Wild Bill IV
Gold $$ Contributor
I'm with you!! I practice at the range for fine tuning shooting skills and check the accuracy of the rifle and loads!! Then, apply real world shooting skills by prairie dog hunting with the big game rifles at varying distances!! Use the scopes graduated reticle as a range finder! No since carrying a range finder when the scope can measure the animal!!! First Focal Point scopes are great range finders!! If I can cleaning kill a prairie dog at max effective range and shorter, big game would be no problem since their vitals are much larger!! I practice a lot in the field with big game rifles and reloads!!! I don't leave the varmint guns at home either!! They are a blast!! Literally!!!!Practice is key,I had the opportunity to go to Alaska with a cop buddy ,he's a millionaire many times over since his wife is a prominent physician. Now i didn't hunt only shot several foxes and coyotes when time permitted, he was after brown bear, he practiced relentlessly and was a crack shot in his younger days he was on the swat team and knew his stuff.The guide insisted no shots should be taken beyond 200 yards, however after failing to get closer than 400 yards from a real decent bear after a three day stalk , my buddy told the guide I paid $20k i'll shoot when I feel I can make the shot. Well he did at a hair north of 400 yards,338 Win Mag 225 grain SST superformance Hornady.The bear dropped after a 100 yard stumbling sprint. No one has ever taken a bear at that range under that guide.He's going back in 25 again.Practice makes perfect usually with good equipment.This bear was killed with one well placed shot.