Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting What is your definition of 'long range'?

Just when I get used to you having fun at my expense, you change tactics and go to telling the truth. I liked the first much more.

No need to discuss that really, just a bunch of garden-variety white guys.

Sorry, maybe I'm nissing your point but but I can't agree with either the logic behind this assumption or the practicality of assuming a stationary animal will move at the shot.

As dogshooter said, a long-range shooter has time to observe the animal, see what it's doing, and wait for the right moment when it's not moving (and not likely to move) to take the shot. If he's been doing that and has decided the moment is right for the animal to stay still, why would he assume that the moment he pulls the trigger, the animal will move? I don't see the logic. I think what's missing is giving the long-range shooter credit for knowing when not to shoot.

As far as practical applications, if I'm going to shoot at a moving animal I'll be doing something to compensate for the movement----either swinging with the animal and following through for a close-in shot from offhand, or leading the animal some distance for a longer shot from a rest. If it's a long shot I'll be shooting from a rest and swinging just isn't in the cards for me so I'd have to hold a lead. I've done the former with good results but never the latter, if I have to lead an animal at long range I'm not taking that shot because I'm not that good. And there's always the chance that the animal will slow down or stop.

Maybe I'm mis-reading your post but are you saying we should assume a stationary animal will move at the shot and compensate for movement? In other words, on a short shot, swing with the animal and follow through even though it's stationary?

If a close-in animal is moving steadily it's fairly easy to get a feel for how fast it's moving, swing with it, and follow through at the same rate the animal is moving. How woudd you judge how fast to swing on an animal that's not moving? You could say the same about figuring out a lead for longer shots---if the animal is moving steadily you can observe and estimate how far the animal will move in the T.O.F. and then hold for that lead. But how would you judge that distance for an animal that's not moving?

smokepole, I probably worded it incorrectly. What I’m trying to say is.....assume the animal “may” move unexpectedly, at any time. “Not” they “will” move! I think that this should apply to any shot. IMO, the problem with “proper bullet placement” on an animal “unexpectedly” moving .... is increased exponentially with extended distances! I hope this clarifies my point......at least I understand what I’m trying to say! memtb

Wait for them to start taking a dump. That's movement time you can count on...:)

Thannks. You're saying "assume the animal might move, and decide to shoot/not shoot accordingly." That's a personal choice and really none of my business if you or anyone else decides not to shoot for that reason. Not taking a shot is almost never a bad decision.

But I do have a problem with anyone who translates that personal choice to everyone else and says that 100% of 600+ yard shots are "unethical." Because it just ain't so.

I agree! There is not a definitive, one size fits all answer! Last season, I passed on a very doable shot, it would have been my longest on a game animal...but wasn’t a DRT guarantee! Given the location and time of day....”discretion was the better part of valor”! Had it been at 10:00 am in stead of 30 minutes to dark.....I’d have taken the shot! The present conditions, dictate the actions taken! memtb

This is so true, in my experience and from watching these 'discussions' over the years. It seems to be human nature for guys to take their own limitations and abilities, use that to construct their definition of what is 'ethical', and then hold their ethics up as the gold standard that all hunters should adhere to.

As a relative newcomer to LR shooting- I've only been practicing it seriously, and occasionally competing in practical precision matches, for 4-5 years- one thing that immediately jumped out at me was the highly varied skill sets. And the guys at the top of the heap were far better than I'd imagined was even possible. There are lots of highly practiced, gifted shooters for who 600 yards/meters, and beyond, is a chip shot. Even in a stressful, fast paced enviroment, from akward positions, on small targets. I'm not saying everyone is at, or can even reach those levels. But there are lots who can and do. Who's to say where another should draw the line?

It's never been difficult to cypher,who shoots...and who don't.

Hint...………………...

+1

You ssume they will move and others of us will assume we will get the shot INTO the vitals before the game moves.

I guess that I’ve made this too complicated! I try to plan for a worst case scenario! memtb

Hunters are by nature more optimistic than "worst case scenario." At the range where I test there is a sign that says, "Our first priority is safety." I say, "Then stay home and watch others on TV whose first priority is to enjoy life."

Ringman, You’ll have to make a couple of hunts with me......you may want to reevaluate that perpetual optimistic view! memtb

"Long Range" for me depends on the day and the conditions. I shoot defenseless steel plates pretty regularly out to 700 and occasionally 1000. Some days I forget to bring my good eyeballs, but I can usually hold 6" or better at 600. I figure this will help me make a clean shot on game out to 500 or 600 which with good conditions is about my personal limit. Last year I passed on 2 nice mulies, both in the 160 class +-. The first stopped to look back at about 510 then the next day the second one stopped at 480. Both days there was about a 20mph crosswind. I'm from the south and don't normally deal with the kind of wind you get out west so I never even touched the trigger. Ended up taking mine at 210 yards a couple of days later.

At the range, I've shot next to guys who would definitely be able to take ethical shots at a thousand and possibly a bit beyond. 2 of these guys don't like shooting anything at less than 500 and have the trophies to back it up (not that they're too stuck up to pull the trigger on a 180 buck standing broadside at 50). This is far beyond my comfort level, but if I was hunting with either of them and they had a nice 6x6 bull in the crosshairs at 800+ I'd start checking my knife to make sure it was sharp.

There's 5 Mils of wind at 10mph ala my HW97K and 16gr Exacts...at the 52yd line.



It's ALL relative.

Hint................

It get shorter as I grow older.

That's what she said......

Long range?

Way over yonder!

When I was kid, "long range" was 2 body lengths or more. The way things are going, in 10-15 years I hope I can still miss my shoes.