Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting The longest shot....

I typically try to close distance RE #5 but there are times when I simply want the challenge of the longer shot, BUT I know what you are implying, my sig line used to be, get as close as you can, but use all the skills you have.... basically if you can't get closer... and are close enough for your ability and weapon, by all means I"m not going to tell you that you should really be hunting with a spear instead for the challenge...

I belong on this forum as much as anyone else, I was giving a personal opinion and I am sorry if I ruffled the feathers of all you perfect marksmen. Maybe I should have stated no one should take shots over five hundred yards unless they are 100% sure than can make the shot.

Same would hold true at 50 yards would it not?

I guess it would.

Freddy, does a box of 20- cartridges last you 5 years like most hunters?

This is the response I got from another forum. Except I was chastised for asking about shots over 200yds.

Was that on a bow and arrow forum?

That is really funny, but no. I was accused of being unethical.

These are the signs of the times, we have to be very carefull nowdays of what we say otherwise somebody will get offended.

Then "distance" is not what defines when to shoot by your own admission, right?

I am done with this issue.

I have hunted a lot and being from the Midwest Ive noted some of the best shots here are varmint hunters--coyotes, fox, pds etc., as many are taken on the run. I am one of those guys, with no formal competition experience at long range but having a lot of field experience with those wind affected paths tiny bullets take. I've missed enough to know that attention to the tiniest details is important.

With that background, I don't consider myself a long range game shooter, nor is my equipment dedicated to that endeavor. That said, ive taken an antelope at 400 yards with a 25-06 and 115-gr Noslers, and three bull elk at just shy of 500 yds with the 225- gr Lost River Tech bullet and the 210-gr TSX out of a 340 Wby, my big,big game rifle.. Those are my farthest with a number closer of course.

420 yrd Elk, 300+ yrd Springbok.
I think some of the explanations here that go with LR hunting/shooting are excellent, in particular those that have made it a science, cause IME, that is what it is. All hunters/shooters do not automaticaly become LR hunters, just like all people that drive cars do not automaticaly become race car drivers! In each instance, the experts know the difficulties involved, and use judgment gainded by experience to temper their actions in particular situations.

Longest shot for me was on a wounded bull elk that another person in our camp had wounded at 70 yds. 967 yards lazered. with a 338 Rum, 200 nosler bts, bang flop. High shoulder shot. Second longest was at a caribou running down a gravel bar in Alaska. 2 others in our camp had missed him when he came running by camp. Bull finally stopped when he thought he was safe. He was wrong. 768 yds lazered with the same rig a month before the elk. Both one shot kills. The bullet didnt exit on the elk, but did on the caribou and there wasnt much good meat left of his front end. Shot was quartering away, hit him in the left side, last rib, and it exited in front of the right shoulder. He was blood shot from the base of his skull to his last ribs on both sides.
I dont consider myself a long range hunter, but I do practice alot out to 1000 yds off the bench. I run swaro 6-18 tds on 3 of my rigs, and know where every cross hair is hitting out to 1000. I dont shoot that far if there is a chance to get closer, but will if I need to.


Toby Joe

My longest shot on a PD is 1407...only one problem, there were two on a mound standing side by side, hit the wrong one. Even though I hit the wrong pup I was only about 3-5 inches left. In any event that shot woulda smoked an elk.
I set up for an 1187 yard shot on a cow elk, then put my buddy behind the gun. He center punched her vitals, just about a perfect shot.
I took 3 whitetail does in three shots one afternoon all over 800 yards.

Y'all must be hunting out West.
..

I have made a few long shots (500+) that I tried and passed on a couple of long shots. If I am comfortable with the shot and can ID my target to my satisfaction, I will probably take the shot. If the target is blurred due to mirage,smoke, fog I pass the shot. If I can't say for certain, details about the target, I pass. If for any reason I don't feel comfortable, I don't shoot. I have seen shots over 700 yards on animals and watched, as I didn't feel comfortable although they were one shot kills.

So, there are many factors that lead me to my decision to shoot or not shoot and so far I have been 100% successful making my decisions. I am sure we all have a mental checklist that we total before we make a shot.

Good Hunting!!

edited to correct my grammer!!

99savage308,

Not everything out here in the west requires a long shots. I have hunted in the arid country in central Washington where long shot are common but we also have very dense forests here in the Pacific Northwest where you may get a shot as close as 25 yards.

Even in open country I've never taken a shot over 400 yards, not because the opportunity never presented itself but rather because I didn't think I had a reasonable chance of making a clean humane kill. I consider myself to be a competent rifleman but clearly these fellows making these very long range shot possess greater skill than do I.

To quote Dirty Harry Callahan in "Magnum Force", "man has got to know his limitations".

Sig220,

Forget the gramer. Just have fun.

Mike53,

For a new poster, you're pretty smart. I like that.

I am not an English student, but this crack's me up.
Sig220 say's grammer, Ringman say's gramer....off the top of my head I believe you are both wrong. GRAMMAR
your welcome.
RC