?? 600 YARD DEER KILLER ??

[jburnette]

600 yards is a long ways even with a fantastic rifle and a benchrest. Even the most seasoned rifleman can misread the conditions. The slightest change in wind velocity or direction can cause a tremdous change in impact no matter what cartridge you shoot. It's not a lost cause though you should check into NRA Highpower competitions the course of fire is 200 standing, 200 sitting rapidfire, 300 prone rapid fire and my favorite 600 prone. It's not super expensive and there is a match in most neighborhoods every weekend. You will learn to shoot and read conditions.

Thanks,
James
burnettearms.com

 

[bheadboy]

I have done a lot of long range stuff, dogs deer, elk, etc. i think a minimum of 1200fp is needed to cleanly take a large deer, to get that you need at least a 140 gr pill and velocity to match. short cases need to be mag. I have tried 260 ackley and dont.

My preferance is a 280 ackley with 140 sierra, nosler bt etc, at they work very well to 750

if you must stay short action go to the 7 wsm or remshort mag for the bc necessary to reach 600 well stay 24in minimum

Beheadboy

 

[dreever]

Killing anythig is serious business. It should be done with the utmost compassion for the animal. I personally would never think of taking a shot at 600 yards on anything unless I could put five shots in a 6 inch circle at that distance ALL OF THE TIME PERIOD! Practice, practice, practice is the key in all conditions. If the winds blowing and you don't think you can put five in 6 inches get closer or don't take the shot.
A one shot kill is the most humane. If you can't do it in one don't take the shot regardless of the range involved. As far as caliber choice my preference is .308.

 

[bheadboy]

the differance between a 308 and 7mm is bc, thus wind drift and drop are worse and energy less with the 308

The 7mm 140 at 3150 give 1200fp and 25 in drift in 10mph wind at 600
the 308 150 at 2900 give 1000fp and 30 in drift at 600

short mag with 140 nosler BT etc. will out do a 308 all day and are as accurate

my 280 ackley wil shoot .300" and has taken deer at these elk and deer at these ranges

 

[cliffy]

There are relatively few proficient 600 Yard Shooters, but no rifles designated to claim such feats on live targets. 600 yard prowess comes ONLY with constant, incessant, practice. I practice thrice a week during most of the year, yet I would not attempt so long a shot at a deer or muskrat. I am pressing the envelope of accuracy at 300 yards. My cataract corrected vision is now 20/15 again, far more eagle-like than merely standard 20/20 eye sight. Yes a great scope can compensate, but by THAT MUCH? cliffy

 

[savageboy]

I watched a guy I was hunting with range, set up w/ a bipod, adjust scope for elevation and drop a doe a 551yds w/ 1 shot w/ a 25-06 Savage BVSS. He was a seasoned lr shooter though.
2 years ago I wouldn't have tried that shot ever. Now with a few seasons of F class under my belt and the same conditions- no wind, perfect sunny late afternoon day- if everything was right, I would carefully drop the deer with the same shot w/ my 260AI w/ a 140gr. A-Max. I have 20+ years hunting and alot of shooting under my belt. I wouldn't take the shot unless I was 100% sure of it. The 10 ring at the F class targets I shoot are 6" diameter at 600yds which is smaller than the kill zone of a deer. I get a very high number of 10's and x's, esp. with low/ no wind at that range.

 

[cliffy]

Savageboy, you are apparently well above the average hunter skillwise. I cannot promote to the "average" hunter who practices once before deer season to attempt 600 yard shots. Cliffy

 

[savageboy]

Cliff, I am totally with you. Like I said, I would never have taken or even thought about attempting that shot 2 years ago- even with alot of practice at 100-300yds for 25years shooting. Its now only after several seasons of serious F class shooting- learning my rig, how to read conditions, my capabilities, would I even think about such a thing. I agree 100%.

 

[barrowsr]

Has it occurred to anyone that farmview is jerking people around for entertainment? Look how long this thread has survived. I don't believe anyone spells that poorly. Now I've just added to his entertainment with this post.

Robin

 

[JohnWayne]

You have to admit barrowsr, it is fun to read some of cliffys replies after someone puts a nickel in him!

 

[cliffy]

JohnWayne, you're so right on regarding my realistically produced firepower at L-O-N-G R-A-N-G-E, that if it can be done, someone will do it . . . creating a false pattern for novices to attempt the ridiculous! Three hundred yards is IT! People who actually hit game animals beyond this maximum range, are EXTREMELY SKILLED beyond the norm, or plain DAMNED LUCKY. Thank You, Cliffy.

 

[AckleymanII]

Dude, there is nothing wrong with setting your sights high.

You should be thinking in terms of a 7 Remington Mag, or 7 STW. With Retumbo, the 7 Mag will push the 162g A max at 3100 with extreme accuracy. IN a 7 STW, you will hand load those 162's to 33oo+ fps.

The standard Rem 700's, bedded, freefloated, trigger job with a quality scope in the range of a 6-24 or 8-32 is what we use.

I have hunted in your area, shots can be long and it can be windy, thus the 162g A Max as fast as you can push it with extreme accuracy.

Light weight rifles are also not condusive to long range shooting....don't go there.

Good luck!

 

[Rtheurer]

Keith

You are right, that area of the world you may well have a good 400 yard plus shot. But you best be practicing all year long. I like the 7mm for just the reasons you mentioned. Knowing your limitations, Like Dreever said you must be confident you can make the shot in the conditions you are givin. If not Move in closer or pass on the shot. I have shot close shots and shots over 700 yards. Im prepared for the worst case scenerio with good equipment and the skill to get it done. I started by shooting steel out in the Pasture going from 600 to 1100 yards. I was amazed how easy it was As I got back to 800 by planning and practicing. after shooting at 800 - 1000 the 600 yard shots where a breeze ( no pun intended)


I will have to disagree with your light barrel comment though. A good costom light barrel rifle can shoot just as good as a heavy barrel. I got tired of hauling around that dang Sendero and built a Hart Barrelled Mule deer rifle to drag around in Wyoming. It will shoot plenty good for 600yard plus yards.
Keith have you had a chance to shoot a good Light barrel gun? They are alot easier to handle in the feild. Maybe Im getting older and the ole knees and back are convincing me to go light?

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving.
RussT

 

[CJ6]

Here's a good test of ability for LR Hunting. Grab your ruck/backpack or use bi-pod (there are no BENCHES in the field)put it on the ground/log whatever, have your target set at 600 yds. Now for the next 10 days with no adjustments to scope/equipment etc. take 1 cold bore shot (Absoluteley no foulers/sighters etc.)Can you keep those 10 shots in a 6" vital zone ? Now repeat above test BUT have someone vary the distance each day by say 20-50 yds + or -. if you hunt in the hills add varied inclines to the test. And this is just 1 known distance, repeat as needed for other distances. Also doing a few excercises (jumping jacks /pushups/jogging in place ) to get the heart rate up, as would be normal in a hunting situation will also be helpful.

 

[cliffy]

Farmview, when I see, in writing, some rifle manufacturer claiming 600 hundred yard prowess, I'll purchase same immediately, if merely to disprove such a claim, and ask for my purchase price back. Hi, Buddy, thanks for your realistic input . . . Cliffy

 

[cliffy]

Keith, A-Max is not, nor was ever intended to be a hunting projectile. It's a long-range paper puncher of extreme accuracy, but not a SOLID HUNTING projectile. Select bullets wisely for intended game. A-MAX is a TARGET ONLY BULLET of extreme accuracy. Cliffy

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Dude, there is nothing wrong with setting your sights high.

You should be thinking in terms of a 7 Remington Mag, or 7 STW. With Retumbo, the 7 Mag will push the 162g A max at 3100 with extreme accuracy. IN a 7 STW, you will hand load those 162's to 33oo+ fps.

The standard Rem 700's, bedded, freefloated, trigger job with a quality scope in the range of a 6-24 or 8-32 is what we use.

I have hunted in your area, shots can be long and it can be windy, thus the 162g A Max as fast as you can push it with extreme accuracy.

Light weight rifles are also not condusive to long range shooting....don't go there.

Good luck!

Ever word that Keith says is right on the money. If you can't shoot a 7mm something 20 times hang it up.

 

[thane]

Cliffy,
Yes the A-max bullets are marketed as a match bullet. I have loaded them into my .243 win. and my 6mmbr with so-so results. The 107 match king is a true match bullet.
The 105 A-max bullet out of my 6mmbr works great on ground hogs at long ranges.
Where the 107 Sierra match king will not mushroom at all, the 105 A-max will mushroom quite well, even at low velocities.

 

[cliffy]

A-Max bullets are extremely accurate, BUT their copper jackets are very THIN, designed for match shooting, not controlled expansion. Far better hunting bullets are available: Swift Scirocco II bullets are designed for HUNTING to name just one of the best hunting bullets, and they are extremely accurate. Please don't Hunt with A-Max bullets unless they are .50 caliber in size. Cliffy

 

[people]

When dealing with long shots the bullet speed drops alot so having a thinner jacket is just what you need. The Berger hunting bullets have a thinner jacket than the standard match bullet. The Amax is a good hunting bullet for extended ranges.

There is a problem when shooting at closer ranges they tend to do more damage than traditional hunting bullets but many traditional hunting bullets do no more damage than an arrow with a field point on it.

Just last year I shot a coyote with my 308 and a traditional bullet many use for big game hunting. They shot very well from my rifle. I dropped that coyote at just over 550. My friend he likes to sell the pelts so he took it. he told me when he cut it open the exit hole was not any worse than the entry hole. Apparently I hit some stuff it needed to live. I shot up the rest of those bullets and then went back the normal varmint / match bullets I normally use.