Ignorance!

[M14AMU]

Got a call today from a friend that told me he'd missed a big buck at 200 yards and asked me to check his rifle out! He did not shoot it prior to going hunting so I went and picked it up at his place and took it to my range and shot! At 200 yards it was shooting 8" high and 8" right! I tried to get him to invest in another rifle last year (it's a Remington 760 in '06 caliber) but he's so tight he would crawl under a gate to keep from wearing the hinges out! He bought his wife a Remington 700 in same caliber last year and it was still on zero at 200 yards. Anyone that won't take the time to check their rifle before going hunting deserves to miss a nice buck....which is what I told him!!

 

[Dgd6mm]

Got a call today from a friend that told me he'd missed a big buck at 200 yards and asked me to check his rifle out! He did not shoot it prior to going hunting so I went and picked it up at his place and took it to my range and shot! At 200 yards it was shooting 8" high and 8" right! I tried to get him to invest in another rifle last year (it's a Remington 760 in '06 caliber) but he's so tight he would crawl under a gate to keep from wearing the hinges out! He bought his wife a Remington 700 in same caliber last year and it was still on zero at 200 yards. Anyone that won't take the time to check their rifle before going hunting deserves to miss a nice buck....which is what I told him!!

Agreed, scopes go south on you. It is always wise to check your zero.

 

[people]

Those must be some small deer to cause a miss with only being off 8 inches.

 

[M14AMU]

Those must be some small deer to cause a miss with only being off 8 inches.

Depends on how/where he was 'holding' at shot break!! We grow 'em 250# so they aren't dwarfs!

 

[shadrac]

thats as smart as sighting in with one brand or grain bullet and then changing it to go hunting

 

[hogpatrol]

At this time of year, the club's range trash cans are full of ten inch paper plates. ;D

 

[M14AMU]

At this time of year, the club's range trash cans are full of ten inch paper plates. ;D

Consensus in these parts is if a white five gallon bucket can be hit from 50 yards....they're good to go!! :-\

 

[Eddie Harren]

We have a paper plate , nailed to one of the upright support posts on the range pavilion, that reads, "If you can't hit this at 50 Yds., don't put a target up at 100 Yds."

 

[people]

Depends on how/where he was 'holding' at shot break!! We grow 'em 250# so they aren't dwarfs!

That was my point. It could have been a miss but I am thinking it was a wound.

 

[K22]

Based on what I see at the range, I wonder how many once a year hunters can hit a deer at 200 yards in a field position where there is no bench and sand bags regardless of how well the rifle is zeroed.

However your point is well taken, one should always check the rifle before heading in the field.

 

[stosh]

I think you owe it to the game animal to make the best shot you can to make a clean kill. Checking zero on your rifle is a must. Surprising how many hunters don't know they can and will change zero sitting in the gun safe, especially wooden stocks.

Stosh

 

[mattri]

Hopefully it was just a clean miss.

 

[stosh]

It also surprises me how many hunters thinks that a rifle shoots in the same place every time. I see people at the range shoot one shot and adjusts the scope and they chase the shots all over the place. You have to take as much of the human factor out of zeroing a rifle as possible. Bench rest the thing and shoot three shots before adjusting the scope to the center of the group. Then at least when your in the field your going to be the best you can. And hunter should know there effective range, if you can't keep all the shots in a 8" circle at 200yds, then don't take the shot.

 

[MrMajestic]

Benching for sight-in and then a bunch of practice the way you plan on shooting in the field would be very prudent....

 

[AckleymanII]

Lots of guys around here depend on Walmart to sight in their deer rifles.

 

[wildchild]

Lots of guys around here depend on Walmart to sight in their deer rifles.

Oh good god!!

 

[wildfowler]

At this time of year, the club's range trash cans are full of ten inch paper plates. ;D

And most of the ones I find are reusable due to lack of bullet holes.

 

[rogn]

But their lack of gun safety and courtesy behavior makes it surprising that they dont shoot one another.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Lots of guys around here depend on Walmart to sight in their deer rifles.

Oh good god!!

That high school kid with the 1" tubing in his ear and orange mohawk sights in most of em with that tasco boresighter. He says theyre good to go.

 

[r bose]

Met a hunter recently that bought a new rifle (his first and only) 6 years ago and 1, 20 round box of ammo. He was still using the bullets from that 1st box he bought. His comment, "practice....what for?"