- Jun 11, 2014
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Founding Member
I stopped and took a leak at Thompson's Minit Market in Swainsboro yesterday and bought a fried porkchop for lunch
From the stand this past weekend...
- Thread starter Back Alley Gator
- Start date
- Aug 1, 2018
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- Jul 15, 2014
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Update on my Wilson Combat 7.62x40WT upper during deer season. While there’s a few days left here, I’m done for the season and cleaned her and put her away. Here’s my report.For the terrain and size of deer here (lower Alabama/west Florida panhandle), I typically hunt with me single shot, breech loading, 18” barreled .243 Handi Rifle. It has never, ever, failed me. I’ve always wanted to just use my AR-15 platform and given my skill and again, size of deer, .223 using proper ammunition is actually fine, but I’ve always wanted a chambering for a -15 platform that would be suitable for deer and hogs out to about 200 yards. While the .300 BO line is good, it really isn’t past the 100 yard mark out to the 200 range I want. So, after looking around, and given I like handloading, I bought this WC 7.62x40WT upper to plop on any of my lowers. It uses standard 5.56x45 brass trimmed to the x40 and necked to the 7.62.
Result: Alabama DNR has instructed me for the past three years to, “Please! Harvest as many doe as you can on your land.” While I don’t do that, I have filled my freezers and those of many who live around my land that truly rely on the meat for the year. There isn’t a day I hunt on my property that I couldn’t take a doe if so inclined, I just don’t, but DNR says population is too out of whack. So, at ranges from 40 to 220 yards, this round went 17 for 17 with none moving more than 10 yards, 5 DIPd. Also 4 for 4 on coyotes at night out to 120 yards. Will hog hunt soon and see how that goes.
- Jun 11, 2014
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Founding Member
Alabama is wack with deer. Neighbor on a farm behind the one I'm busy with here in Ga has a herd of does (12-15) that bring their young to bed down in his pasture every night to keep them away from the yotes.
- Jul 25, 2018
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What’s your target zone on the deer Detroit?
- Jul 15, 2014
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It depends... if it’s less than 60 yards, for meat retention and because I can shoot accurately and stress free, I will shoot a doe between and just above the eyes if head on, or base of skull/spine if flank shot. It’s lights out, but I would not recommend this for the vast majority of hunters. Beyond that range, it depends on range and presentation, but either double shoulder (cannot run, but lose meat) or just behind and slightly down from shoulders.
I’m appalled at how poorly most people shoot. I’m honestly stunned that people actually miss and it enrages me personally when someone hits one, finds blood, but can’t find the deer. No business hunting at all and I’d say it’s more than half of hunters I’ve seen, even ones who have hunted their whole lives. Biggest thing I’ve found is that most people neither know how to zero their rifle nor confirm their zero before the season. I now battlesight zero (based on description of the typical range they are shooting at) about 15 rifles per year for people and it’s like I’m their voodoo witch doctor or something... pisses me off.
People need to learn fundamentals of shooting, how to zero/battlesight zero (and what range their zero is), how to adjust for ranges +\- from their zero, and when they should shoot or not. Too many people too impatient.
Bottom line is that 95% hunters should only be taking a shot at less than 100 yards, only when full broadside, then shoot double shoulder. It’s an easy aiming point, yes you lose meat, but you’ll never lose the deer. You take out at least one shoulder, and if you do it right, you’ll get both plus it will flex and break it’s spine. I know people always talk about heart/lungs (behind/below shoulder), and while this is good if you’re an ok shooter, I see more jackasses gut shoot a deer and then lose it than I can count... I want to gut shoot them... or at least choke them. ;) I walked up on a big bodied spike on Saturday that had a BIG graze on its left shoulder. It caused no damage to its walking and no sign of bleeding or infection, just a big, long horizontal furrow on left shoulder... what in the fuk was that “hunter’s” aimining point?
Sorry I went long and sorry for the rant!
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- Aug 1, 2018
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Damn Detroit. I couldn't agree more with if I tried. A thousand likes if I could. I too hunt with my AR. Love your optics...they matter.
- Jul 15, 2014
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That’s what I mean with the lungs... put that .308 on a shoulder and yes, you’ll lose some meat, but not the deer.
- Jul 15, 2014
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I agree on glass. That scope is way more than I need for that round, but I just swapped it over from a 20” 5.56 upper. For the hogs (for sure) and for going forward, I’ll just put an eotech on it with a flip 3x magnifier in front of it. I also put 45 degree offset iron sights on everything for very fast snap shots/backup to hit anything 25 yards or less.
- Aug 1, 2018
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- Jul 15, 2014
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Oh, and on your lung shots... your either picking a point a little too high or back (or high AND back) and not blowing out the heart... thats very common and I’m not knocking you, but it’s also why I’m pushing to lay on a shoulder and knock it down. A good zero and good fundamentals with an easy aiming point. Ammunition is important too.
PS And when some jackass tells you, “ya wrecked the shoulder(s)”, you can look him in the eye and reply, “and I’ve never lost a deer either.”
- Jul 25, 2018
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- Jul 25, 2018
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- Jul 15, 2014
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For what I was saying, in the pink lung area covering the shoulder. In this pic from the left flank, if you’re right handed and get a bit of adrenaline when shooting at a living thing, one is prone to pulling right, even if only slightly. If you’re aim point is where I’m talking about, the worst you’ll do is “pull” the round right into the heart. On future kills, try to really pay attention to where your point of aim was and what the actual range was. Then look at where your entry wound actually was and see if it was left/right, up/down from aim point and think about how range difference from your zero and your fundamentals might have affected the shot. I zero’d this one for dead on at 85 yards which is very non-traditional, but correct for my personal conditions.You talking about 8 to 9 o’clock on the edge of this kill zone?
One really important thing I didn’t mention because I hunt pretty horizontal is the comment your pic makes about the shooters elevation and considering your entry and exit wounds and how that affects your aimining point, same with quartering shots. That’s why I said “be patient” and wait for your shot, but didn’t fill in the blanks. Sometimes (many times) you just let them walk and enjoy the moment... too many people just want to shoot no matter what
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- Jul 15, 2014
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Yes, maybe even a nudge left, but right there will give you left/right error cushion. Too many people aim for the heart in that pic and wind up with gut shot.I believe you are describing the green zone in my modified picture below
I added to my previous post if you want to reread
- Jul 16, 2018
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Well this past weekend I traveled down to NC for the opener of the central muzzle loader season. We spent two days chasing white tails and were successful. The weather was perfect...low 50s during the day, but lows near freezing overnight. It was the first sustained cold snap NC had seen this fall and the deer were moving.
Here's a pic of my tent cot. Its a warm little coffin in there. My old Eddie Bauer goose down sleeping bag is all I needed to stay snug.
Here's the barn stand that I hunted. Can be creepy in the dark.
Here are two views from the stand. The deer in this pic are a 1.5 year old doe and her yearling fawn. I did not shoot either of them. The rifle in the pics is a 50 cal Thompson Center Hawken sidelock. Uses #11 caps.
And lastly...the tally. I got a doe, Pete got the 8 pt, and Robert got the 10.
Here's a pic of my tent cot. Its a warm little coffin in there. My old Eddie Bauer goose down sleeping bag is all I needed to stay snug.
Here's the barn stand that I hunted. Can be creepy in the dark.
Here are two views from the stand. The deer in this pic are a 1.5 year old doe and her yearling fawn. I did not shoot either of them. The rifle in the pics is a 50 cal Thompson Center Hawken sidelock. Uses #11 caps.
And lastly...the tally. I got a doe, Pete got the 8 pt, and Robert got the 10.
- Dec 31, 2018
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Had a doe walk up to my office window today. I don’t know who was more surprised when I looked up and we made eye contact! I guess it was her cause she ran off.
- Aug 1, 2018
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Why do your links say "unsupported video "?
I REALLY want to see these.
BTW, I'm currently on mobile and will ck these tomorrow via desktop.
