it is quite fun for me to read your discussion! here in sweden we have a totaly different view about what a "long" shot is. When you reed books and so on they recomend you to not shot att longer range than 125meters on a deer. If you shoot at say 170meters, all your friends will think that you are a fool. and "ower there" you talk about 400+ meters...

LiMe,
Great to see another new member of the best place on the web, for those of us of a certain bent. Remember that some of us like to BS sometimes. Certainly it is better to hunt than just to shoot way .... over........yonder.

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DaggaRon
RAB

Now guys I love a good bullshit as much as the next person. And I must admit that some of these replies fit into the category.

I vote for each to his own when it comes to long-range big game hunting.

I have taken some vary long shots my self.
I am not going to tell you about the successful ones but instead the worst one.
I was shooting a 378 Weatherby mag. With 250 gr Barns X. My chrono says that this averages 3025 fps in my gun. This load is extremely accurate in this gun. I also have a place that I can shoot at any range I want to 1000 YDS for practice.
I ranged a moose across a canyon 3 years ago at 538 YDS. I figure no problem. I am rock solid for a rest, dial in the scope touch her off and proceeded to blow one of his front hoofs off. He got into the brush, to the bottom of the canyon, down the river, then into a swamp 2 miles away. There I dispatched him with a 44 slug in the head 7 hours later. I was sick to my stomach then and still to this day over this.
Scene then I have had the opportunity to shoot 2 more at 400 plus YDS. Both I shot at under 50 YDS. And I feel a lot better about this situation.
So if you are a long range shooter lock and load but be ready to wound one, if you are ethical recover it!

My nickels worth to a never ending (My dad can whip your dad) topic

[This message has been edited by 35nut (edited 12-09-2001).]

Long range shooting at animals should in my opinion be a last resort. I too have shot animals at over 400 yards. I shoot silhouette targets right out to 550 yards and can constantly knock over the sheep targets. But is one thing to be off 10 inches on a steel target and being 10 inches off on a live animal. The last thing I want to do is misjudge range and blow off a leg. That is just what the landowner or anti hunter would also love to see. After working in a hunting store that sells a lot of equipment to 3D archery competitors and hearing them talk about taking 80 yard shots with their arrows. That animal is not a target it can move, and can be injured. We are doing the same thing as these guys pushing the limits of our equipment and ourselves.

Why bother about 300 Jarrett when you have 300 wby and 300 ultra mag to choose from. I would buy a accumark or someting like that, all depends on your budget. 270 wby is nice longrange for white tails. I have been thinking about getting a 270 Wby my self, but already have a 270 win that I love.

I think you should use what you shoot perfectly at these longer ranges if you must. A flat shooting, hard hitting rifle is a must if you shoot animals at a distance. To me it should not be confused with hunting. Are you not skilled enough to get closer? I can make a long shot, don't misunderstand, but hunting should be about the pursuit, out-smarting, sneaking up on, and then making the clean one-shot kill. I know this will probably rub some people the wrong way but, there are other venues to prove your long range ability.

My theory is simple. Don't try to tell me,how to enjoy my pursuits and I won't tell you,how to enjoy yours.

Hunting,often involves shooting. Often shooting,involves Hunting.

The responsible conclusion,is to know and heed your limitations. Whether that be skill or equipment.

Makes for colorful discussion though..........

hello to all, this is my first post here. however i have been reading here for a while. these long range- short range questions allways get me! before my back injury, i hunted with bow, 30-30, 12 gauge slugs, and handguns. now i can not stalk. after two spinal fusion surgeries, i have to shoot at any range within reason. however i still wish to shoot the big bores .416 +. i probably can't shoot anything bigger than a .338, but will try to shoot one before buying one. if you can practice, and hit at long range then there is no difference at game. i have never hunted anything bigger than deer, however i do know the difference in shooting paper and game. thanks halfbreed

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overkill? how much more dead, is dead, than dead?

I like the challange of getting close to game animals. But there are many times you cant get close so a long shot comes into play. If I am on a expensive hunt and a 400yrd shot is going harvest me a nice animal. And the conditions are right a 400yrd shot for me is not all that long. But I practise out to 500 yards. And kill woodchucks well past 500 yards. My gun is set up for 500yards shots and a leica range finder and a BDC knob tuned for yardage out to 500yrds. So far I am 4 for 4 deer at 400 and a little more. But the have been way more times I had to let the shot go because conditions were not perfect

rio12345,

I use a rifle with heavy match barrel in .308 Win with bullet BTHP 168 gr. Very good results till 600 yards

Ok in your opinion what is the best caliber for long range (400+) on whitetails?

I own the 30-378 and the Weatherby .270. I just got my bonus and am looking at different calibers. Any suggestions?

If I had enough I would get the 300 Jarrett, but I am looking more for a gun I could go buy off the shelf.[/QUOTE]

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BER007
Keep the faith in any circumstances
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BBER007@HOTMAIL.COM

My own deer,antelope and sheep rifle is a 7mmstw launching 140 gr ballistic tips at 3500 fps.It has all the power required for animals of this size.For moose,elk and bear I use my 300 ultra mag and 180 gr bullets at a muzzle velocity of 3375 fps.

sorry deerdogs, after 2 spinal fusion surgeries,and 9 months of physical therapy to walk mostly like a human, am i just suppose to quit hunting? stalking is not an option any more.i use to use 30/30, 12 gauge slugs,ruger s blackhawk, and archery. but not any more.i fully intend to buy something with reach.then practice like i did with other equipment.i enjoyed hunting very much. then had to stop for 5 years. i am thinking something like a 300 rum.165 gn for deer, 200 for elk or moose.i"m not ranting here. it's just that some people are not able to ( get so close any more )some people just have to do things differently. the real problem is i still want a big bore. 416 or 404j that would be something. later halfbreed

quote:

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Originally posted by Deerdogs:
Well said Mike M.

Hunting is the challenge of closing with the game to make ONE single sure shot 100% of the time. A lot of this is about respect for your quarry.

Nothing personal but a 400 yard shot on live game says to me the hunter lacks the inclination to get closer through either indifference to the quarry or incompetence as a hunter.

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overkill? how much more dead, is dead, than dead?

Maybe the originator of this post should have just asked the question and left "specific yardage" out of it..

How about a .264 WM.

Halfbreed, dont sell yourself short. Ive had 7 back surgeries in the last 10 years and , if anything, stalking is even more satisfying to me.

No I cant do 1/2 of what I did as a kid but still , it is fun. Like you I am lucky in that rifle recoil doesnt bother my condition. The thought of not being able to stalk is what keeps putting me in that gymn for 1 to 2 hours a day.

It will take time for you, 1 fusion is no little thing, let alone two. Believe me I know!

But you'll be stalking again.Im sure of it............10