1000yd prarie dogs

[mongochicago]

Cliffy:
Obviously you have never done anything of which you are commenting about. And I believe that you use the title "NRA Certified Range Safety Officer" as if that validates your statements. Anyone can take a course and pass a test. It doesn't automatically mean that you know what you are talking about. I shoot pds at 1,000 yds when I go on my yearly hunt. Living in mayor Daleyville IL. (Chicago) there are NO PLACES to practice long range shooting. All you need is decent equipment and have the shooting basics down and it can be done with no problem.

 

[searcher]

Regarding the 6br for 1,000 yds. Absolutely. Success though - with any of the 6mms - as any other reasonably suited caliber will depend as much, if not far more, on your ability. While in the U.S.M.C. Scout Snipers in the late 70's, the M-40-A1 (nothing more than a trued 700 action and trigger and a McMillan stock (bedded) and barrel with a "measly" 10X Unertyl scope in .308 was unbelievable in the hands of a practiced marksman. With practice - stringing 1,000 yd 12" bullseyes one after another was routine when the wind wasn't howling. Practiced not in just firing a ton of ammo - but in reading the wind and atmospheric conditions that prevailed on any given day. The rifles owned by many of you discussing this topic are far more capable than most give credit for. They are also far more accurate than the m-40-a1 was. For those who don't think the 1,000 pd is reasonable - buy an inexpensive .17 hmr for practice at ranges of 300 to 400 yards. That will show you how good (or bad) you are in reading wind. 5000 rounds of .17 hmr at those ranges with wind will teach you what you thought was impossible! It will also turn your brain into a holdover calculator and expert wind doper - though I suggest buying a wind meter and use wind flags at the same time. After much practice - you can forego the wind meter as you will know how fast the wind is moving by the flags alone. I use a stock sako 6 ppc at distances way beyond what most would seem reasonable for the caliber. My shooting buddies sometimes think I'm aiming at the wrong target...

 

[jerrschmitt]

A Prairie dog is about 9-10 inches tall so it's about 1 MOA at 1000 yards. I made up some targets using a picture of a prairie dog that is 2 inches tall on the paper and placed at the 200 yard line it is about equal to a prairie dog at 1000 yards. (If my math is right)

Tomorrow I'll go to my 200 yard range and try them out. Should be good practice.

Any ideas? corrections?

 

[Ackman]

Tomorrow I'll go to my 200 yard range and try them out. Should be good practice.

Any ideas? corrections?

Well......shooting a 2" target at 200 yds isn't even remotely comparable to shooting a prairie dog at 1000.

 

[Steve Blair]

Well......shooting a 2" target at 200 yds isn't even remotely comparable to shooting a prairie dog at 1000.

Ackman is correct on that one. When I shot prairie dogs in eastern Colorado, I assumed that since I had successfully competed at 600-1000 yards, there would be no problem hitting PDs past 500. Not true. My rifles are more accurate now than in the eighties, but I know the little buggers are still hard to hit.

 

[TheSnake]

I think the 2" PD at 200 yards theory only works if you are shooting in a tunnel with zero wind. Using the same math, a 5mph wind at 1000 yards would be 25mph at 200 yards and 10 would be 50. Shooting a 2" tall by 1/2" wide target at 200 yards in a hurricane, now that sounds like fun!

Let us know how you do on your targets.

 

[jerrschmitt]

Gee, ya mean I'll have to shoot in the wind???? Golly gee wizz, why didn't I think of that??? I guess I shouldn't do any practice at all until I get to a 1000 yard range on a windy day. What the heck was I thinking.

Got to go now and tear out my range so I can plant petunias there.

 

[Linefinder]

I once killed a pdog at 344 yards in a 52 mph wind...first shot.

Now....for the rest of the story......

That first shot was actually a spotter round I fired at a clump of grass about six feet upwind of him. I didn't intend to hit him with that first shot..... ;D

Mike

 

[42769vette]

Cliffy,

I don't know why you seem to feel the need to step on toes all the time. Just because some of us do things that you do not do or understand. I've been able to put 10 shots into 6" in less than 50 sec. at 1000yds and there are alot of guys faster and better than I am. Our equipment is built to do just that. I also go out west each year with some of the same equipment and have pd kills out to 2200yds. and we are going for the worlds record of over 3150. Last year we were very close to 3400 yds (3520yds=2 MILES). At these distances there are no 1st shot hits. Just incase anyone was wondering I have never even considerd a deer shot beyond 350 yds.

very impressive

 

[Aceball]

For those disbelievers,,,

I have personally made numerous kills, withnessed and measured, beyond a 1000 yards with one confirmed at 1212 yards. The longest thus far was just over 1500 but unconfirmed since the dog managed to crawl back into its hole, so that kill won't count for record. I use a 30" barrel fast twist 6mm-284 with 105 V-maxes hovering at 3500fps for ranges under 1500. Currently, I am moving out to 2000 and 2500 with a 338 Lapua Improved (rifle pictured here) after achieving a confirmed 1500. For those who still doubt the potential of our model riflery and rifleman just take a look at those listed in the "Down Range Club" found in the back of the monthly Varmint Hunter Magazine publication. See, lots and lots of folks have accomplished hits beyond 1000 yards over the years. Not luck but science!

The very rifle pictured here was built by Bruce Artus and Kreg Slack and the one shown in Steve Hugel's February 2002 Precision Shooting Magazine article "Quest for the Two Mile Praire Dog."

Yes, frequent hits on unsuspecting PD's and Rock Chucks and Ground Hogs are quite possibly at ranges out 1500 yards, and at those extreme ranges over a mile are somewhat calculated luck to a degree but mostly science and workmanship.

The rifle can be seem during regular business hours at our Custom Target Long Range Gunshop "Shooters Den of Georgia, Inc." in Watkinsville, GA.

 

[LarryDScott]

Tom and I were together on that trip to SD when he made the 1212 yd kill and little later that morning made a 1500 plus kill, at least to my satisfaction, while watching through the spotting scope. To our dismay after walking the distance for the second time that morning there was no body to be found.
There is no doubt such shots can be made using good equipment and a fair amount of shooting skill. Note, I didnot say luck. Long distance may not be for everyone, but I would rather have one good long shot kill, than to have a quanity made at short distance. Larry in western Ky.

 

[deadlyswift]

WELL!! If Larry says Tom done it I believe it now even more than when Tom posted! Not that I ever doubted Tom anyway. I don't know either of these guy's on a personal level but I have bought brass from Larry and you can count on his word! That much I know for sure!

I did spend Friday and Sat near the coast of NC. A friend of my father-in-law's has some crop fields and I was able to get out to 1000yrds. Shot 400 rnds In 2 days. To the non believers I will admit 1000yrds isn't easy especially for someone with as little experience as mine past 500yrds. The wind really whipped me, but with that said I was shooting at a 6x6 frame with a home made target and a 6" orange circle painted on them. out of the 400rnds 23rnds were placed right on there mark! Many of the guys on this site would sweep the floor with me at 1000yrds, but even so It's not all that embarrassing when you consider the knowledge I gained in 2 days! I learned a lot as well I have a lot to learn! Taking into consideration that I don't have friend or mentor beside me guiding me or teaching me when it comes to shooting long range. I have only learned from talking to good guys on the net. and books. Then being able to actually start putting that knowledge into real life practice and have some success I'm think I will be most likely getting into the 1000yrd kill club at least within a few years!
Mark