Shot placement

[pepegraves]

I just wanted to get some of your opinions (through experience) on where one should place his/her shot when hunting deer when using a 357 cal air rifle....

[Mod90]

Depends on how close you can get & what FPE the gun can make how accurate you & your gun are, as well as the size of the deer.
For smaller sized deer a heart/lung shot will do them in, just be prepared to do some tracking.

[only1harry]

If I could hunt deer with airguns in my state, I personally would use .44 or .45 caliber.  I feel .357 which are typically in the 100-140fpe range (untuned) is not enough for deer unless you are really close.  It can certainly be done, but if it were me I would aim for the head/brain with a .357.  .44-45 aim for the heart/lungs.

Harry     

[Nomadic Pirate]

I'm not opposed to the Center mass shot but I would look into getting close and place a slug/pellet in the brain, with deer anatomy you have a good target even at the back of the head, ....not having to track sure it's nice

[amb5500c]

Brain shot means dead right there. Anything else means tracking job, and with an air rifle you can bet on there being a minimal blood trail.
Richard

[pepegraves]

Thanks,guys..I will definitely get close and go for the head shot on larger deer. I'm used to getting close with my bowhunting background...19 days til the Urban Archery Season here in Va...can't wait for those back straps  ...

On another note, I'm taking a hard look at a 45 cal

[Mod90]

not having to track sure it's nice

sometimes tracking is part of the fun
the real question is if you can retrieve it after tracking it

[wimpanzee]

With one of those hot new slayers, I would probably still opt for a headshot with a .357. I have a 909s .45 I hunt deer with, and yet to take a shot (last year was my first year deer hunting) but I plan on going for a vitals shot, at least for my first kill. I would like to mount my first kill. After that I suspect I'll stick to head shots, unless it's a nicely racked buck...

[pepegraves]

I'm not opposed to the Center mass shot but I would look into getting close and place a slug/pellet in the brain, with deer anatomy you have a good target even at the back of the head, ....not having to track sure it's nice

My arrow gets about 257 fps so, I limit the distance to 40 yds,even though I'm accurate out to 100 yds with my bow...Would 40 yds be close enough for a body shot with my stock Recluse? Or should Ibe closer?

[Mod90]

40 yards should be fine for a heart shot on a deer with a .357 Recluse.
But be sure to make it a heart shot, not lungs. A deer can run a long distance with a hole in its lungs.  Can't run as far with a hole in its heart. If you can take out a lung as well as the heart thats the shot you want.
Ideal placement would be either a quartering away shot just behind the shoulder, or a frontal shot dead center on the chest about 2" below the neck.

Good luck with the hunt. & dont forget the pics.

[ztirffritz]

Here is an interesting article discussing shot placement vs. caliber size based on firearms.  The physics are about the same, but the velocities are lower for airguns.  A lot of hunters also point out that firearms create a significant 'shockwave' on impact, but this article points out that the shot placement is far more important than the projectile speed or size.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/deer_calibers_dont_matter.htm

“Once you get to at least a .24 caliber bullet of reasonable sectional density (about .218), construction and sufficient impact velocity to destroy blood-bearing organs and quickly end circulation, the differences in killing power become minor on a light and fragile animal like a whitetail deer. We might like to think that at 150 yards, the maximum range at which an estimated 98% of deer are taken, there is a huge difference between a relatively low energy .30-30 and a more than double the energy .300 Magnum. However, there is actually no significant difference in killing power. Both are more than sufficient to take a whitetail deer quickly, cleanly and efficiently.”

This is the study referenced in the article above: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/deer/articlegad.html

They also point out that the heart/lung shot is statistically the more effective shot if placed correctly.  The deer usually only gets a few feet from the where it was shot.  Head shots, if accurate, are obviously effective too, but they're more difficult to hit successfully.

[jeff76]

in my state the hunter education course says while not illegal, headshots on deer are considered unethical because you risk shooting the deer in the mouth making it impossible for them to eat and sentencing it to a slow death by starvation.

[ztirffritz]

in my state the hunter education course says while not illegal, headshots on deer are considered unethical because you risk shooting the deer in the mouth making it impossible for them to eat and sentencing it to a slow death by starvation.

I think that most states are using the same Hunter Ed program now.  Washington's program says the same thing.  Almost verbatim.

[supertech77]

i would 1st if i plan to hunt a deer with a 357, and make heart / lung shots use a hollow point bullet, that i had practiced so many time that i could stack bullets at the yardage i hunt at,or if i used a pure lead projectile and planned on a brain shot , between the eye and ear, that i could stack bullets with,pepegraves, 357 will do a massive devastation on a deer,with proper shot placement,that is why i myself practice, practice, practice,so when i am at my shooting station, be it in tree or on land i am adapt at the shot i will be taking on my subject,know your range, your drop, your wind,,your rifle and what is behind your target,and then all will work as you planned it.

[only1harry]

.... Head shots, if accurate, are obviously effective too, but they're more difficult to hit successfully.

Sure it's easier to hit a whitetail's big lungs than its brain.  That is why we are airgunners, and claim to shoot better than those with firearms

Harry

[pepegraves]

Thanks...I know it is true that a deer can run up to 200 yds with a double lung shot. It's never happened to me but, it happened to my bowhunting buddy a few years back.... He hit him square; perfect double lung shot with 100gr Thunderheads...and it took us 13 hours to find him...He had run an estimated 200yds from where his lungs were ripped... But, me personally, a deer hasn't run more than 25 yds after a lung shot from me.... I do realize that my Recluse is nothing like my Bear Truth bow and, I've always believed (no hard evidence) that a broadhead does significantly more damage than a bullet...  Today I've begun practicing for the head/heart shot because I do believe that these 2 shots will be the most effective at limiting the distance he'll run after the shot....nThese are also difficult shots. I am very ethical so, I won't be taking a risky shot. I
'll only shoot when I believe I have a 99% or better chance of recovery.....