600-Yard Hunting/Field Shooting Challenge Video

[David Milisock]

 

[RegionRat]

What surprised me, was that folks were surprised.

Even some of the folks that "should know better" apparently don't.
The value of these videos is to bring some younger folks around to measured reality.

It was news to me that folks actually think they can have a high 600 yard hit percentage just because their rifle shoots a well known cartridge. I'm not sure when this idea caught on. I was raised before the internet and then plunged into the world of defense for so long that I guess I wasn't on the same page.

If you grew up before the internet, and you spent lots of time on a range with matches and in the pits, you already know what it takes on a known distance range. Even there, we will see shots from High Masters go into the white all the time. (A standard Mil target has a 6 MOA aiming black)

That means that even folks with good guns and ammo, who have already climbed the ranks to High Master (97%), commonly miss the black on their sighters. The rest of the folks are less likely to be in the 10 ring on their first shots.

So, long before the ideas floated that hit percentages in unknown distance, no wind flags, poor terrain for wind estimation, etc., could be the setting for high hit percentages... many of us were more "calibrated".

Now, we will have a generation of folks who have never been brought up shooting "The Wooden Guns" in Across the Course Service Rifle settings. They watch the PRS folks shoot at amazing levels with state of the art rifles, and they have no idea how hard those folks worked to achieve those levels of proficiency.

Unless they get off the couch and try an actual competition, where things get recorded, they will typically fall into the category of the folks who are surprised by the results of those hit percentages, or even worse, they think they can buy their way into high hit percentages without putting in the range time.

 

[David Milisock]

What surprised me, was that folks were surprised.

Even some of the folks that "should know better" apparently don't.
The value of these videos is to bring some younger folks around to measured reality.

It was news to me that folks actually think they can have a high 600 yard hit percentage just because their rifle shoots a well known cartridge. I'm not sure when this idea caught on. I was raised before the internet and then plunged into the world of defense for so long that I guess I wasn't on the same page.

If you grew up before the internet, and you spent lots of time on a range with matches and in the pits, you already know what it takes on a known distance range. Even there, we will see shots from High Masters go into the white all the time. (A standard Mil target has a 6 MOA aiming black)

That means that even folks with good guns and ammo, who have already climbed the ranks to High Master (97%), commonly miss the black on their sighters. The rest of the folks are less likely to be in the 10 ring on their first shots.

So, long before the ideas floated that hit percentages in unknown distance, no wind flags, poor terrain for wind estimation, etc., could be the setting for high hit percentages... many of us were more "calibrated".

Now, we will have a generation of folks who have never been brought up shooting "The Wooden Guns" in Across the Course Service Rifle settings. They watch the PRS folks shoot at amazing levels with state of the art rifles, and they have no idea how hard those folks worked to achieve those levels of proficiency.

Unless they get off the couch and try an actual competition, where things get recorded, they will typically fall into the category of the folks who are surprised by the results of those hit percentages, or even worse, they think they can buy their way into high hit percentages without putting in the range time.

I was surprised by how many hits that were made not by how many misses there were.

 

[EEP]

What surprised me, was that folks were surprised.

Even some of the folks that "should know better" apparently don't.
The value of these videos is to bring some younger folks around to measured reality.

It was news to me that folks actually think they can have a high 600 yard hit percentage just because their rifle shoots a well known cartridge. I'm not sure when this idea caught on. I was raised before the internet and then plunged into the world of defense for so long that I guess I wasn't on the same page.

If you grew up before the internet, and you spent lots of time on a range with matches and in the pits, you already know what it takes on a known distance range. Even there, we will see shots from High Masters go into the white all the time. (A standard Mil target has a 6 MOA aiming black)

That means that even folks with good guns and ammo, who have already climbed the ranks to High Master (97%), commonly miss the black on their sighters. The rest of the folks are less likely to be in the 10 ring on their first shots.

So, long before the ideas floated that hit percentages in unknown distance, no wind flags, poor terrain for wind estimation, etc., could be the setting for high hit percentages... many of us were more "calibrated".

Now, we will have a generation of folks who have never been brought up shooting "The Wooden Guns" in Across the Course Service Rifle settings. They watch the PRS folks shoot at amazing levels with state of the art rifles, and they have no idea how hard those folks worked to achieve those levels of proficiency.

Unless they get off the couch and try an actual competition, where things get recorded, they will typically fall into the category of the folks who are surprised by the results of those hit percentages, or even worse, they think they can buy their way into high hit percentages without putting in the range time.

The other significant part of hunting in the field that’s impossible to incorporate into the challenge is the “buck fever” factor…. I shot a mule deer at 585yds with a quality factory rifle and hand loads & 49yrs old after years of practice and competition. If not for the discipline of competition and kinda getting better at handling the “buck fever” I don’t think I could’ve pulled it off. Could I do it every time… most definitely not. It’s an interesting challenge to say the least though!

 

[Dimner]

When I'm hunting I never take long shots. Although sometimes I don't take short shots either. Because shooting the deer means I'd have to stop hunting. And that's no fun.

 

[Lefty2506]

It depends on what I'm hunting and where. On PDs, I have no issues taking long shots including shots past 600 yds. On something like a deer, I wouldn't dream of shooting 600 yds on one, especially not here in Indiana. Now, I WILL take shots that many of the folks around here consider to be long, but that's because I consider 200 yds on a prairie dog pup to be a pretty easy shot where as a lot of the deer hunters around here would struggle to hit a 2 ltr pop bottle consistently at 100 yds from a field shooting position and consider 150 yards to be WAY out there. Personally, 200 yds during our rifle season is a gimme shot for me. I won't take shots that I'm not confident that I can make, and at 200 yds, I'm picking exactly where the bullet will strike. In Indiana, under most REALLY GOOD conditions I would limit myself to 300 yds. In my opinion, the properties that I hunt don't allow me adequate circumstances for trying to take a whitetail beyond that. However, if I LIVED out West, I would likely be willing to go at least 400 yds on a whitetail. If I lived out west, and was a dedicated Elk hunter, I'm still not sure I could see myself shooting 600 yards on one, but (because I was accustomed to the hunting environment, my quarry, and my equipment) I would likely feel comfortable reaching out to 500 under reasonable circumstances.

One other thing I would add is that even though I've spent a reasonable amount of time successfully competing in various shooting disciplines out to 600 yds, it wasn't until I started hunting/shooting prairie dogs that I started gaining the confidence to take shots well beyond 300 yds. Shooting at a stationary target from a very stable position at a known 600 yds is a LOT different than dropping a tripod, plopping down in a bag chair, and dusting a random prairie dog even if its only 300 yds away. I'm not a proponent of long range hunting by any means, but that term can have different meanings to different people depending on where they are at and what they're accustomed to.

 

[searcher]

I have watched all of those videos he puts out. Pretty entertaining. I think the one when "Mike the Marine" showed his stuff - it was pretty characteristic of what we see in the field on opening day on public land. A guy who doesn't shoot much (long time since he was a Marine, I'm sure...), takes out a new rifle, using factory ammo and in a caliber that was obviously a bit more "potent" than he was used to, hadn't shot it much, etc. After getting "scope eyed", I'm sure his nerves were on edge, knowing he was being filmed. But that IS the way it is when hunting too. The adrenaline kicks in for those not accustomed to doing much shooting at big game. That Eric and the others could shoot a lot better came as no surprise - and when they shot - it showed that even the best, most practiced guys around can still miss (though not as badly). The reality is many guys can shoot a deer with a new bore-scoped rifle and factory ammo within reasonable ranges. For many - that might be a few hundred yards. When they go for the 500-yard+ shot in breezy weather without a solid rest or skills - things go against them much more than they realize. I watched that other video someone posted of the guy shooting a jack rabbit at 1,000 yards. That is darned impressive. No "sighter" shots, no shooting bench, etc. Not many "casual shooters" are going to pull that off. If the "average" guy pulled out a new factory rifle with factory ammo, I'd lay a LOT of dough on the line against that shot. Fun to watch those videos.

 

[mic2377]

I think this video should really discourage most hunters from shots longer than 200-300 yards unless they are a highly skilled shooter whose gear is dialed and who trains regularly in a practical setting (not just from a bench!).

Thinking one can shoot like the PRS guys is a completely fallacy, as how many people are willing to haul a long heavy barrel rig with a massive scope and brake, completely with weights, into the field? And typically hunting rifles are in a larger heavier recoiling caliber.

I regularly shoot at a range that goes across valleys, similar to out west. There is plenty of foliage but even with that reading the wind is very challenging even for experienced shooters! It is hard enough when you have flags! The largest target in the range is 2 MOA.

I don't really hunt, however my friend makes it a habit to pull out his 300 Norma hunting rifle (27" Proof barrel, brake, Manners stock, ZCO 4-20, and very highly tuned hand loads) and go for a cold bore shot on a 2 MOA target at a random selected distance to start the day. At this point he has around a ~50% hit percentage but generally if he misses, it is very close. I would find these results extremely difficult to duplicate, and despite doing this for years, has struggled to improve his consistency beyond this.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

excellent. wow

 

[std7mag]

What surprises me still, is the attitude that money buys skill.

Case in point.

Several years ago, my wife and I were at the local range.
2 guys pulled in & started setting up. Took quite some time to get everything unloaded and set up.
I meandered down to look at their setups.
Both had easily $5k in either of their rifles with optics.
Both told me they shoot competition at Reade Range & Williamsport.

They break out the range finders and start trying to range a steel ram that is set up on the side of the mountain. Both got different ranges, and neither of them were what the distance actually is. In this case 430 yards with a decent up angle.

After about 10 shots each with no hits, I had my wife shoot at the ram. After 5-6 consecutive hits, they wandered down to check out her rifle.
$200 Rossi break action R243 with a $169 Vortex Crossfire II.
And it was the first time she ever shot that far.
( Why I don't try to compete with her at the range)

 

[David Milisock]

I'm a firm believer of building and using a rifle for a purpose, however building a rifle that can make 85%+ of 600 yard cold bore shots is a rifle build that's not conducive to field hunting.

Yes I've made 1 shot, 600+ yard cold bore hits, 1 with an 18lb rifle, a few more with a 12lb varmint rifle.

However these are less that 1/1000th% of my field shots. My varmint rifles are 10lb to 12lb but my fields rifles weigh 8lb or less.

All my field rifles can make 100% of 300 yards shots, even the 100 year old sporterized military rifles. A few of the sporterized military can make 100% of 400 yard shots. With that said, in the field, I simply get close enough or I DON'T SHOOT!

 

[Doug Casner]

I didnt watch all of it 30 minutes long. I dont shoot over 300 yds. I dont like to gut shoot em. Doug

 

[Will Henry]

I know I could hit 5/5 at 300, from a sitting position, no rest, with an 8 1/2 pound rifle. I've done it often. At 400, that would drop to 3/5 at best, just because there is a greater possibility for error in elevation. At 500, I would be in the realm where I needed some sighting shots for the same reason, and I would be happy with 2 for 5.
At the silhouette range, the turkeys are at 385m. A friend regularly sights in on the turkey's head and hits pretty darn consistently. This from a rest, or course. His rifle is 8 3/4 pounds.
I practice quite a bit from a sitting position, just because it's a useful position in the field. By the way, I have shot two animals over three hundred yards in 60 years of hunting. One was over four hundred (with a 35 Whelen!) In retrospect, I should have passed on that second one. WH

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Wish I had a range close to me longer than my club's 300 yards. Can't even use a center fire rifle for deer hunting in a lot of Mn. Can use rifles (centerfire) for coyote,fox and any unprotected animals, can even use a 223 for deer in the rifle zone(?). So for game I self impose a 300 yard limit, when I draw a tag out of state. Occasionally crops go out with time for me to setup to just over 450 yards on a friends property. I have first shot hit a 5" round plate with my TC Icon(30tc), which is nearly 8.5# scoped and loaded. Hoping this year crop timing is right as I have a cow elk tag and haven't shot suppressed past 300 with the TC. Practice at 300, any shot under 200 seems VERY EASY.