My thought's on long-range hunting and shooting

[drop_point]

I don't hate him, but I have heard him say lots of misinformed opinions.

 

[marchx]

Long range hunting raises to me many ethical questions. Animal is not a paper target. You cannot use sighters. Ethical hunter assumes worst case scenario and acts accordingly.
Although I am not a bad shooter I think of myself as average hunter. In Europe we shoot up to 300m. We rarely shoot past 200m. And you know what even 200m distance is for most hunters a challenge.

 

[CJ6]

I want 1200 ft lbs on target for deer, 1800 ft lbs for larger game. This will depend on cartridge and bullet used (range).
I practice off backpacks and tripods using cold bore shots in all weather conditions. My range is nowhere near 1K but that's just me and I'm good with that.

 

[Triple BB]

Long range hunter here. I have the gun & ammo. Lot's of practice and a good teacher have given me the confidence I need to be successful. First pic is me spending 30 minutes to get set up for a 1051 yd shot on a deer. 2nd pic is the 1051 yd deer. 3rd pic, cow elk right in the boil maker at 876 yds. 4th pic is me on my horse at the spot where I shot a deer at 711 yds on the hillside on the far side of the pic. 5th pic in the 711 yd deer. Last pic is my long-range archery elk of last year's bull at 52.7 yds

 

[Triple BB]

Just a few more longer-range pics. First pic is me looking back down at the bottom of the hill where I made a 674 yd shot on a deer. 2nd pic is the 674 yd deer. 3rd pic is last year's set up on a 654 yd shot on a cow elk. 4th pic is the 654 yd cow elk, right in the boiler maker. 5th pic of a 527 yd shot on a nice mule deer. Last pic is a 524-yard shot in 2022 on my cow elk. I practice a lot before hunting season starts. If the wind is relatively calm, I always feel confident when I take the shot. Flame away, no apologies here...

 

[boltfluter]

Just a few more longer-range pics. First pic is me looking back down at the bottom of the hill where I made a 674 yd shot on a deer. 2nd pic is the 674 yd deer. 3rd pic is last year's set up on a 654 yd shot on a cow elk. 4th pic is the 654 yd cow elk, right in the boiler maker. 5th pic of a 527 yd shot on a nice mule deer. Last pic is a 524-yard shot in 2022 on my cow elk. I practice a lot before hunting season starts. If the wind is relatively calm, I always feel confident when I take the shot. Flame away, no apologies here...

No apologies needed. You are obviously on your game, so to speak. One cannot ask anything more from any type of hunter. Congrats on some fine trophies.
Paul

 

[JSH]

I have made some 5-600 yards shots on edible game. This was culling, and I don’t consider it hunting. Yeah we did our home work and actually set rifles specific for that task, ranged and marked various spots.

I started off with a rifle 40+ years ago. After a few years it was not what I was seeking. I turned to handguns after reading from those such as Milek and Herret along with others. A few years into it and found myself changing equipment and I was right back where I was with a rifle, my own worst enemy. Yeah there was for sure “ego” involved especially when some one said it couldn’t be done. I have backed way off and keep my SSP’s to no more than a 10” barrel and revolvers no more than 71/2”.
Spot and stalk, or do my home work and pattern them. Adrenalin rush, you betcha.

As a buddy says, put the “hunt” back into hunting.

Some make it out like they are feeding their family and have to shoot that far in order to eat…….
Sorry there is nothing to do with calling it a hunt, just plain killing.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

Long range hunter here. I have the gun & ammo. Lot's of practice and a good teacher have given me the confidence I need to be successful. First pic is me spending 30 minutes to get set up for a 1051 yd shot on a deer. 2nd pic is the 1051 yd deer. 3rd pic, cow elk right in the boil maker at 876 yds. 4th pic is me on my horse at the spot where I shot a deer at 711 yds on the hillside on the far side of the pic. 5th pic in the 711 yd deer. Last pic is my long-range archery elk of last year's bull at 52.7 yds

Nothing can't be accomplished with practice, and it's apparent you have. While an elk is a huge target ,i've seen guys miss the hunt of a lifetime at 200 yards, our guide in Colorado said if you can't make a 600 yard shot don't waste your money. he was right but we made them easily.Neck shot at 582 , the stick marks the spot,all intentional , good shooting you've made for sure. I attribute my success to practice , training swat team,and shooting groundhogs and coyotes ,small targets out to 400 yards, miniscule caliber 270.Hornady superformance SST 140 grain,it shines in the BC department at .495.

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

I remember reading here on AS where a guy shot a bear at just over 1000 yards. He stoned the bear, and people started to jump on him over the distance he was shooting. He was also a 1000 yard BR shooter, as I recall, but for most readers they didn't care, they still dog piled on the guy.

I will say this. I have no problem with anyone taking a shot at ANY distance, do it at 2 mile if you like. I only ask one simple request. If you hit an animal and don't kill it, you had better be prepared to track that animal down until you find it. So if you like to take shots at 1000 yards, you only have 1000 yards to make up on a wounded/running animal.

I *NORMALLY* will only shoot up to about 300 yards, that would be a distance shot for me. I kinda look at it as if you are not capable of getting closer than 300 yards, you had better up your spot and stalk game. Most any decent hunter should be able to get within 200 yards. Look at the guys that hunt with bow?

That said, if I was a 1000 BR shooter, I probably would want to try taking game at that distance. It's all about the confidence and doing the right thing if you don't kill the animal.

 

[hogpatrol]

I remember reading here on AS where a guy shot a bear at just over 1000 yards. He stoned the bear, and people started to jump on him over the distance he was shooting. He was also a 1000 yard BR shooter, as I recall, but for most readers they didn't care, they still dog piled on the guy.

I will say this. I have no problem with anyone taking a shot at ANY distance, do it at 2 mile if you like. I only ask one simple request. If you hit an animal and don't kill it, you had better be prepared to track that animal down until you find it. So if you like to take shots at 1000 yards, you only have 1000 yards to make up on a wounded/running animal.

I *NORMALLY* will only shoot up to about 300 yards, that would be a distance shot for me. I kinda look at it as if you are not capable of getting closer than 300 yards, you had better up your spot and stalk game. Most any decent hunter should be able to get within 200 yards. Look at the guys that hunt with bow?

That said, if I was a 1000 BR shooter, I probably would want to try taking game at that distance. It's all about the confidence and doing the right thing if you don't kill the animal.

Start stalking. Just watch the ground cactus. Their thorns have barbs. I sat down to take a bipod shot and had one sticking in my butt for over a month.

 

[Richard Jones]

Love him or hate him, he‘s been doing it for years.

What's his name? Is he a gunsmith? Just curious. Thanks.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

To each his own(as long as legal), I just figure I have to go to anything I kill or shoot at. So might as well get as close as possible before shooting. I do bowhunt, probably part of it.

 

[Kalitrazescapee]

Having hunted on a private ranch for over two decades in Humboldt/ Trinity area ..ca.. there were places if you shot a buck it had better be a good one or you wouldn't have help getting out of the hxxl hole.
In the oaks I preferred an 1886, open country 7 mag, and the only buck I ever crippled was one huge guy I tried to shoot behind the shoulder. He survived w bad leg

 

[Wild Bill IV]

I truly enjoy posts of hunters taking the long shots! I generally harvest my big game at 250 to 600 with all being one shot kills! I practice with rounds kept warm in shirt pockets and an open bolt, cool barrel rifle! That how I hunt!!! No rounds in the gun until the game is closing in on max range!! I only take two rounds into the field!!!

Where I hunt, is off a knob protruding into a flowing creek valley that is a feeder to a major river in western Kansas!!! I watch the deer and the antelope play!!!! Cornfields to the west; 1/4 mile wide creek banks to the north with wheat and Milo stubble field beyond; tall grass, then the creek with cattails, limestone bluff and rough, uphill pasture to the east; and thick cottonwood trees and salt cedar boxed in with 60ft tall bluffs to the south!! PRIME WESTERN KANSAS BIG DEER COUNTRY OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!!! Closest road is a 1/2 mile away!!!

How big??? A 310lb plus live weight, grain feed 6 point dominant whitetail buck went down hard at 450 with 7mm-08, 160 grainer after jumping a fence and lower his head while chasing a doe in heat!!! I have studied these animals for a long time!!! Know their habits, know when to squeeze the trigger!!! Almost all the deer will present a broadside shot, sooner or later not knowing they have eyes on them!!! Dropped a 10pt dead in his tracks at 574 uphill with 25-06!! Both were shot from that knob!!! And, several other bucks didn't know what hit them!!! The only 2 animals that seen me, were 2 rattlers!!!

Follow through on your shots and observe the bullet impact!! I have seen this 4 times in long shots!!! For a second, a ring of fur and dust, 4-6inch diameter will appear in air, with a split second 3inch cloud of red on impact on heart/lung hits!!! Part of the reaction of impact and hydrostatic pressure!

Aim small, hit BIG!!!
BILL

 

[std7mag]

I'll fully agree with @K22.
Seeing a father, son show up at the range to sight in before deer rifle season every year for the past going on 10 years.
Pull out a beautiful Weatherby Mark V in 300 WBY.
Put up a 9" diameter paper at 50 yards.
If they can hit the plate with 3 shots, anywhere on the plate, they are good to go.

Moral of the story.
Dollars spent on equipment doesn't necessarily give you cents.

I've seen too many "long range hunters" that rely way too heavily on technology. Which is ok, till it isn't.

 

[wboggs]

Long range hunter here. I have the gun & ammo. Lot's of practice and a good teacher have given me the confidence I need to be successful. First pic is me spending 30 minutes to get set up for a 1051 yd shot on a deer. 2nd pic is the 1051 yd deer. 3rd pic, cow elk right in the boil maker at 876 yds. 4th pic is me on my horse at the spot where I shot a deer at 711 yds on the hillside on the far side of the pic. 5th pic in the 711 yd deer. Last pic is my long-range archery elk of last year's bull at 52.7 yds

How many hunters have your skill, dedication to practice, equipment, time to do this? Very few. Many will see your results and think they can do it too.
Congradulations and there is nothing wrong with you doing it. This game is for a very few such as you.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have completed load development for this fall's cow/calf elk hunt. 30TC with a 165 gr tipped Barnes bullet. It averages 2760, ballistic table has it just over 2000 fps at 400 yards. So that will be my max shooting distance as expansion will be reduced substantially. So there are a lot of factors that play apart in long shots on game, besides accuracy, weather, recovery.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

I have completed load development for this fall's cow/calf elk hunt. 30TC with a 165 gr tipped Barnes bullet. It averages 2760, ballistic table has it just over 2000 fps at 400 yards. So that will be my max shooting distance as expansion will be reduced substantially. So there are a lot of factors that play apart in long shots on game, besides accuracy, weather, recovery.

Enough to drop an elk with proper shot placement easily, I'm running about 2200 at 500 yards,when I showed up with a 270 the guide was very apprehensive about taking me out, till I told him you got your money show me some elk,he did and never said another word.

 

[jxb]

It's different for everyone as besides their own skill and equipment conditions enter into it.

A person needs to know and understand their limitations as well as be honest with themselves, it's really as simple as that.

I am not a LR hunter, but I did make a kill on a cow elk at what would be considered LR. I understood the conditions, was good at judging distances, and knew exactly where my rifle shot at those ranges. I had a good solid rest for a level shot and took it. She wobbled around and fell to stay. Then the work started...

I like to hunt them so I stalk in where possible. Deer is generally 150-275 and elk 50-375. That's well within my comfort zone so I stick with it. I only hunt out west and the dry side so seeing game can be from thicket where you smell the elk before you see them and only hair on 4 power to as far as you can see.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

I truly enjoy posts of hunters taking the long shots! I generally harvest my big game at 250 to 600 with all being one shot kills! I practice with rounds kept warm in shirt pockets and an open bolt, cool barrel rifle! That how I hunt!!! No rounds in the gun until the game is closing in on max range!! I only take two rounds into the field!!!

Where I hunt, is off a knob protruding into a flowing creek valley that is a feeder to a major river in western Kansas!!! I watch the deer and the antelope play!!!! Cornfields to the west; 1/4 mile wide creek banks to the north with wheat and Milo stubble field beyond; tall grass, then the creek with cattails, limestone bluff and rough, uphill pasture to the east; and thick cottonwood trees and salt cedar boxed in with 60ft tall bluffs to the south!! PRIME WESTERN KANSAS BIG DEER COUNTRY OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!!! Closest road is a 1/2 mile away!!!

How big??? A 310lb plus live weight, grain feed 6 point dominant whitetail buck went down hard at 450 with 7mm-08, 160 grainer after jumping a fence and lower his head while chasing a doe in heat!!! I have studied these animals for a long time!!! Know their habits, know when to squeeze the trigger!!! Almost all the deer will present a broadside shot, sooner or later not knowing they have eyes on them!!! Dropped a 10pt dead in his tracks at 574 uphill with 25-06!! Both were shot from that knob!!! And, several other bucks didn't know what hit them!!! The only 2 animals that seen me, were 2 rattlers!!!

Follow through on your shots and observe the bullet impact!! I have seen this 4 times in long shots!!! For a second, a ring of fur and dust, 4-6inch diameter will appear in air, with a split second 3inch cloud of red on impact on heart/lung hits!!! Part of the reaction of impact and hydrostatic pressure!

Aim small, hit BIG!!!
BILL

Practice is key,I had the opportunity to go to Alaska with a cop buddy ,he's a millionaire many times over since his wife is a prominent physician. Now i didn't hunt only shot several foxes and coyotes when time permitted, he was after brown bear, he practiced relentlessly and was a crack shot in his younger days he was on the swat team and knew his stuff.The guide insisted no shots should be taken beyond 200 yards, however after failing to get closer than 400 yards from a real decent bear after a three day stalk , my buddy told the guide I paid $20k i'll shoot when I feel I can make the shot. Well he did at a hair north of 400 yards,338 Win Mag 225 grain SST superformance Hornady.The bear dropped after a 100 yard stumbling sprint. No one has ever taken a bear at that range under that guide.He's going back in 25 again.Practice makes perfect usually with good equipment.This bear was killed with one well placed shot.