How confident with your rifle...
 

Wondering how many others feel that after many years using the same rifle & scope and being sighted in to match the most likely shooting distances where you're hunting feel like they just can't miss a shot? I know for sure that if I miss it's all on me. That confidence gives me an edge when hunting. The last few years I missed one opportunity because I overestimated the distance , aimed over the critter a few inches when I should have kept it on the fur. I've been offered other rifle's to use which are way more expensive than mine but I just feel extremely confident with my old gun & scope. I now think everytime I put those sights on a deer it's going to drop that deer instantly because of my confidence in the accuracy of my rifle. Anyone else feel that way?

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

Yes. That's why you and I need to start bow hunting more. ;)

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

:D
Jimbohuntr1, Yes, agreed. LOL
Guess I'm just really pumped waiting for next season already.

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

I felt the same way about my rifle until last year. I completely missed one at 200 yards. Turned out the cheap scope I had on it went south. That was the first deer I have ever missed. Put a Leupold on it for this season and she's dead on again.

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

Know that feeling. My second scope for current rifle was the charm.

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

My deer rifle is just like a third arm to me. I have only missed once with it....first deer I ever shot at. Since then, it has always been one shot, one kill! Sometimes the gun hits my shoulder and seems to fire itself before I even know what happened! The bullet never fails to find it's mark. Between my grandfather, my father, and myself, that gun has killed a lot of deer.

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

im really confident in my mauser now....at first i only had a cheap tasco shotgun scope on it becuase of a large rear sight...well the first year i took my second deer...a button buck with it...3rd year i shot 3...wounded and lost 2 with barely a drop of blood not even my expierienced vetern dad who bow hunted a long time couldnt even track and totally missed one...the scope broke adn we had no idea....it hit nowhere near wehre i aimed.....we found out when i quit and gave the scope to dad..i was done deer hunting...i thought it was me...dad thought it was me...didnt say i should quit but thought it was me making bad shots...well we found out the scope was broke so i saved all summer and put a leupold on it....that year i took a buck and doe on the same morning...this year i took 2 more does with it....i love that setup now.....im confident enough take shots i normally pass...like this year i shot through brush....i knew i could do it...i found a little hole maybe the size of my fist...i put the bullet right through there and right through the does heart...perfect well planned out shot....i wasnt letting her get away...and she was going to bolt if i didnt act quick...she seen me move and was still thinking...i knew i could put the bullet through that little hole....and this year i took a freehand shot at about 100yards....dropped her in her tracks.....i love my mauser

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

I wouldn't want me shooting at me...................:D

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

lol Timbercruiser, I am not going to say anything about myself for fear that I might jinx myself!:D

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

I think confidence is the big element or key in hunting, this includes your knowledge(scouting, etc), abilities (limitations, etc) and your equipment. This only comes with experience and practice...which of course includes missing the odd opportunity;).

I agree with Ruger that is a far as I am willing to go[8D]

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

Anything under 300 yards is meat in the freezer if I do my part, the guns right on.

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

I think that another BIG part of being confident with your rifle is knowing when to shoot and when not to. If I'm not 100% sure that I'm gonna kill the deer when I shoot, I don't shoot.

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

I have a model 70 in 30-06 that my grandpa gave me 15 years ago. When I bring that gun up, center the crosshairs, and click the safety off the hunt is over. I only wish my slug gun gave me half the confidence my rifle does. Oh well.

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

can shoot at deer here as far as you want to on these fields, 300 yrds is all i really want to shoot

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

Being confident in your rifle and your ability to shoot it is a great part of your success, no doubt. I can shoot to 300 yards and I admit it's fun to be able to hit one that far on occasion. I did shoot a doe at 275 this year and it was fun.
But what did I accomplish?

Shooting far just proves you're a good shot! Shooting them up close means you're a good hunter, particularly if it's a mature buck!

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

I am very confident in my rifle as I have used it for close to 20 years now...and my father used it for at least that long before me. However, my ability to shoot it is another matter entirely...;)

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

very few misses are due to the rifle. I hear alot of people blaming thier rifle at the shooting range for poor performance but it's usually the shooter.

Not to say that equipment cannot be damaged but in most cases the poor performace is due to the shooter.

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

I do hit the 10 ring every time from 100 yards!

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

I agree that the sometimes it is the hunter...more often than not. Pull just a little, gust of wind at 200+ yards. That will put anyone's shot off. Confidence in yourself and your gun have a lot to do with it. Your rifle should feel like it's a third arm when you are carrying it. I also agree with the timing issue. If you honestly don't think that you can kill the deer at a longer distance, try stalking it. Get up close enough to where you feel comfortable. When you feel comfortable enough, then take the shot....not before.

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

I've only been using the same rifle and scope for a few years but I feel very confident with it. It's a Rem. 760 in .30-06 with a 3-9X Leupold. But, then again, I'm not hunting fields, I hunt the brush where my shots are never over 100 yards, but I feel confident that I can take any deer running, walking, or standing within range.

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

i hunt with a rifle for 2-3 years and buy another and shelf the one i just finished using i dont know why mabey im just a gun nut. i have been hunting for 25 years and have missed a few , like most other hunters . but it was human error not. my rifle which was at fault .any gun i hunt with is an extension of myself and i am highly confident in my firearm :)

RE: How confident with your rifle...
 

Confident? Well yeah but only after multiple trips to the range and after finding the right ammo. Proud to say I haven't missed yet but I'm sure it will happen some day if I continiue to hunt. You know everyone talks about their first deer but I think the first miss or unrecovered deer would really work me over. So I prepare, keep the gun clean, keep in mind my capabilities, and practice practice practice.