Good long-range deer calibers.
10-30-2005, 11:34 AM
#21
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 2,862
RE: Good long-range deer calibers.
I will agree that everyone's definition of a "long" shot is different, so here is my humble opinion. I had a 30-06 for a number of years, and it was a great gun to 300 yards, after that you had better know your ballistics tables real well. I switched to an A-Bolt 7mm Rem Mag, and I havenn't looked back yet. 300 yard shots with that rifle are chip shots, my longest shot on a deer was 527 yards, that deer ran about 60 yards and piled up. Bullet was a handloaded Hornady 139gr SST. Only complaint I have with the rifle is the 26" barrel for getting in and out of stands/vehicles/etc. If I was to do it over and buy a different 7mm, I would take a real close look at the Tikka T3s, as I have one in 243 and it is a tack driver.
Like the others have stated, just because you are shooting a bigger gun, doesn't mean there will be less tracking, 1 shot kills, etc. My 243 made a 512 yard shot on a muley in Nebraksa last year, the deer tumbled 30 yards (it was running when I shot it).
I'm not claiming to be an expert shot, I am just trying to point out if you practice and get to know your gun, long shots and 1 shot kills are feasible everytime you squeeze the trigger.
Like the others have stated, just because you are shooting a bigger gun, doesn't mean there will be less tracking, 1 shot kills, etc. My 243 made a 512 yard shot on a muley in Nebraksa last year, the deer tumbled 30 yards (it was running when I shot it).
I'm not claiming to be an expert shot, I am just trying to point out if you practice and get to know your gun, long shots and 1 shot kills are feasible everytime you squeeze the trigger.
10-30-2005, 12:11 PM
#22
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location:
Posts: 6,357
RE: Good long-range deer calibers.
For a youngster buying a first rifle -- a rifle that is intended to be used for many different game on many different kind of hunts -- it is difficult to beat the .30-06. Remember the context is flexibility here. A standard bolt action is probably the way to go.
If someone is interested in long range shooting, that is specialized shooting calling for a specialized rifle. In my opinion, you are going to have to give up something to get this special behavior -- a heavier recoiling cartridge, a louder muzzle blast, a more expensive commercial load, maybe even a heavier rifle to shoot accurately at long range.
A lot of talk is done about long range hunting, but in fact most game is taken at pretty short range. Additionally, most hunters spend precious little time shooting for practice and hence should not be blasting away at long range. You aren't born shooting well and the skill does not remain tuned and conditioned if you aren't practicing a lot. I have read articles written by guides about the skills of hunters, and it was not encouraging. My memory was that the articles agree that most hunters cannot reliably hit in the vitals at 200 yards -- that means less than 50% (5 out of 10) can hit in the vitals at 200 yards, maybe less than 10%, I don't remember the figures I read. Anyway, the statistics aren't good for the average Joe Hunter to be taking 300 yard shots. I would hate to say what percentage of my shots would hit a paper plate at 300 yards from a field position, an experiment I have not had the occasion to make.
If someone is interested in long range shooting, that is specialized shooting calling for a specialized rifle. In my opinion, you are going to have to give up something to get this special behavior -- a heavier recoiling cartridge, a louder muzzle blast, a more expensive commercial load, maybe even a heavier rifle to shoot accurately at long range.
A lot of talk is done about long range hunting, but in fact most game is taken at pretty short range. Additionally, most hunters spend precious little time shooting for practice and hence should not be blasting away at long range. You aren't born shooting well and the skill does not remain tuned and conditioned if you aren't practicing a lot. I have read articles written by guides about the skills of hunters, and it was not encouraging. My memory was that the articles agree that most hunters cannot reliably hit in the vitals at 200 yards -- that means less than 50% (5 out of 10) can hit in the vitals at 200 yards, maybe less than 10%, I don't remember the figures I read. Anyway, the statistics aren't good for the average Joe Hunter to be taking 300 yard shots. I would hate to say what percentage of my shots would hit a paper plate at 300 yards from a field position, an experiment I have not had the occasion to make.
10-30-2005, 12:18 PM
#23
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central New York
Posts: 271
RE: Good long-range deer calibers.
I have a Remington model 700 Classic in 280 Rem. I absolutely love this rifle. I don't and wouldn't shoot much past 300 yards myself, thats just me. I agree that a bolt action would be the best choice. As far as caliber go's, I think knowingthe maximum range you're gonna be comfortable and accurate shooting at will help determine what cartridge is going to be best for you. I don't think you'll ever go wrong with a 270 Win., 280 Rem or a 30-06. To be honest a 7mm-08 Rem. or308 Win. is really all the rifle I'll probably ever need. Having said that if I was starting over and buying my first new deerrifle I would probably buy a Remington model 700 CDL in 30-06. I would also use this rifle for black bear hunting in Canada, but my 280 Rem. will do this fine as well. Find a rifle that you like and then pick a caliber that will work at the range you're gonna hunt. Good luck!
10-30-2005, 12:37 PM
#24
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 270
RE: Good long-range deer calibers.
I was looking at factory cartridge ballistics and it looks like the 7mms carry their energy way farther. I know its all about where you put the shot but at 512 yards with a .243 sounds kind of unethical. Sounds like you made the shot, but the energy would be much lower than the 1000 ft-lbs supposedly needed to make a clean kill. 400-500 yards would be a really long shot by my standards. If I practiced enough that I could hit reliably at that range the deer are definatly out that far in the fields where I can't really get much closer. 250-300 would be a "far" shot. Are there any of thosereticles that really work on long shots? Seems kind of suspicious to me.
10-30-2005, 01:47 PM
#25
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: fort mcmurray alberta canada
Posts: 5,667
RE: Good long-range deer calibers.
Are there any of thosereticles that really work on long shots? Seems kind of suspicious to me.
10-30-2005, 02:36 PM
#26
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,425
RE: Good long-range deer calibers.
ty...I think we need to back up a bit....nobody has really looked at the customer buying the gun...so its really hard to give good suggestions...
What is YOUR level of hunting experience??? How many 250 yard shots have you made on deer?? What state do you hunt in?? Do you prefer to hunt in the woods or fields??? Do you have elk, grizzly etc in you plans???
What guns do you have experience hunting with?? Will you be shooting varmits with this gun in the off season??
Until we know more about you its very hard to give good answers...
What is YOUR level of hunting experience??? How many 250 yard shots have you made on deer?? What state do you hunt in?? Do you prefer to hunt in the woods or fields??? Do you have elk, grizzly etc in you plans???
What guns do you have experience hunting with?? Will you be shooting varmits with this gun in the off season??
Until we know more about you its very hard to give good answers...
10-30-2005, 04:24 PM
#28
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: fort mcmurray alberta canada
Posts: 5,667
RE: Good long-range deer calibers.
ORIGINAL: bigcountry
If I wanted to shoot long range at deer like 400-500 yards, I would use my STW.
If I wanted to shoot long range at deer like 400-500 yards, I would use my STW.
10-30-2005, 04:57 PM
#29
Fork Horn
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 141
RE: Good long-range deer calibers.
To stubblejumper, one of the problems is that most folks can't hit a barn much past 300 yds and would swear it was really 500. Paces and yards are two different things, not enough people use laser rangefinders, and I wouldventure that only a relative few hunters ever actually take aimed shots at over 300 yds. Thosethat do should be responsible enough to practice frequently at "long range", whatever that may be, and to be as accurate as possible at determining thereal distance to the critter we're shooting at before pulling the trigger.
10-30-2005, 05:16 PM
#30
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: fort mcmurray alberta canada
Posts: 5,667
RE: Good long-range deer calibers.
ORIGINAL: T-bird
To stubblejumper, one of the problems is that most folks can't hit a barn much past 300 yds and would swear it was really 500. Paces and yards are two different things, not enough people use laser rangefinders, and I wouldventure that only a relative few hunters ever actually take aimed shots at over 300 yds. Thosethat do should be responsible enough to practice frequently at "long range", whatever that may be, and to be as accurate as possible at determining thereal distance to the critter we're shooting at before pulling the trigger.
To stubblejumper, one of the problems is that most folks can't hit a barn much past 300 yds and would swear it was really 500. Paces and yards are two different things, not enough people use laser rangefinders, and I wouldventure that only a relative few hunters ever actually take aimed shots at over 300 yds. Thosethat do should be responsible enough to practice frequently at "long range", whatever that may be, and to be as accurate as possible at determining thereal distance to the critter we're shooting at before pulling the trigger.
