Ethical to shoot past 400 yards at elk w/AR15 based rifle? Yes/No

[JDHasty]

So JD your saying the guys you hunt rock chuck with just arnt that good ? ..... to put into perspective the first five shots behind my 6.5 where at 405 yards with a 10-12mph cross wind the first shot was clean bore and was about two inches of the mark the next four where in the bull and could have been covered with a paper cup . that's a bolt gun I never shot ... blrm shoot it a 545 and believe he shot a one inch stick off a stump .....that's a quality bolt gun with little to no practice other than a couple dry fires . If I had a 6.5 grendal in a good ar platform that was say 1/2 moa with a lrab or a vld bullet id not hesitate to punch a elk through the lungs at 500 . ten iches behind the shoulder is a huge target . a 30/30 at 150 yards with a weaver 4x is far more difficult . by the way have you seen how far a elk can carry a arrow ?

You may have done that once or a few times or even quite a few times, anyone who shoots chucks or prairie dogs at long range has.  People who have a lot of experience shooting a lot of prairie dogs and especially chucks at ranges past 400 yards know exactly what I am talking about.  PDs live on flat open ground and the wind dealing with them is normally a little bit less problematic than it is in the coulees and canyons that chucks favor. 

Let's just say:  I am rather skeptical of many of the claims being made regarding the ability to judge wind and get off a first shot that Palma shooters would be proud of AND Palma shooters get to shoot sighters.

[Karl Blanchard]

First off, if you're gonna call me out for a comment I made, be a man and use my name. 

Second, wind is a variable I am probably more familiar shooting in than you.  At least in a hunting situation.  If it's that crazy of a wind, and I'm shooting a light bullet, I'd probably get closer if the distance was far enough.

Now you are trying to use the rest as an excuse?  I don't know a single person I hunt with or shoot with that is gonna attempt a long shot without being able to get prone.  You just don't go down town in poor conditions without taking the time to get solid.

You're grasping at straws with a bunch of guys who ACTUALLY know what they are talking about.  And ya, 400 is a chip shot.   All day, every day.  I know this because I have shot AND killed at that distance.  In the wind, in the rain, in the heat, and in the cold.  Steep uphill shots, steep downhill shots, sitting, prone, even in a prone sitting squatting thing once on a scree slide in Colorado.

[bobcat]

So how far can an elk be killed with an AR-15? If it's been said already I missed it. And why would someone want to use an AR-15 for shooting elk at extremely long range? I guess I don't get why some seem to be upset at what JD is saying. And I really a seriously asking, because I don't know. I already said I know very little about AR-15's. To me an AR is a 223 and obviously with that cartridge it wouldn't even be legal for elk.

[Karl Blanchard]

So how far can an elk be killed with an AR-15? If it's been said already I missed it. And why would someone want to use an AR-15 for shooting elk at extremely long range? I guess I don't get why some seem to be upset at what JD is saying.

  It's the fact that HE has determined that it is unethical so he is trying to press it on everyone else.  He has apparently shot some rodents or something so therefore is an expert on shooting elk and deer past 400 yards.  Also he feels none of us have much field experience killing animals.  He even just called out Coach for not having field experience even though as most of us know, Coach has killed more large game than I would say 97% of folks on this forum.  I'm gonna catch him though

[grundy53]

First off, if you're gonna call me out for a comment I made, be a man and use my name. 

Second, wind is a variable I am probably more familiar shooting in than you.  At least in a hunting situation.  If it's that crazy of a wind, and I'm shooting a light bullet, I'd probably get closer if the distance was far enough.

Now you are trying to use the rest as an excuse?  I don't know a single person I hunt with or shoot with that is gonna attempt a long shot without being able to get prone.  You just don't go down town in poor conditions without taking the time to get solid.

You're grasping at straws with a bunch of guys who ACTUALLY know what they are talking about.  And ya, 400 is a chip shot.   All day, every day.  I know this because I have shot AND killed at that distance.  In the wind, in the rain, in the heat, and in the cold.  Steep uphill shots, steep downhill shots, sitting, prone, even in a prone sitting squatting thing once on a scree slide in Colorado.

But were you shooting chucks? None of this means anything unless they were chucks... :-)

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[bobcat]

Okay, so forgive me if this has already been said, but what's the furthest shot any of you would take on an elk with your AR-15?

[grundy53]

So how far can an elk be killed with an AR-15? If it's been said already I missed it. And why would someone want to use an AR-15 for shooting elk at extremely long range? I guess I don't get why some seem to be upset at what JD is saying. And I really a seriously asking, because I don't know. I already said I know very little about AR-15's. To me an AR is a 223 and obviously with that cartridge it wouldn't even be legal for elk.

You would need to read his posts for context. An AR15 isn't a .223. It is a platform. One with many cartridge options.

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[grundy53]

Okay, so forgive me if this has already been said, but what's the furthest shot any of you would take on an elk with your AR-15?

It depends on the caliber/round. How far would you take an elk with a Remington 700?

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[jay.sharkbait]

Okay, so forgive me if this has already been said, but what's the furthest shot any of you would take on an elk with your AR-15?

550 and I'm shooting 264LBC/6.5G

This is MY limit based on MY rig, dope and bullet being used.

[bobcat]

Okay, so forgive me if this has already been said, but what's the furthest shot any of you would take on an elk with your AR-15?

It depends on the caliber/round. How far would you take an elk with a Remington 700?

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Well I didn't want theoretical. I was wondering how far would anyone on here shoot at an elk with an AR that they actually own, whatever the cartridge may be. Just curious, don't want to argue.

[JDHasty]

Okay, so forgive me if this has already been said, but what's the furthest shot any of you would take on an elk with your AR-15?

Best of luck getting a straight answer. 

Bobcat, whet set me in motion on this exercise is that one of these guys responded to a NOVICE big game hunter's question regarding the suitability of using an AR15/300 Blackout for deer hunting by posting a photo of a large mule deer with a caption stating it was taken with a 6.5 G at 496 yards.  To me this gave the impression that the 6.5 G is a round that a NOVICE should consider as ethical for long range deer hunting. 

I have a SERIOUS problem with that.  A NOVICE hunter coming here looking for advice deserves better.  The deer that NOVICE hunters with a valid are standing 400+ yards from in the field deserve better and more qualified responses than this.   

[Stein]

You don't take an elk with a rifle, you take it with a bullet.

[Biggerhammer]

    

[bobcat]

Okay, so forgive me if this has already been said, but what's the furthest shot any of you would take on an elk with your AR-15?

550 and I'm shooting 264LBC/6.5G

This is MY limit based on MY rig, dope and bullet being used.

That would be limit with a 270 or 30/06.

[jay.sharkbait]

Okay, so forgive me if this has already been said, but what's the furthest shot any of you would take on an elk with your AR-15?

550 and I'm shooting 264LBC/6.5G

This is MY limit based on MY rig, dope and bullet being used.

That would be limit with a 270 or 30/06.

Yours not mine