Ammunition For Hart Hunting

Last Updated on 17.08.10

The hart in comparison with other game species from Europe has a pretty fragile physique. It doesn't have a hard bone structure or a powerful musculature. Even the skin doesn't put such a big resistance to the projectile. Besides the cartridges projected for other species, bigger, some time ago have been projected even special cartridges for hart, for example, 5,6x50 R Magnum or 6x70 R.

The hart offers only a small shooting surface, that's why the ammunition used for hart must be precise. Ideal would be a precise projectile, with a wide area of shooting, that will distort under control and stop the game instantly, but without causing any great damages.
The following report analyzes the data gathered in Germany, on some hundreds (around 800) hunted harts and contains the typical calibers for the hart - 5,6; 6; 6,5 mm and is focused on the damages caused by various projectiles to the game.
The formation of hematoma cannot be avoided entirely, there are examples of harts shot at different distances from one another, at different time spam, with the same gun and type of projectile, approximately in the same part of the body and to which the damages have been very different.

The "coolest" cartridges, so called universal calibers - 30-06, 7x6, as well as the calibers for bigger game- 8x57, 9,3x62, or 9,3x74R produce the biggest damages, and most of the times don't make the subject of study.

In Germany, the medium shooting distance for hart, is of 90m, with a maximum of about 200 m. A good shooter with the same gun and a good support can push this distance from 250 m to maximum 300 m, beyond this, no matter what gun-cartridge combination, is not recommended to shoot. For these distances are needed speed projectiles with wide range of shooting, in order to avoid the corrections for shooting at distances that must be done for "slow" projectiles.
The 222 Rem,.223 Rem,.22 PPC,.22-250 Rem., 5,6x50 R Mag. calibers have showed great results for this type of game. Even the very wide range of shooting cartridge 22-250 Rem. has showed good results, the hematoma being small. Often, there hasn't been any hematoma. For 222 -.223 Rem. calibers the results have been good up to 200 m: often the shooting traces were missing as well as the exit hole of the bullet. The damages of the shell have been little even in the case where the projectiles have met big bones. Just as good is 5,6x50 R Mag.  The big disappointments were 5,6x57 and 5,6x52 R which have left considerable traces (wounds).
These calibers have the disadvantage that can be deflected very easy by wind or other obstacles met on the way (leaves, branches). Also, the projectiles of small mass loose its speed faster, as well as, the energy at long distances.
When talking about bigger caliber - 6 mm – these have had as result, most of the times, an exit hole, more obvious that the entrance one. Producing only small hematoma, the 6 mm PPC caliber, has proved to be a first class cartridge. Also 243 Win has left a good impression. 6 mm Rem. cartridge has caused, even at long distances, the most obvious hematomas. It goes for 6 mm Freres, as well. 6x70 R cartridge is definitely modern but by far "a wonder", given the fact that in this case also, the hematomas are big.

6 mm caliber has the advantages of leaving "discreet" enough shooting traces and is less sensitive to wind. With this caliber you can shoot at long distances also.
The next caliber - 6,5 mm – the best results have been given by 250 Savage, caliber for which, Mauser has projected 98 model for hart hunting. A cartridge good enough as this is 257 Roberts, although, a bit too strong. 25-06 Rem,.264 Win Mag. cartridges, as well as the European versions of 6,5 mm (6,5x55 Swedish, 6,5x57, 6,5x65, 6,5x68) caliber, have had a good effect, the shooting trace is obvious, but, often have resulted big hematomas and the degrading of the game's shell. All these 6, 5 are more appropriate for long distances. A successful compromise was 260 Rem., not being extremely powerful. These calibers have the advantage that can be used for other bigger species of game. Concerning the projectiles used, the best ones are the cone-shaped projectiles with sharp point, with controlled minimum distort. Great results have been achieved with homogenous projectiles, with no lead - Barnes X, Naturalis, Reichenberger – very precise and efficient for hart hunting The projectiles with thin copper coat, homogenous lead core with round or flat point, have showed the worst results – huge distort with great losses when shooting. 

Some personal regards

Legislation imposes limits in Europe for the used cartridges (as well as in our country too), the measure of these limits being the only difference. For example, in Germany, the limit regards the energy of the projectile at 100 m, which has to be higher than 1000J, therefore, the minimum caliber is 222 Rem. In Italy, the minimum size of the caliber is limited - > 5,6 caliber and > 39 mm barrel; etc. The author doesn't analyze the modern calibers "short action magnum", "super short magnum" or "short action ultra magnum" which for the moment have a weak spread in Europe and in particular in Germany (the Germans are very traditionalists when it comes to hunting), as our country also.  
Although, as the author mentioned before says, the ideal projectile/ cartridge (as well as the gun), doesn't exist, several considerations can still be done concerning the particular situation in our country. In my opinion, there are two aspects of the matter: the financial and the ballistic ones.
In case the financial budget allows the purchase of a gun dedicated for the hart (chamois), then the recommendation would be a "bolt-action" rifle, with a long barrel (60-66 cm), with a 6 mm caliber, eventually magnum, equipped with a high quality spyglass with a high magnifying factor (at least 6x) or variable and the best luminosity (minimum 40, recommendable 50). As a projectile, would be chosen a "sharp" one, with a medium-light weights range caliber, recommendable a homogenous modern projectile. In choosing the caliber, is good to be taken into consideration also the possibility of acquiring cartridges, its spreading and accessibility on the internal market. Once the investment in the gun is done, the next recommended step is to purchase high price cartridges (most of the times, the price is justified by the performances of the ammunition – preciseness and, especially constancy). This gun/ projectile combination will satisfy most of the requirements met on the field: preciseness, energy, distance shooting, shooting preciseness in conditions of bad luminosity, effect on the game etc.

In case, there are one, two hunting outgoings per year (hart and/ or chamois), the investment in a gun dedicated for just one type of game is "overreacted" and if we intend to hunt bigger species also (most often, wild boar), then "ideal" would be a so-called universal caliber - 30-06, 7x64 – eventually a magnum, with more than 7 mm caliber (only if is allowed by law!!!) with an inferior weights range projectile, summing the characteristics mentioned above. With a spyglass or a variable of a minimum 1,5 -3 (and for chase), or a spyglass for long shots. From the type gun point of view, still a "bolt action" would be preferred, although, a semiautomatic would be closer as performances at distance (taking into account that in this situation, the shooting distance would not be limited to about 200m) and would fit better for wild boar, where the hunting activities are more often. You can also choose a riffled tip, either with one or two barrels, adjoining or juxtaposed, a mixture (available in a range of more accessible prices) or a drilling (with the money for a drilling you can buy two riffles!).