I am an avid hunter with rifle and Bow and have been hunting for more than 50 years. I have taken big game such as whitetail deer, red deer, elk, Moose and African Plains game
such as Kudu, Gemsbok, Springbok, Blesbok, and Impala and wrote an ebook entitled African Safari -Rifle and Bow and Arrow on how to prepare for a first safari. Ed is a serious cartridge reloader and ballistics student. He has earned two degrees in science and has written hundreds of outdoor article on hunting with both bow and rifle.
Today’s crossbows really throw and arrow so fast that they are often hard to see in dim light when deer hunting. Some on-line adds for lighted nocks peaked my interest for my crossbow arrow/bolts, particularly Luminok™. I bought a pack of three for 30 dollars for my Easton Firebolt Diablo bolts (EXCF) and tried to install them but the hard part wasn’t the Lumenok it was the epoxied aluminum inserts in my Easton Carbon shaft. No matter what I did they did not come out. Heating with water and pulling and/or the 1/8th steel rod failed and I damaged arrows too… a kurfuffle to be sure.
The best solution, for safety sake, and far less frustration is for us to buy the “same exact arrow and length” already professionally fitted with Lumenok’s. Below is what I should have bought! Lesson learned!
Be sure to measure your Front of Center (FOC) for the broadhead weight you shoot because the Lumenok is heavier on the wrong end. I bought some 5 grain brass arrow washers to add to my 100 grain broadhead if needed. Cheap but valuable for moving FOC to the front.
Campfire Talk: I have read many articles on deer jumping the string (ducking the arrow) over the years. Some because the arrow made a whizzing noise from helical feathers on a traditional bow. Others because the bow or crossbow made a thump, whack or bang noise. Others because the arrow was so slow that the deer could see the arrow coming. And finally, it is a great excuse, if you miss!
My compound bow killed deer were taken from a treestand and around 20 or so yards. None jumped the string! All could hear the bow-shot thwack.
That said, I ran into this fun-to-read article below by American Hunter written by Bill Winke on the “Science of String Jumping” written back in 2010. As the bow is fired, some deer instinctively duck and the arrow sails over the deer’s back.
The lesson I take away is “arrow speed trumps bow noise” for closer shots say 20 yards or less. At 30 yards other experts calculate hold low on the heart, if the deer drops then you are high in the lungs. If the deer does not drop then you have a heart shot. A winning approach. Maybe!
So it is speed that Bill says is all important not necessarily the quieter bow. Quiet does help. How much? I like a muffled thwack not a hard bang. I think the unnatural bang sound from today’s crossbows can spook other nearby deer more than a muffled thwack. But if the deer is close, say 20 yards, then it does not matter, the arrow is already there.
The video below demonstrates this lack of deer jumping at close range with Lumenok™ arrows. Few really jumped the string in this video! The Lumenok tells the story! I ordered some of these lumenok’s for my crossbow arrows. But also purchased some brass washers to add to my arrows Front of Center FOC weight to account for the Lumenok weight.
I purchased an Excalibur Matrix Grizzly GRZ2 200 lb Crossbow Kit this past deer season, an early Christmas present, because of its lower cost, less than $500, and its simple recurve design with a single string shooting at around 305 fps.
I could have purchased a faster crossbow but this is easy to cock and de-cock and excellent for deer hunting! If you want a higher end or faster crossbow, Excalibur has them.
It comes with four 18 inch carbon arrow/bolts with field points and an attachable quiver which is parallel to the main body. I like that better than parallel to the bow limbs because it does not hang up when walking in brush as easy.
The bow makes a thwack that is a bit louder than I prefer. Neither the string suppressors or sound dampening kit came with the crossbow kit but I will have to purchase them to test in a future article.
It does come with a scope that works very well with hash marks to 40 yards. My broadheads are Muzzy 100 grain 3 blades which come with practice broadhead blades. In the next video I tested a 4 blade Muzzy 100 grains, and it shot the same as the 3 blade. This is the third arrow/bolt with a broadhead ever through this crossbow at 30 yards. Let’s see what happens! I have it mounted on a BOG™ DeathGrip™ Shooting Tripod.
What is most surprising and valuable with the Excalibur is that I can easily and safely, de-cock the crossbow at the end of a days hunt without having to fire it into a target. (Most all other crossbows need to be shot into a target or shoot a very expensive de-cocking bolt into the ground.)
In New Hampshire, All crossbows need to be de-cocked so they are legal to transport. A cocked crossbow is illegal in a moving vehicle says Fish and Game Laws.
Below is the video tip demonstrating the de-dock of the Excalibur.
There is another additional significant benefit that I find with this Excalibur crossbow: I can re-quiver my broadhead tipped arrow in the field, and de-cock the crossbow in the woods “with little noise” and carry the crossbow safely slung like a rifle on your shoulder as I like to do when moving from stand # 1 to stand # 2, or back to my vehicle.
Minimum energy needed for a crossbow arrow broadhead to ethically kill a deer, some experts say is around 40 ft-lbs recommended. Most crossbows today can kill well beyond 60 yards with a 350 to 400 grain arrow shooting over 90 ft-lbs at bow release. The problem is gravity and accuracy. Just like today’s compounds, your skill level drives that bus in part, and the awareness of the animal to move or jump the string, shot angle, brush in the way, are essential to the ethics of the shot. Keeping shots under 40 yards is recommended.
The gemsbok aka “The Desert Warrior” is a formidable and feisty elk size African antelope. It is formally known as Oryx Gazella.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemsbok
It has been imported successfully to Texas. In Africa, it has been known to skewer lions, and hunters alike. My African Safari Professional Hunter nearly died from being skewered by a Gemsbok he thought was dead. Remembering this, evoked the words of my PH, “It is the dead ones that will kill you!”
The low recoiling 6.5 Creedmoor is an excellent choice to harvest gemsbok as it is similar in size to elk size game and I believe the 6.5 is top rated in penetration with a 140 grain class bullet due to it stellar ballistic coefficient and amazing long distance accuracy. With a very high ballistic coefficient it holds its energy at long distances extremely well and flatter shooting as compared to non-magnum 30 calibers.
The minimum striking energy often associated with elk size game is 1500 ft-lbs. The 6.5 CM is capable of this energy with a 2700 fps 143 grain bullet at 350 yards and a Max Point Blank Range (MPBR 6 inch) to 274 yards. At 150 yards this bullet is still traveling over 2400 fps and delivering 1900 ft-lbs.
That said, a gemsbok is can be successfully hunted with most whitetail deer and elk calibers such as the 308 Winchester, 30-06 and .270 Winchester and 6mm calibers provided you do your job in bullet placement with a well constructed bullet.
Here is a Safari from Outdoor Life I found that used the 6.5 Creedmoor to kill all the way up to Eland weighing over 1800 pounds.
On my own Safari it was a well placed arrow that did the trick some years back.
My African Safari with Rifle and Bow e-book can be found on Amazon. The e- book has a wealth of knowledge. Just remember that you may encounter dangerous game in some Safari’s where lion and cape buffalo roam so be sure to USE ENOUGH GUN! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004TBEOWQ?tag=sa-b2c-new-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1
This is a word not often used in the ballistic lexicon where modern rifle bullets are concerned, but where you are shooting a muzzleloader, shotgun or a gas checked lead projectile it has a point of conceptual understanding and its benefits are huge!
Cast Bullet Gas Checks below.
https://detroitammoco.com/gas-checks/
I came across the word obturation when examining the using soft lead, copper or gas checks where the bullets base (sometimes concave) expands to fully engage the rifling in the barrel thus preventing the escape of gas around the slightly undersized bullet.
In the case of my TC 50 cal muzzle loader, I use PowerBelt™ Bullets with a synthetic concave gas check base which obturates, seals the gas, as the slightly undersized lead bullet exits thus providing maximum power and accuracy as the lead does contact the rifling. And it loads easier than plastic saboted bullets. See the story below.
When the muzzle-loader is fired the synthetic base expands providing the obturation (gas seal) to prevent gas to escape around the slightly smaller diameter bullet and thus increases the muzzle velocity and energy delivered. This the same concept for shooting a shotgun with bird-shot or a rifled slug/wad where the wad or plastic base obturates (seals to prevent gas from escaping around the pellets) upon ignition.
The .375 Ruger is perhaps one of the most versatile cartridges to reload for hunting game from wild boar, deer, elk, moose, buffalo, and most African game including Elephant with a single rifle and with a myriad of bullets and weights from 200 grains to 300 grains. And can reach out as far or close as you like as well!
My experience with a reduced load I first developed was with Hornady’s 220 grain flat nose, originally designed for the .375 Winchester reintroduced in 1978. That flat nose bullet is no longer in production. I shot it in my Ruger African M77. Muzzle velocity was perhaps 1600 fps. and the recoil was much less than my 50 cal muzzleloader. I harvested a big plump red doe below with it at 50 yards and got full penetration. One shot through the heart and she dropped in less than 20 yards with little meat damage. The bullet was not recovered but based on the speed and energy, the bullet likely stayed 100% intact.
Today I load Speer’s 235 grain Hot Core for deer with 38 grains of SR 4759 powder that I worked up based on the 375 H&H cartridge load data. Deer and Black Bear beware… and low recoil with this slower moving bulldozer!
Muzzle velocity was measured at around 2135 fps and around an inch at 100 yards, energy at the muzzle is near to 2400 ft-lbs (100 yd energy 1850 ft-lbs) . Expect minimal radial blood shot meat damage with this slow heavy bullet. Because the shape of this bullet is similar to a round nose it is capable of expanding on deer size game at slower velocities. Reloading this powder does not require the use of any fillers to hold the powder to the primer. Ignition appears consistent no matter the angle. The reloader should work up a load starting low and working up to observe that there are no over-pressure signs. Every rifle is different. The point to drive home here is that bullets in reduced loads need to mushroom or be in a quasi-mushroom shape already at speeds less than say 1800 fps on impact or exceed 2000 fps on impact with a pointed bullet such as a spitzer.
In some recent research I have found two websites that have information that is useful to .375 Ruger owners. First is a Chuck Hawks article.
All that said, there are bullets from many manufacturers from 250 grain to 300 grain in spitzer or round nose to use as full power loads on game larger than deer. I recently shot a 850 pound moose with Nosler’s 300 grain AccuBond™ because its sectional density was one of the best for penetration on tough animals. On the right is the 300 grain AB below.
It was a one shot kill at 100 yards using RL 15 powder and a MV of 2500 fps. The moose fell within 20 yards of the shot. The bullet was recovered under the skin on the far side and maintained 80% of its original weight.
Below is a 750 pound Bison that I took several years back with Noslers 260 grain AccuBond. One shot kill. Later a nice NH moose.
I met a Texan reading some of my early writings that wanted to hunt really big hogs. He hunts with a Ruger Rifle in .375 Ruger Cartridge.
Barnes still makes a 255 grain copper jacket lead flat point that you can experiment with for reduced loads as well. I found it at MidwayUSA, 50 for $48. On the expensive side! https://www.midwayusa.com/product/101041204
Crossbows for hunting has become very popular across the nation and is growing in New Hampshire. I am new to it myself.
Be Aware: It is unlawful to carry a loaded or cocked crossbow while the crossbow is in any type of motor vehicle while moving.
It is considered loaded even if no arrow/bolt is loaded yet cocked.
I suggest hunters carry a crossbow target to shoot into at the end of the day. So don’t be a dummy and forget your target to shoot into! Very few crossbows have an adequate de-cocking device. That stinks, I know.
Secondly, it is risky to shoulder sling your crossbow as you would a rifle if cocked without an arrow/bolt. Your safety is paramount. I did it once, when new to crossbows without any issues but a word to the wise: A Crossbow that accidentally fires when on your back may break bones or worse.
Yes carry it in front of you cocked, or with an arrow too if you are on a stalk.
Some research found this USA Made Outdoor Products Site for those who want to put your Outdoor gear money back into America. Click on the item and you will be directed there!
Wow! What an odd combination! I awoke today November 30th to read a reminder article in a publication called Imprimus from Hillsdale College. The focus of the article written by Roger W. Robinson. Read it here: “How and Why the U.S. Should Stop Financing China’s Bad Actors.”
I awoke see my folly in purchasing Christmas gifts for my hunting and outdoor family and friends manufactured in China and sold here for a fraction of the price of other similar goods.
Yes, you got a deal on that China made item! But in the long game, was it really?
It hurts our future and that of our children and grandchildren. There are plenty of products not made in China today so look at the tag where it is manufactured.
Look for American Made Gifts and labels my patriotic hunting friends or for sure, “Not made in China.”
With your financial support, and mine too, the Chinese have launched a massive campaign in 2015. “Made In China 2025” otherwise known as MIC 2025, to become the worlds leading super power… and its predatory trade practices are evident.
You and I have never heard of it because the Chinese don’t publicize it. In fact, with the current trade dispute under President Trump the Chinese have rid the name MIC 2025 but in essence the goals have not changed.
The goal is WORLD DOMINATION.
Further that your retirement portfolio likely include investments which aid China. As Mr. Robinson writes;
“Do any of us have the financing of concentration camps in mind when we transfer money into our retirement investment accounts? This sounds difficulty to believe, but it is an empirical fact: the majority of American Investors are unwittingly funding Chinese concentration camps, weapons systems for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and more.”
So when you are talking with your Financial Advisers or shopping for Gifts please read the label.
Please purchase your hunting and outdoor gear that is American Made or Not made In China.
Good Hunting, Merry Christmas! God Bless America!!
