BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[91xlt]

CVC wrote: I don't think that the military sniper does was suggested to be the same as long range hunting, but instead used as the standard for long range shooting; .

good point. :yes:

[Don Fischer]

I guess long range is never really clearly defined. Somewhere between 300 +/- yds on out to the absurb. Also seem's to me that maybe the perception of a need for a long range rifle is really just that, perception.

Not only here but on other sites where this subject comes up, it seem's most people concidering it or doing it are people that live where you can't see that far. They come out west and can look across two county's and decide they need a cartridge that will shoot across them, just in case!

Now we have our own fair share of long range people out here too. And there are places here where stalking can be a real problem, eastern Colo being one, in places. But we choose where we hunt. Well I think some people out here keep this perception alive for reason's of their own and they have no bearing on what is normal or necessary. We shoot at X# yds because we can. Not because of nesessity.

As to a good cartridge for long range hunting, it's the same as say 200 yd shooting. The point being, it takes the same exact thing to kill something at 2000 yds as it does at 50 yds. It's simply easier to deliver the blow at 50 yds. The 250-3000 has killed lots of deer even out to maybe 300 yds. I strongly suspect that a 308 Win will deliver more power at 500 yds! Yet according to some the 250-3000 is a 300 yd deer cartridge but the 308 win is not a 500 yd deer cartridge. How's that work?

As for the ability to hit due to balistic differences, once you start raising the muzzle to compensate for bullet drop, you need to be a shooter because you have left the area where the cartridge has the ability to place a good hit without help from the shooter. Because of that, a 25-06 that you can score good hit's with at say 500 yds is much more effective than a 30-378 you can't!

[Highflyer]

Don, good points.

CVC: what you said on your last post is what I was trying to say - you just put it into better words. It's not a perfect comparison, but still very valid if one is discussing or philosophizing about such a thing.

[onesonek]

Don Fischer wrote: I don't do this thing called long range hunting. My hunting rifle's are zero'd in for max point blank range and I shoot within that range, usually far less.

I'm enjoying long range shooting but I leave it as a sport of it's own. Long range shooting is shooting at target's at long range. Should something go other than as I expect, I prefer that target to not bleed.

I'm with Don here.
Well with the exception of the likes of crows, ditchtigers, and prairie dogs etc.
But for big game like Don I set up for point blank range(1/3 the intended animals kill zone for me). Then I practice from field positions on steel gongs, 1/2 the size of the intended animals kill zone.
I back up untill I can no longer put 3 consecutive shots on the gong. The distance at which the last consecutive hits were made, is my max range.
Now normally I can "fudge" the pbr some and go longer. But it matters little,the 3 hot rule stands. This gives me a built in margin for error.
With most of the center fire stuff I shoot, this puts me in the 250-275yd range.
Personally I like to hunt, and get as close as I can.
There are some cartridges out there that can push "my rules" another 100 yds or so, But really when it gets much beyond 300,, too many things can go wrong, turning a clean kill into wouded tracking job. Doping the wind, reading the grade, and judging distance when out that far, becomes critical. Not to mention, the animals movement at the wrong time at that range can mean the same wounding results.
I'm not condeming others and what they do, it's their choice. Although I do feel there are some that do it just to showboat or are there for killing. This is just how I look at it, and what works for me.
Dave

[aksheephuntress]

....I am a little late on this thread....I am a new member. I really learned a lot by reading all the different posts on the subject, especially since most of all our harvesting shots (successful, I might add) for sheep,black bearand Kodiak brown bear,have all been at 400 yards. My guy and I have never had a shot on a sheep less than 300 yards.
....Though I believe, for hunting ethics sake, that one should try to get as close as possible before taking a shot....that KNOWING THE BALLISTICS capability of your gun,whatever the make or model......at different yardages, and a working knowledge thereof, is so impotant.....

[Len Backus]

91xlt wrote: Was wondering which long range hunting cal., make and model rifle you are using?

When using a rifle, most of my long range deer and elk have been killed with a 7mm Dakota chambering. This is pretty comparable to the 7mm STW in velocity. Most of my kills have been between 500 and 600 yards with one at 690. Most have been one shot kills with a 176 grain Cauterucio VLD at about 3100 FPS. Custom rifle with McMillan stock and Nesika action.

Two years ago I started hunting in a county of Wisconsin that doesn't allow rifles but does allow centerfire handguns. So I had a custom XP-100 bolt action handgun made up in 6.5/270 WSM. I shoot a 141 grain Cauterucio VLD bullet at about 2,800 FPS out of the 18 inch barrel. I shot 2 deer at 200 yards and one at 501 yards last fall.



This was my second year hunting whitetails in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. On opening weekend all around me I could hear boom, boom, boom, boom...until the neighbors' shotguns were emptied on running deer. Running at 30mph through open farm fields or dodging trees with shotgun slugs slamming into thick branches. Most were missed repeatedly. One limped onto my friend's land and then on to the next fusilade on the next-over piece of land. Funny how you rarely read criticism of guys shooting at deer while they are running or while they are hiding in brushy cover.

Meanwhile, I calmly waited for the perfect shot opportunity at a known range, with good wind conditions and an undisturbed quarry while shooting prone with a small sand bag for a rear rest. Without a doubt, my success is an order of magnitude greater than a huge number of hunters who don't shoot "long".

91xlt, this is a very fine hunting forum site but if you would like some more answers to your questions about the topic, take a look at http://www.LongRangeHunting.com

Len Backus

[CVC]

Len,

Welcome, nice post and nice pistol.

[Don Fischer]

Welcome to BGH Len. that's some pistol! Now I see a place were the short mags could work. Great idea. Know of a guy that built a 7mm STW on a 40X action. He has to remove the bolt to eject the case!

[Len Backus]

Thanks for the welcome, guys.

Don, this is my first bolt action handgun. I have a modification kit in hand that will give me outside control of the bolt stop. It was a pain in the butt to have to remove the bolt to unload. I'll get it installed before spring.

[Don Fischer]

I think it's just like the 600 isn't it? Little tab inside the action at the back on the left side you need a small screwdriver to get at? Never understood why they did that?

[Len Backus]

Yes, just like that.

[cowgal]

Welcome to BGH Len! :D

Good looking pistol!

[italianhunter]

I hunt Roe Deer in the hills near Florence and Siena from 100 mt to 800.
From 100 to 300 I use :
Rifle Weatherby Sauer in 224 Weatherby Magnum
Riflescope Swarovsky 3-9-x 42
Bullet Sierra 63 grs at 1050/ms
from 300 to 800 I use
Rifle Sako TRG 42 in 338 Lapua Magnum
Riflescope Zeiss 6-24 x 56 Mil.Dot.
Ammunition:
Case Norma,
Powder N165 92 Grs.
Bullet Sierra 250 grs HPBT Matchking.
velocity 900/ms

[Don Fischer]

Welcome to BGH Italianhunter.

[Len Backus]

I visited Florence and found it to be my favorite Italian city. Just beautiful!