Hitting a softball at 1000 yds

[Exarcher]

having one of them prove such accuracy would be the trick, I've built 1000yd really heavy competition guns, & that boast would be really thin,,, Especially doing it "on demand". I'd put good money against it. It takes a lot more than the rifle to do that! Tons of practice reading wind and mirage to name 2, & it won't be with factory ammo. (load development is very important). Take such a boast with a large grain of salt

 

[Starlite]

Well can't play softball right now ( thank you COVID-19 ) Might as well shoot them. Lol.

 

[TX Badger]

I always laugh at statements containing vague words like consistently without any more detail...

Consistently with a cold bore?
Consistently after a sighter?
Consistently 1 out of a 5 round Mag?
Consistently consistantly once per range session with a 50 round box of ammo?

 

[sp6x6]

Page from my "practice" 338nmGot lucky ,shot #111If If I remember I was going shoot a group but wind had picked up on that shot had .7L for wind Had siter first

 

[milo-2]

yes My old Savage 110 22-250 Heavy 26" Barrel was all factory other than the 50 power scope and my hand loads 53gr BTHP bullets at 4300 fps had NO problem hitting Golf Ball size targets @1000 yrds constantly.

I sure hope someone does not call you out on this and make you leave your home range to prove it.

 

[WKWRIGHT]

A softball is ~3.8-inches in diameter, which is about 0.36 MOA. It's one thing to be consistent 0.36 MOA shooting from a bench with windrow lanes, etc. It's a whole other thing to claim 0.36 MOA consistency including first shot wind call, shooting from field positions (i.e. away from a bench, using gear you pack, etc.), and shooting in field conditions (crappy weather, wind conditions in unknown areas, etc) which is what would be required in a hunting situation. Hunting is not benchrest.

If a guy is consistently within 0.36 MOA with his first shot wind call at 1,000 yards in an unknown area in field positions, he is one of the top shooters in the world. Run the numbers, for most hunting cartridges, that means you are consistently calling wind correctly within +/- 0.5-mph.

So either you run in a pretty elite circle, or maybe some guys like to exaggerate their skill levels. It's hard for a lot of folks to accept that they are not as good as they would like to be. That's why you see fingers pointed everywhere but themselves.....it's my SD, I mean barrel harmonics, I mean seating depth, I mean my barrel sped up, please let it be anything other than me, haha.

Very true points being made. Seldom to FTR shooters score less than MOA at 1000 yds

 

[misterc01]

I have couple of rifles that are more than capable of shooting small groups at 1000 yards. I know I can shoot small groups out as far as 600 yards consistently. However, at this point with my personal level of experience and practice at 1000 yards - THAT is an entirely different story )

 

[ButterBean]

I sure hope someone does not call you out on this and make you leave your home range to prove it.

Had a gut I worked with said the shot Prairie Dogs at 1200 yards,I told him to bring a bag of money and his gun out to my range and we'd shoot $5 a round, He came out and when I said we would shoot the 500 yard gong he got all mad and said that was way further than 500 and left, I've ran across a bunch of these fellers

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

I've hit clay pigeons at 1000. But I wouldnt say I'm consistent. Heck I'm not even consistent on a milk jug at 1000. Sure I can generally blow up the milk jug in 2-5 shots, but as far as groups go I cant consistently keep my group inside the milk jug. Theres a difference between doing it once and doing it everytime! People think because it happened once then that's what they are capable of! I shot a 3 shot group with my 6.5 at 1350 that all fit in the palm of my hand. No way in a million years that would happen to me again!

 

[Arkansasdad]

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.

Let me give you some insight. The current Williamsport Light Gun record (as listed) is 3.835″ by Cody Finch in 2006, but we're told that Paul Martinez shot a 3.505″ at Williamsport last year. If approved at 2.6872″, Jim Richards' new record is 23% smaller than the 3.505″ previous record. That's remarkable — Jim Richards utterly demolished the previous mark. (As measured, Jim's group is also smaller than the current Williamsport Heavy Gun record, 2.815″ by Matt Kline in 2010.) I know that an Illinois bare-hand softball is the biggest softball made they are 5" diameter and most fast pitch softballs are 3.5". Most common matches are won with 7"-9" groups and these guys are not slouches, most are "every day live and die on the range" shooters. So when I hear that someone can hit a beer can or a playing card or the like---, lets just say that I am more than skeptical. Most of these blowhards will do good to hit 3/10 bull on a 3' square if they practice and probably not with a hunting rifle. Just my opinion. Happy shooting.

 

[crazyhorse]

I have several full customs with all the necessary accessories and shoot regularly out to 1200yds. On top of that, Ive had an extensive amount of formal training in precision rifle shooting...

Anyone who says they can consistently hit a softball @ 1000yds with a hunting rifle (of any kind) is either lying or missing out on as many sponsorship offers as they are willing to entertain. Under great conditions with above average equipment and a well tuned load (I'm talking practical hunting equipment not BR rifles) there are a few who can shoot very close to that mark and even though I'm not from Missouri they'd still have to "show me"

 

[foul bore]

I, along with many of you have made great shots at long range. But to use the word "consistent" should not fall in the same sentence. yes we are proud of the now and then great shots or groups, but for me I leave out the "C"word

 

[MontanaJack]

How many beers into the conversation did that claim surface?

 

[Eagleye208]

I always laugh at statements containing vague words like consistently without any more detail...

Consistently with a cold bore?
Consistently after a sighter?
Consistently 1 out of a 5 round Mag?
Consistently consistantly once per range session with a 50 round box of ammo?