Hey guys so this weekend I sat in my sons ground blind as on Camera it’s been getting lots of action through out the day.
I did happen to notice something weird which brings me here today.
Just like on camera the deer are walking by the blind at a close distance which shocks me.
As I’m hunting with a bow I happened to have my rangefinder and I hit multiple deer around 11 - 16 yards!
No none of these were shooters or I would have shot one however it made me start thinking my Son hunts this blind and he only rifle hunts. Come rifle season if a shooter buck walks 11 - 16 yards of him and he has his rifle
308 with a 165grain interlock bullet should he hold off on the shot being so close?
Would the bullet even expand being so close?

Until now I had never thought about it.


If you guys were in this setup with his rifle would you shoot ? if you made the shot what shot placement would you go with?
Vitals?
High shoulder?

I’m not even sure if his 308 interlock would expand

Vitals and a 308 will more than do the job even at 10 yards. That deer is not going far if anywhere at all.

Do not think the bullet selection will be a problem. The major difference with would be target acquisition. With a .308, I imagine the rifle is zeroed in at 100-200 maybe 300 yards. The scope will be way off at such close range...(pretty much the height of the rings/scope from the barrel). No chance for the bullet to rise or fall for that matter. He just needs to be aware that he needs to adjust his hold for 10-15 yards...not a zero.

The difference of a 1.5-2 inches is not going to be that big a deal at such close range. He will get a shock wave through the deer and most likely a pass thru being so close. Have him shoot center of chest and the bullet will hit a little low due to the point blank range and he will be golden.

Very valid point...but remembering to hold high at that distance will ensure meat in the freezer...and a good lesson about paying attention to distance and not just throwing up with the cross hairs and assuming perfect shot placement. At any rate...chances of success at that distance are VERY favorable...

Good luck...

I was thinking the same thing on the pass through.
Why I even question on taking a shot at that short of distance.

I’m not even sure if it would kill the animal

you don't think a .308 at 10-15 yards will kill an animal?


I've shot my share of game at 10-15 yards with a rifle and I can assure you that none of them had any issues dying.

Let me fix that

I would think it would run distr before dying hence a complete pass through.

Whey shot placement do you use?

If you hit the vitals, the deer will die.

Shot my first Coues whitetail at 7 yards with a 300 Weatherby Magnum. The buck was dead before he hit the ground. Field dressing sucked since the internals were completely liquified.

Aim high

Yes, the shockwave from the bullet with such high energy will completely cavitate the lungs and turn them to mush. The deer won’t go far at all from such a short range shot.

For everyone saying aim high, I say no, aim center chest to ensure you hit lungs. With a. Zero
At 100, the bullet will hit somewhere between 1-2” low depending on how high the scope is off the barrel. That small amount of hold over would be way over compensated by someone trying to “aim high” and you could end up hitting high lungs which would then cause a potential tracking job. You want center of chest to allow the bullet to hit just a little lower and that will take out the lungs completely, thus a short quick death.

Think about how big a deers chest is and how small that 1-2” really is on the deer. No need to hold high or aim high. Aim straight on and go for it!!

Heck people do that all the time with the “sight in 2” high at 100” concept. That allows a straight aim all the way to 209 and they don’t think to aim low or anything at 100. Don’t overthink this.

Buy him a cross bow

I once shot an elk at less than 10 yards with a 7MM Mag. That bullet sure opened up and that elk sure died quick. You could shoot something with a rifle with the barrel making contact with the hide and the bullet will still open up. All you have to do is look at a few suicide photos to see that.

It'll work and work well

^^^ this. Shot gun with .000 would be firearm choice in that set up at such close range vs a rifle

Rifle. Don't use buckshot. I can't believe anyone would think a deer shot at close range wouldn't be dead. Turn scope to 3x

If that was my set up I would be using my iron sight 30-30. Aim where I want the bullet to hit and pull the trigger.

I strongly agree however my son insist on a 308!
I have nothing against it as it has great knockdown power
However I’m more into shot placement and a flatter bullet.
I shoot a 25-06 for whitetail however at close up shots I would reach
For my marlin.

Long time ago I shot one in the neck at 17 yards with a 308. He went straight down. I think the bullet is more likely to expand too much too quickly rather than not at all. My money says the deer goes down. Why do you think the bullet would't expand?

Don’t overthink it, it happens a lot on here

Hit the shoulder and it will expand for sure... and put a hole the size of a fist... I’d have no issue shooting one that close. Iv shot deer with a .35rem, 270, and 30-06 within 30yrds

30-30 iron sights

I shoot 168gr BTHPs from my 308. This last spring I shot an axis buck from 10 yards, I had to shoot quick as he was about to hit the tree line and I would have never seen him again. He never made it to the trees
I do like the idea of a lever gun at that distance, my 30-30 has been a safe queen for too long.

It will kill the animal and most likely bullet upset/musrooming will be more than what you see at say 100 yards. I have killed quite a few deer at those type ranges with rifles. When sitting there do not have the scope on a high setting, Most mistakes people make on close shots is not seeing anything but hair in the scope. Do not over think it shoot for the lungs and enjoy the meat.