Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Your first strike odds @ 400 yds???

Prairie dogs love a stiff wind and heavy mirage. Heck 6 to 12 inches of drift isn't much of a wind. I've killed dogs at 300 yards with more than 6 feet of wind drift working. I've never been dog shooting when the wind wasn't blowing. At least I do get plenty of practice shooting in it.

Did it twice this past winter on caribou. Both lasered. One at 467 and the other at 443. 300 RUM with 150 grain Swift Scirrocos, Burris Ballistic Plex Reticles. 2 shots, 2 dead caribou. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Aw c'mon. Tundra cows shouldn't count. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I see by the cartridge selection, that you've now discovered something a tad more modern than stuff invented at the turn of the century, lobbing large chunks of lead. There's hope for us all!

Good to see thee again, was beginning to think they'd wrapped you in skins and let you drift down to Kuskokwim Bay. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Made over 400 on a running antelope, everything clicked -- direction, good follow, good identification of sex, nothing behind it to hit (house?), running to right (I am left handed so this is the easier way to swing). Don't know if I EVER would attempt this agan even if the circumstances came up the same way. Have done it with a 7 mag on Elk. First strike? A buddy with binocs and no license called the low shot, then high, #3 he said "good". We have done this more than once for one or the other of the group. The other thing is some of the dead shots I have made -- did I really do well or was it a fluke?

K Drake

I'd say pretty good. Shot 2 antelope last weekend, lasered at 342yds and 387yds. 1st shot hits on both. Heart on the 342, spine on the 387.(misjudged the holdover a bit on the second) BRNO ZKK 601 30-06, 165gr Ballistic Tip, 58.5gr IMR4831, old Simmons 4-12x40AO, 200yd zero, prone unsupportted, light wind from 4 o'clock, sun overhead. Shot one earlier in the day between 200 & 300. Didn't have time to laser that one so chose a compromise POA and took it through the lungs above the heart. It must have been closer to 200 than 300 judging by the POI.

Just like it's supposed to be done , right? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Catnthehat

Actually I'd prefer them to be closer but on that day there was no way that was going to happen. Used to be able to say I never shot a big game animal further than 200 yds. Now I can't even say that. I prefer to "hunt" in the field and shoot at the range (or at gophers and prarie dogs.) Long shots mean I didn't hunt very well.

Long shots mean I didn't hunt very well. [/quote]

I hear this often, and I am partially in agreement with the statement, but only partially.
It usually comes from people who live in or around the game rich hunting areas. People who will get many more chances if they screw up a stalk.
But it seems like an unncecessary limitation for a hunter to impose as a hunting barrier. It seems to me, for someone who has traveled a long way to hunt, finally to see a shootable animal, what is needed is a quick sizing up of the stalk closer situation! What are the percentages of actually getting closer without ourselves or someone else spooking the game? If it is too iffy, a practiced long range position is in order.

I wonder how many animals are gone when stalkers finally get closer?

I've pasted stuff at spittin' distance and mighta dialed some dope on others.

While I can't speak for anyone else,I personally like toting a rig capable of both and can't imagine hamstringing my options.

I just like to slam stuff and distance largely doesn't mean dick to me.....................

I'm no "expert" but most of my aquaintances are less so. They alway ask the same question, "What can I get to become a better shot"? The answer is always the same."A membership at the rifle range and a bunch of bullets."

While more trigger-time can't hurt .... I submit that having an experienced shooter spend 20-30 minutes to observe/critique your bench efforts can usually produce a quantum leap in a begining shooters quest for consistency and accuracy. Just doin something "wrong" ... over and over .... rarely leads to doin-it right. After their confidence is built at the bench, do the same process for offhand standing/kneeling shooting.

Otherwise, it's like a juvenile expecting to become a good "lover" by spending more time "whacking his porcupine", versus spending 30 minutes with an "articulate" pro, who can offer immediate feedback on proper technique. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> .... not that I would know .... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Silver Bullet

Into every Adversity ... a little Life must fall

Silver, you are one REAL sick puppy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Next thing you know someone's gonna start a thread on the different names it's known by <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif" alt="" />

Itppowell, you are very right!

Most fellas that ask advice from me at work get the same reply, because they don't shoot nearly enough to get familiar with thier rifles, yet they don't feel that they need to or want to practice as much as some of us do.

They think they can get an expensive bunch of gear and start
punching X's.

Some really want to learn , however, and make the comittment.
Catnthehat

I agree, but the "stalk" is the hunt for me. I like to get close and have on occasion run out of daylight trying to get closer. I do carry a rifle I'm comfortable taking long shots with but prefer close range.

I only travel a few hundred miles to hunt antelope so it's not that big a deal to me.

Stalking is what I am really into when hunting, and when I shoot long, it really isn't that far for some.

However, I am a long range and a 3 positon target shooter, and when I speak of shooting skills, it is painfull to watch some at the range that can't hit a 4" group at 100 yard from thas bench let alone offhand or from the prone.

These are the people I like to help, because it gives them an added confidence when hunting.

Long range (400 plus) is an art in itself, and shouldn't be frowned upon , as it is by some.

It is easier said than done, for sure.

Catnthehat

I chum around with Catnthehat, he can hit targets at well beyond 400 yards, He knows how to do it, he's an excellent shot and owns gear to do it. That being said I only took up this sport about 6 years ago, and I can't reliably on the first shot hit the turkey targets at 385 (our range distance) I almost always hit the second time ( I would say I am at least an average shot fromthe guys I see at our range). At 300 metres it's automatic, anyone that says they can hit 400 + without a ton of practise and knowing precise distances is nuts. It's really hard to judge distances beyond that accuratly and guaging the hold accordingly. Knowing the exact distance is the key, when Cat told me where to hold his 1000 rifle on the target it went BOING when I hit it, but that was Cat's expertise not mine.

I couldn't agree more.

I have killed several critters past 400yds even in the days before laser rangefinders (I have two Leitz military optical rangefinders in addition to the two newer laser rangefinders). This year I have shot 3 shots at game and have killed all 3 animals from 40yds to 809yds. The 40yd shot was at a whitetail doe in Northern Idaho on thursday with my .416 Rem Mag. I finished a 28" 3x3 mulie for a buddy @ 359yds with one shot to the neck (it was neck or texas heart shot) with the same .416. And my deer at 809yds in failing light the day before a big storm was to roll in with my custom .300RUM. One thing that will make it easier for long range shooting is the use of target knobs and a drop chart. Kentucky windage should be a thing of the past for anything past 4-500. Modern calibers shoot flat enough that 400 shots should be relatively easy with hold over and a 200yd zero. Target knobs allow for exact holds and eliminate the height guestimate. The .416 I shoot wears a 3x9 Leupold that was sent back for a top knob and my .300RUM has a 6x18 that was also sent back for a top knob. Practice at all intended ranges is above all the most important thing you can do. I built both of these two guns this year and the .416 has nearly 150 rounds through it (despite shooting 1/2" groups the first load I tried) and the .300RUM has about 300 at ranges out to 1000yds (.416 to 500yds).

Talent is as talent does.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Even if they hit on the second and third shots, they missed the first one and that's the one that really counts. With their own equipment, at a known distance, in their line-o-work, I'd consider anything but 3-for-3 (in the kill zone) unacceptable. Also, blaming it on anything but the shooter is a total crock. After all, it was the shooter's job to 1) pick the appropriate equipment for the job 2) practice with it until proficient and finally 3) pull the trigger on a gimme. Glad I don't subscribe to their mags..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Non-repeatable performance, synonymous with luck, is sometimes good and sometimes bad but never to be confused with skill.

Read a sort of update on this recently by Gen. Boddington himself. Picture included his "group" which was in the lower front leg. Seems he had never actually shot this rifle/load at 400 yds. was using computer generated drop info. Obviously Mr. computer was wrong. couldn't be that the ammo manufacture is a little generous with their advertised load capabilities??
& this from a fellow Marine, fercryinoutloud!
Lesson learned??

I practice shooting ONLY at long range, because it makes realistic shots seem much easier. Lord knows.... with me shaking, off-balance, the wind blowing, etc., I need as much confidence as I can get just to pull the trigger on a game animal. For what it's worth, my Dad always said " If all you got is a long shot, you need to get off your @## and get closer.".