Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Your personal, perfect-conditions maximum range on game

I'll continue to try to stick with the 300 yard limit for my first shot.

I have a range finder and reticles that will get me to 500 yards but I don't like doing that on live elk or deer except under rare circumstances. The canyon country we usually hunt simply has too much wind for my taste.

Coyotes are excepted of course.

I did kill one deer at 465 yards [paced at 30 inch pace]. I didn't like the bullet performance and I haven't done it since.

I shot on base teams in the Marines and 500 meters is pretty familiar to me. So is wind. It is the real problem past 500 yards especially.

Our range has 100, 200, 300, 600, 800 and 1,000 yard ranges but I don't get to use them except the shorter ranges. Maybe I should make the time.

I do know where all my main rifles shoot to 300 yards for sure. And that is from positions, off my sticks and off my pack not just off a bench.

My '06's, a 35 Whelan and my 338 I know out to 400 yards. This is with two loads only per rifle. One is a practice load with a Core-Lokt or Hornady and a second load with a premium bullet/factory premium load.

One thing for sure, however far you know your rifles are sighted in for, thats your max distance without question as you have no business, IMHO, guessing a non fired trajectory.

Elevation is or never should be an issue. Wind can be but with a speed meter and experience, wind at 500 M or 600 yards is a gimme, its so easy for me to drop that first round inside the x ring somewhere with a meter and some known data.....but in the field it can be a bit trickier.

I don't know, but I've probably already taken it.

I have no problem with a 1K shot as that is the range that I fire over 2K rounds a year at. That is counting the competitions as well but that being said people who do not practice at that range and don�t know how to judge the wind need to either practice and become proficient or reign in their shot. Reading the drop chart off of your ballistics program ain�t gonna cut it.

The shorter the shot better helps to ensure that all of the variables in the field have less time to impact your bullet as it flies through the air----including for example a less than perfect rest, breathing etc.

I see all the variables being addressed in this topic except for the random motion of the animal.

"Re: Your personal, perfect-conditions maximum range on game"

Off hand 300 yards. From a bench stable rest at least 600 yards.

toltecgriz,



Most undisturbed animals do not play "random motion".

Guess we've watched different critters.

"Most" doesn't answer the question, plus unless bedded, that's not really true. That's why it's called random.

Random can also happen at any distance, if you read the animal, you'll do the best you can, if you aren't reading the animal at any distance you need to rethink your methods.

One can screw up as easy short as they can long. Though a lot of long shots can be at bedded game, and its a fairly sure thing there.

Jeff

I know a critter can cover a bunch more before the bullet hits at 813 yards vice 32 yards. Enough to make a good shot bad at 813.

I can't read women, sure as hell can't read an animal.

Dunno if I can concur on that one Jeff. Margin for error diminishes drastically when distance is increased, hence, most prefer 300 and under - self included. I like my chances better at 100 yards than anyone on the planet's chances at 600.

I can agree that one can screw up as easy short as long. Other factors come into play outside the 'one' long that don't factor, or factor very little, short.

Easy for YOU to say!

Jeff

I have to take advantage of this rare opportunity to disagree with you. Aside from what I've said already, as well as Steely, just to be clear, the bullet is in the air longer for longer ranges, hence greater "random" movement is possible, if there is any movement. Not saying ths shot can't be made, but it is riskier.

I'm resolute on this point.

folks like their chances at 100 more than anyones at 600... I dunno, can't ever recall missing at 600... heck with irons in a match I don't ever recall missing center by more than about 10 inches or so generally,and thats when the wind changes while I'm looking at my irons, not with a scope...

Anyway Id' take most true LR shooters chances at 600 over the average mart mart joes at 100.

TOF is an issue, and sure the odds are higher, but I'm still saying they can move up close just as easy, but the error may not be as much. Though I've had em duck my arrows TOTALLY at 20 yards.... thats pretty close... Yep its oranges to apples, but it always amazes me that folks can be ok with a 25 yard bow shot where the sound gets to the animal abouot 2-3 times faster than the arrow vs a bit longer shot with a rifle.

The best thing is all shots are controllable, IE take it or not, its your call. And that brings us full loop, if I'm 200% confident, its gonna go bang, regardless the distance. In the end though I'm 200% confindent there is nothing EVER thats 100% sure. Regardless of range.

Jeff

Jeff-

I didn't say average mart Joes, I said "my chances"....

1K and intending to expand

900 would be my max under ideal conditions

Like I said, its not a can of worms but a pallet of worms on this thread, if anyone said Jeff O loves to stir it up, they are right...