Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game ELDX bullets and close shots

Makes sense to me.

This is one of the benefits of practical-style rifle matches; they give participants practice both in SR and LR shooting and in quickly devising and building solid shooting positions in field-type conditions.

I will point out that high BC is very useful in accomplishing the two criteria that you mentioned, a bullet arriving at the intended POI at a decent speed. BC value isn't black and white, sufficient or insufficient. It's a continuous scale of helping the shooter place the bullet correctly and ensure it expands correctly when it arrives on target.

How do those 155 Scenars act on elk at 308 vels both up close and out a ways?

As I recall the elk I've shot with Scenars were all medium range - like 200-300 yards or somewhere in there. The 155 Scenars like to exit! Frankly I've shot more elk with a 223, and it works fine too

Thanks!

PG, thanks for your insights.

I’m so old I remember when Nosler was not a boutique bullet maker.

Practical-style rifle matches are an option, but at the same time they aren't very practical for a lot of shooters, whether because of a lack of desire to compete against others, or the time and expense involved with attending a shoot (for a lot of folks, taking a weekend off from their duties and driving several hundred miles isn't an option).
Something like Carl Ross' Positional Drill is something I use and recommend.
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...ositional-drill-postal-match#Post9213006
Doesn't take much in the way of specialized equipment, and only takes a 100 yard range that allows the rifleman to shoot in positions other than the bench, which opens the training availability up to a lot of folks who don't have access to a long range facility. Also doesn't take a lot of ammo, only 20 rounds per session, so not terribly expensive to get into for the average hunter. A hunter may certainly modify the drill as they see fit to suit their physical abilities or equipment, like for instance I don't use shooting sticks, so generally do the drill as offhand, kneeling, sitting, and prone.

I agree that any training is better than none, but having spent a lot of time shooting various drills, including shooting Carl’s a number of times, it is certainly not a replacement for a PRS- or NRL-style match. I realize that shooting such matches, even at a local or club level, isn’t feasible for everyone, but I strongly encourage anyone who wants to improve their field shooting and is able to participate, to do so. NRL-Hunter matches seem especially relevant. Even if a person has no desire to compete against others, the variety and novelty of stages presents new and interesting challenges that test and improve a shooter’s ability to adapt and improvise in the moment, and the pressure of shooting on the clock and in front of spectators creates resilience and the ability to perform when in high-pressure situations.

Of course, Carl’s drill tries to replicate some of these elements as much as possible, but it’s just not the same level of training. As an example of its relevance, I have had my son participate with me in small, local matches as he was becoming old enough (12 years old) and preparing to hunt BG here in AB. As a result, he was well-prepared for field shooting when he finally had his own tags to fill. His first deer was a WT doe at 70 meters that he killed from sitting while holding the rifle against an improvised rest (tree trunk). Chip shot. The next day, he felt confident and prepared enough to kill a yearling MD at about 375 meters from a low standing position (locked knees, bent at the hips) while resting the rifle against a large hay bale. The shot was placed perfectly. That is a shot he has practiced many times, thanks to his training and participation in matches that have simulated that shooting position and those types of distances.

I’ll reiterate again, however, that I strongly agree with you that any type of drill and training is good, and if shooting in a match or two is not feasible, drills like Carl’s are fantastic training to improve one’s field shooting skills.

Gopher hunting on foot as a kid with a 22 in hand does as good a job as anything. Had lots of 500 plus kill days

Gopher fields are great. Heading to the field every day after school while growing up was fantastic for honing field shooting skills.

It sure is. And about the most fun a kid, or grown man, can have.