Foam Deer Target Question.....

StuntDriver06 · 03-05-2007, 12:57 PM

ok so we get in a conversation about these targets today at work.... will a rifle, say .30-06 at 50 yards go through a foam deer target? i say i wont... reason being an arrow has more penetration power than a bullet.... in hunters safety course they showed us a video of a .30-06 bolt action shooting at a metal pail filled with sand with a mirror behind it. result: bullet stops in sand and bucket moves a couple of inches knocking the mirror over.... then a compound bow with a 65lb pull (at the same distance) is shot at the same setup, after the hole made by the bullet is turned to the side, and the arrow goes through the bucket and sand, again through the other side of the bucket and breaks the mirror..... what do you guys think, there is 2 others that agree with me and a bunch that dont.....

54warrior · 03-05-2007, 01:18 PM

Foam is alot different than sand. I say yes, no problem, the bullet will go right through the foam.

helomech · 03-05-2007, 01:19 PM

I never tried, but I would bet the 30-06 would blow a big hole out of the back of the target.

StuntDriver06 · 03-05-2007, 01:20 PM

hmmmm... very similar answers to my coworkers... well one guy is actually going to try it tonight ill let you know how it works out.... he is supposed to do it around 6 or 630

Burly · 03-05-2007, 01:39 PM

Wow bud, are you serious?

With ease! I have shot through a tree with a circumference just a bit smaller than a Frisbee at around 50 yards. A 30/06 is a bad boy.

tnbowhunter · 03-05-2007, 01:48 PM

I have an old foam deer target out back. Just for kicks I just now tried it and the ole aught six blew right through it, as did the 260, 270, and the 7MM mag.

There aint much left of the target though.

You are right about an arrow penetrating more sand than a 30-06 though, but sand is much denser than foam.

helomech · 03-05-2007, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnbowhunter

I have an old foam deer target out back. Just for kicks I just now tried it and the ole aught six blew right through it, as did the 260, 270, and the 7MM mag.

There aint much left of the target though.

You are right about an arrow penetrating more sand than a 30-06 though, but sand is much denser than foam.

I thought about doing it, but I just spent 120 bucks on mine and didn't feel like blowing it up.

tnbowhunter · 03-05-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helomech

I thought about doing it, but I just spent 120 bucks on mine and didn't feel like blowing it up.

LOL, yeah I wouldn't have done it but it's been out back for several years now and was falling apart anyway.

I took some before and after pics, i'll post them later when I get time.

bestatchess · 03-05-2007, 02:01 PM

I have never shot any foam targets, but a 30-06 will shoot nicely through a good size bull elk with decent bullets. A 30-.338 (264 Winchester Magnum necked up to .30) will shoot through a good size pine tree and have enough left to kill a bull elk on the other side of the tree.

tnbowhunter · 03-05-2007, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

I have never shot any foam targets, but a 30-06 will shoot nicely through a good size bull elk with decent bullets. A 30-.338 (264 Winchester Magnum necked up to .30) will shoot through a good size pine tree and have enough left to kill a bull elk on the other side of the tree.

I have no doubt about that.

A friend of mine once killed a nice sized buck with his 35 whelen. At the shot the deer dropped liked it had been struck by lightning.

After we got up to the deer we noticed that the entrance hole was large enough to put your fist through. Further study found a good sized pine sapling that the deer had been standing behind with a hole through it. The bullet was fully expanded before it hit the deer. No wonder it fell so fast.

StuntDriver06 · 03-05-2007, 03:40 PM

well my buddy just called me... he said it went right through it but couldnt tell where.. he had a piece of plywood behind it to make sure and there was a hole in it, he said the hole wasnt splintered or anything so the bullet must have never expanded at all.... well learn something new everyday.... i still cant find the vid of the bucket of sand though....

helomech · 03-05-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StuntDriver06

well my buddy just called me... he said it went right through it but couldnt tell where.. he had a piece of plywood behind it to make sure and there was a hole in it, he said the hole wasnt splintered or anything so the bullet must have never expanded at all.... well learn something new everyday.... i still cant find the vid of the bucket of sand though....

I am sure you are right about the sand, the arrow has alot of energy at a very small spot.

Shane06fl · 03-05-2007, 06:34 PM

Arrow won't expand and use up it's energy like a bullet will hitting sand. Same reason why a 80gr tipped arrow fling at say 280ftps will zip right through a deer at 20 yards, momentum is hard to stop.

At a 1000 yard range I use to shoot at we placed 5 gallon buckets filled with sand on top of the target post. 30.06 with a 165 Hornady SP Hand loads had no problem destroying the bucket and neither did other cartridge we shot that was capable at hitting at those distances. The bullet never did go all the way through and I recovered some of the bullets on the ground in sand that was in the bucket.

StuntDriver06 · 03-06-2007, 03:04 PM

but my thinking is this.... if the arrow goes through the sand and bullet wont, then the arrow wont go through deer target, then the bullet shouldnt either, but it does... how does this work?

cccagle30 · 03-06-2007, 04:11 PM

yes the bullet will go thru the foam deer. or i can say my .45 knight muzzleloader did. last december i was hunting and had the dummy deer about 100 yards away on the edge of a well used trail. well just at dusk it was time to get down. i decided to fire the gun , since i was gonna have to clean it anyway. took aim @ the dummy and fired. little hole going in hole about fist size on the other side.

Growing up we used to steal fire extguishers and shoot them with dads 30.06. BIG FUN. just dont be too close.