RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

I wont shoot at 400 yards or better... Thats almost 1/4 mile away. Not a chance here...

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Hmm, Read a couple post and thought I would make a comment. Being from the military and understanding the importance of your weapon I have come to realize that we under estimate the capiblity of our weapon. If you practice and learn your weapon enough you can make a logical decision to make an ethical shot at farther ranges than 400 yards. For instance, I shoot a inline muzzleloader and shot this weapon all summer and a few times during the fall before late muzzleloader season in Iowa. I figured out that I could consistantly shoot 200 yards with a 2 inch goup. I had the chance to shoot a nice buck at 230 yards. I didn't waste any time and range the animal to find out the exact range to make an ethical kill. I hit the deer exactly where I was aiming and the deer ran only ten yards. If you understand your weapon and take the time to know where to aim you can make shots farther than you would expect. Just look at what the military teaches their snipers. Making 700 and 800 yard shots with a .308 when a 300 win mag has higher balistics you know darn well that the 300 is capible of farther ranges. Hope I gave a little insight and don't take any of this the wrong way just realize that people who know their weapon can make ethical shots. Just need to spend the time.

River Rat

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

With my current gun I'd never shoot that far. No way I'd take the shot, let alone have any area with enough view distance to see a deer at 400yards. The bullet would just never have enough killing power behind it at that distance in my gun.

Now with a good gun and bullet setup in good hunting conditions, sure I'd take the shot. In most cases though I'd honestly prefer to try a stalk first before taking a long-distance shot. I'm confident with long-distance shots on game with a correct weapon setup and hunting conditions. Give me a .270 WSM or a .300 WSM, a good scope, some good bullets, and time to sight it in at that distance and that'd be a dead deer, unless weather conditions were too poor or some other negative factor that would increase my chances of wounding the deer.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

What the heck......7mm at 75 yards, what good is the gun......down size there scooter! we shoot 500 yards with a 338, and a leupold V3..... If you dont hunt out west dont talk smack......












Brett

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Third largest typical of all time??

TYPICAL BUCKS
HUNTER SCORE LOCATION
1. Milo Hanson 213 5/8 Saskatchewan
2. James Jordan 206 1/8 Wisconsin
3. Larry Gibson 205 Missouri
4. MJ Johnson 204 4/8 Illinois
5. Stephen Jensen 204 2/8 Alberta
6. Bruce Ewen 202 6/8 Saskatchewan
7. John Breen 202 Minnesota
8. Wayne Bills 201 4/8 Iowa
9. Wayne Stewart 201 Minnesota
(Tie for 10th typical position)
10. Peter Swistun 200 2/8 Saskatchewan
10. Brian Damery 200 2/8 Illinois

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Where is the Brad Jerman buck ... taken in 2004? 201 1/8ths
http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2255174

The Kentucky State Record is 204 3/8ths taken in 2000.
What year was your number 3and 4 taken?

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

I've killed 3 over 400 yards with my .270 (Remington ADL) and 2 with my 7MM (Browning A-Bolt). The furthest was 460 yards with the 7 Mag. All 5 dropped where they were standing.

Yeah, I've got witnesses to 3 of the kills

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

My, oh, MY!!:D This being only my 3rd post on here, I got to say we have quite the diversified group here!! I shoot a Ruger M77 270 if ya haven,t guessed, and, I use this for everthing up to elk and up to 300 yds. MAX. (on elk, 150gn. nos ballistic tip) ), , but, can shoot farther with and as accurate in the 90 and 100 gn arena. I use a simple Simmons (150.00 dollar scope), We load are own and I,m comfortable with what I,ve got.

I shot consistently expert in the Marines with an M-16 A1, early 70,s , open sight at 500 meters, ( 1lb coffee can diameter), and was so proud of that, UNTIL, they asked a few of us SPECIAL ones to TAD with a Recon Ranger Unit, and a week on the firing line with these cats! Decided to get out,BUT, got to see some of these guys hitting softball size targets,OPEN SIGHT, at 600 - 800 Yards.

You hunt with the expectation of taking your animal quickly and humanely, It,s NOT, a MARKSMANSHIP, competition!;)

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Deer! 200 yardZero 400 yard shot
300 mag. 150 gr velocity 2120 energy 1496 drop -18.4
30-06168 gr vel 1866 ener 1299 drop -25.1
7mm Mag.160 gr vel 2109 ener 1581drop -20.8

7mm mag

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

If i could see 400 yds it would be two things a camara and my 30-06. I would only take at shot at 100 yrs or less.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Nope, dont practice that far of a range.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

If you are confident, go for it.

I'm a deer guide though... and most of my stands are set up with shots from 50-75.

Most people have a hard enough time hitting deer at 100 as much as they are shaking.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

i would take the shot every day and not think twice about it, 500 yds isnt that far. every marine has shot a 500 yd range w/ a .223 round at a human torso. im accurate atleast 8 out of 10 head shots open sights. but to make sure of the kill i would go w/ the cheytac .408. if you havent seen it check it out. i want one, its only about $14,000....to answer the question again.... yes i would take the shot w/ my model 700 .308 modified

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

7mm mag for me, probably the best all around gun.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Yes I would with my BBR in 270 with 52.5 gr IMR 4350 powder, 150grSierra Game King boat tails.


Spudrow from Mo

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Who is the guy that said he'd use open sights? Come on now.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

I agree 400 yards is a long shot. Average shots when we go hunting is between 75 yards to 250 yards. Using a 7mm. The longest shots are border 300 yards. But that is what we practice year round. I was raised to respect hunting and the outdoors.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Now, if it were say an elk, would you still shoot?

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Holy thread resurection Batman!!!!

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Yeah. I got to thinking about how many people had replied and I figured with the new faces since last fall and winter alot of people never saw it.;)

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

id take the shot with my 300 wsm.....last year i shot my elk at 410 yards

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

300 WIN mag. very very flat trajectory tons of knockdown(overkill for whitetail but whatever)

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Aren't you the same kid who sliced up his bowstring by letting sharpened broadheads roll around freely inside a bowcase during travel?

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

i agree so i wont shoot
crap i feel bad shooting over 100 lol like them close ,no rush like it

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

I did two years ago, 365 yards. .270 (light grain, can't remember #for sure) Put in on his shoulder blades and hit him in the heart. One shot, now he's on my wall.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Not quite sure what that has to do with taking a 410 yard shot? Trying to "stir the pot" a little huh?

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

I think that's why the .270 was created, deer, long range.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

OK, how many would shoot at 400 yards on a considerably windy day? And I am not talking about those guys who set up on a beanfield with the wind gauges and all that stuff. I am talking about the guy who is stalking and is pretty much only carrying his rifle. If someone thinks they could mathematically and accurately estimate the winds effect on the bullet at such a distance I really would doubt it. You would be taking a big risk NO matter how good a shot you are on paper, or how good your rifle might be.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

I would have no problem taking a shot at 400 yards. My 300 win mag is rated for 1,000 yards, and 400 is just like a walk around the block. ;)

Seriously, I have shot my AR from 300 and 400 yards with pretty reliable accuracy. I agree with several other posters that 400 yards isn't as far as it sounds. Now, I wouldn't take a 1,000 yard shot. It really boils down to the shooter.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

As much as I love a close range hunt(bow or firearm), there is a different type of excitement that exists whenkilling a game animal at long range.... weather it be a whistle pig at 400yds or a trophy whitetail.

Ok, there's 180 inches of mohagany, 400 yards out,standing in a 200 acre field of harvested horsecorn in Iowa.....lets see, I'd be laying in the prone position, bi-pod opened on the 300Win-mag, hat turned backwards, tip of finger gently on the trigger......exhaling veeeeeery sloooowly...........and happier than a hog in doodie.;)

It kinda happened that way on a muledeer/antelope hunt inWyoming. My friend Ron and I crawled about200 yards or so in wet snow, through a herd of cows(funny as hell and very hard not to laugh) on The TTT ranch. After about 45 minutes of that, we reachedour goal. Itwas the edge of a ravine where6 or eight muleys weregrazing on the other side of it...one of which was ahuge 5x5.I didn't think twice about it. I used the fence post as a rest and put the cross-hairs of the 300 right on the line of thedeers back(knowing it was roughly 400 yds).....and pulled. The buck droppedin the scope faster than the gun blast echoed through the ravine. While retrieving the animal, our guide ranged it at 420 yds.

I really enjoyed that hunt. It was different for me because Iusually never get a chance to shoot that far in wide open plains. There wasdefinatelyfeelingof accomplishmentand excitement, and would shoot that far againin a heartbeat.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

x2

I would be shooting a custom 7mmstw with a 3x10x42 swarovski scope.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Former military chiming in here. Yes I would take the shot, .308 (7.62x51mm) 175 grain round. It would do the job and them some. I would not go past 500yds with this rig partly because I don't have many chances to shoot long range anymore. If I did and practiced at those ranges I'd take the shot. Either with the .308 or something in the 300WSM ranges to include 30.378 cal. Problem with these is if you do a lot of shooting about 2000 rounds the barrel is shot out. The .338LM is like that. I'd like to try the 6.5 Grendel stays supersonic at 1200 meters and less affected by the wind also. That 6.5 would cause me to go back to the long range meets I use to go to.

Anyway .270 cal would be good, 30.06; 6.5x55 Swedish would also fit the bill.

Now someone has mentioned ethics and hunting. Most hunters don't need to shoot past 150yesbecause they do not take the time and practice, practice, practice. Shot placement and the willingness to shoot in all different extremes and weather goes a long way. The two biggest obstacles are accurate range estimation and reading the wind. If you can't do that don't go past 200 yds.
The only way the shot becomes unethical is if the rifleman/hunter does not do his job and does not pass on the shot. Think you can’t hit at 300 yds and can’t do it on paper? Move closer to the target till you can hit the bulls eye consistly. That’s as far as you should shoot. Every one is different, one hunter should not shoot past 200 and for another it may be farther.
I routinely take deer at 150 to 200 yds with my .223 69 to 70 grain rounds and never had to track one down. One shot, one kill. Same with the 30-30 and both my .308's.

In the end stick with what you are comfortable with.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

i would take out a .338 or a .308

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

I personally would shoot using my
Remington 700LE
, I shoot 1/4inch groups at 400 yards using Blackhills ammo.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

I honestly don't know if I'd even attempt that shot.I hunt in areas that a 100 yd. shot would be a long shot.If I did,I'd use my .270.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

of the choices given... a 7mm mag because that is the only gun listed I have!

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

I wouldn't shoot because where I hunt, if it does not drop in it's tracks, there is about a 99 percent chance that you won't find it. I would be shooting a 308 Browning A-Bolt with a 4x12 Nikon scope. It would also probably take the best part of a day to get to it and get it out so unless it was early morning I would pass for that reason alone. I might try 300 yards if it were on the same side of the canyon that I was. I would much prefer 200 yards. There is no animal worth me taking a Chancey shot.

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

/wink if you aint cheating you aint trying

RE: 400 yard trophy?
 

Agreed :Dvery hard to believe even if you were handloading...unless of course we have a world class benchrest shooter here!