For those on the east side....

[Joeman3285]

For you rifle hunters, how far would you say your average shot distance is?  I've been thinking about getting a new gun and was wondering if I really needed the long range capability of the big magnums.  

Thanks

[Todd_ID]

My take on it is that your range is YOUR range.  Whatever caliber you use will kill a critter almost a mile out, but you've got to do your part.  I wouldn't put a ton of faith in extending your range just because you bought a bigger gun that is supposed to shoot farther.  I bowhunt the open country and see a lot of shots in the 200-400 yard range that could be made during modern rifle.  A .243 will kill a deer or elk at that range.  

Buy a new gun because you just want a new toy, not because it will automatically extend your range.  The deer or elk you end up shooting could be 400 yards or 40 yards depending on how you make your stalk.

[halflife65]

Are you capable of shooting long range?  I mean, seriously, I'm not trying to disparage your shooting ability - you might have been an army sniper for all I know.  If YOU have the capability of shooting that far, and most people probably don't, then it might be worth it.  I have a .300WSM but I've shot more stuff with a .270 than any other rifle - including elk and bears along with deer.  Shots ranged from 10 yards to 300 yards (with one really long shot that I made when I was young and dumb but I wouldn't do that again - just got lucky probably.)  That's just me, though - probably a number of guys are better long range shooters than me and can regularly take those longer shots comfortably.  Point is, shoot at the distance you're comfortable shooting - probably more important than the rifle until you really get into the long range shooting game.

I shoot stuff at 40 yards with a bow now, though.

[Instinct]

I agree wth todd but also figure out what type of terrain ur hunting. If your in the brush in the mountains, your not gonna get a long distance shot sometimes because of trees and everything else that my block ur shot. People I talk too that hunts wth rifles goes wth 100 200yrds.

[farmin4u_98948]

Lots of looking at long range but all of my shots have been 300 yrds or less. several at less than 150. My long shots have all been on deer. The diff is I hunt deer in open country and elk in timber. I use a 270 for all my hunting.... 

[Todd_ID]

Yep, not many places that the elk are hanging out in the open country in the daylight.  When you're hunting elk, you're in the timber.  You'll find a 300 yard shot across a canyon on a bit of dumb luck, but if you shoot the critter you're hunting, then it's a 100 yard shot, most likely.

[Sneaky]

In my experience, its easier to shoot at longer distances with smaller calibers (less recoil). This is not true of all shooters. They key is practice and being comfortable with your weapon. As stated above, most popular deer calibers have the energy at long range to take an animal if the shot is where it counts. Buying a 338 win mag doesn't give a person the ability to shoot long distance

[400out]

Yep, not many places that the elk are hanging out in the open country in the daylight.  When you're hunting elk, you're in the timber.  You'll find a 300 yard shot across a canyon on a bit of dumb luck, but if you shoot the critter you're hunting, then it's a 100 yard shot, most likely.

Todd I will take it all day 

[Wenatcheejay]

A better site for LRH is http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/

There many questions should you choose to try this form of hunting.

There are many purists on the board here and it seems every time this subject comes up "ethics" come up and negativity and defending choices are the popcorn feed to the masses.

True LRH will mean seeing animals and letting them go when all the factors to making a 500 to 1000yd shot do not come together. (Caliber is one factor)

You also need to factor bullet speed, BC, SD, and the MOA program for the scope you choose. You need to chronograph bullets because you need to know how fast they are traveling and that speed needs to be repeatable with the load you use.

Hope this helps. 

[coachcw]

For elk I' d select a large caliber round like the .338 that shoots fairly flat to 300 yards. no doubt a .243 will  do the job . our state has a ton of shot chassers and you want to flat put your elk on the ground as quick as possible .I recomend breaking down the front shoulder to anchor him down .  keep your shots to a distance that You can hit in a eight inch pie plate and not what the manufactors say . my 300-378 will drop elk at 800 yards but there's no way I'd shot past 400 yards and I concider myself a pretty good shot , theres so many varibles into taking those really long shots angle wind elevation and temp. 

[C-Money]

I mostly use a .270win or a 30-06 for all my hunting. My shots are out to 300yards, most average around 150-200. I hunt open and timber ground.