I totally agree with Starman, With my 30-30 I have it sighted in at 100 yards. But realistically, unless you're hunting in Montana in the mountains your shot will normally be any where from 30-80yards away. When hunting in woods, trees would have to be far apart to try a longer shot. I have shot 80 yards with my 30-30, and that is as far as I would try. But many guys and gals are really good shots, so they may feel more comfortable taking a longerr shot than I would. My Dad used to tell me stories of when he would hunt out west, he could take the shot, look through his scope, and watch the impact of the bullet. I think a lot of guys could tell stories their fathers have told them that made their jaws drop.

In my opinion more than just the capabilities of the rifle/cartridge must be considered when taking shots at extended ranges. The rifle/cartridge must have adequate energy and accuracy, but the circumstances and the skill of the shooter should be the primary considerations. If you have the skill and shoot regularly it is "reasonable" to take field shots at extended range when the circumstances are right. By way of example, I recently killed my first Pronghorn Antelope at 450 yards. He was broadside in the middle of a large sagebrush flat. The distance was known because I had checked it with a laser rangefinder. I was lying prone with a solid rest across my daypack that was placed on a rock. The wind was calm. I was shooting a rifle that I know very well, and most importantly I regularly practice shooting at these distances. That said, this particular shot was near the maximum limit of my capability.

"If you can't change your circumstances then you need to change your perspective."

To help everyone visualise, I hunt a clear cut part of land that has ranges up to 1km. I set my stand over looking a funnel from one forested part to another. I am set up within 100 yds of the funnel, with the funnel in front of me. However, when I glass the area, I have frequently seen deer hugging the thicket behind me. These range anywhere from 1km to 200 yds away. I use a 30-06 semi and have fired enough that I am a good shot. I just don't want to take a shot that I can't guarantee as a kill.

A hunter a few camps over from us took an extreme long range shot a few years back (a 300+). HE went to where the shot was and found blood. Tracked it all day and nothing. The next day the whole party (their camp, not ours) helped him track it. They found it at about 3:00pm and finally downed it. A story like that just sickens me as a hunter. I always hope for an instant (or quick) kill. I understand that it doesn't always happen, but in this case he should not have taken that shot. If I have to track an animal because I missed at close range, I can deal with that, but on a dice roll like he took, that just sickens me.

Quick kill is better than bragging rights on distance in my opinion.

RuRu12,

Congrats on you Prong horn. A dentist in our area used to droll over doing that kind of hunting. My guess is that your rifle and scope is not the standard deer hunting fare though. I could be wrong. My guess would be 7mm with a pretty pricey scope??

Let me know if you can.

RuRU12,
That is a great shot. What were you using for a gun? What grain of ammo? Does it have a nice scope on it? Congrats. That is a very tough shot at 450 yards.

Starrman

Ron Starr

First off it is all practice, confidence and limits. Know one can tell you how far you can or should shoot...only you can do that. If you have 5" groups free hand at 200 I wouldn't think twice of shooting 200 yards at a deer. Vitals are 7" on a typical deer, you also have the spine up top, not to rely on but it will drop them like now. A 3006 scoped will shoot effectively if the hunter is season and practiced to 300 yards or further no problems. With a 200 yard zero you'd be looking at approx. 7-10" drop at 300 depending on bullet, weight etc. Now if you feel confident only to 100 yards why sight in for 200?

Personally I sight in to be about bang on at 230 with my 7 Mag. I would shoot with the right conditions and deer out to 400 without batting an eye. Now you see here we don't consider anything 200 and under far, but normal. Pushing 300 is a good shot, 300-400 is a long shot and anything above is amazing or just pure luck. My furthest shot was just over 500 yards on coyote and I took out the heart.....PURE LUCK. On deer I have dropped one in the 350 range, skill baby all skill, yeah right. Now I do practice long range shooting, so I am fairly confident on 300 yards shots, but would never attempt anything over 250 without a solid rest or prone. If I can I will try and stalk closer, but sometimes it ain't possible. I have buddies who won't shoot unless the deer is 200 yards or so. Again all personal.

With a bow I am confident to 40 with the right conditions & shot opp. My longest kill was 35 yards. Average is around 20 yards. I practice out to 60 and find it really tightens my 30 yard groups...but would never attempt a shot on game at above 40.

Skeeter,

I was waiting for one you Prairie guys to weigh in on this subject. In answer to my sighting in, I actually sight in several times in our typical seasons. 200 for moose, 100 for deer, and I sometimes go to 50 for bear. Sounds like a lot of firing, but i usually know how many clicks will get me roughly around where i want to be before i fire a shot. I can usually dial myself in with about ten shots then waste about 20 more to get the feel for the jump.

I also know that hunting in the Prairies presents a better long distance view. My view past 100 for deer is usually obstructed because they stick to the outer edge of the thickets. For moose though, I also have long distance views, but 200 is my comfort zone because its what I do best.

My opinion like yours is stick with what you can do, not what you think you can do.

I was using a Remington 700BDLSS in 7mm Rem. Mag. with a Leupold Vari-X 3.5-10x firing handloaded 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. This particular rifle/load is capable of sub 1/2" 100 yard groups when I do my part. This is the rifle that I use for almost all of my deer hunting.

fungunn - Thanks for the congrats on my goat. The example you cited in your previous post is exactly why I threw in the caveat about shooter capability. Obviously the shot you mentioned was beyond that particular shooter's capabilities. I have taken several deer at 300+ yards, and am very confident in shooting at that distance. I certainly wouldn't advocate anyone taking shots that are beyond their capabilities. You definately have the right idea. Everyone should know his/her own limitations and shouldn't take shots that exceed those limitations.

I also threw in the caveat about shot circumstances for a reason. Would I have taken the same shot on my goat if the wind were blowing 20 mph? or if the distance were not known? if I hadn't had a solid rest? The answer is, of course not. The conditions were as near as possible to ideal.




"If you can't change your circumstances then you need to change your perspective."

What about point blank (30 ft.) on a bad angle like straight down through his back with a 170 gr. 30-30? Shoot or don't shoot?

I can keep it in the 10 ring at 100 yards at the range on the rest, with no rest it stays in the paper plate.

BUCKGOBBLER WANNABE

First let me say that I rarely take a shot over 150 yards. Most times there is not need. That said, I have taken a couple of shots out to 400. That is with my 270 that gives me 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards. The last 400 yard shot was at a standing, broadside muledeer. I was prone with my pack as a rest. Even kneeling or if the deer had been moving, I would not have taken this shot.

400 is my very max range.