just curious on how far a shot you folks have takin on big game, I hunt in colo. an have talked to quite a few hunters who say they shoot elk out 600+ yds to me this seems unreal yes there are rifles out there that would have enough energy in its flight. to take an animal as large as an elk, but the margin for error is great. wounded elk usually run quite aways.


thanks, John

i have been elk hunting four times scored on three out of four trips and have not taken a shot over 40 yards

I'm not saying that there aren't people who don't shoot (or shoot at) elk that far away but they are for the most part full of crap. Some might think they are shooting that far, but they are way off. The open country makes it seem farther than it really is, from my experience anyway.

If you ever have the time/energy, take a elk decoy and set it up at 600 yards and see how small it is.

I believe only shot distances that I have seen actually measured with a laser rangefinder.People tend to exaggerate distances greatly.How far you should shoot depends on the individuals skill and the conditions.If you practise regularly out to 400yards or 500 yards and can consistantly hit a pie plate from field positions at that distance I see not reason for you not to take a shot at that distance at big game under ideal conditions.If on the other hand you never practise past 100 yards even a 250 yard shot is questionable.If you rarely or never practise your limit may be 100 yards.My personal longest lasered kill on a big game animal was 480yards on a pronghorn.I was shooting prone off a bipod in calm conditions and use a laser rangefinder.I practise regularly out to 500 yards(several hundred rounds per year) at our local range and I was confident that I could make the shot.My longest kill on elk was lasered at 377yards.

I have taken two mulies out 400-440yd. with 30.06 165gr.

500m. is max. for me. Good luck.

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Furthest shot ever was on an antelope hunt +340 yds and that was a standing shot, the animal was still and I don't think I will take another like it anytime soon.

I'd take a long shot only I think i could make it. 600 yards is too extreme but under a few exceptions would I try. I know my dad could probably do it because being an ex sharpshooter for LAPD swat. I would probably miss but who knows. I got to shoot an .50 light barret once at a target 1000M and got within an inch of the bullseye. THat is a shooting experience i'll never forget. Course my shoulder wouldnt let me forget either lol

The truth of the matter IMO is that anything over 300 yards is pretty iffy. I maen a real measured 300 yards. I shot Steel Silhouettes ot to five hundred meters and there are more things to go wrong at that range than things to go right. Even when sighting in our Silhouette rifle off the bench, it is pretty easy to miss completely. A lot of Macho guys like to think that 400-500 yard shots are routine. Wrong. I will shoot at targets at those ranges but not game animals.