donparadowski said:
My "problem" is that where I am hunting I have clear shooting from 40 to 260 yards. Deer almost never show up at the 40 range but they like coming into view to feed from 125 to 260 yards. Sometimes I just cannot coax a buck to cross the field for me so I am forced to mentally waive good by to him. If I were using my 7.62, I'd drop him where he is standing but that is not the case. I'm either going to have to learn to speak deer better or figure out how to shoot farther.
260yds is within the capability of your existing rifle. However IMO the charge and bullet must change for dependability. I've taken many whitetails at 200 and out to 250+, with Encore platform rifles. These new modern inline rifles, regardless of a .45 or .50, are much more accurate and at range than most will give them credit for,
or will ever shoot them. Yes, there is a distance limit for hunting, which more or less has everything to do with bullet energy. Of course shooter ability, along with quality optics.
Changing from your current choice of load and bullet would be a very good start. I'd suggest that if you want to continue shooting using pellets, I'd change to T7. I'd also stuff a Barnes 290gr T-EZ down the barrel on top. If you were to shoot loose propellant, then BH209 would be my "go to" propellant at 110grs volume, still pushing a 290gr T-EZ bullet. Learn to dial your scope setting for range. Start out learning to shoot 200yds. Shoot 200 until you gain
full confidence with that distance. Only then would I suggest you try shooting out to 300, which IMO would be the maximum. If your rifle will shoot 3-T7 50/50 pellets and a 290gr Barnes accurate at 100, the charge/load should have no problem at 260. Same if shooting BH209.
