I’ve spent the last few years hunting with the purpose of getting close to the game. To a large degree, the ranch dictates that. We are dense hardwood woodlands where average visibility is measured in feet not yards. However, I’ve always thought it took more skill to be 30yds away from a deer than 300yds and all of my shots on any game animal have been under or at 100yds with most under 50yds. This weekend I was at a blind that does offer some longer views and on my walk in was going over the scenario a deer I want to shoot shows up at the end of the road which is a 300yd shot. I read my bullet should drop 6.7” and guessed a doe’s body to be 16” and a bucks might be 20”. So I thought holding on the topline or just under of the animal should give me enough vertical wiggle room to make an ethical shot. Scenario played out, doe stepped out, felt steady on my rest, and sent a .270 win 130gr TSX down range.



A successful shot albeit a little forward (there was a crosswind I didn’t account for or could have been user error and not have been as steady as I thought) and she only went 30yds. I am by no means a great shot and have never even practiced at longer distances so would love to hear tips and tricks specific to longer shots in the field so I can continue to make these longer pokes successful.

I thought rifle/gun season wasn't open yet in Texas?

We are MLD

Although I have never shot at an animal over 200 yards, I use a similar thought process in case I ever get a good shot beyond that. You said, "I read my bullet should drop 6.7”. You can't be sure that is correct unless you actually test it. I have tested several of my rifles out to 400 yards on paper and have shot metal targets out to over 1100 yards. I am confident in my drop charts, but not so confident in myself in a hunting scenario.

Where were you hunting? I thought rifle season didn't start in Texas until November 5.

MLD (program for managing state deer on large tracts of private property) starts when bow season starts, tags can be filled with a rifle...

Good shot and good meat in the freezer result!

Good point, I have a go do of getting out to the range more often and testing to confirm drop on the rounds I shoot most often.

We are on MLD conservation so can harvest bucks and doe with rifle from 10.01.2022 through 2.28.2023

The best tip that I can give is to figure your drop and your wind deflection using a ballistic calculator, then practice at longer distances. Verify that what you looked up in the calculator matches your rifle. Practice wind holds and how to read the wind. The wind could affect the bullet much more than you might figure if you have never done research on how much it is deflected.

You did pretty well.

300 yds. is a chip shot for the .270 in terms of trajectory and retained energy (enough for deer). So no worry there.

'Doping' the wind however is another matter and depends very much on wind velocity and angle. With a 10 mph 'Full Value' wind (wind blowing from 3 or 9 O'Clock from your shooting position) you can expect about an inch of wind drift at 100 yards, double that at 200 yds, but triple the 200 yd. figure at 300 yds. So about 6"-7" of wind drift at the distance you shot (assuming a 10 mph full value wind).

In the photo you provided....it looks as if the point of impact is indeed about 6" forward of shoulder or a just behind the shoulder point of aim. Was it wind or just a slight movement of the rifle....we don't know. But congratulations on the shot and don't be afraid to PRACTICE out to 300 yds. You'll soon find that is very doable and shorter shots will seem even more comfortable.

Good Job!

Google Earth includes a very useful feature that allows you to measure the distance across satellite images. It takes the guesswork out of estimating shot distances across open areas where there's nothing for a range finder to bounce a signal. And of course, it also allows you to range anticipated shot distances without ever leaving the house.

Congratulations on a great shot.

Looks like you got it done. I would think most modern, magnum calibers are gonna be pretty reliable out to 300 yards (assuming no crosswind) if you zero at 100. Obviously, you want to be proficient with your rifle and also study the ballistics, but I doubt you're looking at more than 6 inches of drop at 300 yards with a .243 or more with most medium grain bullets (again, check the ballistic tables to be sure). After that, things begin to get tricky. I hunt in wide open country with very few trees and, after getting the rifle zero'd in and getting familiar with it, the most important piece of equipment, IMO, is a decent range finder especially if you're taking shots over 150 yards or so.