Hitting a softball at 1000 yds

[6MM06AI]

Well at least it was a good read for me, (bored at the kitchen table). I would be happy to come close to a softball at a 1000 yards, and it's not the elevation it's the elements. Like others have said it takes more than the shooter!

 

[JMW67]

I've talked to several guys in the past who all claim their hunting rifles can consistently hit a softball size target at 1000 yds. I'd love to hear whether this is a factory rifle or custom. If it's a custom, what components these rifles use, what ammo components are used as well.

I would be pleased hitting a beach ball at 1000

 

[greatwhitehntr]

I have shot elk and deer at and over 1000yards as many have on this site. I think the part we are forgetting to say is under are own perfect set of conditions. I will not shoot unless I am 100% confident I am going to make a clean shot/kill.
I can and will get closer.

I am not going to say I can hit a softball all the time at 1k, good condition it can be done.

 

[greatwhitehntr]

Lots and lots of practice.

 

[greatwhitehntr]

When the weather gets better I am going to try this for sure.
Make sure I am not full of $;ht.

 

[Hueyman]

I am new to this forum, been shooting for a very long time, I have seen some shots that where magical, I know most of you guys can say the same, I have never had a hunting rifle that could hit like that, I do have a very old custom 6.5x284 Norma that does good out to 1000 I have used it to make coyotes lay down, but it takes a bi pod to hold it up cold barrel first shot not happening

 

[Greyfox]

I have been hunting at ranges to 1000+ yards for about 10 years. I generally don't need to hit a softball....just the vital area of my quarry which generally a larger target, 2=3x larger. Whether a shot is taken or not is based on the understanding of the conditions. This has been accomplished by many on this site. For those that doubt or deny that it is possible....You just need to get out more!

 

[litmuus]

Hi Guys, just joining in the conservation from Australia. May I ask, if any of you have pulled the trigger on Game at 1,000? The circles I move in here typically limit themselves to around 600 and then rarely. Regards, Peter

 

[Hueyman]

Hi Guys, just joining in the conservation from Australia. May I ask, if any of you have pulled the trigger on Game at 1,000? The circles I move in here typically limit themselves to around 600 and then rarely. Regards, Peter

Even as a young man I passed up 1000 yards shots, I did not want to drag the animal that far

 

[Bro Dave]

Or, as Colonel Potter on M.A.S.H. used to say.... "Mule Muffins!"

amen

 

[greenejc]

I've talked to several guys in the past who all claim their hunting rifles can consistently hit a softball size target at 1000 yds. I'd love to hear whether this is a factory rifle or custom. If it's a custom, what components these rifles use, what ammo components are used as well.

Nobody is doing that consistently at 1,000 yards. Not with a hunting rifle. That's beyond the capability of most sniping rifles and nearly any factory ammunition. A rifle that posts 0.5 moa at 100 yards has a beaten zone of 5.5 inches at 1,000 yards, without factoring in ammunition velocity differences between shots, wind variables and mirage. The scope required to be that precise would also be a factor, and no-one I know of hunts with 20 power and up scopes. A lower power would allow too much variation in sight picture. The ammunition would have to have single digit sd's. A difference in aim point of 0.5 in. at 100 yards would generate a miss. Mirage can cause that and more at 1,000 yards. Like the man said, if someone can do a 3.5 in. target(soft ball) at 1,000 yards consistently, with first round hits, at 1,000 yards with a standard weight hunting rifle, that person is among the top rifle shots in the world. Just the shooter's heartbeat would generate misses on a target that small at 1,000 yards.

 

[litmuus]

Ah yes, and they make for good hunting, as you'd expect if your DNA was dodging tigers. They eat well too, and I get around 70kg of meat from them. Occassional nice trophy too. Not as majestic as your deer from up north, amittedly.

 

[DMP25-06]

I spotted and kept score for 2 F-Open Class shooters in the Texas State Rifle Association 1000 Yard Long Range Championship rifle matches , held at Bayou Rifle Club range in Manvel , Texas , near Houston , Texas , in April 2015 ( if I am remembering the year correctly , I have lost my official results print-out for verification of year date ). The competition was 60 shots per day , 3 relays of 20 shots each , for 2 consecutive days , 120 shots total for score . The 1st relay each day , the shooters were allowed unlimited sight-in shots , and then 20 shots for score , all within a total of 30 minutes . The 2nd and 3rd relays allowed only 2 sight-in shots maximum per relay and then 20 shots for score , within the 30 minute timed relay .
the X-ring was 5" diameter ( .5 MOA ) , 10 ring was 10" diameter ( 1 MOA ) , 9 ring was 20" diameter ( 2 MOA ) , on out to 5 points for anywhere on paper .
Both men shot .284 Winchester cartridges in 30" barreled rifles that weighed just slightly less than 22# 4oz. total weight , the maximum limit . Shooting prone position , using benchrest style front rest and rear bag .
On saturday morning , both shooters fired 4 sight-in shots in 1st relay , then went live-for-score , and both shot scores of 200 , all shots scoring 10's or X's .
In round 2 after their 2 sighter shots , both shooters recorded 200 again . Round 3 was the same , both scoring 200 . At the end of day 1 , both men were tied at 600 , out of a possible 600 .
The winds had changed as the day progressed , but the shooters adjusted as needed .
On Sunday morning , day 2 final day , both shooters continued shooting all 10's or X's , and at the end of round 5 , they were still tied , both scoring 1000 out of a possible 1000 .
Early in round 6 , the final round , the first shooter , Freddie H., let a shot slip just outside the 10 ring into a 9 , but he finished with 199 , for a total score of 1199 out of a possible 1200 with 89 X's .
In round 6 , the second shooter , Ken D. , kept inside the 10 ring , until the final shot , when he let it slip into the 8 ring , dropping his score to 1198 out of a possible 1200 with 90 X's .
The winds had increased throughout the day on Sunday , that final day of competition .

Ultimately , the point of my story is that I think that either or both of those men could probably hit a softball at 1000 yards about 50% of their shots .

DMP25-06

 

[Don A Parsons]

It could be done,,, but the word """"consistently with a hunting rifle""" leaves alot to wonder...

So what kind of hunting rifle,,, and what is really ment by consistency...

Is this every shots all the time,,, or once in a while... Ha

Just asking...

One would think that consistency is every time all the time,,, but what would any of us know about that... lol

Are the exterior elements part of this mix,,, or is it about shooting on calm days less the 8.5 to 14 moa full value days when its windy...

Consistantly is a big word,,, maybe it means different things to different pepole...