1035 yard bear

[David Milisock]

Myself, being somewhat new to bear hunting I love the thrill of going in the deep forest tracking with minimum supplies. I take a lever gun, a short rope and a knife. A tiny snap of a twig or the light rustle of a branch will get your attention quickly ‘

Just make sure you’re tracking him and not the other way around………….

I find that type of field work more rewarding.

 

[searcher]

You are correct some people think it’s a a bit too far, but then again there’s a lot of people that has a different opinion on that. If someone is capable of making shots at that distance and chooses not to so be it. It’s all personal choice. I’ve been long-range hunting for decades and I am going to continue to do so until I can no longer do it. My post was not meant to be bragging, just sharing an alternative way of hunting. Thanks for the “nice bear” comment.

Yes - I thought we all have different viewpoints. Like the fellow who posted his 1,000- yard target picture of a fantastic group. I would only be interested in seeing where his FIRST sighter shot went. That was the only one that mattered. Even then - I'm guessing that group was the best of the match, shot amongst a lot of very good, long-range shooters. Even then, under those optimum conditions - the group just fits into a vital zone of a big game animal at that distance. I'd like to see what the average group shot that day looked like from his competitors - or some of the poorer groups. I'd pay money to see where the average first sighter shot went from each of the competitors. I'd be a betting man. And these are the good guys, right? Then - there are those who said they take "back-up" shooters to hit their animal if they wound an animal. Who tags the animal - the guy who finished it? And what if the animal runs off - seemingly unhit and they can't get another shot. Do they hike the 1,000 yards to see whether there is a blood trail before firing on another animal? While I'd hope so, I doubt a lot of hunters would if there is a large presence of game. These are all questions that prevent at least some of us from taking those shots.

Again - we all view hunting differently. But I think that 1,000 yard target posted serves as the best reason a lot of people pass on such shots. That group was shot after firing spotters - was shot out of a heavy rifle on a bench - and he won the match - out of many other such shooters with heavy guns. It only goes downhill with any kind of sporting rifle in real field conditions. And most long-range hunters don't carry the heavy caliber he was shooting into the field. Again -not knocking you - as it all worked out for you, and you claimed a nice prize for doing so. But those who believe in taking those shots should look hard at those 1,000 bench-rest targets and ask themselves if they think they will replicate those results in the field with their hunting rifles. This is, in no way, to be construed as a knock on long-range rifles, matches or hunting. People just need to know that the odds are stacked against clean kills - unless they are considerably better than the best 1,000 yard match shooters. I was a long range hunter for decades too, was a USMC Scout Sniper, shot in bench rest matches for years, F-Class, etc., etc., and I'm not planning on joining the basket weaving class. In summary - I think some of those posting comments think killing a big game animal at 1,000 yards is a great goal - but may not be aware of (or care) about the negative aspects of attempting such.

I

 

[wjm1000]

Yes - I thought we all have different viewpoints. Like the fellow who posted his 1,000- yard target picture of a fantastic group. I would only be interested in seeing where his FIRST sighter shot went. That was the only one that mattered. Even then - I'm guessing that group was the best of the match, shot amongst a lot of very good, long-range shooters. Even then, under those optimum conditions - the group just fits into a vital zone of a big game animal at that distance. I'd like to see what the average group shot that day looked like from his competitors - or some of the poorer groups. I'd pay money to see where the average first sighter shot went from each of the competitors. I'd be a betting man. And these are the good guys, right? Then - there are those who said they take "back-up" shooters to hit their animal if they wound an animal. Who tags the animal - the guy who finished it? And what if the animal runs off - seemingly unhit and they can't get another shot. Do they hike the 1,000 yards to see whether there is a blood trail before firing on another animal? While I'd hope so, I doubt a lot of hunters would if there is a large presence of game. These are all questions that prevent at least some of us from taking those shots.

Again - we all view hunting differently. But I think that 1,000 yard target posted serves as the best reason a lot of people pass on such shots. That group was shot after firing spotters - was shot out of a heavy rifle on a bench - and he won the match - out of many other such shooters with heavy guns. It only goes downhill with any kind of sporting rifle in real field conditions. And most long-range hunters don't carry the heavy caliber he was shooting into the field. Again -not knocking you - as it all worked out for you, and you claimed a nice prize for doing so. But those who believe in taking those shots should look hard at those 1,000 bench-rest targets and ask themselves if they think they will replicate those results in the field with their hunting rifles. This is, in no way, to be construed as a knock on long-range rifles, matches or hunting. People just need to know that the odds are stacked against clean kills - unless they are considerably better than the best 1,000 yard match shooters. I was a long range hunter for decades too, was a USMC Scout Sniper, shot in bench rest matches for years, F-Class, etc., etc., and I'm not planning on joining the basket weaving class. In summary - I think some of those posting comments think killing a big game animal at 1,000 yards is a great goal - but may not be aware of (or care) about the negative aspects of attempting such.

I

Those of us that hunt together use high quality optics and have the skill to follow the bullet trace to impact, thereby being able to tell if we hit and where we hit. if there is a doubt, we'll go check for blood and track if necessary. I REPEAT IN DECADES OF HUNTING THIS WAY WE NEVER LOST A DEER; I would bet there are more deer crippled hunting from blinds or tree stands than long-range hunting not to mention archery hunting.

As far as the target goes the square area is 4" square, the black 9 ring is 13" about the same as the kill area of a deer.

You said you hunted long-range for decades to. What turned you against it, too many cripples, loss of the skill set due to old age, disability? Just curious.

 

[searcher]

Those of us that hunt together use high quality optics and have the skill to follow the bullet trace to impact, thereby being able to tell if we hit and where we hit. if there is a doubt, we'll go check for blood and track if necessary. I REPEAT IN DECADES OF HUNTING THIS WAY WE NEVER LOST A DEER; I would bet there are more deer crippled hunting from blinds or tree stands than long-range hunting not to mention archery hunting.

As far as the target goes the square area is 4" square, the black 9 ring is 13" about the same as the kill area of a deer.

You said you hunted long-range for decades to. What turned you against it, too many cripples, loss of the skill set due to old age, disability? Just curious.

I certainly agree with you that more deer are wounded and lost from being shot at from blinds - as there are probably 1000% more people shooting from blinds than attempting 1,000-yard shots. I doubt many first-time hunters or those with open sights attempt 1,000 yard+ shots. If you meant that, for every shot fired, a blind hunter will miss or cripple more than a 1,000+ yard shooter will, I disagree. And that was exactly my point. 1,000 yard+ shots are much more difficult and the chances of wounding one or losing one are proportionately higher - thereby some of us choose not to take those shots. If you wish to say your equipment puts you in a position where the potential for a FIRST SHOT miss is not higher than at much closer ranges - you must sell that to someone else. That you have excelled at being successful in your method of take does not change that. And it doesn't make all the guys who want to kill something at 1,000 yards any better.

As for me - I still am a '"long range" hunter, though I no longer shoot big game animals much as my family doesn't care for the meat and I see no point in killing something for mere sport when others are waiting in line for a tag. But I DO long range hunt for coyotes and other varmints. I shoot probably 10,000 rounds a year just at ground squirrels. We shoot Belding squirrels (or gophers) at distances of 600-800+ yards quite often. They stand about 6" to 7" tall when standing - and about 1 1/2' wide.

 

[wjm1000]

As for me - I still am a '"long range" hunter, though I no longer shoot big game animals much as my family doesn't care for the meat and I see no point in killing something for mere sport when others are waiting in line for a tag. But I DO long range hunt for coyotes and other varmints. I shoot probably 10,000 rounds a year just at ground squirrels. We shoot Belding squirrels (or gophers) at distances of 600-800+ yards quite often. They stand about 6" to 7" tall when standing - and about 1 1/2' wide.

How many first shot kills do you have on Belding squirrels? How many crawl into their holes and suffer a lingering death? I’d bet a heck of a lot more than long-range deer do. A life is a life doesn’t matter the size of the animal. So don’t criticize me/all long-range hunters for hunting big game that way. And I still think more game animals are crippled and lost per capita by conventional hunting than long-range hunting.

10,000 rounds a year; that’s like shooting about 200 rounds a week every week of the year. That’s just at squirrels not counting range visits. Please let me know where you get your reloading supplies at.

Just tonight we had a bear roast yummy.

 

[USAFRet]

How many first shot kills do you have on Belding squirrels? How many crawl into their holes and suffer a lingering death? I’d bet a heck of a lot more than long-range deer do. A life is a life doesn’t matter the size of the animal. So don’t criticize me/all long-range hunters for hunting big game that way. And I still think more game animals are crippled and lost per capita by conventional hunting than long-range hunting.

10,000 rounds a year; that’s like shooting about 200 rounds a week every week of the year. That’s just at squirrels not counting range visits. Please let me know where you get your reloading supplies at.

Just tonight we had a bear roast yummy.

Awesome shooting. Congratulations!! A buddy sent me some bear sausage he made and it was great. All I know is cook it good. I saw the episode of Meateater where Steve Rinella gave himself and everyone else trichinosis. Those fellas were not doing too well.

Just $.02 from an old man. I respect anyone who puts that much work in and can make a shot like that. Does that make me want to try it? Nope. I reckon I don't understand why folks are mad because "Billy Bob Shooter" will see this and give it a try. We can't hold back celebrating our achievements, because someone else will be stupid.

 

[searcher]

I can't even guess how many "first shot" ground squirrels I have shot. I know that nobody I shoot with does either. We shoot thousands of them. I'd say I have probably never hit one at 800 yards on a cold bore, first shot, though have shot many at that range on a fouled bore after whacking at a few.

I shoot around 350-800 rounds a day when shooting squirrels and I shoot around 45 days a year (down considerably from years ago), so I was light on that 10,000 rounds a year - as it comes out to a bit more than that. Range time not included.

I get my reloading supplies from my well-stocked garage - and purchase from Powder Valley in volume when in need (usually when there is no shortage). I do buy a lot of bullets from all over though - whoever has deals on bulk Vmax and Blitz King.

I know a lot of ground squirrels get wounded and don't make it to their holes. That doesn't bother me. We are there to exterminate them. Their buddies eat them or the birds of prey get them. Fine with me.

 

[wjm1000]

I can't even guess how many "first shot" ground squirrels I have shot. I know that nobody I shoot with does either. We shoot thousands of them. I'd say I have probably never hit one at 800 yards on a cold bore, first shot, though have shot many at that range on a fouled bore after whacking at a few.

I shoot around 350-800 rounds a day when shooting squirrels and I shoot around 45 days a year (down considerably from years ago), so I was light on that 10,000 rounds a year - as it comes out to a bit more than that. Range time not included.

I get my reloading supplies from my well-stocked garage - and purchase from Powder Valley in volume when in need (usually when there is no shortage). I do buy a lot of bullets from all over though - whoever has deals on bulk Vmax and Blitz King.

I know a lot of ground squirrels get wounded and don't make it to their holes. That doesn't bother me. We are there to exterminate them. Their buddies eat them or the birds of prey get them. Fine with me.

How many barrels do you go through in a year with the 20 Practical and 22 Nosler? I’m guessing after about 3000 rounds or less those two would be toast, 6BR about 2200 rounds, 6 Dasher about the same. So just guessing after 10000 rounds you’re probably going to have to re-barrel. You say 350 to 800 rounds in a day. Let’s say you shoot 450 rounds in a day, after about 23 days you would shoot a little over 10000 rounds. Do you buy your barrels in bulk to? I wish I had your financial resources, more power to you.

 

[searcher]

How many barrels do you go through in a year with the 20 Practical and 22 Nosler? I’m guessing after about 3000 rounds or less those two would be toast, 6BR about 2200 rounds, 6 Dasher about the same. So just guessing after 10000 rounds you’re probably going to have to re-barrel. You say 350 to 800 rounds in a day. Let’s say you shoot 450 rounds in a day, after about 23 days you would shoot a little over 10000 rounds. Do you buy your barrels in bulk to? I wish I had your financial resources, more power to you.

I don't get the tubes real hot and care for them well, so I find my barrels on the .223,'s, 22 Nosler and the .20 Practical going 6,000 to 7,500 rounds before I start getting unsuitable problems sometimes a bit less - sometimes quite a bit more (.223). I use five to seven rifles each hunt, usually. sometimes just two or three in the wintertime when there is little shooting. That spreads out the life of each tube in years - but not round count. If I used only one rifle, I'd be changing out at least one and maybe two barrels each season on a few guns-so now I'm down to changing only one or two a year total, depending on which how much I'm using a particular tube. I try to put as many rounds on barrels that are easily swapped out (like on my Bat bolt actions or A/R's). I don't compete anymore - so a tube or two a year and ammo is about I spend on for the sport, save a rifle not so often. There a lot of non-believers, but I swear by moly coated bullets. If they haven't helped me, they haven't hurt me. I think they extend barrel life noticeably. That is another big debate.

 

[searcher]

How many barrels do you go through in a year with the 20 Practical and 22 Nosler? I’m guessing after about 3000 rounds or less those two would be toast, 6BR about 2200 rounds, 6 Dasher about the same. So just guessing after 10000 rounds you’re probably going to have to re-barrel. You say 350 to 800 rounds in a day. Let’s say you shoot 450 rounds in a day, after about 23 days you would shoot a little over 10000 rounds. Do you buy your barrels in bulk to? I wish I had your financial resources, more power to you.

I left out on the 6BR and Dasher. I find that they last far longer than 3,000 rounds for my purposes of ground squirrel hunting. I used to set my match barrels aside when I wasn't happy with their performance - which was usually under 3,000 rounds - but not always. But for squirrel hunting - they can go a LONG time, depending on what kind of accuracy one wants. I want a minimum of between 1/3 MOA and 1/2 MOA on all my rifles, with better accuracy on the long range rifles - LIKE 1/4 moa. I've bought match barrels off others on this forum to screw on my Bats for new life as squirrel barrels with great results. One ended up being the most accurate Dasher barrel I have owned. Alot of fields only allow shooting up to 400 or 500 yards - so accuracy is not as important as the long range fields - where we shoot out to 600-800+. That is not as far as 1,000 yards - but it is a target that is less than 1/6th as wide as a 10" deer vital zone. And being the same color as dirt - they all but disappear when they lay down at that range. If mirage is up - forget it. As a sniper, during practice - it was nothing to zap the vee ring regularly at 1,000. Hitting a Belding at 1,000 with the smaller rifles is my lifetime goal. I have hit a circle around them close enough to shave the suckers - but not a direct hit. A regular ground squirrel (forget name of variety) is so much larger, it seems like a cow in comparison. It is also pretty rare anymore that we can get on a field with a 1,000 yard runway. But I will get him.

 

[wjm1000]

I left out on the 6BR and Dasher. I find that they last far longer than 3,000 rounds for my purposes of ground squirrel hunting. I used to set my match barrels aside when I wasn't happy with their performance - which was usually under 3,000 rounds - but not always. But for squirrel hunting - they can go a LONG time, depending on what kind of accuracy one wants. I want a minimum of between 1/3 MOA and 1/2 MOA on all my rifles, with better accuracy on the long range rifles - LIKE 1/4 moa. I've bought match barrels off others on this forum to screw on my Bats for new life as squirrel barrels with great results. One ended up being the most accurate Dasher barrel I have owned. Alot of fields only allow shooting up to 400 or 500 yards - so accuracy is not as important as the long range fields - where we shoot out to 600-800+. That is not as far as 1,000 yards - but it is a target that is less than 1/6th as wide as a 10" deer vital zone. And being the same color as dirt - they all but disappear when they lay down at that range. If mirage is up - forget it. As a sniper, during practice - it was nothing to zap the vee ring regularly at 1,000. Hitting a Belding at 1,000 with the smaller rifles is my lifetime goal. I have hit a circle around them close enough to shave the suckers - but not a direct hit. A regular ground squirrel (forget name of variety) is so much larger, it seems like a cow in comparison. It is also pretty rare anymore that we can get on a field with a 1,000 yard runway. But I will get him.

Hard to believe you get that many rounds out of a barrel and maintain that level of accuracy. If you shoot only 500 rounds in 12 hours of hunting that’s like around 42 rounds in an hour even swapping rifles out the barrels would get very warm. I don’t know where you are located but ambient temperatures would come into play with the amount of heat that the barres will see. I have used Molly, now I use HbN. All though I did win a IBS/NBRSA 1000 yard national championship for score using molly.

 

[searcher]

Hard to believe you get that many rounds out of a barrel and maintain that level of accuracy. If you shoot only 500 rounds in 12 hours of hunting that’s like around 42 rounds in an hour even swapping rifles out the barrels would get very warm. I don’t know where you are located but ambient temperatures would come into play with the amount of heat that the barres will see. I have used Molly, now I use HbN. All though I did win a IBS/NBRSA 1000 yard national championship for score using molly.

The best shooting of the year has already started in most areas - and goes for the next few months. At the elevations these do well in - is it pretty cool out - sometimes snowing while we are shooting. So, the barrels never get beyond warm until you get a day where you are shooting over 600 to 800 rounds. Mind you, this is the reason why we don't pull out even the 6 BRs unless we are running out of targets and really need to reach. I've seen guys bring .243's and as accurate as they are - and the great reach, they get so hot in a matter of minutes they are almost useless unless trying to establish a few great long shots. The smaller the better - and the 20 Practical pretty much reigns as the best overall in terms of how long it takes to get hot, reach, cost of loading, brass availability, etc. In real small fields - we might shoot .17 HMR's, .17 Hornets, WSM's or even .22LR all day. I have gotten one of my .17 HMR's, a volquartson, really (too) hot a few times. My buddy wore his Savage bore to where it just tumbled bullets. Savage replaced his barrel. I'm slowing down on the fast rimfire for that reason - it is more cost effective to buy a new rimfire than to get a re-barrel a lot of times - depending on the gun. So - what does bear meat taste like? I've had about every kind of wild meat except bear. I like the HBN also - and use it a lot as well, though I think I still prefer moly overall. Using moly in competition was a bit tricky. My barrels usually required about 10 to 30 fouling shots before really settling down and the bore paste didn't really work well for me to get things primed as others claim. But in shooting the varmints - the first thirty rounds are not "wasted" shots and I doubt I missed too many squirrels before the rifle settled. But then, I start blasting the closest squirrels when I start shooting as they will be the first to go down when the noise starts.

 

[searcher]

The best shooting of the year has already started in most areas - and goes for the next few months. At the elevations these do well in - is it pretty cool out - sometimes snowing while we are shooting. So, the barrels never get beyond warm until you get a day where you are shooting over 600 to 800 rounds. Mind you, this is the reason why we don't pull out even the 6 BRs unless we are running out of targets and really need to reach. I've seen guys bring .243's and as accurate as they are - and the great reach, they get so hot in a matter of minutes they are almost useless unless trying to establish a few great long shots. The smaller the better - and the 20 Practical pretty much reigns as the best overall in terms of how long it takes to get hot, reach, cost of loading, brass availability, etc. In real small fields - we might shoot .17 HMR's, .17 Hornets, WSM's or even .22LR all day. I have gotten one of my .17 HMR's, a volquartson, really (too) hot a few times. My buddy wore his Savage bore to where it just tumbled bullets. Savage replaced his barrel. I'm slowing down on the fast rimfire for that reason - it is more cost effective to buy a new rimfire than to get a re-barrel a lot of times - depending on the gun. So - what does bear meat taste like? I've had about every kind of wild meat except bear. I like the HBN also - and use it a lot as well, though I think I still prefer moly overall. Using moly in competition was a bit tricky. My barrels usually required about 10 to 30 fouling shots before really settling down and the bore paste didn't really work well for me to get things primed as others claim. But in shooting the varmints - the first thirty rounds are not "wasted" shots and I doubt I missed too many squirrels before the rifle settled. But then, I start blasting the closest squirrels when I start shooting as they will be the first to go down when the noise starts.

The last day of a shooting trip last season, I shot 598 one day, and we had to leave an hour early - and there were still squirrels running everywhere. I was alternating back and forth between two .223 A/R's and a .20 Practical A/R most of the time, pausing shooting only to load magazines. I moved my table one time 100 yards. I pulled out my bolt guns to get a few long shots just before we left. I wondered what my tally would have been after that next hour or so. I shot over 800 rounds that day. If you think I exaggerate - ask some of the other squirrel hunters on this site that shoot mid-eastern Oregon or the California/Oregon border. It's not hunting - its shooting. I had to load a lot because I was using 10-round magazines which I needed to use to allow clearance under my Farley toggle rest which sits atop a rotating bench. Of course, a lot of guys take a much more relaxed approach, using bolt guns and maybe one A/R. They can shoot a lot too if they swap out their rifles. A good single-shot can load pretty fast, especially if he is adept at running on targets and has target-style rifles which are fast to load, eject and heavy barreled, low recoil, etc. Gotta have brakes. Looking forward to a trip in a few weeks.

 

[wjm1000]

As someone who could not make that shot, and has a completely different outlook on what makes a hunt worth doing, I would have to say @wjm1000 has a lot of class and has exhibited that in this thread.

My idea of a hunt is not how far can you shoot, but how close can you get. Traditional Archery for the most part.

Either type of hunting, picking your shot and circumstances is essential.

What stands out to me the most in this thread seems to have been completely ignored. Wsm1000 is either not a serious hunter, or very picky about his shots. If someone waits 10 years to pull the trigger, they either never saw a bear (Not serious a hunter) or never felt comfortable with the circumstances of the shot(ethics of high regard).

Maybe I’m reading more into this than I should, but I would be interested to know, how many bears in 10 years did you not shoot?

Again thanks for showing some class, when many other’s haven’t.

I not only long-range hunt but also archery hunt

 

[Old Navy]

Wow! 14 page pi--ing match. Is this a record?

 

[DCC83501]

Congratulations on your bear! Looks like a hell of a group you have there! It is too bad that some need to take this to a pissing match. I do understand some comments though as I hunt everything but coyotes with a bow. I am one of those that gets pissed seeing another bowhunter taking long shots ( over 50 yards) on game animals. My self imposed limit forever has been 40 yards. Yeah, I'm that guy!

It is super impressive to watch what a person is capable of with the right equipment, conditions, and talent!!! Your apparent resume would put you up near the top of the talent list. Again, congrats on a great shot!

 

[Prose]

I firmly believe that anyone that has ever missed a single shot inside 1,000 yards should refrain from bitching about someone hitting a shot beyond 1,000 yards.

I am assuming restrain = refrain

Yep

 

[whatsupdoc]

I firmly believe that anyone that has ever missed a single shot inside 1,000 yards should restrain from bitching about someone hitting a shot beyond 1,000 yards.

So no one on the planet would be able to comment? I am assuming restrain = refrain

 

[Knotwild]

You all still shooting at that bear?