What is the Typical Distance Range You Kill Big Game At?

[zerosprk]

#2.

 

[General RE LEE]

To use a golf analogy, it's like spending most of the time on the range hitting a 3 iron but most shots are with a pitching wedge. Hitting that 3 iron pure sure is fun though lol

 

[GLTaylor]

This is interesting and not at all surprising. It's also rather humorous. All the hype you hear and all the interest in the highest BC possible in bullets is all for naught in the hunting world. At under 500 or so yards, BC has little importance in the scheme of things. PRS and 600-1000 yd benchrest shooters certainly benefit from best BC bullets at the distance they shoot. The rest of the majority of us.... meh. Yet, high BC bullets sell very well. Guess we want all the advantage we can get - real or imagined

 

[codyadams]

This is interesting and not at all surprising. It's also rather humorous. All the hype you hear and all the interest in the highest BC possible in bullets is all for naught in the hunting world. At under 500 or so yards, BC has little importance in the scheme of things. PRS and 600-1000 yd benchrest shooters certainly benefit from best BC bullets at the distance they shoot. The rest of the majority of us.... meh. Yet, high BC bullets sell very well. Guess we want all the advantage we can get - real or imagined

Way to minimize the minority!! Ha ha kidding, I see your point, but there are some of us that really do require it most the time, and many others that need it, "occasionally", though the "average" range may be less. But, let me ask you this, is it smarter to have a plan based on when everything works out, or is it better to have a plan for when things don't work out? In life it pretty much always works out better to have a plan for the latter.

 

[Greyfox]

This is interesting and not at all surprising. It's also rather humorous. All the hype you hear and all the interest in the highest BC possible in bullets is all for naught in the hunting world. At under 500 or so yards, BC has little importance in the scheme of things. PRS and 600-1000 yd benchrest shooters certainly benefit from best BC bullets at the distance they shoot. The rest of the majority of us.... meh. Yet, high BC bullets sell very well. Guess we want all the advantage we can get - real or imagined

Agreed, particularly if hunting shots are not anticipated much past mid-range (500 yards). If the intention is to have the capability to take a hunting shot at the longer ranges(conditions permitting), very much like the difference between .5 and 1MOA accuracy, an increase of +20% BC with a premium bullet and a finely tuned load can make a material difference in results. If one is serious about possessing this capability, the deck should be stacked fully to insure the highest hit/dispatch probability…And, more importantly, the confidence level to make the shot…IMO.

 

[codyadams]

This is interesting and not at all surprising. It's also rather humorous. All the hype you hear and all the interest in the highest BC possible in bullets is all for naught in the hunting world. At under 500 or so yards, BC has little importance in the scheme of things. PRS and 600-1000 yd benchrest shooters certainly benefit from best BC bullets at the distance they shoot. The rest of the majority of us.... meh. Yet, high BC bullets sell very well. Guess we want all the advantage we can get - real or imagined

I guess along this line of thinking, there is all this hype about horsepower and torque, but how many of you actually race, and how fast do the majority of us really need to go, and how much faster will you get to work with all that extra power? That extra horsepower is all for naught! In the driving world. At under 75 mph or so, in most driving that extra hp has little difference in the scheme of things, when you look at how long it takes from point a to b. Drag racers and closed track racers certainly benefit from the most hp and best traction, the rest of the majority of us.....could probably get by fine with a prius! Yet, mustangs, challengers, camaros and similar cars sell well. Guess we all want the extra power and speed, real or imagined!

As greyfox stated.....it may not be necessary in all circumstances, but the ability is good to have. One day someone may want to take their car to a track day, or accelerate faster than "necessary" on the on ramp. Just because it isn't required, doesn't mean it is not wanted, or in some cases needed.

 

[cantfixstupid]

#2

 

[dfanonymous]

Well, the survey is not really data driven. Idk what the OP was looking for, but I don't think it was anything super scientific.

Think of the data this way. This is a website. Anyone of about any half developed country can access it and do this poll. The majority here in the US. If we interpolate the data and ignore the minority votes, and limit the data to only the US (for example purposes only), then we have to look at the US geography.

With the US in mind let's split it between West and East. The reality is the eastern US isn't super conducive as a whole (terrain) to long range shooting. Like 600y and beyond. Yet we have plenty of members who live and hunt there….

Then if you look out west, there are generally more hunting area more conducive to long range hunting, but then there are areas and states that are questionable in regards to hunting access in general.

Like the west coast from the Mexican border to Canada. Texas is mostly privatized land. Things like that. Rifle tags out west for non-residents are not "easy" to get anymore. California I always hated hunting, as I always seen Mexican dudes in groups of up to 10 people screaming and yelling, throwing rocks to drive deer, the relevance is they are bush hunting under 350y, and I've never seen that in any other state in a high alpine environment.

All to say, when you consider this non scientific dissection, the numbers make sense to the imagination that the majority of peoples shots (on average) are under 350y when rifle hunting.

To have a larger number (in the US) you'd have to (at least) limit a survey to western states with a half decent management of game. In my mind, is because some of those states are public lands with success rates sub 15% year to year.

It is a niche hunting crowd, and depending where you live can be a limiting factor alone.

 

[xsn10s]

Anything can be rationalized. Heck common low bc bullets could be considered fine for 500 yards and less. Less expensive too.

 

[codyadams]

Anything can be rationalized. Heck common low bc bullets could be considered fine for 500 yards and less. Less expensive too.

Two of of my favorite bullets for a long time before I started shooting lr was a Speer hotcore, or the standard 190 grain 30 cal hornady interlock spire point. Usually super easy to get a load for too.

 

[xsn10s]

Two of of my favorite bullets for a long time before I started shooting lr was a Speer hotcore, or the standard 190 grain 30 cal hornady interlock spire point. Usually super easy to get a load for too.

Yup I used Speer MagTip in a 30-06 and Hornady 350gr roundnose in my 45-70. After that i shot Nosler seconds Ballistic Tips, AccuBonds, and Partitions. All killed well enough.

 

[Ol' Red]

Two of of my favorite bullets for a long time before I started shooting lr was a Speer hotcore, or the standard 190 grain 30 cal hornady interlock spire point. Usually super easy to get a load for too.

Have used Hornady interlocks in my .270 since the Eighties, and Speer Hotcore in my .243 for several years. Not looking to change. I keep shots in both of those under 450 yards and everything is still dead that has been shot with them.

 

[GLTaylor]

My intention wasn't to belittle anyone or any choice. Differences in Eastern and Western hunting are very pronounced, as pointed out. Also a Huge difference in sheer numbers of hunters involved.
Totally agree with being prepared for your longest shot and stacking odds in your favor. MUCH practice at distance, reading wind (yuck) and mirage (another yuck) are also mandatory for success and clean kills. I don't posess those skills and don't practice beyond 400 yds - but that's just me. I don't ever plan to shoot past 400, and don't know where I could
The only place I could imagine is a gas line or power line right of way and I don't have access to either?

 

[dogz]

an interesting add on Q to this question would be how often do you take a shot at game that you darn well know you could stalk closer to

Just a thunk