Safe Shooting Distance

[Coasthunterjay]

As well as that in over 10 years of hunting by myself there has only been one year that i have not harvested a deer and that was not because of a bad shot or not being able to find a downed animal. It was because i was being selfish and wanted to shot a huge deer and passed up over 4 legal bucks with in 100yrds. Not to say that taking a long shot at over 700 yards is safe or unsafe but this is my view and experiance.........

I would most times agree with everyone. I am sorry please dont take this negatively or arguementative. you all are my friends and great hunting partners and i hope that in the next coupple years that i will be able to hunt with all of you or meet you all. And i have already meet a few of you so i have started.
My average shots are around 200-300 for all animals. deer, elk, bear. shoot i shot my couger at less that 10 yards and well yes much farther for coyotes. MUCH . I could easily take a 100-150 yard shot i could probably take a 50 yard shot if i took the time and worked at it to get the animal that close to me. But i dont. I like to take the longer shot. I am confidant and VERY experianced. I hunt with an old weaver scope that is probably older than i am but my dad also hunts with the Leupold Tactical VX-III with the lighted reticle and has on several occasions told me he could see clearer and better through my little scope. Im not argueing, Please dont think i am. i just want to be very clear that you understand what i am saying. Just another experianced, differently trained seasoned Hunters opinion Not to say that it isnt a good idea for other person and deffinantly not to do on an everytime basis or to do at all. I believe this is different with everyone and is only valled for those that dont feel comfortable taking that shot. I in my 12 years of hunting have never wasted one animal that i had layed my cross hairs upon. Yes i have missed and made a semi-bad shot but that also wasnt because of distance. i am a good tracker, Have lots of patients and know how to take my time. let the animal die and then find it when i get it. But i really have never had to do that. I usually prbably 90% of the time drop my deer or animal were it lies. I have been very fortunate and very lucky. Yes i know it to. And i also know that a couple of my shots have been risky, but i made them....Please dont think of me irresponsable or In ethical. I dont always take or act that way. I will wait for a Good shot, the situation i gave was only one story. I am a very responsable and highly educated and overly alert hunter, Have lots of fun and am very cautious and very safe with my hunting and the people im hunting with. The last thing i want out in the field is for someone to get hurt or for an animal to be shot and not found..............................

Coasthunter,
The problem with your thinking is the probability of having wounded animals running around that will never be found is very high.

And yes the propability is higher but I am running very high statistics and with my record i am not afraid to take it.

This is for everyone.................

There is a point at which a hunter can go out into the field look at an animal, look at the situation handed before him. Think about all of it and think to himself. Can i make this shot? Do i feel comfortable with this? Look at the area around you and then decide. YES or NO. Etc......This will all come with time when you will be able to answer these questions..

I have been raised up to go through all of these questions and more from my grandfather and father since i was a little boy. And i have also been tought to do things in 100%. that meaning that if i am not confidant in a shot that i am about to make then i wont and i dont...trust me i have passed up my fair share ( mega *censored* tons) of shots because i thought the situation wasnt right........

most educated and experianced hunters now there limits..........what is your limit?

Oh and i kill coyotes running at 4,5,6 hundred yards just joking. yeah i like running targets to ...................................AJ

[tlbradford]

Coasthunter, your post have a lot of good points and a good understanding of the progressions in thinking you need to go through before you take a shot.  However, your long range deer was a poor shot.  If you estimated your target between 450 and 500 yards you would hold approximately 2' above your target depending on where your rifle is sighted in.  Your bullet would drop another 4-5 feet when traveling the distance between 500 yards and 675 yards.  You missed by 4'.  Without a range finder and dope cards or a ballistics plex, I would caution against attempting a shot like that again.

Personally, if the animal is unaware of my presence, I have adequate cover and an approach route, ample daylight, and the wind advantage, I will always try to close the distance.

[boneaddict]

This could shape up to be as classic as the MM thread. 

Jackelope.  I shoot a classic leopold 2x7 power.   I switched over to a Simmons that went out to 20 power or some damn thing for the 25-06 for shooting yotes....but hated it.  I put the ole leopold back on.   Apparantly Idabooner liked this scope because it is on every rifle he and I own.   That deer is mighy small out there at 500 yards.

I still want a 50 cal to shoot coyotes out at 1,000 yards here in the Wenas, but I don't think Santa is every going to bring me one.
Hey Slenk and Kirkl...if you look North and see a Red glow, its just me, and I finally go my Red flood lights in.  I have 10-15 coyotes every night right at can't see anymore light right at my fence corner.  If the game department weren't so fired up about trapping, I'd put a dozen snares out there.

[actionshooter]

 I have seen this subject debated on a lot of hunting sites and things can get a little hot. I will never say what is too far to shoot. This is a very indiviual situation. If you know your ballistics, weapon, optics and have practiced, unbelievable distance can be achieved. By practice I don't mean dusting off old reliable twice a year, I mean shooting hundreds of rounds a year (and not only off the bench).
 
 Here is my opinion. IF conditions are perfect, I have a rest, the wind is right, the shot is clear (no trees or brush) and the angle is not extreme. I will shoot to 600 yards. I have killed a buck at 557. I have also killed several animals (deer and bear) between 400-500 yards. I have never lost an animal that was shot from distance.

 I know my rifle (custom .300WM), I keep a ballistics chart taped to the stock. I have leupold scopes that are set up to shoot distance(3.5-10 tactical and 4.5-14 VX3s). I use a Leica rangefinder. Also I shoot more than most people do. I am very comfortable with how I have this set up.

 To a point I do agree that this is more shooting than hunting. I do not go specifically go looking for long shots but if the shot presents itself on a good animal and there is no way to close the distance, I am prepared.

[high country]

hey bone, I have a 6.5-06 that is the cat's meow for 1k song dogs. bang..................................(it takes a bit to go that far)..............flop!

[Coasthunterjay]

 To a point I do agree that this is more shooting than hunting. I do not go specifically go looking for long shots but if the shot presents itself on a good animal and there is no way to close the distance, I am prepared.

Thumbs up. Thats all i ment.Thank you actionshooter !!! 

[Intruder]

Modern high powered rifles (270 and up) are fully capable of humanely killing game out to 300 yards when combined with a good bullet and a hunter with average to above average ability.  Out to 300 the actual caliber/cartridge is kinda a wash when you're talking the stuff based on long action and mag cases (and the short mags now).  Sighted in at 2" high at 100 yards all these guns have a point blank range (+/- 3") of at least 250 yards.  That being said the vast majority of game is take at under 125 yards.  Unless a hunter is really into shooting a lot, understanding ballistics, and doing a lot of reloading the best thing they can do is get a good quality bolt action rifle in something like a 30-06, put a decent quality 3x9 scope on it, and shoot factory ammo with a good quality bullet. 

I personally feel confident shooting out to 500+ yards under perfect conditions (little/no wind and shooting prone).  My max range drops very dramatically if less than perfect conditions exist.  Also, range finders are a must for over 300 shooting, at least for me... I can't judge distances over 200 worth a darn.  I shot a custom made 300 win mag (A-Bolt action/Shilen barrel), Harris bipod, with handloaded ammo worked up for my rifle (168grn Barnes TSX).  I also shoot several hundred rounds a year, combined in all my rifles.  I've killed elk and antelope both out to over 450.

At the extreme end of the scale I do have a very very good friend who is an exceptional marksman.  Before I even write this I know it will invoke a lot of disbelief.  However, I have personally witnessed him kill 2 elk at around 900 yards.  He's tallied something like 14 kills at over 750 yards on deer, elk and bear.  Let me emphasize a couple things.  He shoots a lot and he has the rifle and the know how to do it!  He shoots thousands of rounds a year.  His current rifle is a wildcat 338 Lapua... necked down to 30 cal.  All of his really long kills were with a 30-378 Weth Mag, shooting a 220 grn bullet at over 3400 fps.  His rifles are truly custom made.... actions are milled and barrels are Lilja.  Each of these guns w/ scope and custom made reloading dies is worth over 3000$.  He is far and away the exception, not the rule.   

Having said all this:  I would never advocate anyone attempt shots at over 300 yards unless they are truly prepared: gun, optics, ammo, practice, practice, practice, and more practice! 

 

[jackelope]

Unless a hunter is really into shooting a lot, understanding ballistics, and doing a lot of reloading the best thing they can do is get a good quality bolt action rifle in something like a 30-06, put a decent quality 3x9 scope on it, and shoot factory ammo with a good quality bullet. 

i'm that guy...
andi  shoot an a-bolt in 30-06 with a leupold vari-xIII 3x9 and i'm shooting federal vital shock 165 grain barnes triple shock bullets.
it was never a matter of having the rifle for me...my question was the glass. i'm still not sure how a guy can put a scope on a deer at 700 yards and plan on hitting where you aim, or even knowing where you aim for at those kind of distances. i mean no disrepect or doubt...i just think about it every year...i'll put the glasson a deer at 400 or 500 yards and go jeez louise, i don't know how they do it.

[ICEMAN]

I shoot a base model, 700 rem. .270 win iron sights.  I hunt on the "WestSide" never had to take a shot over 85-90 yards.  I was breaking target clays @300 yrds, but would never think of taking a shot that long on a big game animal.  Lets not forget our sense of adventure and close the gap a little, make an ethical shot everytime.  The worst loss for a hunter is an animal not recovered.

You break clay targets at 300 with iron sights?

[Wea300mag]

Wow, I'm either a real poor shot or there is a lot of BS on this forum.

[T-ROY]

jackelope,  
  
   With your 30-06 zeroed at 200 yards, take A target out to 400 and with a good rest hold a foot over the top of the target, not the bullseye but the top of the paper and shoot a 1/2 dozen rounds at it and you might surprised at what you can do. I was and  3 weeks later in Montana we jumped a whitetail doe, (which i had a tag for) She ran out and stopped at 411 yards, the bullet placement was better than some of the 100 yards shots I've made,right in the boiler room. and even if you choose not to shoot at an animal that far away its still fun to see the results.

[ICEMAN]

Wow, I'm either a real poor shot or there is a lot of BS on this forum.

Agree, about the later, I am not sure if you are a poor shot or not...

[Lets Hunt]

I shot my Elk last year at 462 Yards the longest shot I have ever taken at a animal. It was a clear shot no wind and the elk was walking away from me very slowly going uphill i was at the same level as her on the other side of the draw. I had been watching her from about 150 yards but she never presented a shot till so got out there and felt safe i guess. I shot a 7MM Rem Mag i've put a lot of mony and time into at the range i have a 4-16 burris black diamond with the balistic mill dot retical @ 600 yards and good conditions I feel comfortable shooting targets i don't think I would ever shoot at game from this distance but every situation is different. with this elk I aimed for the back of her head with my crosshairs my 450 yard line on the scope was below the vitals but since she was going uphill i pulled the trigger missed her spine by 1/2 inch hit a lung and nicked the heart she went less then 20 yards and dropped. nearly no meat wasted. I also do all my own hand loading and shoot a 160 gr. barnes MRX.

I think everyone should spend a little time at the range (not once right before season) and learn what they are comfortable with. There are guys in wyoming that are shooting 1000+ yards from a bench at antalope and hardly ever miss. I've seen many a hunters out in the field make poor shots at 100-200 yards and miss altogether or hit a animal in the leg.

[jackelope]

There are guys in wyoming that are shooting 1000+ yards from a bench at antalope and hardly ever miss

they are called snipers...not hunters.

[Lets Hunt]

they are called snipers...not hunters.

Like I said these guys miss less then some do at 1-200 yards so i think they are less likley to wound game. Everyone has their own comfort level and needs to stay in it. And remember there are lots of people out there (especially in this state) that think we are MURDERERS not hunters. Everyone has their own opinion on long range hunting but with todays guns and optics these shots are possible and people are going to take them. 500 and in is my comfort level but only in the right situation.