Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 100 yards vice 250 yards?

It’s not hard to miss at 250. The feeder is 225,there is a dead pig standing under it. The pic isn’t too clear. The second pic is better. Those pigs are at 250 yards. I’m sighted in 2” high and it’s downhill. I hold 2” above the center of the animal. I hit right at center. Third pic is looking up towards stand.

Doesn't matter if the group at 100 was 3-shot or 5-shot. The low shots were still going to be dead-on at 100, which means considerably low at 250.

JB, Not sure what you mean by the "low" shot. The lowest of the five shot group? Scope picture was a "high" shoulder shot when I pulled the trigger. Normally I go dead center just behind the shoulder. I will admit I do not normally shoot at 250 yards.

While the question of the rifle's accuracy would be one to ponder. If I missed a shot like this, the first questions would be, where were the sights aligned when the trigger broke, did the rifle recoil clean (track as it should) etc.. In other words what did I do??

smithrjd,

Since the group spanned 2" at 100 yards and was centered 1" high, then obviously the highest shot was around 2" above point of aim, and the lowest shot close to dead-on.

A little work with a ballistic program shows that a 7mm 150 Partition, started at 2900 fps (which is probably very close), with a scope 1.5: above the bore, would result in at least 7" of drop at 250 when sighted-in dead-on at 100. Which is exactly where the "low" shots in your group would be landing. Add a little aiming wobble, and it would be easy to miss low.

Neat trick.... How'd you get him to stand up, while dead?

Ouch, did not think the drop would be that much. Obvisoly I need some load development. Again, the nut behind the trigger. Trigger broke clean, scope was where I thought it should be a bit high at the shoulder, recoil was what I would call normal.

LOL, huntsman22, I was wondering how the pig was standing also..

smithrjd, you were getting into the yardage that the bullet drop starts adding up pretty fast. Sounds like you had a good handle on the rifle.

He didn’t know he was dead yet

DING DING DING. Between this and not practicing at that range .... Makes it very easy to miss.

Smith,
if your going to shoot game at 250 yards you need to do some work and find a range that you can put your rifle on paper or steel for that distance.
Math is not going to make up for your lack of practice at a given range.
My good friend always recommends that a hunter place his target at the distance he wants to test for his hunt, then run back to the rifle and take a field position shot. Its always enlightening what you see as the distance stretches out and your shooting is being tested.
Most times its not the gun or bullet minutia thats the limiting factor.

smith,I have found that using a scope with the holdpoints for various yardages in the reticle has helped me considerably with shots in the 150yd and higher distances. It is somewhat involved but after you get dialed in, it gives you the confidence and ability to make longer shots. You may already have scopes like this though, but just a suggestion

Is there some reason you use the word vice when you obviously mean versus?

This is one reason I sight in all of my big game rifles at 200 yards. Little tiny groups at 100 yards don't mean much. Find a place where you can stretch things out and you will be amazed that 1 MOA at 200 yards or farther is way different that 1 MOA at 100. As stated above, lots of factors become more important at distance. Ask the guys on the long range forum.

It depends on the "(insert noun here) of interest".

I have found that a rest at the range is always a much better rest than I can get shooting off the ledge of a shooting house window. I won't speak for anyone else, but shooting off that shooting house ledge, the branch of a tree or over a backpack at 250 isn't a chip shot for me.

Yes they change, and sometimes in ways you don't expect.

If you are going to shoot longer ranges, I suggest finding a longer range and practicing. It can be pretty eye opening the first few times.

In order for me to shoot at that distance and beyond, I need several things prior to the shot:

1) Range time with the load I'm hunting with
2) Rangefinder
3) Known ballistics information that's been verified

If I don't have any of those items, the shot will be a swag. Buck fever is already counting against you. Stacks the odds more in your favor.

The OP keeps saying he needs more load development. I think he really needs to spend about 20 minutes with a ballistic calculator (free on the internet) and then (as others have said), verify that on ranges out to, say., 300 yards. Or at least 200 yards.

I suspect that with his rifle and bullets, a more proper zero would be about 3" high at 100 yards. That should (I'm guesstimating) put it about 3" high at 200 as well and just a few inches low at 300.

Indeed, more load development and time at the range at distance. It was a quick opportunity, do you want to hunt while your here? A new rifle as well about the perfect storm for a miss.. Will not happen next year. I did get a buck, but that one showed up at about 75 yards. Bang flop lungs and the top of the heart out through the spine.