Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting How many of you shoot /hunt long range....

....without a rangefinder?My reason for asking that I do not and it is a matter of personal choice as I guess I like to keep the unknown variable in it.

I used to be addicted to groundhog hunting.The further the better.Also I used to shoot quite a bit of centerfire silhouette and dabble a bit in highpower.But both of these are at known ranges.

What prompted this post is that one time a silhouette buddy and I were groundhog hunting at an old country airport where if there were any shots along the runway I knew the distance because I knew how far the landing lights were apart.He was getting ready to take a shot and I asked how far away he thought the hog was and he said that it was at least turkeys.Turkeys being 365 meters.The shot was in reality 250 yards.Funny how real world guesstimating differs from the range.But that's what makes it so much fun.

My longest groundhog shot was just shy of 900 yards.Just me a sandbag the gun and the car hood.If I ever saw a deer at that range it would live to be a ripe old age.I have had the opportunity to take a long shot at a deer a few times but didn't.Just me I guesss. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm sorry but LR Hunting without knowing the range is foolish.If you do not use a rangefinder,how do you know the groundhog was 900 yards.Just a guess??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Another one who thinks long range hunting without knowing the range is incredibly foolish. My Leica is with me always.


huntin1

Boyd,Didn't say I didn't have one.I always measure after the shot.The fun is knowing the distance after a sucessful shot.Having an accurate rifle/scope set up doesn't hurt either.I believe you know the gentlemen that built mine.That would be Clarence Hammonds and Dick Thomas.

I'll join those who think it's idiotic. Varmint shooting and target shooting is the place to add in "extra challenges" for the fun of it. On big game I want to make the best shot I can possibly make--and that means knowing the exact range at ranges when your bullet is dropping 1-2 inches every 10 yards, much less 5" every 10 yards....

To me that would be no different than taking a medium range shot offhand when there's a steady rest available "just for the fun of it."

Like I said,I'm sorry but LR Hunting without knowing the range is foolish.

Yes I know the names.But because they built your gun really means nothing.People that poke and hope such as yourself give true LR Hunters like myself a bad name....

Even at the ground hog? I'm not talking big game hunting here just something that hunters have been doing long before there were rangefinders.Let's talk praire dog hunting.Indeed let's talk varmint hunting.Varmint hunters have been bragging about their long range shots long before the advent of the rangefinder be it one of the laser variety or split image etc.Didn't mean to fan any flames here as the question was do you use one or not.Many a ground hog has fallen to the boom of a 22/250 or 243 at unknown distances without the aid of a Lieka.To me it is a matter of preference and if the shot is a safe shot then take it.Did somebody mention big game? How did that get in here?I said ground hog hunting

284LUVR,

I'm with you here. Long before I purchased the Lieca 1200, I was shooting rock chucks more than five hundred yards away. I know the ranges because I measured the distances between wheels on a wheeline; after the shot. Or on another field, it is a quarter mile across then another fifty yards to the rocks.

For me the fun of "long-range" hunting is to be able to apply a scientific method that allows for the least number of variables possible to the furthest distance possible. Truth is, if i didn't have my laser (God forbid), i'd apply a two stadia+ reticle for ranging, as it is better then guessing for me, and it has worked for me on occasion to 725 yds.

What i'd like to do sometime is make a 633 yd. 1st shot connection in a 14 mph wind (or thereabouts) on a prairie dog/chuck/whatever that i used the reticle itself to range the critter with--the end result of a good windage, elevation, and ranging call, all in one. That's what i call an accomplishment. BUT, THEN AGAIN, TO EACH HIS OWN!

284, I believe your post said shoot/hunt. I would call ground hogs varminting. Thats where it got twisted about.

SS-- stadia wires might be fine on ghogs-- have not much experience with them, but lots of animals vary in size enough to complicate things. Same use of mildot systems. You have to know the target size exactly to get the distance exact.

Without a rangefinder its not going to be as precise.

I made a post in here last nite also, still wondering how that one dissappeared.....

Jeff

rost495,



Maybe you didn't range it correctly. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

.....and there's an awful lot of us standin' in that line <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Okay, now I'm just asking an honest question here, but which is it - equipment or human skill?

Seems all of the attacks against long range hunting center around the possibility of wounding, and all of the rebuttals center around how the shot is not quesswork but the result of knowing everything exactly. Range finders determine the range to +- 1 yard, computer programs determine any adjustments for atmospheric conditions, rifle is precise enough to maintain 1/2 or 1/4 MOA out to 1000 yards, so on and so forth.

But now someone is saying how cool it would be to make a shot based on human experience and skill - "the end result of a good windage, elevation, and ranging call, all in one. That's what i call an accomplishment" (bold mine).

Isn't that what the anti-long range hunters are taking pride in, their human skills versus using equipment to eliminate all variables?

"For me the fun of "long-range" hunting is to be able to apply a scientific method that allows for the least number of variables possible to the furthest distance possible" (again bold mine).

So what is valued most? Human skill or the total elimination of human error?

Again, asking an honest question here, not tyring to provoke anything. I've stayed out of these debates because too many people seem to get real defensive about this subject, so I'd appreciate it if no one cusses me for seeking clarification.

When do you wanna see it??

Jim

It takes both. It takes skill beyond most to be able to shoot the rifle to the level needed. Add the computer type components to that formula and you have exactly what you need.

IE I know that with a sling prone, my wobble area on a bad day is about .5 moa. Thats not good but it can get better. I know this due to an electronic trainer. BUT I CANNOT effect a precise hit without lots of other data after about 300 yards or so.

Jeff

Boyd ,Hunting conditions,no bench,no front rest.

Shoot from bipod or sand bag.

Powerline ,open field or such.

No sighters, one shot,groundhog target and your word that you won't be out there bangin' away at 633 to get ready.Like I said,hunting conditions.


How are we going to get the weather to cooperate...14mph wind?

I believe the above replicate real world hunting conditions.

Comments from campfire members???




Name the time and place.You do it Sir and I'll buy you the best meal you can find in Williamsport and shake your hand afterwards.If you miss that will cost you one beer and a hand shake ,of course.

[qote]Boyd ,Hunting conditions,no bench,no front rest.

Shoot from bipod or sand bag.
u
Powerline ,open field or such.

No sighters, one shot,groundhog target and your word that you won't be out there bangin' away at 633 to get ready.Like I said,hunting conditions.


How are we going to get the weather to cooperate...14mph wind?

I believe the above replicate real world hunting conditions.

Comments from campfire members???




Name the time and place.You do it Sir and I'll buy you the best meal you can find in Williamsport and shake your hand afterwards. [/quote]

GET RESERVATIONS!!!!

Belly shooting off a bipod.I can use my "Hunting" gun,right???Can I use a rear sand sock or bag?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />...Now would it be a 100,300 or 500 yard groundhog target????I have a ton of all.Let me know..I give you my word.No shooting...With hunting season coming up I will be busy the next few weeks.You are more than welcome to join me a day or two.Ok just to make this interesting.If the wind is below 14mph.We will move the target to 683 or maybe 700 yards if you wish.Fair is fair.If I don't do it I will buy you the best meal you can find.I hear Micky D's has some fine grub <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />..Where abouts do you live????

Do people really carry that much equipment with them hunting. I have ranged distances in some of the fields I hunt and power lines, but not while I'm hunting. Which I have never been varmint shooting. I do shoot my rifles during the year to stay tunned up for hunting deer. I pactice at different distances 100, 300, 500. Thats range finder distance. I have both my bean field rifles zero at 300yds. I however do not take many shots at deer over 350 yds. I have made some one shot kills at 450-500yds, but I only take those long shots if conditions are good. I do think that anyone who takes a hailmarry shot and really do'nt know what there rifle does at long range is irresponsible. I hear guys talking about they shot one at 400yds and they got blood and where bragging about. That dumb, but I think most hunters will agree that if you shoot enough deer sooner or later one will get away or you will miss no matter what the range.