Long range shooting
If you were starting out long range (500 yards)shooting what would you use?
Gun? Caliber? Scope?
Gun? Caliber? Scope?
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I was at the range this weekend and took my first long range shots. I was using a Rock River .223 with a 20" barrel and a bi-pod. I sighted in my new scope at 100 yds and then shot the rifle at 200 yds hitting all in the black on the target.
I then went to the 550 yd range and was able to put 8 out of 15 on the target with one in the black. Since this was my first attempt at shooting anything over 100 yds I was pleased with the results. Problem is my thoughts since Friday have only been with ways to improve my long range shooting. Not only at the 550 yd range but I want to shoot at the 1000 yd range.
So after that background my question...
What would be appropriate calibers and rifles for target shooting at 1000 yards.
Also any pointers are appreciated0 -
One last thing, at the end of the day it's not about how tight your groups are, it's if you can effectively take down an animal while your pulse is racing, and your heart is beating out of your chest. 0 -
For starters, the more precise you are with your rifle, the less likely you are to wound an animal. Just common sense. Secondly, trophy animals have not gotten that way by being stupid. The chance exists that you may have to take a 400+ yard shot to bag that B&C animal. I would prefer to know that both myself and my rifle are capable. The longest range I have access to on a regular basis is 385 yards. Drill a few clay pigeons at that range and feel your confidence escalate.
This is not to say that the guy who takes 1000 yard matches with his 21 pound bench rest rifle rifle is an expert hunter just because he can shoot a target gun well. But being proficient with your hunting rifle will reward you in the field. White tail deer in Kansas are one thing. Trophy Elk or monster Mule deer bucks are quite another. A 1/4 mile shot may be your only chance at that 6x6 Wapiti.
Save the seals-club a liberal instead.0 -
I've always felt that proficiency with my hunting rifle coupled with a proficiency for the basics of marksmanship, leaves little to be discussed when taking a shot at a game animal. If I'm taking a shot at a deer, any deer, doe to 10 point; The last thing I want in question while my heart is pounding, eyes are blurry, and shaking off the cold, is my marksmanship. There's enough influence to screw up the shot as it is. What it will not be, at any distance, is my shooting.
Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my gun.0 -
There's a time and place for everything in the world of firearms, I have to wonder what kind of physical shape you'd have to be in if after crawling on your belly for 400 yards, your breath is ragged, your heart is beating its' way through your ribcage, and you're taking a shot at something.
Long range marksmanship is one thing, but hunting for a long range shot at a game animal instead of stalking for the optimal distance at which you could cleanly take him is silly.
Magnum calibers are not that far removed from your pet ought-six; some folks can shoot that far accurately with smaller calibers carrying a "magnum" designation.
I like my 300WM due to the fact that I never feel undergunned when I'm hunting, and it will cleanly take any animal I encounter on this continent (even if its' driving a Greyhound).
"Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit" --OVID0 -
to be perfectly honest, a 30-06 is overkill on a whitetail. i believe the 243 and 6mm on up to the 25 calibers are better on whitetail. i have shot deer with 270's and 30-06's that have destroyed entirely too much meat. most people who consider themselves expert hunters generally spend a large amount of time in the woods along with a lot of time at the range. i wouldn't consider myself an expert, but i kill my fair share. i don't like to go trouncing around in the woods in may, june, july. rattlesnakes and copperheads generally shut that down for me. so instead, i go to the range and my shop and get my guns tuned in to shoot the smallest groups i can get. the smaller the groups are, the better able you are to put the shot exactly where you want it. for deer hunting, i guess a 3 inch group would be sufficient. i prefer to get shots into really tight places. (laurel etc) and a 3 inch group may not cut it at that point. thats where you need sub moa performance.just my opinion and the range is actually a fun place to learn things. maybe if you went there more often, you could have formed your own opinions about mini-14's and ar-15's. most people will let you shoot what they have at the range because gun owners are generally good people.
When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.0 -
There are hunters/shooters and then there are gun enthusiast who don't hunt but find just as much enjoyment in shooting that "pop can at 500yds" as you do stalking the animal your after. For someone whos never tried it you sure knock it, go try it I beat you'll have the biggest grin on your face you ever had. 0 -
Then there are those shooters who spend the time shooting targets at long ranges, (and yes, maybe occasionaly with their Benchrest rifle) and who can feel quite confident in taking the clicks on their target/tactical scope to zero their rifle at that 500yds, and feel as though they are NOT doing that animal a dis-service due to their ability at that distance being the same as the majority of the weekend warrior's ability at 100yds. Stalking game across wide open areas without hills/draws is a joke. try to stalk a deer across a soybean field in the bright sunshine,..they let you have 500yds, but then they are gone. For this purpose, one must be proficient at distance, and they need to take capable equipment as well. Of course that's just hypothetical and I don't know anyone like that.
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?0 -
I knew that I would probabley piss some people off with this remark, but I in no way was trying to affend anyone. Yes, I have shot at long ranges on the shooting range and had fun with it. But I also believe that to much tinkering around with your gun can be a bad thing. Like in golf, it would foolish to spend most of your time on the range than playing the course because they are two different things. Sorry, this is just the way my dad raised me, when you know your land as well as the deer there is know reason to have to take a long shot. And for me anyway, it has always been more gratifying to know that I fooled the deer instead of shooting him at 500+ were he didn't have a chance. 0 -
Ain't no stalking the wily Prairie Dog, Hoss. You take long shots at small targets. Now, some don't consider varminting to be hunting, since you damn sure wouldn't eat 'em, but it's the reason I want to be able to hit a pop can at 500 yards.
"When the going gets weird, the Weird turn pro"
Hunter S. Thompson"0 -
There is room in our sport for all aspects, shotgun, rifle,various pistol and revolver matches, hunting etc. To each his own. I personally enjoy anything with a trigger.
Col.Plink, I will be in your neck of the woods this coming week shooting prairie poodles[:D]
Keep Your Powder Dry
NRA Life Member
The only criminal class that is native to the United States is congress.
MARK TWAIN0
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