I put together a target holder to elevate a target over the corn behind my range before it gets too tall to do so. I'm going to see if I can stretch the Omega and 325gr .458 FTX to 500 yards this weekend if the weather cooperates. I think I still have enough clicks in my scope to get there...

spaniel

That seems awful abitious, 500 yards with a 325 grain bullet - ought to be a good deal of drop in that one... What kind of energy might you have out that far?

I need to confirm my data from February, but if it holds up I'm looking at around 38.1 MOA (or about 114 inches) of drop to dial in. I know my cheapo Barska Tactical has at least 30 MOA available but I have to check if it has 38.

Energy looks to be around 620 ft-lbs. Given that I cleanly took a doe at 338 yards with 500 fl-lbs of energy (pass-thru on both shoulders), that's pretty impressive energy that far out. This is just target shooting at this point though, not preparation to shoot a deer that far out. I'd want to shoot into some media to test expansion before I did that, I know a 200SW performs well at low velocity but I do not have the experience with the FTX to trust it yet.

Drop is the easy part, shoot at 100yds and 300yds, run the calculations and verify at 400, then move to 500 yards. Wind is the real issue with long range shooting, a 10mph crosswind would generate about SIX FEET of drift at 500 yards. I won't be attempting it with much crosswind, my target backer will not be huge.

Tie a helium ballon centered over the bull at the right height to allow for drop. Be a good wind gauge as well.

Not a bad idea. I actually have some helium in the garage.

I'm going to check the scope travel tonight. I recently purchased a good Nikon spotter for my upcoming elk trip that should be able to spot holes from at least 300 yards, so that will save me from heat stroke checking targets....

That sounds like a fun project Spaniel. But DANG, it's a long walk to the target.

Good luck. It will be interesting to see your results.

I have been told many times and proved it some, that if you want a 200 yd load shoot at 200 yds, if you want a 3,4,and 500 yd load shoot at those distances. Don't assume that a one inch group at 100 yds will be a 4" grp at 400yds. S o those of us that will try this lehigh at extream distantcys this should still still apply, dont ya think? An average size whitetail is 16" from its withers to the bottom of his chest. Thats alot of holdover.

This is with FTX's, not Leighs.... Without a tip the Leigh is not a 500 yd design.

I always shoot targets far beyond where I shoot animals. I practice 300-400 yds more than 100-200.

I got some borrowed time to make some smoke tonight, it was nice and calm. I confirmed my 100yd zero and then went right out to 300yds. It was in the mid-80s so I gave the gun 5 minutes between shots but the 100yd group was still a little bigger than it should have been (about 1.5-2"). The 300yd group was right where I thought it would be, group was just high of center with 15 MOA dialed into the scope. Given my lack of trigger time lately and the temps I was pretty happy with the 3.5" group I printed at 300 yds.

If the weather and my duties cooperate, and I can actually see the target over the corn, I'll go straight to 500 tomorrow. I ran the scope up and I have at least 45 MOA left in it so I have more than enough elevation to get there. I did not save the targets from today but I'll take a pic at 500 yards if I get to shoot it.