioneer ancestors have mostly faded into oblivion. If there is a sudden population crash of 50%, the game animals would be hunted to near extinction. Only after a worst-case scenario that would be a grid-down collapse where up to 90% of the population is lost within a short period of say 6 months, would the animal population be not devastated as human population number would quickly fall below the carrying capacity of the land.

If there is less than a total and sudden societal collapse that occurs, only in remote regions would big game be present in great enough numbers to sustain the local population. As the population of game animals and all animals diminishes during a possible famine or conditions on par or worse than the Great Depression, hunting as a part of our survival strategy would become a smaller part of our food supply over time. During the Great Depression when most knew how to hunt the old-fashioned way, many needed to raise hogs, chickens, rabbits, and cattle for meat. Today there is now only a faction of the population who knows how to hunt well enough to be successful. This fact may work to the benefit of those who can hunt successfully.

The hunter’s location and skill determine his success rate. Having the right tools that could include traps and snares as well as a variety of firearms suitable for the region, the location of the hunter will improve his odds of success. For instance, if the hunter is in the Ozarks or in the Eastern part of the U.S. where small game flourishes, a 12 ga shotgun is the most useful firearm as it will easily take a squirrel in the tree branches or fowl in the air, and a slug or buckshot will take everything else that could be seen the dense forest. But in Western Montana where there is the predominance of big game and few small game animals, where there is a combination of forest and open spaces, a rifle is the most useful.

Traps and snares along waterways will take both small and larger animals of various kinds in all regions of the country. Also, take note that traps and snares are not necessarily limited to small game animals. On the east side of Montana, there are wide open plains where the flattest shooting cartridges would be more advantageous.

When choosing our firearms for hunting, we should assess our terrain and the game animals that are the most prevalent in our area. My personal choices are based upon what are the conditions in the mountainous parts of Western Montana where ranges are often no more than 200 yards and where the big game could be from mouse to moose, but mostly larger big game. We have happen to have an incredibly wide variety of wildlife that is very healthy and flourishing. Hunting will be a primary source of food in this region in the open stages of the coming crash, so it would be best to hunt it while you can, because everyone else will be doing the same after the crash and with reckless and ruthless abandon. Then hunting would become a dangerous activity where having a security team and pack animals along would not be a bad idea.

Conclusion

With all my articles about radio communications, I would imagine that most readers would have never have guessed that I was a closet ‘bullet head’. To learn more about hunting and rifles in general, I can think of no better authority on the topic today than the YouTube channel called Desert Dog Outdoors. Keep learning and becoming a better shooter and a better hunter. Striving to hunt at longer ranges will make us better hunters at more realistic and practical ranges and keep in mind that in the coming times of extreme scarcity, a meager supply of high-quality protein could make the difference between going hungry and starving to death. And to avoid that, we should first start with the basics found here in this instructional video. You can learn some hunting techniques in this video series:

Welcome To Whitetail Hunting. How to Hunt Deer — Episode 1.