Tarvis
Member
Good point, but also remember that people will buy what they want more often than what they need. Also, some will justify a long range cartridge as a "just in case" that buck goes running out on the next ridge.
Your Shooting
- Thread starter Shawnee
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HM2PAC
Member
Shawnee wrote:
Let me guess, the .243 is adequate for this and therefore there is no reason to use something more powerful, right?
Let me guess, the .243 is adequate for this and therefore there is no reason to use something more powerful, right?
Shawnee
member
Hi HM2...
"Let me guess, the .243 is adequate for this and therefore there is no reason to use something more powerful, right? "
No, the poll/question was not a lead-in for me to get on my ".243 soapbox", your snide assumption notwithstanding.
It's a straight question intended to generate peoples' thoughts about what rifle/caliber/sights they really need for their hunting - or which ones are entirely viable for them.
Thought that might be an informative and refreshing change from the unending "Ya Gotta Have a $12 Bulgarian Milsurp in 30-ought-fuddy-duddy with a black, 3-way collapsable stock/rangefinder unit, 400-round magazine and topped with a $12,000 Schlitz & Bentup 38x212x65 scope shooting 666-gr. FMJ bullets from Lexus in case you need to shoot end-to-end through three World Record Moose and a charging Grizzley bear at 1000 yards, after buying your ammo in a coconut vendor's hut on a deserted island in the middle of the Pacific."
Hopefully some people will be along to offer their thoughts on what is really needed for hunting tools, as opposed to all the lore and marketing hype and self-aggrandizing schmaltz. Please feel free to offer your own take on the questions. Everyone's thoughts should be interesting if they address the topic as it is with some semblance of sincerity.
"Let me guess, the .243 is adequate for this and therefore there is no reason to use something more powerful, right? "
No, the poll/question was not a lead-in for me to get on my ".243 soapbox", your snide assumption notwithstanding.
It's a straight question intended to generate peoples' thoughts about what rifle/caliber/sights they really need for their hunting - or which ones are entirely viable for them.
Thought that might be an informative and refreshing change from the unending "Ya Gotta Have a $12 Bulgarian Milsurp in 30-ought-fuddy-duddy with a black, 3-way collapsable stock/rangefinder unit, 400-round magazine and topped with a $12,000 Schlitz & Bentup 38x212x65 scope shooting 666-gr. FMJ bullets from Lexus in case you need to shoot end-to-end through three World Record Moose and a charging Grizzley bear at 1000 yards, after buying your ammo in a coconut vendor's hut on a deserted island in the middle of the Pacific."
Hopefully some people will be along to offer their thoughts on what is really needed for hunting tools, as opposed to all the lore and marketing hype and self-aggrandizing schmaltz. Please feel free to offer your own take on the questions. Everyone's thoughts should be interesting if they address the topic as it is with some semblance of sincerity.
skinewmexico
Member
So is this about hunting, or just about shooting?
The distance I shoot (600), and the hunting rifle I need are two radically different things. I don't take a shot hunting over 300 yards. Well, maybe 400. So I don't use a Fudd rifle to shoot long distance, or vice versa. But some people haven't look at a ballistics chart, and think you need a 300 Winmag or 338 Lapua to shoot 1000 yards too.
And the 243 has fabulous ballistics at distances over 500, if you quit buying hunting bullets.
The distance I shoot (600), and the hunting rifle I need are two radically different things. I don't take a shot hunting over 300 yards. Well, maybe 400. So I don't use a Fudd rifle to shoot long distance, or vice versa. But some people haven't look at a ballistics chart, and think you need a 300 Winmag or 338 Lapua to shoot 1000 yards too.
And the 243 has fabulous ballistics at distances over 500, if you quit buying hunting bullets.
bogie
Member
Furthest 10 shot target in registered competition was 200 yards. Best group was something like .356".
yesit'sloaded
Member
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- Aug 15, 2007
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- 1,662
Target shooting is usually 100-300. Longest hunting shot was 237 yards. Somewhere in the 600s at a box across a sandbar on a friend's property. I say box I mean the kind that a climbing treestand comes in. Probably 5'x4'. I hit it.
Fly320s
Member
600 yards in NRA High Power. My first match was just a few weeks ago.
Funny thing... I shot better at 600 than I did at 200 and 300.
Before that match, 300 yards was my farthest shot.
Funny thing... I shot better at 600 than I did at 200 and 300.
Before that match, 300 yards was my farthest shot.
HM2PAC
Member
Shawnee wrote:
Touche, mon frere.
Let me answer your question more appropriately then.
Although I prefer the venerable .30-06, the .338-06 may be more up my alley.
My reasons:
1. Larger diameter bullet.
2. Heavier/longer bullet.
3. Mild recoil.
4. Flatter trajectory.
5. More KE downrange.
I harp on the .243 as small, and jab you in the ribs when I can. Truth be told, it is a fantastic round. I talked a friend of mine into one for his young boys and they have done marvelously with it.
That being said, -06 can be found in the sewing purses of little old ladies at quilting bees.
Touche, mon frere.
Let me answer your question more appropriately then.
Although I prefer the venerable .30-06, the .338-06 may be more up my alley.
My reasons:
1. Larger diameter bullet.
2. Heavier/longer bullet.
3. Mild recoil.
4. Flatter trajectory.
5. More KE downrange.
I harp on the .243 as small, and jab you in the ribs when I can. Truth be told, it is a fantastic round. I talked a friend of mine into one for his young boys and they have done marvelously with it.
That being said, -06 can be found in the sewing purses of little old ladies at quilting bees.
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DMK
Member
That's one reason why I shoot my AR15s more than anything else and consider them my primary rifles.
I've never shot further than 200 yards, and I don't see me ever getting the opportunity to shoot further in my heavily wooded area. 99% of my shooting is less than 100yards.
"30-ought-fuddy-duddy"
skinewmexico
Member
I love my 338-06. So much more pleasant than a 300 Winmag, but close ballistically.
S&WKING
Member
200-300 we were shooting at this prarie dog we were shooting 22s and we could see the dirt hit all around it and it had to been the dumbest dog ever. then we got out the 222 and only had a few shots and didnt get it. then we got the 25-06 out and finally got it. it was so windy that the smaller bullets were just getting blown off just enough. and we were also shooting across a big draw.
U.S.SFC_RET
Member
500 to 600 yards and missed 4 out of 10 with a mouse gun. 
Magnuumpwr
Member
600 yds: Golden Triangle Gun Club in Beaumont, Texas
Rifle:State Arms custom Rebel 50 BMG rifle with a 36" SS bull barrel
Optics: 6-24x50 IOR Valdada with the 35mm tube
Ammo: 647 gr. mil surplus FMJ
Target size: roughly 6' x 4'
Group size: after a couple sight in shots the size of a 10 1/4" paper plate
The most enjoyable part was sitting behind the target bunker and listening to the bullets hit the target overhead. Sounded like a 22 being fired.
Rifle:State Arms custom Rebel 50 BMG rifle with a 36" SS bull barrel
Optics: 6-24x50 IOR Valdada with the 35mm tube
Ammo: 647 gr. mil surplus FMJ
Target size: roughly 6' x 4'
Group size: after a couple sight in shots the size of a 10 1/4" paper plate
The most enjoyable part was sitting behind the target bunker and listening to the bullets hit the target overhead. Sounded like a 22 being fired.
Aaryq
Member
10 for 10 at 500 yards. M16A2. Open Sights.
Beetle Bailey
Member
I marked 500-600 yards. Thing is, my friends and I were just messing around. We were shooting .223 rem at steel plates just because we could. Even though we all got plenty of hits (scoped HB Savages from a benchrest) I know I won't be shooting at game at 600 yards anytime soon.
Thing is, I'm not really a hunter. I took my first game animal (wild boar) last year at about 200 yards with a (sorry) .30-06. Worked great but a couple of knowledgable hunters I know told me a .270 Win would have been a better choice. Truth be told, I suspect a less potent cartridge would have been enough for that little 100 lbs. pig, so you've got a point there. Oh well, I like my .30-06 and I'm keeping it!
Thing is, I'm not really a hunter. I took my first game animal (wild boar) last year at about 200 yards with a (sorry) .30-06. Worked great but a couple of knowledgable hunters I know told me a .270 Win would have been a better choice. Truth be told, I suspect a less potent cartridge would have been enough for that little 100 lbs. pig, so you've got a point there. Oh well, I like my .30-06 and I'm keeping it!
A vast majority of the rifles in the gun safes in America today are more than capable out to 500 yards accurately, but the "drivers" are not.
The skills/knowledge to be able to put lead on target to 500 yards is not that difficult to learn, just a skill that the last couple of generations have not passed on.
The boys of 1775 sure understood how to wring the most accuracy out of their rifles. Confirmation of shots beyond 300 yards, and tales of shot out to 500 yards.....with a muzzle loader, fixed sights and no range finders
Shots of 150-200 yards with a smooth bore musket
yep, they understood marksmanship.....and the Brits got a lesson too
No reason that every red blooded American could not obtain 500 yard skills, if they desire.
The skills/knowledge to be able to put lead on target to 500 yards is not that difficult to learn, just a skill that the last couple of generations have not passed on.
The boys of 1775 sure understood how to wring the most accuracy out of their rifles. Confirmation of shots beyond 300 yards, and tales of shot out to 500 yards.....with a muzzle loader, fixed sights and no range finders
Shots of 150-200 yards with a smooth bore musket
yep, they understood marksmanship.....and the Brits got a lesson tooNo reason that every red blooded American could not obtain 500 yard skills, if they desire.
USSR
Member
Ah, but it's not a question of need - it's a question of desire. A man might not need a car that goes faster than 65 MPH, but that doesn't stop him from buying a Corvette.
Don
YellowHorse
Member
A little over 100 yrds, paced out, open sights. Nothing spectacular
I only have surplus ammo, so no ranges for me, just playing out in the dessert hills. And being in Cali, I have limited areas where I can go shooting.
Problem is the terrain out here is either tightly rolling hills or flat land, it's difficult to find an area in the hills where you can shoot much farther than 200 yd and then there is just flat land for miles, so no backstop, no shooting.
I only have surplus ammo, so no ranges for me, just playing out in the dessert hills. And being in Cali, I have limited areas where I can go shooting.
Problem is the terrain out here is either tightly rolling hills or flat land, it's difficult to find an area in the hills where you can shoot much farther than 200 yd and then there is just flat land for miles, so no backstop, no shooting.
freakshow10mm
member
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2008
- Messages
- 1,951
little over 400y.
LiquidTension
Member
Longest range around me is 200yd. I hardly even use the 200yd berm since it's such a long walk and holds up all the other shooters on the line. Can't drive out there as the sand is soft and the Honda Civic was not meant for offroading.
CheyennePilot
Member
At what distance do I shoot?
I zeroed at 200 yards. Which puts me about 1/2 mildot at 300 meters and 1 mildot at 400 meters. My rifle is fairly flat shooting up to a point. I have shot at 500 meters, but I'm not consistant at that range. I'm loading 106 gr.
of H1000 behind a .338 250gr. Sierra SBT at about .005" off the lands.
My concern is how many rounds can I shoot prior to detached retinas? Maybe my hearing will go first. Anyway I love the big Magnums.
I zeroed at 200 yards. Which puts me about 1/2 mildot at 300 meters and 1 mildot at 400 meters. My rifle is fairly flat shooting up to a point. I have shot at 500 meters, but I'm not consistant at that range. I'm loading 106 gr.
of H1000 behind a .338 250gr. Sierra SBT at about .005" off the lands.
My concern is how many rounds can I shoot prior to detached retinas? Maybe my hearing will go first. Anyway I love the big Magnums.
kcmarine
Member
100 because I've never seen a continuous tract of land that you could use for shooting that's more than 200 yards long in my life.
skinewmexico
Member
Wow, you need to get out of town sometime.......
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