long range hunting and shooting.....what the heck does that even mean?

[barleydog]

I know...most of ya are old timers....have shot past a thou....and have the 6000 dollar rigs and on and on...but most people get the wrong impression from people like you...
long range hunting and shooting isn't about distance alone...it is about maxing out the equipment you have....amiright?

I am no long range shooter by any means....I shoot my guns as far as I can and am currently trying to get the load development to the point that when I miss I know it is me and not my reloading skills.

what is long range shooting and hunting with a pellet gun?
a .22?
a 3030?
what is long range hunting shooting off hand? is it the same as shooting prone from a freshly grazed knoll down onto antelope 1000 yards away?

the only reason I bring this up is that lots of people seem to ask question about getting into long range shooting and hunting...they in turn receive advice to go out and spend their childrens college fund on a rifle, glass and range finder.. when they cant max out the m1 garand they got in the closet...

so...if yer young, broke and looking for advice to become a crack shot....I have the perfect advice...

SHOOT WHAT YOU HAVE....UNTIL YOU OUT SHOOT IT.

IF YA DONT HAVE A RIFLE RIGHT NOW...GO OUT AND GET YOU A CHEAP SAVAGE 308....WITH AN ACCUTRIGGER....SLAP ON A SWFA SS FIXED POWER SCOPE AND MAX THAT PUPPY OUT..
TAKE THE REMAINDER OF THE MONEY YOU HAVE AND BUY THE RCBS ROCK CHUCKER PRESS AND DIES....GET SOME POWDER AND START RELOADING...

shooting long range and reloading go hand in hand...seriously...you cant really do one without the other...not on any kind of budget...

learn the skills...watch the tibosaurausrex sniper 101 videos on the youtube…

develop skills...reading the wind...

as you outrun yer equipment...upgrade it. spending 1500 bucks on a tikka 6.5 creed and a vortex scope will surely get you where you want to go.....without any education what so ever....

getting the 308 will get you there as well and make a rifleman out of ya.

 

[Hand Skills]

Sounds like you answered your own question.

Good PSA material - I'd even give it a like if you deleted the ALL CAPS paragraph

 

[jpd676]

I don't agree with what you are saying. Most of us don't have 6k rigs, nothing I have even comes close to that. None of the people I shoot with have a rifle that comes close either. I don't even own a full custom rifle. I would agree that long range is relative; before the bug bit me 350 yards was long range. I enjoy getting a factory run of the mil rifle to shoot to 1000 yards and beyond. I'm not sure how you can say most people get the wrong impression from "people like you." Perhaps you are assuming a little too much abou "us."

Anyway, I really enjoy taking someone to the range, giving them a few instuctions and getting out to 600+ yards on their first outing. Many people I have taken to the range exceed their expectations on the first outing and they enter a world they never knew existed (I'm a firearms instuctor...). I do agree with you that most people don't shoot to their equipment's potential.

 

[aebhunter]

I just took a guy hunting and let him shoot my rifle at a rock 750 plus yards away. He hit it the first shot and the first thing he said was "that'd be a dead elk". Literally had no clue what it took to develop the load, get all the dope, give him the right wind call, etc.

The more I have gotten involved in shooting and long range hunting the more I think that LR Hunting is about truly being honest with yourself about your effective range, knowing your equipment, and having the discipline and know how to recognize when to put all the things you have learned into a shot.

 

[The Oregonian]

I just took a guy hunting and let him shoot my rifle at a rock 750 plus yards away. He hit it the first shot and the first thing he said was "that'd be a dead elk". Literally had no clue what it took to develop the load, get all the dope, give him the right wind call, etc.

The more I have gotten involved in shooting and long range hunting the more I think that LR Hunting is about truly being honest with yourself about your effective range, knowing your equipment, and having the discipline and know how to recognize when to put all the things you have learned into a shot.

Yep, and I think it was implied in your post but to call it out specifically, it is also knowing how to recognize when to take all the things you have learned and realize you shouldn't take a particular shot.

 

[Gwine]

I've always seen long range as anything beyond max point blank range for the tool at hand. If you have to make adjustments, whether it be clicks or hold over, that is long range.

To your other point.
Doesn't matter what your hobby is. There will always be those that can drop coin on the best possible equipment and or be able to spend countless hrs practicing perfecting their skills.

Myself, I live on a very tight hobby budget both with time and money. I try to gain as much knowledge from those that can afford the the best equipment and experience. So that I don't make the same mistakes they may have, and when I have saved up some funds I can make an informed purchase.

 

[stx]

I gotta hear this!

 

[dok7mm]

Interesting question. There seems to be about 3 groups here, more or less.

1. Guys that are new virgins to long range shooting. Many are new to reloading and others shoot only factory ammo. Some are serious about doing everything right to extend their effective range, others are anxious to kill animals @ 1000.

2. This would be the largest group. Nearly all are longtime hunters and reloaders. Equipment can range from straight out of the box and semi-customs, up to full custom top of the line rifles & scopes built for long range.
Half of these guys spend all their time reloading, shooting, practicing and hunting. Many will be capable to shoot to 1000 yds, but don't hunt past 6-800 yds.
The other half don't have the time or money to dedicate to shooting 24/7. They may have the same capabilities and equipment to shoot long-range, but don't go looking for a long shot on purpose.

3. This is the smallest percentage of people. They have the same equipment as part of #2, but dedicate much more time to practice and wind reading. They tend to shoot the really large calibers and the heaviest high BC bullets. They go looking for long range situations. That's all I know about these guys because I'm not one of them. I'm more of a 4-600 yd guy, but that's my choice.

 

[barleydog]

I don't agree with what you are saying. Most of us don't have 6k rigs, nothing I have even comes close to that. None of the people I shoot with have a rifle that comes close either. I don't even own a full custom rifle. I would agree that long range is relative; before the bug bit me 350 yards was long range. I enjoy getting a factory run of the mil rifle to shoot to 1000 yards and beyond. I'm not sure how you can say most people get the wrong impression from "people like you." Perhaps you are assuming a little too much abou "us."

Anyway, I really enjoy taking someone to the range, giving them a few instuctions and getting out to 600+ yards on their first outing. Many people I have taken to the range exceed their expectations on the first outing and they enter a world they never knew existed (I'm a firearms instuctor...). I do agree with you that most people don't shoot to their equipment's potential.

yeah...I didn't mean you in particular...I really only meant the ones with the 6000 dollar guns...

 

[26Reload]

I hunt out to 600 yards...i don't feel undergunned so far....
Shooting.....as far as I want to see a bullet hit what I was aiming at...
As kids didnt most of us try to max out the red ryder bb gun....i know mine was worn beyond repair.....then came the one pump pellet gun..although it would shoot a long ways....spent more time shooting for quarters at the beer bottle tops we ..ah took off......and heartily enjoyed....at 25 yards...lost some money..made some money........other times just consumed.................
Competitive and sportsman hunting are difinetly separate....

 

[The Oregonian]

yeah...I didn't mean you in particular...I really only meant the ones with the 6000 dollar guns...

I think you are barking up the wrong tree if you are singling people out bc they have $6k guns.

 

[WildRose]

I know...most of ya are old timers....have shot past a thou....and have the 6000 dollar rigs and on and on...but most people get the wrong impression from people like you...
long range hunting and shooting isn't about distance alone...it is about maxing out the equipment you have....amiright?

I am no long range shooter by any means....I shoot my guns as far as I can and am currently trying to get the load development to the point that when I miss I know it is me and not my reloading skills.

what is long range shooting and hunting with a pellet gun?
a .22?
a 3030?
what is long range hunting shooting off hand? is it the same as shooting prone from a freshly grazed knoll down onto antelope 1000 yards away?

the only reason I bring this up is that lots of people seem to ask question about getting into long range shooting and hunting...they in turn receive advice to go out and spend their childrens college fund on a rifle, glass and range finder.. when they cant max out the m1 garand they got in the closet...

so...if yer young, broke and looking for advice to become a crack shot....I have the perfect advice...

SHOOT WHAT YOU HAVE....UNTIL YOU OUT SHOOT IT.

IF YA DONT HAVE A RIFLE RIGHT NOW...GO OUT AND GET YOU A CHEAP SAVAGE 308....WITH AN ACCUTRIGGER....SLAP ON A SWFA SS FIXED POWER SCOPE AND MAX THAT PUPPY OUT..
TAKE THE REMAINDER OF THE MONEY YOU HAVE AND BUY THE RCBS ROCK CHUCKER PRESS AND DIES....GET SOME POWDER AND START RELOADING...

shooting long range and reloading go hand in hand...seriously...you cant really do one without the other...not on any kind of budget...

learn the skills...watch the tibosaurausrex sniper 101 videos on the youtube…

develop skills...reading the wind...

as you outrun yer equipment...upgrade it. spending 1500 bucks on a tikka 6.5 creed and a vortex scope will surely get you where you want to go.....without any education what so ever....

getting the 308 will get you there as well and make a rifleman out of ya.

You've only been around here a couple of weeks so I suggest digging thruogh the archives.

We've had dozens and dozens of threads here about how to get into the long range game successfully and do it on a budget.

Ballistically LR starts around 600yds, beyond that things start to get complicated simply due to wind and gravity but what is perceived as long range depends greatly on the equipment, the conditions, the shooter, and the size of the target.

 

[WildRose]

I just took a guy hunting and let him shoot my rifle at a rock 750 plus yards away. He hit it the first shot and the first thing he said was "that'd be a dead elk". Literally had no clue what it took to develop the load, get all the dope, give him the right wind call, etc.

The more I have gotten involved in shooting and long range hunting the more I think that LR Hunting is about truly being honest with yourself about your effective range, knowing your equipment, and having the discipline and know how to recognize when to put all the things you have learned into a shot.

Very true. As you venture out beyond 600 to 1,000yds the level of difficulty increases geometrically.

We owe it to the game we seek to do our very best to ensure that every shot we fire at them is a one shot DRT kill and should all strive for it knowing our own and the limitations of our equipment.

 

[LanceK]

So I am new to the long range thing. To me, in a hunting situation 200yds would be about my max. I have a lot to learn. I have been reloading for about 10 years but have spent all my range time at 100yds. For me it is hard to not want to go out and buy the high dollar rig, but I know that my current .243 will work just fine for me for a long time till I learn more. I have found this forum to be very helpful and not near as much b.s. as other forums, which is nice. Now where's my credit card so I can buy that 6.5x284 I was looking at earlier...