Bone to pick with new rifle owners - 100 yards out of the box

[nksmfamjp]

It's common in Europe to be required to take a proficiency test to qualify in shooting before you're given a permit or license. It makes perfect sense; this could be handled by local police, sheriff or even through local gun clubs. It would remove the bottom 10%, the ones that show up at camp with a new, never fired rifle that's only been bore sighted. Shooting past 300 yards takes practice and knowledge of your ballistics; hell these shooters have no idea how to compensate for wind drift.

It is easy to go down this road, but it would likely cast a wide net, eliminating many reasonably safe and reasonably ethical hunters.

I know that the $200 suppressor tax stamp keeps me from being suppressed when hunting…and some other things, but the $200 + paperwork is part of that.

 

[Travler]

these are most of the reasons I hunt by my self , or with someone I know and trust

 

[Allen Kitts]

I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately people now a days have way more money than they do sense and long range rigs are for sale on every street corner, website and magazine you pick up. Its so easy to get drawn into the 1000 yards out of the box scenario. I just had this conversation with my grandson this weekend while antelope hunting. He wants to shoot farther and farther but does not want to put in the time to practice shooting and reading the wind, working on the dope charts etc, necessary for the task at hand. He told me you have the rifles setup so that we can shoot 1000 yards and beyond. I told him no I have rifle setups that will shoot that far but that is not why I own them. I own them so that if the need arises I have the capability to shoot that far. I always try to get to a known comfortable range where I know I can make the shot ten times out of ten, no questions asked. He thinks its just spend the money get the system and shoot to 1000 just like so many others out there. He is a great shot but its pretty easy when someone else does all the hard work for ya. He killed this antelope at 767 yards with the 280AI that I set up for him.

 

[quandary]

Last year Pronghorn hunting in New Mexico my hunting buddy and I were at a bar post hunt with our guides. We had both filled our tag in the early morning. Both 1 one shot at around 250 - 275. We spent the first hour in the bar being regaled with stories about how unusual it was to have hunters that could actually hit what they were aiming at. They both said the average hunter they guided shot 4/5 times before they even hit a Pronghorn much less killed a Pronghorn. They also said inevitably the worst shots were the guys that came in boasting about how good of shots they are. The best story was about an outdoors show they guided for a Pronghorn hunting episode. The host was a woman, they wouldn't say what show. She missed the first 5 Pronghorns she shot at. They finally got a really close shot 100ish and she killed the Pronghorn. When the episode aired the editing made it look like she shot the Pronghorn from 500 yards and dropped it one shot.......

 

[quandary]

Boy do I agree with you, know one guy, spent over 6K on this custom rifle he purchased, 300 PRC, brought it to my private 400 yd range, you had to almost pound the bolt to go to battery, and opening it , well get a hammer, the target looked like a shotgun was shot at it. I said if it were me I'd send the ____ back to the custom builder. They told him it was already to take hunting, and it was under .50 moa @100 yd. It wouldn't get 2 shots to be under 8" apart, He took my partners gun and went hunting for BLK bear. Never shot it either, he got one but wasn't a long shot. People have no idea of what they are doing sometimes. but they were never in the military either and learned how to shoot.

100% that was the musician not the instrument.

 

[Chadp82]

At a social gathering last week, a coworker was asking me about a hunting rifle to get started in big game. He prefaced this by saying another guy he knows would build him one that said would shoot 1000+ yards to the tune of $2-3k. (Rifle only, no scope)

I told him you can get a solid rifle to get you started easily under $1000, and if he wants help I can go with him.

I also said a $3k rifle doesn't make up for inexperience and the best thing he could do in my opinion was go get a basic bolt gun in 30cal or 7mm, and practice. The recoil on these is much different than the AR-15 world which he is coming from. I even offered to take him to the range and let him shoot a couple, one with a muzzle brake and one without so he can feel the difference.

I offered to help, but think the other guy already got his hopes up to shoot 1000 yards right away. I offered once and unless he asks, I did my part.

 

[RockyRandy]

Bone to pick and advice. Over the past ten years, we have seen a massive growth in out of the box 1000 yard capable rifles. Set up amazingly, built incredibly well and topped with amazing glass. Even engineered ammo. Then add ranging binos and ballistics calculators and you have a pretty amazing set up. True

If you buy one of these, awesome. SHOOT IT before you show up in camp. SO many times, I have been in camp trueing my D.O.P.E. and had some person show up with a rifle they have never shot and expecting to shoot their animal. They sit down, start shooting and wonder why they arent hitting the 500 yard target I set up.

Its because no one who cannot shoot 500 should try to shoot 500. Further more, shooting 600 is not a little harder than 500, its way harder. Just like shooting 1000 is not 2x as hard as shooting 500. NO its 10x harder. Especially in the field!! Especially with untested rifle, ammo, and hunter.

I have seen a few animals wounded and die terrible, long and painful deaths. Seen a few even not be recovered that were shot very badly. Please, show up ready to be an ethical hunter rather than showing up with bravado and ego. There is a reason military shooters have DOPE, so they hit the target correctly the first time! Then, true their dope...its takes time but the animal deserves it.

I don't know if you're an outfitter or not but I would hope you would tell your clients no to show up if they haven't sighted there Guns into 200 yards.

 

[birddog 68]

I don't know if you're an outfitter or not but I would hope you would tell your clients no to show up if they haven't sighted there Guns into 200 yards.

Every guided hunt that I have been on the guide actually wanted to see you shoot to get a idea of your maximum range. Talk is cheap but the target doesn't lie.

 

[Gamesniper19]

I don't know if you're an outfitter or not but I would hope you would tell your clients no to show up if they haven't sighted there Guns into 200 yards.

Not an outfitter. I am an author, hunter, rifle builder, and conservationist interested in helping people through passing on any knowledge and experience that I have

 

[skipglo]

I believe he's talking about the point the bullet trajectory crosses from below to above the scopes line of sight and then when it intersects again with that line of sight at the point "zero".

Thanks Darryle....is was wanting to hear @Muddyboots explain it....I was yanking his chain!

 

[Muddyboots]

Thanks Darryle....is was wanting to hear @Muddyboots explain it....I was yanking his chain!

Now gee, that's something new from ya!

 

[skipglo]

Every guided hunt that I have been on the guide actually wanted to see you shoot to get a idea of your maximum range. Talk is cheap but the target doesn't lie.

Actually they do! I've seen a great many excellent paper killers. ..that can't hit a live target at 50 yards ......

 

[skipglo]

Now gee, that's something new from ya!

Starting to know me....WELL!

 

[Blue Ridge Sean]

I have seen this firsthand so many times. Be it in the competition side or hunting side. Few people put in the time and effort to learn their rifles abilities let alone their own. I have had clients come out with custom rifle systems that have maybe ran a box of ammo through them. Many of them have trouble consistently hitting a 18" steel plate at 500 yards.
If you are going to spend the money on high quality equipment then you better be willing to put in the time to learn the system and become proficient with it.