While you're learning everything else about hunting, don't forget the importance of the right bullet. You can practice everything else, but it still comes down to the bullet. Is it heavy enough to do the job? Is it accurate enough to hit the target over the range you need? Knowing a bit about your ammunition choices and how they behave will help you succeed during hunting season, and you will be glad you did the research when you bring home that big elk.
Once you pull the trigger, the bullet is responsible for bringing down your target. Some bullets are more appropriate for certain sized game than others, and some bullets your rifle is just going to be choosy about. You may need to compromise to get the right fit between the game you're hunting and what your rifle likes.
Bullets are made to excel at different parameters. Depending on what you need, you can choose your ammunition according to the parameters you need for the game you are after. Different bullet parameters include minimum dispersion, minimum flight time, minimum cross wind sensitivity, minimum ballistic drop, maximum kinetic energy, maximum penetration and limiting maximum range. An example would be a heavier bullet shot at a lower muzzle velocity will minimize cross wind sensitivity. The heavier the bullet is that you choose, the more of the bullet's body is given over to ogive length, which reduces the drag. The majority of bullets cannot improve in more than a single parameter at a time, so choosing one will compromise others. Ogive length is the long thin part that extends at the front of some bullets, giving them a rocket-type look.
For large game, you are going to want to choose a bullet strong enough to penetrate and will give you more expansion. Super-premium bullets may not be your best choice, since they limit expansion, making them less than ideal for shooting deer or anything larger.
Test your ammunition on the shooting range to learn its accuracy and its strengths. Not every rifle likes every type of bullet, and your rifle will do much better with some than others. Testing it on the shooting range is a good way to find this out. While accuracy is important, performance is more important, especially if you are hunting larger game.
On the deer, you may notice very minimal damage around the entrance hole from your chosen bullet, even if it is an expanding bullet. There may even be very little blood loss at the site. You may find no exit wound, most of the time the bullet will be found lodged just beneath the skin on the far side of the animal. However, if your shot was accurate, the lungs should be torn up like they went through the blender and the animal should have dropped quickly.
From this example, you see what choosing the right bullet can do to ensure your hunting success. If you are unsure what to try, talk to fellow hunters, the salesclerks at the gun shop you frequent, or instructors at the local shooting range.
Of course, everyone would love to get that perfect broadside shot, where the deer stands perfectly still, giving you a lot of time to set up your shot before squeezing the trigger and downing the deer with a perfect shot through the lungs and heart. Unfortunately for hunters, this situation is extremely rare, if it happens at all.
If you can get a quartering angle, where the deer is at a three-quarters angle, still giving you a decent shot, go for it. As long as you have a good shot of hitting the target in the heart/lung area, the shot is good enough. Don't aim for the head, it moves with no warning, and more often than not results in an escaped animal or an injured animal that you will lose. The same goes for neck and spine shots. These areas are small, and the chances of hitting them just right are too small to gamble on the majority of the time. A good heart/lung shot will take the animal down quickly. If your animal is only giving you a quarter view this type of shot will still accomplish your goal.
When you are practicing, visualize the animal from different angles and line up your shot accordingly. Study the anatomy of the animals you'll be hunting, and you'll soon be able to know at a glance whether you can make a good shot or not. The ability to make the decision to shoot is important to your success in the field. Animals certainly aren't going to wait for you to feel comfortable. Knowing when a shot is good enough to risk it will enable you to bring home more venison than if you hesitate too long or shoot without assessing your shot.
Avoid going-away shots on an unwounded animal, chances are if you do hit it, the animal will just run off and you'll never find it. Straight-on shots are similar, though you have a better chance with this angle than you do on a target that is moving away from you. Another obstacle to the perfect shot may be your surroundings. While it is preferable not to shoot through brush, sometimes it is unavoidable. Line up your shot as best you can. If possible, practice shooting through brush, twigs, foliage, anything you would encounter while you are hunting. This will make you comfortable with these difficult shots. Practice shooting from a blind, up in a tree, or anywhere else you may decide to hide. This will make you a confident hunter that will be more successful in the long run.
Now you know what you need to do to improve your judgment on when to shoot at your target. As with everything else in life, practice makes perfect. The more comfortable you are with your abilities, the better off you'll be in the woods.
Scott Peters has sinced written about articles on various topics from Baseball, Diamonds and Hunting. Scott Peters is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. For more informaton please see .. Scott Peters's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.