I have often read in these forums that the generally accepted minimum amount of energy to harvest a deer is somewhere in the range of 1,000 foot pounds of energy.
What I haven't read is to effectively harvest a deer, what's the minimum required weight in grains/ounces of the projectile generating that 1,000#s' of energy?
Maybe this is more a question for those experienced in hunting with rifles where the bullet sizes are normally under 200 grains. Is that magic number is still 1,000#'s? If so, then what's the minimum grain factor....180gr, 150gr, 120gr?
I realize this is a shotgun forum and slugs/sabots are usually being discussed ranging from 260 gr (5/8 oz) in 20 ga. to 438 grains (1 oz) in 12 ga. And I guess I'm still a little hung up on at what range a 20 gauge is truly effective to. Shot placement being the same, is a 20 ga at 1700#, 1300# or 1,000#'s just as effective/deadly as a 12 ga at the same energy level or is there some point where the smaller size of the projectile enters into the equation? Knowing if that same 1,000# threshold applies to you rifle hunters using sub-200 gr. bullets would put my mind at ease!
What I haven't read is to effectively harvest a deer, what's the minimum required weight in grains/ounces of the projectile generating that 1,000#s' of energy?
Maybe this is more a question for those experienced in hunting with rifles where the bullet sizes are normally under 200 grains. Is that magic number is still 1,000#'s? If so, then what's the minimum grain factor....180gr, 150gr, 120gr?
I realize this is a shotgun forum and slugs/sabots are usually being discussed ranging from 260 gr (5/8 oz) in 20 ga. to 438 grains (1 oz) in 12 ga. And I guess I'm still a little hung up on at what range a 20 gauge is truly effective to. Shot placement being the same, is a 20 ga at 1700#, 1300# or 1,000#'s just as effective/deadly as a 12 ga at the same energy level or is there some point where the smaller size of the projectile enters into the equation? Knowing if that same 1,000# threshold applies to you rifle hunters using sub-200 gr. bullets would put my mind at ease!