Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Anyone have a personal limit of 300 yards or less for shots?

I don't shoot at unwounded game at over 300 yards. Not because I cannot make a shot at 400 or 500 yards, but because the Murphy variables grow exponentially in the field after 300 yards. Too many things can go wrong after 300 yards that the hunter in the field is unaware of or unable to control. Unexpected side breeze at 450 yards, animal moves a step during the time of flight, stem of heavy grass unseen, etc.

From what I've seen at the range and in the field most hunters spend far too much time on the bench and not enough time shooting from some realistic field positions. And from what I've seen of hunters shooting without crutches, most should limit their shots to less than 100 yards, maybe less.

I run into a growing number of hunters who carry a ton of equipment to the field and brag about what their rifle will do at 600 yards. For a day pack, I wear a surveyors vest with my lunch, some water, flagging tape, compass, GPS (though I rarely use it anymore), fire starting equipment and a write in the rain small note book. I have my rifle, knife and binocular and often a small 22 handgun on my hip. If I remember, I'll throw in a varmint call for fun. I have never liked packing a bunch of unnecessary junk (bipods, rangefinders, etc.) with me and I'm far more impressed with someone who can get close to an animal before the shot than I am with someone who snipes an animal at 600 yards.

I spent from 1981-2002 hunting the wide open country of Eastern Washington and while I made some long shots early in my hunting career, I came to realize it was far more enjoyable and productive to close the distance. Not hard to do using the terrain to one's advantage. And if I couldn't close the distance I waited for another opportunity. I'm not owed an animal simply because I have a tag. Maybe I should repeat that. I'm not owed an animal simply because I have a tag. I see too much of that attitude in the ranks of hunters and many seem justified in taking low percentage shots or shots beyond their skill level because it's late in the season, the last day of their hunt, a lot of hunting pressure, and on and on.

I like to see us as hunters learn how to hunt again and how to shoot. Unaided and unsupported. Bipods and rests are great but lets learn to actually shoot as well. Learn to take advantage of what rests are available, but be able to make a shot off hand if needed. And limit one's self to a realistic distance based on our abilities. Not every shot lends itself to a back pack or bipod assisted shot.

Assuming no range finders, no fancy scopes, etc. Just a rifle and simple variable scope, are there any guys here who have a personal limit of 300 yard shots and less?
I am trying to decide between a .308 and .270 (maybe a .30-06). Being honest with myself I don't practice shooting much and am one of those guys that picks up a rifle only during hunting season. Vast majority of guys in my area are probably like this.
Is shooting to 400 yards pretty darn tough for these types of hunters? Would a 130 grain from a .270 make going from 300 to 400 yards much easier than a .308/.30-06?

It seems like all the guys on internet forums make it seem like shots to 400 yards are no big deal for them. I know the internet makes people more confident for a lot of things compared to real life.

Just looking for advice from all you hunters here who are way more experienced than I.

300 yards with a magnum rifle, from a supported position, in calm conditions is a chip shot.

Great post👍

Yes. I haven't been practicing as much as I'd like given pricing/availability of ammunition and components, but most times I get out my .270 I shoot beyond 300 yards. I can hit a gong at 550 every time with a 4x optic.

My personal limit on game is much shorter than that. It seems logical to practice with further/tougher targets for a real challenge. If you're able to take 500-600-yard shots consistently on inanimate targets in real-world conditions (get off the bench!), a 300-yard shot on a game animal will be a non-event.