how long of a shot rifle hunting?

[Dbax129]

I have this buddy who says that he would shoot a deer at 1000 yards because he has a 7mm rem mag.  I personally think that's crazy.  I doubt most people have a scope that will zero at that, 30+ feet of drop?  you need a 5 degree rail for that don't you?  anyway, he said his uncle does it too... am i crazy? or is he?

[Naches Sportsman]

For rifle hunting, i use a 7mm rem mag and the farthest i have ever shot one was at 480 yards.  Dead in its tracks.  Will i shoot a deer or elk over 300 yards again?  Hell no

[sakoshooter]

Everything's got to be perfect to shoot long distance including the shooter. Most stories like that are just a 6 pack talking I think.

[bobcat]

He has no business shooting at 1000 yards unless he regularly practices and is proficient at that distance. For the average person, 300 yards is a very long shot.

[Bob33]

It you misjudge the distance by about 10 yards you will miss or cripple the animal. Misjudge the wind by 1 mph and you're off about 8 inches.

The number of hunters that can place a killing shot 9 times of 10 under those conditions is extremely small.  I would bet good money your friend isn't one.

[Dbax129]

Thanks guys.  I was trying to explain to him that it doesn't matter how good his scope is. Crazy.  I just got done looking into drop charts for the round. hmmm.... What's the longest anybody has ever taken big game?  What is involved in that shot? Reloading to scope rail, to optics to work into the rifle?

[rtspring]

Id bet him he cant do it! Very few can make that shot!  Very few

[uplandhunter870]

shooting at a deer and killing a deer at 1000 yds are two way different things. your buddy make take a 1000 shot but id bet a paycheck that he misses and by a lot. most run of the mill factory rifles dont have out of the box accuracy to make that shot consistently

id consider myself a slightly above average with a rifle shot but thats only because i know my gear and spend quality time with it and still at that im comfortable out to 300yds, my longest kill shot is 265ish if its out there much past 300 im sneaking atleast another 50 to get in my zone

[alecvg]

The farthest I have shot at an animal is 299.  Killed it, but wouldn't shoot a whole lot farther than that, at least with the setup I have now, I would like to eventually have the ability and confidence to shoot out to 500 or 600.   I guided a guy who claimed he could shoot 1000 plus, but wanted to be within 800 for a shot on an animal.  I believe he could have made it too.  He had the practice and equipment. 

[hoyt2002]

My longest shot was 426. It was open county mule deer with no other options. the conditions were perfect. id shoot to 500 again only in perfect conditions. Ill also add im a trained shooter and practice at said ranges with an above average rifle. Id say your buddy is full of hot air.

[woodman]

For rifle hunting, i use a 7mm rem mag and the farthest i have ever shot one was at 480 yards.  Dead in its tracks.  Will i shoot a deer or elk over 300 yards again?  Hell no

Naches, mine longest was 480 just like yours, but I shoot a 7mm ultra mag. Just like yours mine dropped right where it was and the doe that was feeding close to it just walked over to it then walked away. Made for one heck of a pack since it was across a canyon.

[kentrek]

i wonder if he is using factory ammo 

[Taco280AI]

Longest was 430 on elk

[Fish4Fun]

I am a firm believer that the average run of the mill hunter should NEVER shoot out past 300 yards. Most have never even practiced that distance, think about it rifle ranges are generally 100 and maybe have a 200 yard range. Since this is where I am guessing 80% or more of guys practice there is no way to ever see 300 yards. On top of that they are shooting off of benches, for the life of me I cannot remember seeing a shooting bench out in the deer country. My longest shot was a 5X5 Whitetail in Idaho at 495 yards, shooting a .300 Weatherby Mag. I have shot this gun since 1982 and have spent hours behind the scope. For practice we shoot out in the mountains in natural hunting conditions. No Bench Rest, shooting off of either Bi-Pods or Tri-Pods. We will set up on a log landing, drive the targets around to a dead end road with a solid dirt back stop. This way we have the sun, wind, natural noises for shooting surroundings. I am a firm believer this is what gets the confidence to take the once in a lifetime shot at a true trophy class animal. Practice...Practice....Practice is the only way to shoot past 200 or 300 yards and hit what you are after.

[Taco280AI]

Didn't have any good long range shooting areas in Washington or Oregon,  but sure did in Boise.  Off the bipod, laying down, out to 500 and varying distances in between.