Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Dbax129 on April 20, 2013, 09:35:07 PM

Title: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Dbax129 on April 20, 2013, 09:35:07 PM: I have this buddy who says that he would shoot a deer at 1000 yards because he has a 7mm rem mag. I personally think that's crazy. I doubt most people have a scope that will zero at that, 30+ feet of drop? you need a 5 degree rail for that don't you? anyway, he said his uncle does it too... am i crazy? or is he?
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Naches Sportsman on April 20, 2013, 09:37:47 PM: For rifle hunting, i use a 7mm rem mag and the farthest i have ever shot one was at 480 yards. Dead in its tracks. Will i shoot a deer or elk over 300 yards again? Hell no
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: sakoshooter on April 20, 2013, 09:38:44 PM: Everything's got to be perfect to shoot long distance including the shooter. Most stories like that are just a 6 pack talking I think.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: bobcat on April 20, 2013, 09:40:43 PM: He has no business shooting at 1000 yards unless he regularly practices and is proficient at that distance. For the average person, 300 yards is a very long shot.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Bob33 on April 20, 2013, 09:48:59 PM: It you misjudge the distance by about 10 yards you will miss or cripple the animal. Misjudge the wind by 1 mph and you're off about 8 inches.

The number of hunters that can place a killing shot 9 times of 10 under those conditions is extremely small. I would bet good money your friend isn't one.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Dbax129 on April 20, 2013, 09:56:37 PM: Thanks guys. I was trying to explain to him that it doesn't matter how good his scope is. Crazy. I just got done looking into drop charts for the round. hmmm.... What's the longest anybody has ever taken big game? What is involved in that shot? Reloading to scope rail, to optics to work into the rifle?
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: rtspring on April 20, 2013, 10:30:06 PM: Id bet him he cant do it! Very few can make that shot! Very few
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: uplandhunter870 on April 20, 2013, 11:13:48 PM: shooting at a deer and killing a deer at 1000 yds are two way different things. your buddy make take a 1000 shot but id bet a paycheck that he misses and by a lot. most run of the mill factory rifles dont have out of the box accuracy to make that shot consistently

id consider myself a slightly above average with a rifle shot but thats only because i know my gear and spend quality time with it and still at that im comfortable out to 300yds, my longest kill shot is 265ish if its out there much past 300 im sneaking atleast another 50 to get in my zone
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: alecvg on April 20, 2013, 11:49:51 PM: The farthest I have shot at an animal is 299. Killed it, but wouldn't shoot a whole lot farther than that, at least with the setup I have now, I would like to eventually have the ability and confidence to shoot out to 500 or 600. I guided a guy who claimed he could shoot 1000 plus, but wanted to be within 800 for a shot on an animal. I believe he could have made it too. He had the practice and equipment.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: hoyt2002 on April 21, 2013, 12:33:07 AM: My longest shot was 426. It was open county mule deer with no other options. the conditions were perfect. id shoot to 500 again only in perfect conditions. Ill also add im a trained shooter and practice at said ranges with an above average rifle. Id say your buddy is full of hot air.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: woodman on April 21, 2013, 01:07:46 AM: Quote from: Naches Sportsman on April 20, 2013, 09:37:47 PM
For rifle hunting, i use a 7mm rem mag and the farthest i have ever shot one was at 480 yards. Dead in its tracks. Will i shoot a deer or elk over 300 yards again? Hell no

Naches, mine longest was 480 just like yours, but I shoot a 7mm ultra mag. Just like yours mine dropped right where it was and the doe that was feeding close to it just walked over to it then walked away. Made for one heck of a pack since it was across a canyon.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: kentrek on April 21, 2013, 02:10:35 AM: i wonder if he is using factory ammo :chuckle:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Taco280AI on April 21, 2013, 04:35:10 AM: Longest was 430 on elk
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Fish4Fun on April 21, 2013, 06:31:30 AM: I am a firm believer that the average run of the mill hunter should NEVER shoot out past 300 yards. Most have never even practiced that distance, think about it rifle ranges are generally 100 and maybe have a 200 yard range. Since this is where I am guessing 80% or more of guys practice there is no way to ever see 300 yards. On top of that they are shooting off of benches, for the life of me I cannot remember seeing a shooting bench out in the deer country. My longest shot was a 5X5 Whitetail in Idaho at 495 yards, shooting a .300 Weatherby Mag. I have shot this gun since 1982 and have spent hours behind the scope. For practice we shoot out in the mountains in natural hunting conditions. No Bench Rest, shooting off of either Bi-Pods or Tri-Pods. We will set up on a log landing, drive the targets around to a dead end road with a solid dirt back stop. This way we have the sun, wind, natural noises for shooting surroundings. I am a firm believer this is what gets the confidence to take the once in a lifetime shot at a true trophy class animal. Practice...Practice....Practice is the only way to shoot past 200 or 300 yards and hit what you are after.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Taco280AI on April 21, 2013, 06:51:26 AM: Didn't have any good long range shooting areas in Washington or Oregon, but sure did in Boise. Off the bipod, laying down, out to 500 and varying distances in between.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Kazekurt on April 21, 2013, 08:13:52 AM: To make that shot involves lots of practice, an understanding of several variables and how to account for them, and the right set up. My business partner is a long range shooter but he has a tactical Mcmillin rifle set up with a Nightforce scope, a rail that allows the necessary adjustments, a G7 rangefinder and ballistics programs programmed for his rifle. He has chrono'd the gun and noted the drop at various distances down range. He can pound a one foot plate at 1000 all day long. He also reloads which allows for more consistency in his ammo. You have to account for ballistics, wind, temperature, humidity, and sometimes even the rotation of the earth as all those things can affect speed and trajectory at that range. Wind is the toughest as it can swirl. He carries a wind gauge but even that only tells him the wind where he is at and not down range. He also has a military BORS system mounted on one of his rifles. All that being said, even he is hesitant to shoot at an animal that far because of the wind. On a plate, if he misses, he quickly makes the mil adjustment and drills the plate, but on an animal that could very well be an injured animal. Remember this: if you shoot that far you owe it to the animal as an ethical hunter to investigate every shot! The problem is its often hard to identify exactly where your animal was standing after you cover that distance; especially if you hsve to hike across a canyon. Another friend of mine dropped an elk dead in his tracks at 500 and it took him 3 trips across the ravine to find his elk. He had to finally enlist another hunter to stand at the point he shot and basically hand signal him to the bull. Anyway, lead will fly that far from virtually any rifle but its not an ethical shot for most people.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Kazekurt on April 21, 2013, 08:27:39 AM: I also forget that your scope has to be flawlessly mounted; especially for hunters who rely on ballistic dots rather than mil adjustments. If your vertical post/dots are even minutely canted your shot will pull down rage. I've seen this mainly affect people shooting between 300-500 yards as many hunters use mil dots rather than tactical scopes at these ranges.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on April 21, 2013, 08:49:59 AM: I'm not sure what these 100 yard shots that you all are talking about are?

My shortest shot has been 274 yards, but then again, my longest shot was this last year 356. I'm confident about to around 600, beyond that and I think I'm stretching my abilities and exponentially increasing the chance of wounding the animal.

I do have a friend who shot a very large elk at just over 1k yards. He's also, a very good shot, reloads his own ammo, runs it through a chrono, and had from what I understand, perfect conditions. 1 shot.

Take that for what it's worth. But these guys are right, 99% of people shouldn't really be shooting further then 200 yards.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Mike450r on April 21, 2013, 09:03:14 AM: 1000 yards is so far that people who don't regularly practice shooting it don't even really know what it looks like. Without superior optics forget it on the westside for deer, you won't even know what you are shooting at.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: coachcw on April 21, 2013, 09:09:15 AM: there's a lot that goe's into a long shot , It can be done , but not with box ammo and a 3x9 bushenell . I'd say that the most important thing is wind factor , but it all plays , angle , and elivation being 2 and 3 so on and so on . when I got my 6.5 broke in and turretts built more it the first five shot group was at 405 yards with a 10 mph cross wind and all five shots where inside of a coffee cup . pretty much chip shots . but we are talking 5-7 k worth of equiptment and custum loads .
Your buddy like sounds like a bar chair sniper to me :chuckle:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: coachcw on April 21, 2013, 09:09:53 AM: Quote from: Mike450r on April 21, 2013, 09:03:14 AM
1000 yards is so far that people who don't regularly practice shooting it don't even really know what it looks like. Without superior optics forget it on the westside for deer, you won't even know what you are shooting at.
:tup:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Antlershed on April 21, 2013, 01:54:16 PM: My longest is 575 yards on a blacktail. .300 RUM, hand loads and a mark 4. That year I shot a lot and could hit vital size targets (and knew the drop) out to 950.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: JohnVH on April 21, 2013, 02:03:12 PM: My turrett doesnt even go up to 1000yds. haha. Longest Ive shot on metal is 800, farthest kill is 400yds from the 7mm mag. Brother got his antelope around 550yds with his 7mm
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: BULLBLASTER on April 21, 2013, 02:20:30 PM: Quote from: Kazekurt on April 21, 2013, 08:27:39 AM
I also forget that your scope has to be flawlessly mounted; especially for hunters who rely on ballistic dots rather than mil adjustments. If your vertical post/dots are even minutely canted your shot will pull down rage. I've seen this mainly affect people shooting between 300-500 yards as many hunters use mil dots rather than tactical scopes at these ranges.
you can also use MOA adjustments to get that far... not only mil.
i agree that the ballistic retical or balistically match turrets are not the ideal platform for that kind of shooting. changes in conditions will affect the drop of the bullet greatly at 1k. its pretty fun to watch people get super excited when they hit the 1k target at the local range here then think that they can hunt that far... that target is 44 inch diameter.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Wazukie on April 21, 2013, 02:22:43 PM: Yup, ca not do it unless you have 5-10k worth of equipment! :chuckle:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: hunting4sanity on April 21, 2013, 03:20:07 PM: Shooting long range is a personal challenge and very enjoyable. I shoot long range very often, at steel and paper for enjoyment, some guys golf, I shoot. Last two deer I shot had my heart pounding and the excitement level is much different than the shooting range, made me glad they were at 134 yards and the long one stretching it out to just past 200 yards.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: wilsongideon on April 21, 2013, 09:06:19 PM: I got into shooting long range two years ago...my cousin builds rifles(gold creek rifles) and its a blast to go with him and shoot 500 to 1000 yards. Using all my own equipment the last time I shot with him, him spotting the wind for me I shot out to 1012 yards. I dont shoot enough to feel comfortable at 1000 yards hunting but it definitly makes you think a 500 yard shot is more doable. good gun,right scope, balistic caculator,range finder, wind/barometer, bipod, and a one lb bag of rice is all you need :chuckle:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: merlo105 on April 21, 2013, 10:24:40 PM: My furthest shot on a deer is 708, Was shooting one of my customs in 7mm 168gr match king did the trick. But I also shoot 4 times a week and in them 4 times I shoot 3 times a day. Alot of practise goes into shooting long range and alot of math on the fly and having a good memory. Everything affects the bullet so alot of the time your bullet is taking different paths threw out a hunting season, One day it will be a hit the next day it could be a miss high or low. Elevation comes into play along with angles you also have wind drift, spin drift... Its alot but its also alot of fun. One thing to doit it at the range where its controlled and you have time to calculate everything in the field lol you better be good. And also making sure you have the right gun bullet selection and so on is a huge deal...
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Huntbear on April 21, 2013, 10:29:57 PM: My brother shot his bull this last season at 645 yards. Hit it right between the eyes. 338 WM with my hand loaded 225 gr. Accubonds.. and a Leupy CDX scope zeroed at 200 yards. But he spent a lot of time practicing shooting over 500 yards last summer.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: RifleRidge on April 21, 2013, 10:53:29 PM: Quote from: bobcat on April 20, 2013, 09:40:43 PM
He has no business shooting at 1000 yards unless he regularly practices and is proficient at that distance. For the average person, 300 yards is a very long shot.

:yeah:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: RifleRidge on April 21, 2013, 10:55:19 PM: Quote from: rtspring on April 20, 2013, 10:30:06 PM
Id bet him he cant do it! Very few can make that shot! Very few

:yeah: :tup: Very well said! :tup:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Bob33 on April 21, 2013, 11:04:51 PM: A bullet drops more in the 25 yards between 975 and 1000 yards than it does from the muzzle and 400 yards. Can you judge distance to the animal within 10 yards at that distance?
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: huntnnw on April 21, 2013, 11:17:28 PM: Ill call BS on being a proficient shooter...Ive had the ability to shoot some very high end guns and there is a HUGE difference from your $800-$1000 set up rifle to the $5k rifles..I have watched people who have shot rifles only a couple times knock over steel targets at 700 + yards
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: deerslyr on April 21, 2013, 11:25:33 PM: Quote from: huntnnw on April 21, 2013, 11:17:28 PM
Ill call BS on being a proficient shooter...Ive had the ability to shoot some very high end guns and there is a HUGE difference from your $800-$1000 set up rifle to the $5k rifles..I have watched people who have shot rifles only a couple times knock over steel targets at 700 + yards

LOL theres a big difference between knocking over steel targets at 700 yards and hitting the vitals on a live animal at 1000, hell even 700 for that matter.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: huntnnw on April 21, 2013, 11:29:00 PM: no kidding
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: RadSav on April 22, 2013, 01:04:13 AM: The 7mm has the ability, but a standard hunting rifle and standard hunting bullets do not. Even 1/4 MOA adjustments on a scope make a big difference at 1,000 yards. I think many who watch the TV shows figure if they can do it so should I even though they have no grasp of what 1,000 yards really looks like.

In my youth I shot competetive silhouette. I wasn't setting any records, but held my own within our region. The 500 meter ram target is quite a bit bigger than the kill zone on a deer at 32" in length and 12.5" in height. In all reality due to the shape thats about a 2 MOA height and a 4 MOA length unless you get lucky. At 500 meters (453 yards shy of 1,000 yards) a five MPH cross wind would take me clean off the target. Size that 547 yard target down at only the heart lung area of a deer and even the slightest of cross wind will make you miss shooting a true tack driver of a long range target rifle with long range bullets. Now almost double that distance with a store bought 1 MOA (10.5" @ 1,000 yrd) hunting rifle and a standard hunting bullet. And just because it is a 1 MOA gun at 100 doesn't mean it's a 1 MOA setup at 1,000 yards. I don't know about you, but that's a risk I'm not taking! Not even when I was at my very best.

I like to think that if weather conditions were absolutely perfect and I had sighted in my best hunting rifle for the appropriate altitude I could make a 500 to 600 yard shot on a deer with a reasonably low risk of failure still today. But that's still 40 to 50% shy of the 1,000 yard mark. Or think of it this way - 1,000 yards is 100% further than 500 yards!!! Myself I would need the mother of all spotting scopes just to know for sure if it was a legal buck or not. Dang!!! That's more than 9/16th of a mile away! I'm not sure I could hit the kill zone of a moose at 0.568 miles with a hunting rifle.

But heck, it does sound like a good excuse to go have some fun at the long range! Make some lifesized plywood silhouettes and set them up at 500, 750 and 1,000 yards. Or make it even more challenging by setting them up at 550, 765 and 980 yards! That sounds like a serious bunch of fun to me! Any excuse to shoot is a good excuse :tup:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Old Man Yager on April 23, 2013, 09:15:46 AM: If my buddy told me he was gonna shoot a deer at 1000 yards, I'd drive right on past his house on my way to the woods!!! I have a problem with the ethics on that shot, alot of things could go bad on that very easily, and cripple an animal that you can probably sneak in on and get amore ethical shot on.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: ctwiggs1 on April 23, 2013, 09:48:43 AM: Quote from: Mike450r on April 21, 2013, 09:03:14 AM
1000 yards is so far that people who don't regularly practice shooting it don't even really know what it looks like. Without superior optics forget it on the westside for deer, you won't even know what you are shooting at.

Superior optics - you mean the kind that see through trees? I can't remember even having 1000 yards visibility where I hunt.

:chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: baldopepper on April 23, 2013, 10:11:21 AM: I was taught growing up that you better never take a shot you weren't willing to walk to check for blood. Used to hunt a canyon in Utah that had a road running thru the bottom. Ridge above the canyon was about 300 yards up and very steep-deer grassed out on it commonly. Every year we'd hunt that ridge top and always find a couple of dead dear that knuckleheads had shot at from the road and never bothered to go check on because the hillside was so steep and the deer didn't drop immediately. Like someone mentioned, a 300 yard shot for the average hunter is a very, very long shot and that's if the deer is just standing still. Used to take an occasional newbie with us and always had a chuckle when that 50 yard shot turned out to be a 200 yard shot when they talked about it at the campfire. I know there are people out there who practice and make a science of the long shot, but for most hunters I'd suggest getting proficient out to about 200 max and that doesn't mean just hitting paper at that distance. Remember when you take that long shot across a canyon, you better be ready to go check for blood if he doesn't drop in his tracks!!
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Taco280AI on April 23, 2013, 10:17:27 AM: I remember coming across a few guys in Idaho, while hunting, who told me about a cow they took (with a cow tag). Said it was something like 700 yards and about 17 shots later it was down. Exactly the type of people you don't want taking long shots.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Old Man Yager on April 23, 2013, 10:20:28 AM: Dumb asses! Im sure they could have gotten closer to a cow elk than 700 yrds!!!
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: duckmen1 on April 23, 2013, 10:37:19 AM: I can hit a paper plate at least 9 times out of 10 at 100 yards with a 270 win or 300 wsm. Doesn't mean I'm shooting off hand at an animal at that distance. I shoot out to 500 yards at the range quite a bit on a bench but when you get off the bench it's a whole new game. I won't shoot pass 400 with a lot of practice in the perfect condition and don't want to even shoot that far. I like under 300. My longest shot on a deer was a touch over 300 and got it. And my longest shot on an elk was 250 got it. Both animals didn't run more than 30 yards and went down. I use a range finder on all my animals pass 100 yards and will garrentee I will make a good shot before I pull the trigger.
With a muzzleloader I won't shot pass 100 yards. Open sights are not made to shoot 200 yards for just about every hunter out there. Just my opinion
My muzzleloading doe tag I had around 10 opportunities to shot at around 75-80 yards and waited till I got one at 20. Way more fun.
Getting closer is more exciting and you will garrentee a good shot.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: coachcw on April 23, 2013, 10:47:49 AM: shooting proan with a good bypod 400 yards with the right equiptment is a drop in the bucket , that being said most don't have the equiptment and the true knowlege of there ballistics to pull it off . just the angle on that shot will put you a foot off .
Title: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on April 23, 2013, 01:48:24 PM: My goal is to get as close as possible with any rifle I am using, sure i can shoot 700 yds accurately at the range, but the closer I am, the more certain I am of hitting my target. I haven't shot an elk over 100 yds and I use a 338 rum. It's nice to squeeze the trigger and know its gonna drop.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: CouesFanatic on April 23, 2013, 03:52:33 PM: Quote from: Bob33 on April 21, 2013, 11:04:51 PM
A bullet drops more in the 25 yards between 975 and 1000 yards than it does from the muzzle and 400 yards. Can you judge distance to the animal within 10 yards at that distance?

Don't you use a rangefinder?
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: deerslyr on April 23, 2013, 06:22:57 PM: Quote from: CouesFanatic on April 23, 2013, 03:52:33 PM
Quote from: Bob33 on April 21, 2013, 11:04:51 PM
A bullet drops more in the 25 yards between 975 and 1000 yards than it does from the muzzle and 400 yards. Can you judge distance to the animal within 10 yards at that distance?

Don't you use a rangefinder?

It requires a very expensive range finder to get that precise of measurement at that distance.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: BLUEBULLS on April 23, 2013, 06:39:32 PM: Dang horrible hunter if 1000 yards is close as a guy can get and in my opinion pretty disrespectful to the animal and other hunters to "want" to shoot that far.

shoot 1000 yards at the range, "HUNT" when you're hunting. :twocents:

I guess everyone draws the line at a different spot but I always feel I owe it to myself, other sportsman, and the animal to get as close as possible and then only take ethical shots.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: mtman on April 23, 2013, 07:18:52 PM: Bluesbull nailed it. I have shot a deer and an antelope at 400 plus. It was when I was young and just started shooting like everybody else I knew(dumb but luckey). now I hunt with a muzzleloader even if I buy a modern tag. If you take your time most of the time you can get close and dont need to risk long shots.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Bob33 on April 23, 2013, 07:22:16 PM: Quote from: CouesFanatic on April 23, 2013, 03:52:33 PM
Quote from: Bob33 on April 21, 2013, 11:04:51 PM
A bullet drops more in the 25 yards between 975 and 1000 yards than it does from the muzzle and 400 yards. Can you judge distance to the animal within 10 yards at that distance?

Don't you use a rangefinder?
Yes. Try to range a deer sized animal at 975 yards and see how accurate you are.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: yorketransport on April 23, 2013, 07:33:30 PM: Quote from: huntnnw on April 21, 2013, 11:17:28 PM
Ill call BS on being a proficient shooter...Ive had the ability to shoot some very high end guns and there is a HUGE difference from your $800-$1000 set up rifle to the $5k rifles..I have watched people who have shot rifles only a couple times knock over steel targets at 700 + yards

Now is this with or without optics? I have rifles that I've put together for less than $600(without optics) and under $1200 with optics, that will shoot as well or better than a lot of $5k guns. You don't need to spend $5k to have a 1000 yard rifle. I've got at least 1 handgun that will get to 1000 yards without any problems. Including optics I'm only into it $1300.

I'm not big on the long range hunting craze. The longest shot I've taken on an animal was 535, and that was just a porcupine. I know plenty of people who are capable of making clean kills on deer size targets out beyond 1000 yards though. It's just not really hunting the way I see it. More like live animal target practice.

Andrew
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Old Man Yager on April 23, 2013, 08:00:02 PM: I'm with the last 4 posts, 1000 yard shots just aren't ethical, not saying some people can't do it, but I don't try it. I'm just sayin!11
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: wilsongideon on April 23, 2013, 08:22:18 PM: I really think it depends on a hunters prep work. If you scout and know the country your going to hunt and long range shots are a possibility, then you practice for taking that kind of shot. If you have practiced shooting the shot during the off season and were succesful then it wouldnt be a big deal. I have never personally taken a 300 plus yard shot at a animal. but I practice out to 700 yards because there is some areas I hunt that allow for that kind of shot. It may never happen but I would rather be ready for wally the wall hanger at 700 yards then go home wishing i had practiced for a longer shot. Its been my experience that you sometimes only get one look at animal no matter how hard you hunt. might be at 200 500 or 1000 plus yards. I know countless people say the biggest deer they ever saw was 1000 yards away and they never saw it again. If you were prepared and setup? you might take a crack at it. :twocents:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: WilliamIV on April 29, 2013, 04:06:44 PM: My longest was 507 on a deer. I only took the shot because I didn't have time to get closer and that was with my 300 win mag. I prefer to keep it 300 yards and under for hunting.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Labs07 on May 02, 2013, 08:37:42 AM: I have killed a deer at 315 yards with my 308 and killed 2 antelope at 283 and 254 with my 6.5 X 55 and an Elk at 437 with my 338. I am pretty comfortable out to 450 but I would not go futher than that....not even for a trophy Bull, I just don't think I could make an ethical shot any futher than 450.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Old Man Yager on May 02, 2013, 11:09:57 AM: AMEN to that Labs07
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: RadSav on May 05, 2013, 03:34:02 AM: This might have been posted on H-W before. If so let me know and I will remove it. But I think it does give a little credit to how difficult the 1,000 yard shot can be. Plus it is just a great story.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/MQRpAxGVg4M?rel=0 (http://www.youtube.com/embed/MQRpAxGVg4M?rel=0)
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: coachcw on May 05, 2013, 06:53:27 AM: Dam 1/2 moa at1000 yards good job sir ! maybe we need some black hunt wa armchair sniper hats ? :chuckle:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: duckmen1 on May 06, 2013, 03:05:50 PM: My thinking is you could be a world class sniper and take the shot knowing 100 percent it was perfect, but what if the deer takes a step or two by the time the bullet gets there, or turns to a different position. Just plain unethical in my opinion to take that kind of shot
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Smossy on May 06, 2013, 03:13:15 PM: Quote from: RadSav on May 05, 2013, 03:34:02 AM
This might have been posted on H-W before. If so let me know and I will remove it. But I think it does give a little credit to how difficult the 1,000 yard shot can be. Plus it is just a great story.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/MQRpAxGVg4M?rel=0 (http://www.youtube.com/embed/MQRpAxGVg4M?rel=0)
Great video, cool old man. Cant stop smiling. Id love to meet someone like that. Sad thing is as time continues to go by we find less and less vets from that era. Well never run out of war hero's though. :tup:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: browney5er on May 12, 2013, 07:21:44 PM: Quote from: Huntbear on April 21, 2013, 10:29:57 PM
My brother shot his bull this last season at 645 yards. Hit it right between the eyes. 338 WM with my hand loaded 225 gr. Accubonds.. and a Leupy CDX scope zeroed at 200 yards. But he spent a lot of time practicing shooting over 500 yards last summer.

So you expect me to believe your brother chose a 2" target instead of the vitals at 645 yds. So does your brother shoot 2" groups at 650 yds. BS.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Taco280AI on May 12, 2013, 07:25:49 PM: Just bought a custom 300 RUM, going to get plenty of practice with it and hopefully get time to go to Idaho this fall.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on May 13, 2013, 09:08:42 AM: Longest on a deer was 368 with my 243... DRT... I wouldn't have taken the shot but when I ranged him it said 292... Those were branches or brush in front of him at the time in my haste to get it done.... Now yotes are a different story... :chuckle: 536 with the same 243...
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on May 13, 2013, 09:22:06 AM: Unfortunately, at least 80% of hunters believe they are above average marksmen. In my experience (15 seasons in the field checking and talking to hunters), the majority of ethical hunters learn to limit their shots after wounding and losing an animal. The unethical ones just keep banging away beyond their level of competence.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: wastickslinger on May 13, 2013, 10:19:45 AM: Quote from: BLUEBULLS on April 23, 2013, 06:39:32 PM
Dang horrible hunter if 1000 yards is close as a guy can get and in my opinion pretty disrespectful to the animal and other hunters to "want" to shoot that far.

shoot 1000 yards at the range, "HUNT" when you're hunting. :twocents:

I guess everyone draws the line at a different spot but I always feel I owe it to myself, other sportsman, and the animal to get as close as possible and then only take ethical shots.

Jake, 1000 yards where we hunt would be 3 days getting to it. LOL
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Taco280AI on May 13, 2013, 11:49:07 AM: Main reason for the RUM purchase is being active duty and in training, I am very limited on time. If I can get to Idaho I can't be too picky on shots, as long as I'm confident in it, and with the 270 would only reach out to 250-300 max. Some of the areas I hunt can easily go 300-500+ without an opportunity to get closer. Then say it is 450, I don't want to have to wait for a perfect broadside or quartering away. Not looking for a 900 yard elk kill, but want to thump it hard at any, ethical, angle to 500 yards. Now... 180 Accubonds or 200s... We'll see...
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on May 13, 2013, 12:24:00 PM: Even with my 7mm Weatherby Mag I don't think I'd be shooting at a deer much past 400 unless everything was perfect... But we know how that goes...
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: headshot5 on May 13, 2013, 12:37:05 PM: Quote
I don't want to have to wait for a perfect broadside or quartering away.

While I somewhat understand what you are saying, I think your word choice could have been a little better. :dunno:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Taco280AI on May 13, 2013, 04:20:08 PM: I see your point. Of course given the chance I'd certainly prefer a broadside or quartering away, but sometimes they just aren't presented. And no way I'd ever take a Texas heart shot or anything like that. As far as range, can't say with the new rifle till I play with it and see how it does.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Fishaholic on May 13, 2013, 05:16:16 PM: whats the velocity of a 7 mag at 1000? I would bet it wouldnt kill a deer at 1000 yards. It may wound the animal but I dont think it would kill it.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: coachcw on May 13, 2013, 05:29:17 PM: a 7 mag has plenty of energy at 1000 depending on the bullet and load ke between 900and 1100 ke
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: MichaelJ on May 13, 2013, 05:35:17 PM: This thread is pretty entertaining to say the least. If you gotta question if you can make the shot, then you probably shouldn't take it.

Mike
Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: BULLBLASTER on May 14, 2013, 09:59:15 AM: :yeah: with most gun and ammo combinations these days it is not an issue of the bulllet having enough energy to kill the animal as much an issue of actually hitting the vitals atextended ranges.
Fwiw my longest deer kill with a rifle is 380 yards with my 243.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: bobcat on May 14, 2013, 10:13:43 AM: Quote from: ddjj1991 on May 13, 2013, 05:16:16 PM
whats the velocity of a 7 mag at 1000? I would bet it wouldnt kill a deer at 1000 yards. It may wound the animal but I dont think it would kill it.

Well, you could do a test. Measure out 1000 yards and have a friend shoot you in the chest. That should give you a better idea of what a bullet out of a 7 Mag feels like at 1000 yards. :tup:

I'm pretty sure it will just bounce off, but don't quote me on that. :dunno:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: MichaelJ on May 14, 2013, 01:52:49 PM: Quote from: ddjj1991 on May 13, 2013, 05:16:16 PM
whats the velocity of a 7 mag at 1000? I would bet it wouldnt kill a deer at 1000 yards. It may wound the animal but I dont think it would kill it.

At 27" station pressure (Say around Wenatchee) and 60*, a 168 VLD at 3050 fps MV has 1235 ft lbs of energy, velocity of 1819.8 fps, and a 1.274 time of flight (seconds)... Pretty sure that'd rock your world to the point of DRT...

Mike
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on May 14, 2013, 02:11:37 PM: Quote from: Taco270 on May 13, 2013, 04:20:08 PM
I see your point. Of course given the chance I'd certainly prefer a broadside or quartering away, but sometimes they just aren't presented. And no way I'd ever take a Texas heart shot or anything like that. As far as range, can't say with the new rifle till I play with it and see how it does.

I took one Texas heart shot with the 7mm Weatherby Mag... I jumped a buck in close cover on the last day of late buck... It was just a reaction shot... I can honestly tell you I'd never do that again unless it was charging me with it's ass... DRT but what a freaking mess...
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: shocking300 on May 14, 2013, 04:56:15 PM: Quote from: Dbax129 on April 20, 2013, 09:35:07 PM
I have this buddy who says that he would shoot a deer at 1000 yards because he has a 7mm rem mag. I personally think that's crazy. I doubt most people have a scope that will zero at that, 30+ feet of drop? you need a 5 degree rail for that don't you? anyway, he said his uncle does it too... am i crazy? or is he?
Easy to find out! Set up round steal gong 12"-14" diameter at 1000 yards, if he hits it cold bore and 3 consecutive shots then he can do it if not then no more BS
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Dbax129 on May 15, 2013, 08:09:02 AM: What is a Texas heart shot?
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on May 17, 2013, 09:43:52 AM: Quote from: Dbax129 on May 15, 2013, 08:09:02 AM
What is a Texas heart shot?
Shot to the rear end
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on May 17, 2013, 09:50:43 AM: Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on May 17, 2013, 09:43:52 AM
Quote from: Dbax129 on May 15, 2013, 08:09:02 AM
What is a Texas heart shot?
Shot to the rear end

Through the poop shoot to the heart... Hopefully...
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on May 17, 2013, 09:52:43 AM: Quote from: Kowsrule30 on May 17, 2013, 09:50:43 AM
Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on May 17, 2013, 09:43:52 AM
Quote from: Dbax129 on May 15, 2013, 08:09:02 AM
What is a Texas heart shot?
Shot to the rear end

Through the poop shoot to the heart... Hopefully...
But much more frequently results in either a wounding rather than killing outcome, OR a shattered pelvis which will kill the critter but destroy much edible meat. Some antler-crazy hunters think this is just fine since it rarely damages the skull plate or cape.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: hambone on May 18, 2013, 10:35:45 PM: Shot a mule deer buck down in the blues a few years back he was a little over 500 yard out took him behind the right shoulder and came out his left shoulder put him down good shooting a 30- 06
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Kowsrule30 on May 19, 2013, 01:21:32 PM: Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on May 17, 2013, 09:52:43 AM
Quote from: Kowsrule30 on May 17, 2013, 09:50:43 AM
Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on May 17, 2013, 09:43:52 AM
Quote from: Dbax129 on May 15, 2013, 08:09:02 AM
What is a Texas heart shot?
Shot to the rear end

Through the poop shoot to the heart... Hopefully...
But much more frequently results in either a wounding rather than killing outcome, OR a shattered pelvis which will kill the critter but destroy much edible meat. Some antler-crazy hunters think this is just fine since it rarely damages the skull plate or cape.

Yep I'v seen a guy chasing a spike down popping off shots with a muzzy as fast as he could.... I finally put it down when it bedded 40 yards from me... He hit it four times in the rear... Both quarters were tattered so I let him have it...
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Rooster1981 on May 20, 2013, 07:57:30 AM: 1000 yards :bdid:

My best recorded shot was 465 yards on a bull elk using a 30-06 loaded with 165 grn sst's. I know I made a longer shot once before that but i didn't own a rang finder at the time. 1000 yard shot is great for target shooting, or a sniper. But for hunting, anything over 500 yards with a basic hunting rifle is really pushing the limits. Now I'm talking basic like my rifle a 30-06 with a 3x9x40 Bushnell.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: BNAElkhntr on May 20, 2013, 08:22:05 AM: 615 on Pronghorn in Wy 308 165gr ballistic tips Burris 8x32 signature scope Leica Rangefinder
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: longrange7mm on May 20, 2013, 08:58:27 AM: LMFAO this thread has me rolling.. :chuckle: a 7mm has enough energy @ 1000 yards to get the job done trust me, my group and I have done it over and over again. even @ 1380 yards it has enough to take care of a bull elk, Aaron Davidson's 13 year old son Danner proved that one! For your run of the mill go out and sight your rifle in a week prior to season hunter yes 300 yards is too far for that idiot in IMO.. Do you need to go buy a 5-10k setup NO they make lower priced optics and guns that you can make shoot just as Good as some of the high end guns with a little work to them.For example a remington SPS and a Vortex Viper HS shoots 1/2" MOA all day long you can do everything you need for that gun and still be under 2K! My buddy in MT shoots that setup and he is incredibly accurate.. All this being said you need to know your rifle before you take a shot like this on an animal. I just had another BBl put on my gun I go through a bbl every other year on my hunting rifle I normally shoot a 7mm & a 7 RUM but this year I had my 7 RUM reBarreled into Gunwerks new 7 LRM
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Fl0und3rz on May 20, 2013, 09:32:02 AM: I once shot a Sitka blacktail forkie at about 20 yards with a Win. .270. He was not dead enough, though, for my liking. So I am probably going to have to start carrying around a .300 RUM or something larger, so that I'll be good out to at least 40 yards.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: merlo105 on May 20, 2013, 01:27:59 PM: This thread has me laughing, People who dont shoot long range dont get it and never will and thats great cause we will always have these topics. Every rifle I own is setup for long range. And I wanna push them to there max at the range but the max in the field is a different story you have to know your limits. I have heard some stories that just get me rolling at times. You do not need a 5k gun to shoot and be accurate. You do need good optics that are gonna be true in repeatability. 98% of the stories I hear are so bogus. I have pushed my 243 out to 900 yards with good accuracy good enough I would be thumping any deer in the shoulder but I wouldnt shoot a deer that far with that gun. Cause I know the ballistics on that bullet inside and out. But with my 7m I wouldnt hesitate given the conditions were perfect for me. You gotta know your gonna put that bullet where you want it you cant hope you gotta know. I try to be as ethical as I can and I know my ranges with everything I shoot Bow, rifle, muzzy, open sight rifle, pistol. All boils down to if you can or cant and if you have to second guess it then dont bother there is always another deer around the next ridge.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: jason stevens on May 21, 2013, 01:01:47 PM: I agree I have a 7mm also and my last elk was pushing 800 yards one shot one kill but you have to shoot consistently at long range.and good luck finding ranges that far on the west side.my gun is basic so is the scope and I buy ammo over the counter I don't reload.it can be done.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: coachcw on May 21, 2013, 01:08:09 PM: there's plenty of guys on here that you don't want shooting at you 700 yards away !
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: wastickslinger on May 21, 2013, 01:59:18 PM: My red rider is dialed in to 30 yards for starlings. Most of the time my bb bounces off. But sometimes I find a soft spot. 40 is my max with that gun.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: throttlejocky20 on May 24, 2013, 09:33:54 AM: It all depends on the set up. I agree alot of people talk a big game. I have talked to people that swear they can shoot 600+ yards and when called to the plate yeah they can hit the target after 5 or 6 shots. I mean if you give me 3 shots I can be acccurate ot to 700 yards with a 3x9 as long as someone is telling me where the firt 2 hit. Long distance takes alot of practice and there is alot of thing to consider (distance, wind, thermals, temp, ect). We shoot long range all summer picking rocks and stumps on hills from 500 to 1000 yards and shoot from real hunting situations. I set my limit to 500 yards if the conditions are right. At least untill i upgrade my scope.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: huntnphool on May 24, 2013, 12:16:08 PM: I shot one of my bucks last year that I ranged at 485 yards, I don't like shooting that far for big game but wasn't going to get any closer without him taking off. One shot 7mm RM, Nosler Partition.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: wsucowboy on May 24, 2013, 12:21:17 PM: My longest shot was 380 yards on a mule deer, dropped him dead. My dad got a deer at a little over 500 yards, both his and mine were with a browning 338.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: rbros on May 30, 2013, 04:41:55 PM: Long range shots take practice. To the guys that only shoot their rifle a week before season, don't even attempt it, you give the rest of us bad names. To be effective you need the right equipment(accurate rifle and scope) and consistent year round practice. Be it at a range, or better yet, under field conditions. Having harvested several dozen animals at ranges all over 700yds with one shot kills, practice is the key. Just like with archery, if you shoot all the time at extended distances, the closer shots become easier. Granted there are alot of other factors, the biggest being wind, but there is no substitute for getting trigger time.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: billdo5 on May 31, 2013, 08:44:42 AM: Quote from: bobcat on April 20, 2013, 09:40:43 PM
He has no business shooting at 1000 yards unless he regularly practices and is proficient at that distance. For the average person, 300 yards is a very long shot.

Buddy shot a bull 1,000 yards out in the Blues.... heres a pic of the gun....
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Bluesdude on May 31, 2013, 10:08:20 AM: 515 yards in Wyoming with my Weatherby Sub Moa 300wsm, handloaded Berger 185 grain VLDs and a Nikon Monarch BDC scope. Before this hunt, I put 200 rounds through my new gun and worked on different handloads until I found what the gun liked. I shot off and on all summer right up to the hunt to keep my skills honed. I was touching shots with the gun at 200 yards. The only reason I pulled the trggger that morning is there was no wind to speak of, I was prone in the snow on a Harris Bipod and my day pack as rests, and my guide was behind me with his rangefinder the entire time. First shot was right over his back, the buck didnt move, adjusted slightly and the second pinwheeled him right through both lungs.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: billdo5 on May 31, 2013, 10:15:29 AM: Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on May 17, 2013, 09:52:43 AM
Quote from: Kowsrule30 on May 17, 2013, 09:50:43 AM
Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on May 17, 2013, 09:43:52 AM
Quote from: Dbax129 on May 15, 2013, 08:09:02 AM
What is a Texas heart shot?
Shot to the rear end

Through the poop shoot to the heart... Hopefully...
But much more frequently results in either a wounding rather than killing outcome, OR a shattered pelvis which will kill the critter but destroy much edible meat. Some antler-crazy hunters think this is just fine since it rarely damages the skull plate or cape.
i guess ur just not a good enough shot.. I shot a buck there one year didnt go more than 20 yards.. And another year i shot this 3pt on the last day of season... and i was at full draw looking at me at 20 yards and wouldnt turn so i blowed him in the chest and the only thing showing was my knock he went about 5ft and died :dunno: but then again i hunt bow and wouldnt take a chest or a$$ shot past 40 yards
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: Jonathan_S on June 03, 2013, 03:11:51 PM: A TX heartshot with a bow?

:tup: good idea
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: floatinghat on June 03, 2013, 08:02:32 PM: Quote from: coachcw on May 21, 2013, 01:08:09 PM
there's plenty of guys on here that you don't want shooting at you 700 yards away !

I would be one of them, but then I wouldn't take that shot so we don't have to worry about it.
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: TommyH on June 03, 2013, 08:33:51 PM: Thats a long shot. I have a range out to 500 and its a long shot. 50% of 1000, I have slung some lead at targets across canyons at that yardage and its not like what you see on T.V. Most should not attempt a shot at that kind of yardage. I wouldnt. My arrow drops alot by then. :chuckle:
Title: Re: how long of a shot rifle hunting?
Post by: huntnphool on June 03, 2013, 10:02:21 PM: Quote from: billdo5 on May 31, 2013, 10:15:29 AM
Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on May 17, 2013, 09:52:43 AM
Quote from: Kowsrule30 on May 17, 2013, 09:50:43 AM
Quote from: DOUBLELUNG on May 17, 2013, 09:43:52 AM
Quote from: Dbax129 on May 15, 2013, 08:09:02 AM
What is a Texas heart shot?
Shot to the rear end

Through the poop shoot to the heart... Hopefully...
But much more frequently results in either a wounding rather than killing outcome, OR a shattered pelvis which will kill the critter but destroy much edible meat. Some antler-crazy hunters think this is just fine since it rarely damages the skull plate or cape.
i guess ur just not a good enough shot.. I shot a buck there one year didnt go more than 20 yards.. And another year i shot this 3pt on the last day of season... and i was at full draw looking at me at 20 yards and wouldnt turn so i blowed him in the chest and the only thing showing was my knock he went about 5ft and died :dunno: but then again i hunt bow and wouldnt take a chest or a$$ shot past 40 yards
I'm with Doublelung on this one, he has more than enough experience for me to listen. :twocents: