quote:

Originally posted by RUNAS:
AH I think yall been "PUNKED"!

thats the funniest shit Ive read!

RUNAS

quote:

RC:
First, I don't have a problem with long range hunting.

I do have issues with what went on in this video.

Issue number one is with the shooter's attitude that a big game animal is a "practice target" and that the shot was "good practice". Varmints, paper, and steel are "good practice", not big game animals on which millions of dollars are spent managing.

Issue number two is the choice of cartridge. A .243 firing a 105 grain bullet is not the best choice for a long range big game cartridge. Great for prarie dogs and coyotes at that range of course.

I'd like to hear the reasoning in both cases.

quote:

JB:
I am a little perplexed by the comments concerning the 243 Win 105 VLD combo.

In the video it is very apparent that I screwed up the first shot and hit the doe right in the middle of the body. Very much a gut shot.

She is on the ground in less than 20yds. How much more should I have expected out of a cartridge?

When I talk of using the does as practice it certainly not because I personally value them less but instead because of the reduced pressure associated with a doe hunt.

In other word we can always walk away from a shot (not take it) and find another opportunity pretty quickly. As you can see from the video the buck in the group would have been a more difficult target due to the fact he was constantly on the move.

Until you are able to make it work out at long range on a less stressful doe type hunt you most likely should not be shooting at trophy bucks at long range.

quote:

RC:
As to the cartridge choice, don't be perplexed that you are hearing some questioning about it. From a common sense, experience and physics base, it is not adequate IMO for big game at 740 yards. Things go wrong as you were man enough to show. I know that antelope are not the toughest big game animal to kill and don't want to get into energy, momentum, OGW formula, or TKO values. I would simply refer to the guideline I quoted to start the post. If I were purposely going out to kill an antelope or other big game animal at the ranges you or any other long range shooter does, I would choose a cartridge capable of firing a heavier bullet that would create more damage from any kind of hit. Vital or marginal. "Marginal" happens at long range as there is more margin for error. At least choose a cartridge/bullet combo that isn't "marginal" at that range to begin with.

I have seen this problem in your one of your other videos. A 6.5 Creedmoor/129 grain SST used to kill a 6x6 bull elk at 600 yards. A 6.5 Creedmoor is not the best choice for an elk cartridge at any range much less 600 yards. Can it be done? Yes, and you proved it could. Is it the right thing to "put out there" for the inexperienced to glom onto and try to duplicate? IMO, no. Everything has to go perfectly right or it gets ugly real fast.