Longrange338allen
Member
Great shot, great bear, congratulations
Is 450 yards Long Range? - Bear Down!
- Thread starter ktgoodman
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Hadderhunter
Member
If you cant consistently sink 3 point shots... it's a hail marry from half court. (But I'd put my money on Bearded James Harden to sink a half court "shot" if he had to) 450 yards is a 3 pointer. Not everybody should or can do it. If you call that a chip shot, then 800 or 1,000 becomes that tough but high probability shot. Think back a few years and I'll bet you were in the same boat as your buddies... hold over and hope for the best at 450. I know I was... I was taught to sight in 1 1/2" high at 100, be just about on at 200" and to never shoot further than 350 to 400 (while holding on top of the back.) Now, its click, dial, dope and if conditions are right, be 100% confident within yardage my equipment is capable of performing under. (1,000 and beyond). 450 is honestly a hell of a shot to most people. Especially when its "precision".
mpayne
Well-Known Member
great Pic. you should pat yourself on the back that you can get that close. I think it's a better achievement to sneak close then to try a kill shot at 1000 yarda
It's like Gary Player, the golfer said when a commentator spoke about his "lucky shot"; the harder I practice, the luckier I get. It behoves both us and the game we pursue, to practice, practice, practice. Great shot!
Under the conditions you described, the equipent you are using and your experience you have, and your practice regimen , i believe you are right, it is a chip shot. Add more wind, unsteady rest, animal moving, poor control of breathing and nerves, rushed shot, it certainly become questionable. Nice bear, CONGRATS!
RockyMtnMT
Official LRH Sponsor
I don't want to take away from the celebration of a great shot on a fantastic bear, but the title of the thread has brought into the discussion, what is long range?.
Long range is a personal thing. It is different for everyone. Before I started shooting long range, I considered 300y to be a very long shot. I now feels like a chip shot due to better optics and greater knowledge etc. My ability has increased greatly over the years. We have taken several animals give or take 1000y and our longest is 1280y. With that said I still consider 300y a long shot. To me this is the point that you can't just throw up the rifle and bang the shot. 300y is the point that knowledge of your equipment and shooter ability truly make or break the shot.
Where the line is drawn for max hunting range is also personal. There is not a wrong answer here either. My personal hunting range has shortened over the years. I think because the more time I spend shooting at long range in our mountainous terrain the more I realize that I really do not know what the wind is doing over there, let alone half way there when the bullet is 1000 feet above the ground shooting across the canyon. I personally feel like I have pretty good control of the situation out to about 700y. We have never had one go wrong beyond that range, thankfully, but I feel like the more animals that I shoot beyond that the higher the odds get that I will have a train wreck, at the expense of the animal. It used to be about trying to see how far we could take a big game animal. I have no problem with guys who are on that quest and encourage them. I will continue to hunt rocks as far as I can get a range on them.
Long way of saying, what ever your long range is, is long range.
Long range is a personal thing. It is different for everyone. Before I started shooting long range, I considered 300y to be a very long shot. I now feels like a chip shot due to better optics and greater knowledge etc. My ability has increased greatly over the years. We have taken several animals give or take 1000y and our longest is 1280y. With that said I still consider 300y a long shot. To me this is the point that you can't just throw up the rifle and bang the shot. 300y is the point that knowledge of your equipment and shooter ability truly make or break the shot.
Where the line is drawn for max hunting range is also personal. There is not a wrong answer here either. My personal hunting range has shortened over the years. I think because the more time I spend shooting at long range in our mountainous terrain the more I realize that I really do not know what the wind is doing over there, let alone half way there when the bullet is 1000 feet above the ground shooting across the canyon. I personally feel like I have pretty good control of the situation out to about 700y. We have never had one go wrong beyond that range, thankfully, but I feel like the more animals that I shoot beyond that the higher the odds get that I will have a train wreck, at the expense of the animal. It used to be about trying to see how far we could take a big game animal. I have no problem with guys who are on that quest and encourage them. I will continue to hunt rocks as far as I can get a range on them.
Long way of saying, what ever your long range is, is long range.
Lance Ledet
Member
Just curious what type of scope are you using. Congrats on the Bear. It's nice looking
Arneson
Member
chickm1
Well-Known Member
Nice bear! At 450 yards, I know the trajectory and holdover for my rifle, and would not even have touched the turret, and felt good about the shot.
Arneson
Member
I hold out
Arneson
Member
I shoot holdover all time out 600 to 700 yds with many guns and in heavy wind most of the time wyoming, S. Dakota wind is 15 - 25 daily no guessing about if you practice and know wind
Last mule deer was 450 yd .270 shot in lungs on a lope with a 20 mph wind
Farthest prairie dog .223 550 yds 18 mph cross wind which are easier than a quartering wind which throw your bullet back n forth
Last mule deer was 450 yd .270 shot in lungs on a lope with a 20 mph wind
Farthest prairie dog .223 550 yds 18 mph cross wind which are easier than a quartering wind which throw your bullet back n forth
Congrats! Great looking bear, great shot, and great technique!
.300 Dakota
Well-Known Member
First, let me say congratulations on a truly beautiful bear! Next, let me say great shooting, and nice job on knowing your equipment and components.
Third, let me say that "long range" IS relative, as someone else put it. 50 yards could be long range if you're shooting a BB gun. 100 yards for a 22. 300 yards for ME with YOUR rig. For you, it's likely beyond 1000yds with YOUR rig. It might be beyond 500 yards for YOU with MY rig. Basically, TO ME, "long range' is a distance beyond which you "normally" shoot. A distance at which you have to start head scratching to figure out how much to hold over or how many clicks to turn your dial, and how much the wind and other conditions will affect your shot. You say well, I have to head scratch at 800 - 1000 yards... Yes, but it's within your "normal" range of shooting, and the level of "head scratching" isn't the same as it would be for me.
Another quick and dirty definition is anything over 500 yards, or the limit to which ammo manufacturers put ballistic data on their cartridge boxes for reference. For me personally, it starts at around 275 yards...
And lastly, let me say the "regular people" typically do as little as possible every off day. If they shoot, it's typically to 50-100 yards. 300 max. Then again... "regular people" don't have March scopes... And it is evident you are NOT a "regular person!" If you weren't elite military, you missed your calling! To negotiate and thrive in that terrain and elevation takes a special individual. By looking at your photo, my money would've been on you vs the bear in a fist fight! You are what us "regular people" dream about being. Never get complacent and keep pushing yourself! And keep sending is shooting tips and hunting pics! Nice job!!
Third, let me say that "long range" IS relative, as someone else put it. 50 yards could be long range if you're shooting a BB gun. 100 yards for a 22. 300 yards for ME with YOUR rig. For you, it's likely beyond 1000yds with YOUR rig. It might be beyond 500 yards for YOU with MY rig. Basically, TO ME, "long range' is a distance beyond which you "normally" shoot. A distance at which you have to start head scratching to figure out how much to hold over or how many clicks to turn your dial, and how much the wind and other conditions will affect your shot. You say well, I have to head scratch at 800 - 1000 yards... Yes, but it's within your "normal" range of shooting, and the level of "head scratching" isn't the same as it would be for me.
Another quick and dirty definition is anything over 500 yards, or the limit to which ammo manufacturers put ballistic data on their cartridge boxes for reference. For me personally, it starts at around 275 yards...
And lastly, let me say the "regular people" typically do as little as possible every off day. If they shoot, it's typically to 50-100 yards. 300 max. Then again... "regular people" don't have March scopes... And it is evident you are NOT a "regular person!" If you weren't elite military, you missed your calling! To negotiate and thrive in that terrain and elevation takes a special individual. By looking at your photo, my money would've been on you vs the bear in a fist fight! You are what us "regular people" dream about being. Never get complacent and keep pushing yourself! And keep sending is shooting tips and hunting pics! Nice job!!
