Is this legal or even possible?

[nailer]

A guy was bragging about his daughter shooting a deer at 300 yards with a .17 caliber. He said it was one shot through the heart. What do you guys think about that story? I didn't think it was legal or powerful enough at that distance or accurate enough either. ????

[spblademaker]

17 Remington or other 17 cal center-fires will do the job at that distance.

[ROCK-IT3]

It would probably do the job if the shot hit something vital, however, I did believe it was illegal to hunt for deer using anything less than a .22 caliber bullet, but I may have been wrong.

ETA: I just googled the PA Game commission rules and regulations, and according to the 2011-2012 digest, there isn't a restriction on caliber for deer:

Lawful Arms & Ammunition:
Deer and Bear: Regular Seasons - 1) Manually operated (pump,
lever, bolt actions, single-shot) centerfire rifles, shotguns and handguns
(revolvers or single-shots) with all lead bullet or ball, or bullet
designed to expand on impact; 2) muzzleloading long guns of any
type, 44 caliber or larger, or a muzzleloading handgun 50 caliber or
larger; and 3) long, recurve, compound bows or crossbows with
broadheads of cutting edge design. The use of buckshot is not
legal, except in the Southeast Special Regulations Area.

[cake0110]

.17 HMR? No way in hell. And it's illegal because it's not a centerfire cartridge.

There are some .17 centerfires that could do it, but I'd still throw the bullshit flag based on the range he's talking about and the marksman(who I'm assuming is young and inexperienced).

I recommend immediately claiming that your own daughter shot a deer at 400 yards with mind bullets.

[bagman29]

I may be mistaken, but I thought I remembered something about the minimum bullet diameter for deer in PA being .24".

[GunGirl610]

I would never shoot a deer with anything less than a .243

[cake0110]

I may be mistaken, but I thought I remembered something about the minimum bullet diameter for deer in PA being .24".

There are no caliber limitations, it just has to be a centerfire cartridge. From the PA Game Commission requirements:

"(1) Manually operated center-fire rifles, handguns and shotguns with all-lead bullet or ball, or a bullet designed to expand on impact; "

That being said, the wisdom of using some of the smaller caliber centerfires out there is questionable at best.

[spblademaker]

"I once shot an elephant in my pajamas. What he was doing in my pajamas I'll never know!"

[Pukindog]

I have shot 1000's of rounds of center fire .17 caliber bullets. The heaviest of them still have very thin jackets. These bullets are made to expand rapidly on varmint size game. ( chucks, yotes, etc.) Using a .17 center fire is inhuman to say the least. I have seen .17 caliber hits on large animals. Most of the bullets blow up on or just bellow the skin surface. Not very much enegy at 300 yards to get to the vitals. I call BS on this one. If it really happened shame on the unsportsmanlike behavior.

Jeff

[animalmother85]

Without further speculation, here is some ballistic information on the 17HMR (if indeed the caliber in use was a 17HMR);
http://17hmr.net/index.php?topic=5568.0

I also know guys who have shot hogs down in Florida with 17 caliber center fire rifles. They die within a few steps as long as the shot is well placed.

It is legal in some states.

I won't shoot a deer with anything smaller then a .224 caliber bullet.