Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: CP on May 08, 2008, 12:26:19 PM

Title: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: CP on May 08, 2008, 12:26:19 PM: After a good deal of experimentation and range time I’d say the practical range of my rifle and me is 50 yards offhand, maybe 120 yards with a good solid rest and some time for the shot. I doubt if I’d take a shot over 100, just can’t be 100% certain of a clean shot in the vitals and 90% certain doesn’t cut it.
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: Snowman on May 08, 2008, 12:35:09 PM: Depends on what rifle I'm using. If it is my 7mm mag then offhand would say 50yds as it being scoped, now my lever 44mag I have shot deer at 150yds offhand open sights. To me depends on what your shooting and comfortablity to shoot offhand :twocents:

If I have good rest for my 7mm than I would shoot out to 500yds, I'm comfortable with the shells I use and I know my guns effective range with the shells I use
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: Sagedawg on May 08, 2008, 12:50:32 PM: With the equipment we are allowed here I allow myself right at 100 - 125yds for hunting.Though I try to get closer. For target shooting I have hit gongs out to 350 with my inline, but its not easy. Fun but tough. Id NEVER attempt a shot on game past my effective range, unless it was a coyote. Just my thoughts and experiances.

Sage
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: bobcat on May 10, 2008, 01:04:13 PM: Unless I find more time to get out to the range and practice, 100 yards is the farthest I would feel comfortable taking a shot. Even with more practice I don't see myself shooting more than about 120 yards.
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: actionshooter on May 13, 2008, 06:35:39 PM: When I'm shooting a lot I feel good at 125yds, I use peep sights btw.
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: snohohunter on May 13, 2008, 06:45:44 PM: I feel confident at 100 yards, but have had to take a couple longer shots in the past.
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: BoomWhop on September 15, 2009, 08:36:06 PM: Black Diamond inline, 100-110 the drop off is drastic after that. Even at 115-120 the gun may have the power but I can't hold any type of consistant group. :dunno:
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: Whitelightning on September 15, 2009, 08:46:00 PM: I took a white tail at 200 yrds a couple of years ago, longest shot I have taken. Most with the M/L are closer 20-100 no problem.
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: Navyhunter on September 15, 2009, 08:52:28 PM: Shot a bear 3 years ago at 250 off hand with my 300UM. (Shepherd scope, trigger job and muzzle break) With a comfy rest, a steady pulse and easy breathing, 547, no problem. (the range I shoot at is 547 yards max for some stinkin' reason)
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: bobcat on September 15, 2009, 09:05:24 PM: Hey guys, this is the "Muzzleloader Hunting" forum, so the question is in regards to your maximum range with a muzzleloader. Not your high powered "modern" rifle.
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: wastickslinger on September 15, 2009, 11:16:47 PM: With a rock solid rest(prone for me), full view of vitals broadside, calmed nerves, I will comfortably shoot out to 150. I have killed one at 75 yards free hand, one at 50 yards free hand, one at 100 yards with rest on a buddies shoulder and one at 140 with a rock solid rest(clipped his lungs, he laid down and I crawled in and put a second one in his neck at 50). I have not wounded one to date with a muzz.

I know the new magnums are deadly up to 200 but I cant shoot that far with open sights.
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 15, 2009, 11:36:16 PM: Open sights on my black diamond with a solid rest 120 max
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: dawhunt on September 16, 2009, 08:06:53 AM: 100 yds max,i know my gun will shoot further but I'm much more comfortable at 100
and thats what counts.

Iron sights will just about block out a deer at a 100 yds .
Bob
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: Gobble on September 16, 2009, 08:20:43 AM: Iv'e had my 30-06 for 20 years and it is a tack driver. I shoot the Federal High Energy 180 gr. Nosler bullets and generally won't shoot past 300 yrds. I have taken coyotes out at 400 yrds. I taped the ballistic/windage data on a small piece of paper right onto the stock to take any guess work out of how much the bullet drops at any given distance. Most of my animals were taken in 150 yrds or less
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: MagKarl on September 16, 2009, 09:22:54 AM: My eyesight and the thick front blade sight on my rifle limit me to about 100 yards max. I can group reasonably well at that distance with a rest. Offhand probably about 50 yards or so. I shoot in a roundball summer league and monthly matches when I can, so I have a pretty good idea of what I'm capable of. I can ring the ~200 yard gong at the range with a rest but I'd never shoot at an animal that far, I have to hold a couple feet high to do it.
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: edmondshunter on September 16, 2009, 06:55:56 PM: With my Black Diamond Muzzle, I can make a 100-120 yrd consistant group shot. Iron sights. With my 30-06, over 400 on a good day with 5 inch group, Nikkon scope. Thats with top ammo..
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: Brushbuster on September 16, 2009, 08:19:50 PM: With my Knight 54 cal I think 120 yards. Going shooting this weekend so I'll have better data next week. I'm gonna try switching to 325 grain all copper expander MZ bullet which is a lot lighter than the 425 grain lead Maxi Hunter I used to use in WA & see if I can reach out a little farther. I'm going to New Mexico in less than 2 weeks & they allow scopes so this should be a good way to get better groups.

How do these hunters get 200-250 ranges? Do they use in lines & 150 grains of powder? (The max my Knight is 120 gr)
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 16, 2009, 10:22:21 PM: they shoot 200-250 gr bullets, with scopes
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: TopOfTheFoodChain on September 16, 2009, 10:35:56 PM: Quote from: SHANE(WA) on September 16, 2009, 10:22:21 PM
they shoot 200-250 gr bullets, with scopes

Actually.... I have shot regular powerbelts for about 10 years. I use a rear Williams peep, front Lyman 17a globe with crosshairs. Farthest kill is 252 yards cow elk- dead one shot. 3 point Muley at 209 yards-then again at 215 yards. Killed a blacktail doe at 225 yards- dead one shot. Killed plenty of blacktail deer at 100 to 150 yards over the years even with my old side hammer out to 125 yards.

You just have to practice a lot more I guess.

With my current Winchester X-150 I honestly ran about 500 shots through it before its first season. Every muzzleloader seems to shoot different and it sometimes takes a while to find a good accurate combo of powder, caps, bullet, sights.

Just my :twocents:
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: CP on September 17, 2009, 09:57:39 AM: Quote from: SHANE(WA) on September 16, 2009, 10:22:21 PM
they shoot 200-250 gr bullets, with scopes

And 209 primers - it's hard to get any bullet over 2000 ft/sec without them.
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: gadwall on September 17, 2009, 05:52:09 PM: Quote from: actionshooter on May 13, 2008, 06:35:39 PM
When I'm shooting a lot I feel good at 125yds, I use peep sights btw.
I agree. 125 is about my max comfortable range although I would shoot to 200 on a big mule deer with a good rest. Hey Actionshooter, what peep are you using and how do you like it? I am going to a Williams peep this year for deer and elk on a CVA inline.
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: SHANE(WA) on September 17, 2009, 10:15:54 PM: no kidding, before my 07 muzzy elk I shot close to 200 rds thru my black diamond and 7 different bullets to find the best.There is a huge difference in accuracy from one manufacture to another and one gun to another.My BD loves the 300 gr Barnes X 90g of triple 7
Title: Re: What’s your practical effective range?
Post by: Buschingc on September 19, 2009, 05:10:15 AM: Im shooting a Knight Big Horn 50 Cal. and I feel pretty darn confortable up to 150 yards.. I've never shot any further than that... Gotta love open sights... I sure wish Washington wasnt so darn picky about everything...