Long Range - 400yds + hunting ????

[Vince]

Well said Troy.

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[ElmerThud]

I have failed, much to my dissatisfaction a couple of times. That said, at whatever range, follow up is key.CL

Hi Cloverleaf. Anyone who hunts regularly will fail at some time or other. It's inevitable. At some time a shot on live quarry will not go as planned and it doesn't matter how much of an ethical or skilled hunter you are. Not only that, but failure can occur at close as well as longer ranges.

I have hunted for thirty years and in that time have taken a handful or more of shots that for one reason or another just went wrong and the beast didn't go down as planned. Then again, I'm not talking of shooting just one or two deer a season, but cull management of 300/500+ strong herds spread in small groups over 10,000 to 50,000 acres land area, depending on whose land I've been controlling deer on. (Not professionally, but as a leisure activity)
These days I shoot far less deer each year, but even so, those I do shoot may still give rise to an imperfect outcome which as you say, causes dissatisfaction and disappointment.

The reason I chose to use a 25.06 is it has sufficient fast killing power and most importantly low recoil/muzzle flip, in normal circumstances allowing me to see quarry reaction to shot impact.
It's an important aid to determining follow up shot or further procedure. It's also more than capable of taking all species of deer in the UK.
Cheers, ET

 

[cloverleaf]

"Hi Cloverleaf. Anyone who hunts regularly will fail at some time or other. It's inevitable. At some time a shot on live quarry will not go as planned and it doesn't matter how much of an ethical or skilled hunter you are. Not only that, but failure can occur at close as well as longer ranges."

Yup- it happens. No judgement from me, and as you say it can happen at 30 yards. Just relating my experiences as I have aged and gained more "wisdom"and less mobility. (I used to think I was 10 ft tall and bullet proof despite the crutches and wheelchair ) My hunting is limited to times when I have company now. My time spent on this board tells me that the guys here generally have good understanding of "knowing your limitations". Guys who "flock shoot" antelope at 400 yards don't hang out here much- Im thinkin' :grin:
Incidentally, I love to shoot long range. Rats in the city dump at 100+ yards w/ a 22 was great fun. CL
CL

 

[SJB358]

I practice out to 600 yards with all of my elk hunting rifles. If I can't shoot enough at 600, I try to practice out to 500 at a minimum. I'll always prefer to have that close shot if it's given but I spend a lot of time and money to make sure whatever rifle I'm carrying can reach to 600 with enough energy and precision to hammer elk or deer.

My typical elk shots are on the longer side as well, probably in the 250-300 range but have had plenty of opportunities to take them at 400-500 so I like being prepared.

I know that putting good rounds on target at 500 and 600 makes the 300 yard shots much easier as well.

This years elk was taken at 254 yards with the 7mm Mashburn Super with a 160 AB. Chip shot for the rifle but it was sorta awkward for me... Worked out well though and that elk is darned tasty!

 

[ElmerThud]

Hey there Scotty...a long time ago when I was a boy scout..their motto was 'Be prepared' and I see from your post, you certainly are:..
I know I can hit 10" dia. gongs out to 500yds with my .25-06 and can surely strike them easier at 400yds. But, & here's the thing, I just can't get time & weather to coincide (not to mention the range being available) enough for that range of shooting practice.
Having said that, it would almost never happen in the UK that quarry, especially deer, would be taken at such ranges.

The other downside for me is not having a rifle cal. capable of fast kills at those distances, and because it's not going to happen here, no real desire to get one. Does that make me a dull person or what LOL :?
Cheers, ET

 

[SJB358]

You have capitilized for your environment ET. I can't say id do anything any different.

Your 25-06 is a powerful, precise tool for your hunting area. Same reason I run a 338 most of the time. It's power is never wasted and I'm not left wanting for more either. It's grown to be a favorite along with a fast 7mm. Those two cover a lot of ground.

 

[ElmerThud]

As you say, it's really down to what works best for the land one shoots over. Here in the UK, wilderness is not nearly so great as in some other countries and it's fair to say, many in the UK use larger cal./cartridges than I for similar hunting that I do. No matter, I don't make any judgement on that.

There's not really much right or wrong with firearm choices so long as fast humane kills are achieved and really that's all ethical hunters strive for.

I suppose I don't really have much respect for some of the 'showboating' found on the You Tube site in respect of the big distances on live quarry some shots are taken...and in truth those shown are the 'successful' shots. The doubts arise surrounding those unsuccessful shots not shown.

These are only my thoughts on the footage I have seen, related to what my personal hunting experiences have been in 35+ years of shooting both long range target & deer stalking.
Cheers, ET

 

[longrangehunter]

I think that Nathan and Scotty sum it up pretty well. Long ago I limited shots to the 400+ yard range, then made it under 500 yards, over the last few years I've done a lot more LR shooting, out to 1,200 yards on steel targets, but I still limit my shots to the 600 yards range on Big Game animals I truly care about. That would not include a Wolf simply because they let their pray get away and die a long arduous death so I'm not terribly worried..... and who would, they've done enough damage to the Elk and Deer herds around here that I'm not going to limit myself to letting a bullet fly when I've done enough practice to still put it very close to on Target. Idaho has too many Wolves as it is, heck, the wolves have even torn up the Coyote population to the point I rarely see or even hear them anymore.

 

[RiverRider]

One of those factors is seeing LR hunting being driven by the industry trying to cater to the newer impatient technological generation... Sponsors of hunting shows need to demonstrate their products capability and those LR kills sell. Why wait for a few hours for the game to move into a better spot that may be closer when you can nail em and be done? Why close the gap and risk spooking the game when you can reach out and drop em? When you are crunched for vacation time or opportunities to go, paying a lot of cash for access or guides, the season ending, etc., patience takes a back seat. The "hunt" is just becoming the "harvest".

I see it much the same. The best way I can put it is to think about those kids who have grown up believing there's no need to learn mathematics when they can just punch numbers into a calculator. There's no doubt in my mind that they have not an inkling of mathematical insight, and it's really sad. Pretty much the same stuff IMO.

 

[preacher]

I admire the guys who use the right equipment and practice so they can make super long shots. I detest the average fools I've seen wail away at a herd of elk with their trusty, once a year rifle and factory loads. Myself, I grew up where 300yds was long, long way and that was on a pipeline right of way. 99% of my kills were in deep woods. When I moved here and hunted the sage and short grass prairiesI felt like ol "Carl in Slingblade..hmmm, it was too big", ha. I had no issues in regular mountain hunting. My first bonafide short grass prairie hunt was for antelope near Laramie. It was the wind that spooked me! I had no way to judge it in that short grass and had my bullets hit as much as 6 feet off at 300yds or so! Plus, that wind was blowing me an my little Mod 700 Mountain Rifle all over too. I ended up taking a nice ( my only) antelope buck at 250 but he was running obliquely away from me and I was wrapped up in a snow drift fence. I later in life shot an antelope doe with a 300 winmag Mod 700 Classic at 340 long steps pretty easy, but the wind wasn't blowing! So, for me, I still feel 350 to 375yds ( and I've made some of those here, WY and Namibia) is my limit. I admit that I would rather watch those Canadian snipers on Youtube shoot hadjis with their 50 cals at long range than most hunting shows! Shabing! You gotta love "death from afar" on Ahmed the Jihadi!

 

[cloverleaf]

Went back and read over some of this again, as shooting at long range is something I enjoy even if my "hunting" skills and abilities should not allow it. As I have already said, I try to limit myself based on some hard experience. Also know that some one else will be doing my tracking, is food for thought. Do I really want some one to spend X hours looking for game I have not shot well, in addition to any other ethical questions? All that said, Wyo brings up a good point. Time has become money, or in my case a friends effort. Even knowing what I know, I find myself tempted to take that maybe marginal shot because my time is limited , or because the guys who are helping me out want to see me do well... Anyway I think he makes a good point.

" When you are crunched for vacation time or opportunities to go, paying a lot of cash for access or guides, the season ending, etc., patience takes a back seat. The "hunt" is just becoming the "harvest".

it is a slippery slope...... CL