What is the average distance for modern shot elk.

[Remington 243]

I was wondering what the average shooting distance has been for everyone, for getting your elk in Washington or Idaho.
50 to  100 yds,, ?  More than 100 yds ?

[Navyhunter]

My dad shot a bull at 693 a couple years ago.   

[Woodchuck]

my last one was at about 75 yds, my kid standing next to me dropped his at about 100

[WAPITIHUNTER]

Of the two elk I have shot with a rifle one was 538 yards and the other was 70 yards. The other 12 I shot with a bow the average shot is right around 35 yards.

[Remington 243]

Just woundering what distance I should zero in my scope.  And what power of scope I should buy for my 270 ?

[jackelope]

sight in a couple inches high at 100 will put you at zero at 200(or close enough) and buy a 3-9x scope.

[Woodchuck]

3 in the same hole at 25 yds, will put you money at about 200 to 250 depending on gun and load, fine adjust l and r at 100, will be a couple inches high, and get after em

[JackOfAllTrades]

Just woundering what distance I should zero in my scope.  And what power of scope I should buy for my 270 ?

[/color]

sight in a couple inches high at 100 will put you at zero at 200(or close enough) and buy a 3-9x scope.

This would appear to be the unwritten standard. Now'a days, your scope could cost just as much or more than your rifle if you want good quality/durability/light gathering abilities. You need to take into account the region/terrain/vegitation you're hunting any animal in. There are places that shots on Elk could be well less than 50yds because you can''t see farther than that through the trees. Other places could have shots more than 300yds. It's a little late in the year to be slapping a scope on a rifle and 'practicing' for that 200+yd kill shot with yer new .270.

-Steve

[Remington 243]

Looking at Leupold VX-2 and Busnell Elete 3200  3x9

[jeepasaurusrex]

Also, what grain bullet you going to be shooting? We always shot 180gr when hunting Elk with the .270.   

[LongTatLaw]

Well,

Ive shot two elk...one was at one yard   and one was at 52 yards (both bow shots)

If you can shoot 200 yards Id say ur ok and most people can get there with one day at the range with a 270!

JackOfAllTrades...I have to disagree. If he doesnt have his scope yet...he has PLENTY of time to buy one and get to a range and get it all perfect and ready for rifle elk   or are you suggesting he skips this season and practice for fall 2010 so he can be dead on 6 months before season??   

243,  those are decent scopes your looking at...

I have disagreed with Jackelope plenty of times on almost anything I can but I like more magnification than 9x!

Jackofalltrades is right...  what kind of terrain are you hunting?

how far can ya see?

I have a Nikon Monarch 8-32 x 50mm on my sage brush gun because you can see a long way and it has a 600 meter drop down reticle...that gun isnt good in thick nasty western washington!

no matter what I prefer something closer to 4-14 power and never ever buy anything that doesnt have 40mm or 50mm...ya cant deny the light collection.

my

[Curly]

Jeep, is that a typo about the 180gr in a .270?

I can see a 160gr in the .270 but 180???

[jackelope]

Tat....there's no need for anything more than 9x aside from personal preference for elk hunting.
 

what are you gonna do with that 8-32x scope when your bull appears at 20 yards? shove the rifle down it's throat? cuzz all you're gonna see is brown when you put the scope up on him.

[Curly]

what are you gonna do with that 8-32x scope when your bull appears at 20 yards? shove the rifle down it's throat? cuzz all you're gonna see is brown when you put the scope up on him.

 

[JackOfAllTrades]

LongTat,

JackOfAllTrades...I have to disagree. If he doesnt have his scope yet...he has PLENTY of time to buy one and get to a range and get it all perfect and ready for rifle elk

I really like bow hunters!  

You know why?  

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BECAUSE THEY PRACTICE! (well, most of them do)

I frequent my local gun club about 9 months of the year on a 'regular' basis. I may be shooting pistol most of the time, but I pay attention to what's going on around me. I see guys every year the week before Deer season show up with their gun and print a fancy group with their prized rifle of choice from sand bags, lead sleds and such, then go hunting the next week. I hear of missed shots. We all do. Why? Because most rifle hunters don't practice shooting off hand, from sitting, kneeling, prone or other semi-supported and unsupported positions. They figure that just dialing things in from the bench makes them a good shooter. Some people are naturals. I've seen'm. Most are not.

Maybe I stereotyped Mr/Mrs. Remington243 a little, I have no idea how often this guy/gal shoots that rifle or any other. And I mean no offense. But asking about Elk shooting distances a mear two months away from season? That's ~8 weekends?  Family commitments.. Deer season... How many times is he/she going to get to the range between now and the Elk opener?

Be realistic.  Twice?  Three times at most?  Two sessions from the bench? Any from the standing position unsupported off hand hitting a pop can at at least 100yds, (preferably more)?

I hope I'm wrong.  My statement stands though.  It's a little late in the season to be putting a hunting rifle together with new scope.

Not that it can't be done. A bit of dilligence from the hunter will go a long long way. And I'll have a ton more respect for the person that does put that ammount of time and effort in to make sure he/she has the skills to make the good shot between now and then.

-Steve

[jackelope]

I agree with Jackofalltrades.

[NWBREW]

Boy, Lots of opinions, evereyone has one. Those scopes you are looking at are decent scopes. I agree with TaT that you have   time this year if you are NOT NEW TO SHOOTING. (If you are new to shooting or have not done it a while  ) Get it set up and start sighting and practicing with the gun you will be shooting. The sooner the better. I also agree with Jackofalltrades that a 3x9 should be all you need here in WA. Its all I use for big game in WA. and never had a problem.      Oh and the farthest shot I've ever killed an elk with is about 95 yards- 2 shots with a Rem. 270 right in the boiler room. I loved that gun.

[Curly]

Looking at Leupold VX-2 and Busnell Elete 3200  3x9

Both of those scopes are great choices.  3-9 X 40 is a great all around choice.  Not much need for anything else for elk hunting.  

And while it is a bit late in the year, if you have a lot of shooting experience with your other rifles, I think you'd be fine to get a new .270 setup for elk hunting this year and still have some time to practice a bit with it.

[Dadbear]

Does a "modern shot" elk taste any different than an "old-fashioned" elk? 

[jeepasaurusrex]

Jeep, is that a typo about the 180gr in a .270?

I can see a 160gr in the .270 but 180???

Your right, 150gr is what we shoot. Damn typos... I only had 1 cup of coffee at that point. 

[woodswalker]

what are you gonna do with that 8-32x scope when your bull appears at 20 yards? shove the rifle down it's throat? cuzz all you're gonna see is brown when you put the scope up on him.

 

sight down the side of the barrel at that range.

[jeepasaurusrex]

Or affix bayonet!   

[halflife65]

sight in a couple inches high at 100 will put you at zero at 200(or close enough) and buy a 3-9x scope.

Exactly.  I hunted with a .270 for years and sighted in the same way.  I just put a Leupold Vari-X II 3X9 on it and went to town.  Make sure to use 150 gr bullets (unless you are handloading and have some other options).  I always used the old standby Federal Premium Nosler Partitions.  I've shot elk from about 100 yards to about 400 yards.

After that, I got all fancy with my scope and rifle, but I noticed that it didn't kill them any deader than the old .270 with the old Vari-X II.  Now I just try to get them with a sharp stick...

[coachcw]

I sugest that you buy a 4x12 leupold, and shot a fedral premium 150. 1.5 high at 100 yard and you'll be good to go to 300 good luck.

[Remington 243]

I just asked for some shooting distance averages.. hehe
Not the history of all your exsperences and science of weapons and ammo..
Geeess
Thank you anyway,, its all good .

[Curly]

Under 200 yards on most shots.

[LongTatLaw]

Jackelope,  3-9 is plenty at 20 yards but if he is to plan to shoot 20 yards buy a bow

i hunted Western WA's thickest stuff for 3 months straight in 2007 with a 6-20 x 50mm...the same one I hunted the SE for 10 years. I walk around with it pre-set at 10-12 power...

Ive never dialed it down even for a 30 yard kill on my bear or 15 yard shots on deer in GA, NC, MS....

Ill walk around Western WA with my 8-32x 50mm set around 10-12...  if u think a deer is safe at 20 yards send me to ur honey hole...  
The only reason Id switch guns is if I KNOW all Im gonna do is bust brush for 30 yard shots...then Id turn to the slug gun (which has a 3-9x40 )

Its mostly preference 243...and most would agree with these boys that 3-9 is plenty...   I just know that a larger target image increases my accuracy.

None of these boys would argue (I THINK) that a rifle planned for mostly 300 yard shooting could stand more than 3-9 power.

The longer the shots planned...the more important a high magnification is...  thats not opinion.

did we ever hear where ur hunting?

[dbllunger]

Shot a lot of elk from around 100 to over 400.  MPBR (Maximum Point Blank Range) is the only way to sight in any rifle.  You have to determine your kill zone.  I use 12" for my elk rifles, and all are sighted in very very close to 4" high at 100yds.  Have not missed yet.   All you have to know is your reticle height over the bore, bullet weight, and true chronographed velocity.  Bullet BC is nice, but only shows a difference if you were shooting a super high or low BC.  MPBR is not the reason for hitting what you shoot at but it really helps.  Oh yeah,...... you better have your (dope chart) trajectory taped to your rifle so you know exactly where that bullet will be during flight. 

[Buckmark]

The general distance of every animal i've shot is from where i'm standing to where the animal is standing.
The scope discussion and zeroing in discussion is cracking my up though..

[coachcw]

The average distance is how far You shoot , Ho cares how far our average shot is , the info was for what youyr shooting my friend . If you want to hunt elk with your deer gun its all good , but rember in this state you need to knock them down quick or some shot chasser will come hang tag. Still good luck pal.

[MooseStock]

I have 21 Elk shot on my own and they have probably ranged from 50 feet to 500 yards. You have to be ready for the shot you get. I shoot a Browning BAR 7mm and it pretty much does the trick for whatever you need here in Wash State...........Les