Safe Shooting Distance

Big Game Hunting > Elk Hunting

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boneaddict:
Distance shooting or distances are like bear weights if you ask me. Everyone always tacks on a bunch. I'm with Huntwa for everything, except my zero is three inches high at 100 yards, zero at 300. I shoot all handloads, no factory ammo. 90% of my shots are under 50 yards. Almost every deer I have killed could have been done so with a bow, or 30-30 open sites. This is different for coyotes obviously. I have made two shots that were absolutely incredible. One was a 500 yard shot on a bear. Thinking about it, I probably shouldn't have taken it. There was no way to get closer. I stuck the cross hairs right at the top of his head between his ears and hit him centered in the chest. 30-06....150 grain bullet. The other was an offhand shot in the Pasayten on the high hunt. A buck about slipped me through the rocks. I pulled up took a breath and squeezed off a shot almost straight up hill. Looking back, I shouldn't have taken it, but I was all instinct. He faultered and started dropping down the hill, and I put another one in about an inch from the first.
I SHOOT ALOT. or at least I used too. Offhand etc, not just bench. This is going to sound arrogant, but I know where every bullet is going to hit. CONFIDENCE is everything. RESTRAINT is the rest.

GoldTip:
I've taken and completed 2 shots that were ranged at 505 and 511 respectively. One was a elk and one was a deer. Both animals dropped at the shot. Have taken several others that were over 400 yards, some deer, some elk, one bear, one antelope. Multiple kills in the 300+ range as well as multiple shots under 300 yards. It depends on what rifle I'm holding and the conditions and whether or not I feel comfortable with the shot. The 500 yard shots were taken with my 300 win mag, handloaded to 3150fps through a chrono with 180gr sciroccos sighted in for 3" high at 100 yards with a MPBR of 330 yards. Any shot I believe to be over 300 yards always gets a check with my laser rangefinder. They were taken from a prone position with reading the wind, which was non existant at the time of the shots. I felt comfortable with the shot and made a one shot kill. I have also killed many animals with a bow with ranges as short as 2 yards and as long as 62 yards.

If you are comfortable with your weapon, and the conditions are right and you have practiced for the shot, I will be the last person to judge you if you make that shot. If on the other hand you have no idea where your gun hits at 200 yards, you have no business shooting over 150 yards in my opinion. If you don't practice those ranges, you shouldn't be shooting those ranges. Out in Mica we have a range with targets to 900+ yards, and I will always practice to 550yards every time I am there. I also don't personally believe you should ever shoot past 300 yards with factory ammunition. There is just too much variation in velocity in factory loaded rounds when you run them through a chronograph to make that a good situation.

jackelope:

--- Quote ---Here is a link to the MM thread:
http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID12/8325.html
--- End quote ---

that is a classic monstermuleys thread too by the way.

tlbradford:
I have not harvested a mule deer on the east side over 200 yards. Almost all were around the 100 yard mark. I would feel comfortable taking a shot out to 350 with my .25-06, 26 inch barrel, 117 hollow points. Since that rifle was stolen I now use a .284 with not quite as flat a trajectory and would feel comfortable out to 300. I don't have a range finder or ballistics tables taped to my stock.

My longest shot on a big game animal was my first elk. It was steeply downhill, broadside standing shot on a feeding animal, right at dark. I was sitting with the rifle resting over a stump. I guesstimated the distance at a little over 200. I hit him with a 120 grain .25-06 handload and he took to steps and dropped. After running up to him and covering the distance in about 11 seconds I thought it was further away then I had guessed. Pacing it off later the shot was closer to 375 yards. The angle, amount of light, size of the animal, and lack of experience had made me misjudge the distance badly.

I do have a .338 that I would feel fine in taking a shot out to 500 yards. I have a ballistics table taped to the stock. One day soon I hope to add a range finder to my belt.

I will shoot at a coyote as long as I have ammo and can still see it. 800-1000 I memorized bullet performance out to 600 yards for my .204 shooting 35 gr bergers. Beyond that it is kentucky windage and a prayer.

boneaddict:

--- Quote ---kentucky windage and a prayer.
--- End quote ---

Love it!

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