|
Forums46
Topics537,717
Posts9,728,157
Members87,037
| |
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
 Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
#7511457
05/14/19 01:21 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,404
freerange
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,404 |
My first thread to ever start. Ive been a member for a good while but only recently started paying a lot of attention. The stuff im reading about long range shooting has been an eye opener to this old school deer hunter. I have a very specific question and im asking cause I want yalls answers and I don't want at all to stir up ethics questions about shooting animals at long range nor am I wanting to know what an expert can do from a bench.
SCENARIO: Assume you were sitting on the ground shooting off shooting sticks with your every day deer rifle and conditions were pretty ideal. Your target was a stationary pie plate.
QUESTION: At what distance would you be confident you could hit the target with the first shot at least 90% of the time?
Personally, I would feel very good about 200 yds. I would be a little nervous at 225 and 250. From 250 to 300 I could probably practice and pull that off but I ive never needed or wanted to practice at that range so for this question I stop at 250.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR
Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511498
05/14/19 01:56 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271
Palehorse
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,271 |
That sounds reasonable. There are quite a few folks that probably never shoot past 100 yards to their feeder off the window sill of their boxblind.
Under normal field conditions, I try to keep it 300 yards or less. A lot less if I can get closer.
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511522
05/14/19 02:23 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 685
Paralax22
Tracker
|
|
Tracker
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 685 |
I have a few LR Rifles and for some reason I always take them over anything else. I have lots of training in LR and feel comfortable shooting out to 800 hitting an 8” plate. But that is with lots of practice, training, and a few trips to the sand box with a Remington 700. That being said, as I am always prepared and every season I still practice shooting out to 800, my feeder is at 125, the Woodline for furthest shot is 150, and I have not taken any animal in the last 5 years past 180ish (Shooting Pigs on someone else’s place). So as I am ready every season for that shot if needed, I don’t think a .308 at 800 with Hornady Precision ammo would be effective enough that I would say “self, take the shot”! While I am fortunate to have an abundance of Deer that like that 125 range at the feeder, I will stick to that. If ever I have the chance to go on a LR hunt (spot and stalk) I would make sure the 300 WM was ready and I could shoot 600-800 if the wind and altitude was in my favor!
JD
�Living Life One Round At A Time�
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511674
05/14/19 12:04 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,783
Mr. T.
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,783 |
200 yards but prefer to be closer to 100.
Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co.
Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511694
05/14/19 12:26 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,895
unclebubba
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,895 |
With Iron sights, 100. Typical scenario with scoped, centerfire rifle, 300 max.
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511705
05/14/19 12:34 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,883
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,883 |
with my .270 and a 3x9 redfield ( my old everyday deer rifle ) I would say about 200 yards.
with my .257 wby and a 4x16 vortex ( my new everyday deer rifle) about 300 yards.
The biggest thing that has changed imo is the advancement in optics. the increase in magnification has made iffy shots with "traditional" equipment much easier.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: unclebubba]
#7511706
05/14/19 12:35 PM
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,407
Huntmaster
Veteran Tracker
|
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,407 |
Same as you guys and about 90% of every other hunter in the world. This taking shots at 700/800 yards is mostly a over exaggerated myth. (In the real hunting world)
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511713
05/14/19 12:41 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,678
Walkabout
Pro Tracker
|
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,678 |
So this is a “shooting “ question, no problem. We have some shooters here that can really extend the range well beyond 200 yards REPEATEDLY. “Hunting “ well that would be a different story.
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511744
05/14/19 01:06 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,649
Pitchfork Predator
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,649 |
400 yards but I would prefer 300 or less.
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511767
05/14/19 01:37 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,102
Bbear
Pro Tracker
|
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,102 |
Confident of a 90+% ACCURATE hit probability out to 400 yards with sticks and a comfortable, secure position.
[IMG][/IMG]
Pay it forward - Kids are the future.
Rifles are similar to boats and young women...there's no end to how much money you can pour into them without making them any more useful.
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511788
05/14/19 01:55 PM
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,073
RedSnake
Extreme Tracker
|
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,073 |
200-300 yds from sticks in a hunting situation is harder than it sounds without a lot of practice
For some perspective, at the THF Hunters Rifle Challenge match in March I’d dare say that 90% of the shooters did not hit 200-300 targets from sticks 90% of the time.
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511801
05/14/19 02:11 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,526
redchevy
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,526 |
Hard topic for me. Ive shot deer to about 160 yards and varmits and hogs to 225 all stepped off (before I had a range finder) They were all one shot clean kills though.
A lot of the uncertainty is not knowing how far something is. At a few of our blinds we had rough guesses at how far the max distance was but anything between was a WAG. I have been getting more into distance target shooting and bought a range finder last year, it makes a big difference to me to know how far away something is. With my typical hunting rifle at 200 yards im good to go just shoot and it will be fine. At 300 its a no go unless you can correct for the drop.
It's hell eatin em live
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511853
05/14/19 02:50 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,872
GLC
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,872 |
"Your target was a stationary pie plate."
First, I guess it would matter as far as the size of the pie plate. Just shooting a non moving 12" plate with no pressure, wind or buck fever, supported just by shooting sticks, scoped using a 1 to 2 MOA rifle, shots completed 90 percent of the time, guessing 400 to 500 yards for me. Now if I was shooting, not just in the hope of trying to clip an organ, but to hit heart/lung area of a deer I would still like to keep the shot within 4 to 5 inch spread max. Actually would like to keep it within 2 to 3 inches which would be +/-1.5, ideal conditions which would be 200 to 300 yards for me. But then with all of the variables that could possibly happen consistency range goes out the window so I stay less than 200 yards in real hunting conditions.
Last edited by GLC; 05/14/19 02:51 PM.
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: redchevy]
#7511865
05/14/19 03:03 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,404
freerange
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,404 |
I started this thread last night and ive gotten a lot of good responses already so thank yall and I hope they keep coming. Someone posted its a "shooting" question and yes it is but in a hunting environment. I do not want to get into the ethics question of how far to shoot an animal, instead Im just curious about marksmanship ability in a hunting situation. Redsnake really helped me out with his comments about the THF Challenge which I didn't know about. I also think Redsnake has posted about LR shooting before so his comments about shooting in a hunting situation being difficult is what I was assuming and was hoping to confirm, or not. Paralax-i want to clarify if your 800 yds is under the sitting with sticks scenario. I know that yall LR experts can shoot like crazy from bench and prone and with special equipment but im curious what yall as well as everyday guys can do sitting off sticks. I also know that a whole lot of guys shoot a lot out of a blind at a feeder that's not far and don't really know about sticks and longer distance. If you don't know how you would do then just don't reply or maybe guess and say its a guess.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR
Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511872
05/14/19 03:11 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,404
freerange
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,404 |
Ok, GLC comments were very good. I knew my "pie plate" was vague but figured it was close enough since I thought I was already getting kinda picky on my scenario. I would actually prefer the pie plate was about 6" so yall can answer accordingly if you want. Sorry to change horses in midstream. Very good and detailed comments GLC, thanks.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR
Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: unclebubba]
#7511875
05/14/19 03:13 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,640
LeonCarr
Pro Tracker
|
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,640 |
With Iron sights, 100. Typical scenario with scoped, centerfire rifle, 300 max. What Uncle Bubba said. Just my .02, LeonCarr
"Whitetail Deer are extinct because of rifles with telescopes mounted on them." - My 11th Grade English Teacher
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511885
05/14/19 03:24 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 548
SenkoSamurai
Tracker
|
|
Tracker
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 548 |
Its a different game when the nerves kick in and you are about to take one of God's creatures. I feel comfortable to about 350 for 90% on a plate. My deer was 215 this year resting against the side of a cattle gate, and it took a second to calm down before shooting. It happens everytime. But once I can control my nerves and breathing on an animal, id say 250-275.
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511891
05/14/19 03:29 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,845
Texan Til I Die
Extreme Tracker
|
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,845 |
Tough question for me to answer since I never use shooting sticks. My rifles all wear bipods and if I was going to launch one way out there, it would definitely be from the bipod. With little or no wind I would be very confident of hitting a pie plate (10 inch) sized target with a cold bore shot at 600 yards. In fact I did it with two different rifles, one a .260 and the other a .223, last Sunday afternoon. Now with all that being said, I'm not shooting at a deer that far out.
Silver spurs and gold tequila
keep me hanging on.
Pretty girls and old cantinas
give me shelter from the storm.
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511911
05/14/19 03:52 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,934
ChadTRG42
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,934 |
I have worked with several shooters at the range working on "field" positions when hunting. 2 of them took animals beyond 250 yards, and one was a youth hunter at an elk at over 300 yards off shooting sticks in the mountains of NM. When you practice these shots at the range, it will prepare you for shooting in the field and greatly increase your ability to make the shot. Almost anyone can shoot prone or bench at the range and hit a 200 or 300 yard piece of steel. The challenge is applying that to field positions. Knowing your rifle and ammo, and practicing field shooting positions will greatly increase your hit probability. If you know how to build your "field" shooting position with good practice, I'd say 90% should be attainable.
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511913
05/14/19 03:57 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,251
Texas Dan
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,251 |
I'm sure all my rifles have a more effective range than my shooting skills, which is probably no further than 150 yards with a scope and 75 without it.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511935
05/14/19 04:12 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,934
ChadTRG42
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,934 |
With a little bit of practice and trigger control, 200-300 yards would be easy. The youth hunter I speak of, his main thing was the confidence in making that shot and knowing that he could before he pulled the trigger. Practice it and "know" you can make the shot!
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511958
05/14/19 04:24 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,156
J.G.
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,156 |
I started this thread last night and ive gotten a lot of good responses already so thank yall and I hope they keep coming. Someone posted its a "shooting" question and yes it is but in a hunting environment. I do not want to get into the ethics question of how far to shoot an animal, instead Im just curious about marksmanship ability in a hunting situation. Redsnake really helped me out with his comments about the THF Challenge which I didn't know about. I also think Redsnake has posted about LR shooting before so his comments about shooting in a hunting situation being difficult is what I was assuming and was hoping to confirm, or not. Paralax-i want to clarify if your 800 yds is under the sitting with sticks scenario. I know that yall LR experts can shoot like crazy from bench and prone and with special equipment but im curious what yall as well as everyday guys can do sitting off sticks. I also know that a whole lot of guys shoot a lot out of a blind at a feeder that's not far and don't really know about sticks and longer distance. If you don't know how you would do then just don't reply or maybe guess and say its a guess. Sticks only, or sticks and my backpack?
![[Linked Image]](http://www.precisionriflehunters.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/garvey.jpg) 800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: J.G.]
#7511960
05/14/19 04:29 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,404
freerange
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,404 |
I started this thread last night and ive gotten a lot of good responses already so thank yall and I hope they keep coming. Someone posted its a "shooting" question and yes it is but in a hunting environment. I do not want to get into the ethics question of how far to shoot an animal, instead Im just curious about marksmanship ability in a hunting situation. Redsnake really helped me out with his comments about the THF Challenge which I didn't know about. I also think Redsnake has posted about LR shooting before so his comments about shooting in a hunting situation being difficult is what I was assuming and was hoping to confirm, or not. Paralax-i want to clarify if your 800 yds is under the sitting with sticks scenario. I know that yall LR experts can shoot like crazy from bench and prone and with special equipment but im curious what yall as well as everyday guys can do sitting off sticks. I also know that a whole lot of guys shoot a lot out of a blind at a feeder that's not far and don't really know about sticks and longer distance. If you don't know how you would do then just don't reply or maybe guess and say its a guess. Sticks only, or sticks and my backpack? Love to know both. Sticks only and then with backpack also. Ive used backpack or sticks but love to know how you use them combined. You, and all of yall, can give me whatever variation of field shooting position you want to but I really would like sticks only included.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR
Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511969
05/14/19 04:39 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,156
J.G.
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,156 |
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
|
|
|
|
Re: Deer hunting accuracy-your maximum range?
[Re: freerange]
#7511974
05/14/19 04:43 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,156
J.G.
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,156 |
I started this thread last night and ive gotten a lot of good responses already so thank yall and I hope they keep coming. Someone posted its a "shooting" question and yes it is but in a hunting environment. I do not want to get into the ethics question of how far to shoot an animal, instead Im just curious about marksmanship ability in a hunting situation. Redsnake really helped me out with his comments about the THF Challenge which I didn't know about. I also think Redsnake has posted about LR shooting before so his comments about shooting in a hunting situation being difficult is what I was assuming and was hoping to confirm, or not. Paralax-i want to clarify if your 800 yds is under the sitting with sticks scenario. I know that yall LR experts can shoot like crazy from bench and prone and with special equipment but im curious what yall as well as everyday guys can do sitting off sticks. I also know that a whole lot of guys shoot a lot out of a blind at a feeder that's not far and don't really know about sticks and longer distance. If you don't know how you would do then just don't reply or maybe guess and say its a guess. Sticks only, or sticks and my backpack? Love to know both. Sticks only and then with backpack also. Ive used backpack or sticks but love to know how you use them combined. You, and all of yall, can give me whatever variation of field shooting position you want to but I really would like sticks only included. Sticks only, I'm pretty comfortable with 400 yards, and that is seated. Let me add my backpack, and the distance is farther. My backpack would go in my lap, so that the elbow of my firing hand, as well as the elbow of my support hand can tripod onto the pack. Then the stability is much, much higher, and I can hold much more steady for a longer shot, which would mean the 12" target is smaller in the scope. But as always, it depends on wind. Wind reading is an art, and I am still trying to be an artist, even after watching many thousand of rounds go down range. Sticks and kneeling, no pack, I probably would push a shot on a deer much more than 300 yards.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|
![[Linked Image]](https://isolunar.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/redsnake-tactical5.png)
![[Linked Image]](http://dallasreloads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/THF.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/userpics/2019/05/full-10697-187421-20190514_112732.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/userpics/2019/05/full-10697-187422-20190514_112742.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/userpics/2019/05/full-10697-187423-20190514_112752.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/userpics/2019/05/full-10697-187424-20190514_112804.jpg)
![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/userpics/2019/05/full-10697-187425-20190514_112811.jpg)