Long Range Hunting

[Timber Butte Outdoors]

www.grandviewoutdoors.com/deer-hunting/articlecontent/8/2011/2653/long-range-hunting

Brendan and I have been doing some long range shooting practice lately. We have had alot of discussions that pertain to long range shooting, and have come to the conclusion of the info below. We have been shooting a coyote target out to 400 and 500 yards. I am shooting my 21 inch barrel Remington 700V 22-250 w/ 52 gr Sierra Match HP. Brendan is shooting his D-Tech 243 wssm, w/ 85 gr Sierra Match HP.

It seems to us, there are 3 major factors that apply to long range shooting (equipment wise):
1) Very Good Optics - Scopes with high power magnification & Spotting Scopes for target shooting.
2) Good Range Finder
3) A Good Solid Rest - Sand Bags, Lead Sled, Bench Rest Bipod (6- 9" for table top or truck hood, 9-13" for prone).

Practice, Practice, Practice - get to know what you gun/ammo combo is able to do. Adjust you loads if neccessary, change bullets, powders, primers, to get your groups to shrink down to your best potential group at long distance.

Because what you can shoot at 100 yards is not what your bullet/load is doing at say 400 or 500 yards.

If you are shooting out to 500 yards, and you are not hitting the target or your groups are large, after all you have done to make it work, you may then need to consider a rifle change or a barrel change, I say this because some barrels will shoot great out to 100-150 yards, but not past that distance.
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[leper]

Interesting Gary.

Over the yrs I have done some long range shooting on & off. But most of my shooting was between 150-300yrds give or take.

Depended on how comfortable I was with a specific rifle & a specfic bullet that shot the most accurate in that rifle.

Might sound odd, but I believe some hunters become one with a specific rifle. Like an extension of their arm so to speak. Personally I've always been an average shot IMO.

When I bought my 1st .223 AR. I done a heckuva lot of target shooting. Out to 300yrds. It took me 3 seasons of target shooting with various ammunition. Near the end of the 3rd season. I eventually became "1" with that rifle. Every coyote I shot at within 300yrds, I killed. Didn't matter if they were still or running flat out.

I became so confident & as a matter of fact. When I got to within 300yrds or less of a coyote. I would chuckle to myself. As I knew the coyote up ahead was in trouble.

I can't explain it. Other than I became comfortable. Whatever that means.

Eventually I started useing a .243WSSM AR. Only to shoot farther with more kinetic energy/knockdown power. Took me a couple of seasons of long range shooting. Mostly out to 440yrds. The coyotes that were within 1/4 mile were in trouble. Again, I became comfortable. Maybe that is what some call "gut instinct" or 2nd nature. I really don't know?

While in my hayday of 1/4 mile coyote killing. I also made some kills out to 600yrds +/-. Some coyotes were standing. Some were walking. Some were running or loping. It didn't matter.

Unfortunately I'm not comfortable anymore. As I lost whatever it is, I once had. Getting old, sucks.

[Timber Butte Outdoors]

leper,

Thank you for your insight, it was a very good observation.

I think you are right about becoming one with your rifle - isn't that what they teach in the military? The more you shoot the more comfortable you become with that gun, whether rifle, shotgun, or handgun. If you have ever watched trap/skeet shooters, when they shoulder that shotgun, they look like one fluid object, the gun becomes a part of the person.

I have watched alot of champion level handgunners shoot, from the moment they begin moving to their handgun, they look like liquid moving in uniform motion, drawing, extending arms, firing the gun, moving from target to target, it is true poetry in motion.

Shooting a rifle long distance from a shooting bench is much much much different than shooting in the field, which we all know, carries a major wow factor when it comes to placing a shot in a 9 inch circle at 1/4 mile (440 yards) or more. So the more you practice. or just shoot your rifle, the more natural it is to place shots where and when you want, no matter what the distance. Hey ya'll keep practicing!

leper - you are right about growing old - it sucks bigtime!!!