What do you consider Long Range

[ms]

For me anything over a 100 yards.

[nilescoyote]

0-300= short range
300-600= medium range
600 and beyond= long range

At least that is what I grew up thinking...

I practice shooting out to 500 and as long as the wind is not beyond what I know I can shoot in and guarantee a first round hit, I’m comfortable taking such a shot. However, I’ve never taken a shot on game past 320... yet.

[Freezer]

    It depends on the rifle, cartridge, sights and game.  I'd have no problem with my 25-06 to 500 yards but will limit myself to to 350 yards with my Savage 99 in 308.  My Rem 700 in 280 has a 4x12 Leupold and a max 500 yard range.  My Rem M7 in 7tcu has a max range of 250 yards but is the best Blacktail gun I have.  The 308 and 7tcu wear Leupold 2x7s but the 25-06 has a 6x16.  My 94 Win is an iron sited 100 yard gun as is my 450 Marlin.
    All that said I consider 250 yards long range.

[teddy12b]

For me, hunting deer in Indiana with an open sighted 44mag, 150 yards is a long hunting shot. 

When I go to the range with my 30-06 I have hit the targets out to 1000 yards.  I personally would limit myself to the 400 - 500 range as the longest hunting shot I think I could make reliably.  I'm hoping with time my comfort range starts to extend, but that's going to take a lot of practice. 

All those caribou hunts sound great.  I've been trying to talk some people into doing that for years.

[41 mag]

Generally anything past 350 for rifles is starting to get into my limitations nowdays, I haven't been able to shoot as much over the past year as I normally do. For handguns, open sighted revolvers 150 is a stretch from a rest 75 to 100 offhand on a stationary target. For the scoped Contenders, 250 is about it from a good steady rest, with the opened sighted ones around 50 since I don't shoot them often enough.

Luckily or not, we have feral hogs that we work on year round, mostly with revolvers in calibers from .357, 41, and 44 mags for the most part and now and again I haul out my Raging Bull in 454. Shots tend to be anywhere from at your feet to as far as you feel like stretching it out within reason. We practice mostly off hand at 50 yds and sighted in around 1" high they all tend to hit well further than we can hold them.

With the rifles we had been shooting out to 500yds on about a weekly basis and even further once or twice a month. However with the price of gas and other issues coming up we didn't get much practice in last year. Most of my loads however have the drop charts already taped to the stocks or scope, and if not the scope has mil dots to compensate, so I still feel confident out to the 350 yd range under decent conditions.   

[Ron T.]

The point-blank-range wherein the bullet doesn't rise or fall more than 3 inches above or below the line-of-sight for my handloaded .300 Savage cartridge is 265 yards... and that's far enough for my purposes.

Anything beyond that is "long range" for me... and I'll try to stalk closer rather than take a shot beyond about 250 yards.

I'd rather pass the shot than wound an animal because I was so impatient that I took a shot beyond my and/or my rifle's capability.

I've broke a buck's back with a shot beyond 400 yards in my younger days with my pre-'64 Model 70 in .338 Win. Magnum, but it was "messy" and required a follow-up shot at close range to finish the wounded, immobalized buck. 

It took me the best part of a half an hour to climb down my mountain, cross the small valley and climb up the next mountain to the level of the path along the moutainside where I had hit the buck... and I didn't feel very proud of the shot when I realized the suffering I'd caused.

From then on... I refused shots beyond my rifle's point-blank-range which is usually between 250 to 300 yards from most modern cartridges. 

With some game animals (like antelope), it might be almost impossible to get closer than 300-400 yards or even more... but it most cases, a hunter can stalk closer to game using the terrain for "cover" and maintaining a down-wind or cross-wind position without frightening off the game.

I figure I don't have anything to "prove" by taking shots that may end up wounding rather than immediately killling game... and thus, the self-imposed limitation of the range at which I'll take shots at game.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

[454Puma]

nomosendero
  A shot at 150+ might need alot of guess work if you got a very stiff wind! But I guess your a pro that gets everything purfect every time! Normally for me with out a gusty/ changing wind everything under 300 yard is cake! After that even a breeze will affect where your bullet goes! As a hunter I like to take all the what if's out of my shot as possible ie get close, take a good rest, take a shot I know will kill quickly! If it don't feel right the trigger doesn't get pulled. Thats just the way I hunt. Now if I'm just punching paper thats a whole different thing!

[FLNT4EVR]

For me I would have to say my limit would be 300 yds. That is the farthest target berm at the range where I shoot ,so  that is as far as I've practiced shooting and am comfortable with.

[john keyes]

I think there might be a few problems here with the 500 yd plus stuff.
Actually it would be 2-300yd plus problems for me but I'm trying to be a little generous.

First, how are you going to identify the animal and categorize the antlers etc at that range?
Second, even if you kill it dead instantly when the bullet arrives, will you be able to find the spot where the animal was/is?
If the animal runs and quickly dies...which way did it run?  do you know?
If you are very familar with said piece of terrain and landmarks existing within its wide spaces then the level of difficulty will diminish.
However, figure in UNfamilar terrain, and rugged, difficult/dangerous to traverse terrain, and lots of vines and briar patches, or gulleys and crags and cliffs, stuff is going to get real hard real fast.
Even if you find the animal the recovery is going to push your limits instantaneously.  Unless its a farm in Kansas or someplace.

[Luckyducker]

I have shot a couple of deer at 600 yds. with a 30/06 under the best of conditions: i.e. no wind, solid rest, deer standing perfectly still.  That kind of shot doesn't happen often where I hunt.   I have shot deer running at 400 yds.  The wind bothers me more than this distance.   For a centerfire handgun 100yds is definitely a long shot.

[burntmuch]

Where I hunt the average shot is 60 to 100 yards. Finding a range with 200,,300 yard range is hard to find around here, Ive got rifle that will shoot out to 300 or 400 yards, just no place to shoot them  . Today while out looking for yotes/ basicly wondering around the woods. I found a place to shoot 200 yards With a bipod in the prone position I put 3 into a 1 inch group, Then put 2 right with them from a kneeling position using a tree to steady the rifle This was with my rem 700 .223 Im sure I could do about the same with my 7 mag or almost as good with the 35 whelen. So I would say 200 to 300 would be long range for me. Just dont have the oppertunity to practice at further ranges.                 

[Coyote Hunter]

Lots of opportunity here for long shots.  I was prepared for a 500 yard shot but ened up taking one at 25.



No long shots here!  This is my hunting buddy Dave from a couple years back.


Lots of long shot opportunity here, too.


More long range country.  Got lucky and took my elk at 125 when they walked right up on us.


It's great to take short shots but as I 've said many times, sometimes it just isn't possible to get closer and you take the shot that is offered or take a pass.

[Coyote Hunter]

Here are some more long range areas from the 2008 elk hunt.

Top of the ridge in the center is 410 yards (lasered):


Shots here as far as i would want to go:


Biggest buck I've ever put a scope on was standing atop the clear ridge in the center, a bit over 300 yards.  Thought it was on private land due to an old map.  New map I got the next day showed it wasn't.   



IIRC, about 350 yards to the near part of the clear hill:

[efremtags]

long range is when you need to do more than point dead on and hit. As many people have already stated, it is relative to the weapon.

Most people have no business shooting long range. If you never tried your weapon at a target at hat range, you have no business shooting at game at that range.

[teddy12b]

Coyote Hunter,
     Where were all those pictures taken?  That's beautiful country. 

[Coyote Hunter]

Coyote Hunter,
     Where were all those pictures taken?  That's beautiful country. 

All were taken in Unit 4, Colorado.  That's basically east of Highway #13 between Craig, Colorado and Baggs, Wyoming.

In the first post the first and last pictures were taken on Snake River Ranch.  I took a cow elk in both spots in 2007.  The second picture in that post was taken a mile east of #13 and the Wyoming border is visible in the distance, a mile away.  The third picture was taken on BLM land a couple miles further south and facing east.

The pictures in the second post were taken a few miles further south and east, all on public land.

We've taken out share of elk out of the flats but they tend to be moving through when you find them.  If you don't take a shot when it is presented you aren't likely to get another chance.  Longest shot to date has been 350 but I've passed on longer numerous times - have literally watched elk herds travel several miles, eyeballs on them all the way.  These days, I'm prepared to go 500 or even 600 yards depending on the rifle in hand and wind conditions.

[Coyote Hunter]

teddy12b –

Here’s a few more pictures from Colorado Unit 4.

This one is taken facing west from the same point the first picture in the first post was taken.  We watched elk come off the mountain in the distance and work their way up the near ridge in the left of the picture, about 400 yards away.  Some yahoo had them coming right to him but started banging away when they were 500 yards out.  The elk turned, came up the draw in front of me and popped up over the rise not 25 feet away.  The lead cow was wounded by the yahoo and I waited until the herd had moved off to my right before taking a cow at 25 yards.


Busted this bull with my Marlin .45-70 at 213 lasered yards.  The herd had passed me by but turned and came back.


Then sometimes we hunt areas like this.  That’s my .30-30 leaning against my pack.  The picture was taken in Routt National Forest in 2007.


He’s a dink but was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  We were looking for elk for my buddy. 2007, BLM land.  80 yards on BLM land but if I hadn’t taken the shot my next opportunity, if there was one, would have been 300 or more.  Took him just as he was stepping over a small drop-off.


My hunting buddy is visible as a speck or orange near the center of the picture.  His mule deer is down behind the tree behind him.  280 yards, 2007.  The far left end of the ridge is called “Wyoming”.  This is state land, a place called “The Cedars”.


This is my buddy’s elk, taken on Three Forks Ranch with a Ranching For Wildlife license in 2007.  Shot was 80 yards or so.  My cow is down in the snow on the far slope, rolled up against a bush, 260 yards out.  Passed on numerous shots going downhill at ranges from several hundred yards to over 1000 yards.


This is private ranch land east of Highway #13 and Ralph White Reservoir, north of Craig.  When the elk are migrating they stop here before continuing on.  They are hard to see and the picture doesn’t begin to show them all, but there are probably 1500 elk in the picture.

[teddy12b]

You have no idea how jealous I am of people who live out west and have that kind of public land to hunt.  I wish I could find a job and move out there just for the hunting & fishing.

[cwlongshot]

BEAUTIFUL pics!!! Thank you for posting!!!

You have no idea how jealous I am of people who live out west and have that kind of public land to hunt.  I wish I could find a job and move out there just for the hunting & fishing.

 You and me BOTH, brother, you and me both!!  Outstandingly beautiful country we live in.

 I have friends that travel around the world yet haven't spent the time to see what we have to see and experience right here. I had a Elk hunt lined up for this October in Colorado. Its dashed with my recent heart attack, but I WILL make it out there soon!!!

 CW

[teddy12b]

 You and me BOTH, brother, you and me both!!  Outstandingly beautiful country we live in.

I've been out west several times and I never wanted to come home.  It's something else out there.  I can't imagine anyone's hiring out there right now anyway.  Some day.....

[BBF]

Rather then going into what "is" Long Range  or "would I".  A little time spend on the Sierra ballistics software shows that:

Example:
270 Win shooting a 130 gr WW Ballistic Silvertip at 3050 fps MV
A steady wind from 90 degrees at 10 mph would move the bullet impact 12 3/4" to the side at a 400 yard distance.

NOT for me !! I'll pass.

[teddy12b]

Rather then going into what "is" Long Range  or "would I".  A little time spend on the Sierra ballistics software shows that:

Example:
270 Win shooting a 130 gr WW Ballistic Silvertip at 3050 fps MV
A steady wind from 90 degrees at 10 mph would move the bullet impact 12 3/4" to the side at a 400 yard distance.

NOT for me !! I'll pass.

It takes a lot of time and practice to shoot farther than 300 yards accurately.  For most part guy that zero about 2 inches high at 100 with a 308, 30-06, 270 (common caliber) only have to hold over to make a clean killing shot out to 300 yards.

Past 300 yards it just takes more practice.  If a guy puts in the time and energy and can prove his proficiency with the weapon I don't have much problem with whatever the distance he chooses to hunt at.

[Coyote Hunter]

Rather then going into what "is" Long Range  or "would I".  A little time spend on the Sierra ballistics software shows that:

Example:
270 Win shooting a 130 gr WW Ballistic Silvertip at 3050 fps MV
A steady wind from 90 degrees at 10 mph would move the bullet impact 12 3/4" to the side at a 400 yard distance.

NOT for me !! I'll pass.

Understandable, especially if you don’t practice such shots.

At my local range the wind is almost always blowing, usually in gusts.  Speeds vary but 10mpg is a relatively calm day.  Nevertheless, my favorite targets are clay pigeons (4-1/4” diameter) at 400 and occasionally at 500 yards.  The clay pigeons present the good challenge but, I rarely miss by much and often get a string of hits. 

The last coyote I took was over 480 yards with a head shot and prairie dogs are in big trouble at ranges under 500 yards.  Would I take a  shot at antelope or deer or elk at such ranges?  If I couldn’t get closer and the wind was manageable, you bet!

[BBF]

I would really hate myself for making a gut shot on an animal because of range and windage. A clean miss because of range and wind, fine, but not a wounding shot.

[teddy12b]

I would really hate myself for making a gut shot on an animal because of range and windage. A clean miss because of range and wind, fine, but not a wounding shot.

That's exactly why many of the guys at the range I go to are hunters.  The only way to lower the percentage of bad shots is by practice.  Shooting past 300 yards is different every time you go to the range.  Practicing when the temp, wind, & everything else is different gives the shooter more needed experience. 

I know if I ever go out west I'm going to limit myself to 300 yards max, unless I get a chance to do some long range shooting while I'm there (doubt it'll happen in the gun season).  The reason for this is that I'll know how my rifle handles on Indiana flat land elevation.  When you go up to 9,000ft elevation like where I'd want to hunt, it's going to really take effect after 300 yards. 

[BBF]

teddy:
 I presume you are aware of the trajectory variation from altitude and temperature. A rifle sighted in at the altitude of Indiana is not going to be hitting the target at the same place at 9000 feet.
It isn't a big difference but something to be aware of.

[teddy12b]

teddy:
 I presume you are aware of the trajectory variation from altitude and temperature. A rifle sighted in at the altitude of Indiana is not going to be hitting the target at the same place at 9000 feet.
It isn't a big difference but something to be aware of.

Yeah, I didn't do a good job of explaining it, but if I ever go hunting out west I'll have to either re-zero my rifle when I get there and make a whole new drop chart, or re-zero and limit myself to 300 yards max.  I don't see it happening any time soon, but if I ever go out west I'll probably limit myself to under 300 yards after re-zeroing.

[Coyote Hunter]

teddy:
 I presume you are aware of the trajectory variation from altitude and temperature. A rifle sighted in at the altitude of Indiana is not going to be hitting the target at the same place at 9000 feet.
It isn't a big difference but something to be aware of.

It really doesn't amount too much in most cases, especially since most shots are still taken under 300 yards even when the hunter is prepared for longer.  (Excluding situations in which the hunter is  purposely TRYING to take a long shot.)  Take one of my loads, a .308 Win pushing a 168g TTSX at 2650fps and zeroed for 250 yards, then look at the difference between 500ft and 9000ft altitude:

.308 Win, 168g TTSX @ 2650fps, 250 yard zero
500 Feet
- 4.6" @ 300
-19.5" @ 400
-43.2" @ 500

9000 Feet
- 4.2" @ 300
-17.9" @ 400
-39.0" @ 500

So, in the worst case, we're looking at a 4.2" difference at 500 yards when changing from 500 feet to 9000 feet in altitude.  Crank the velocity up to 2900fps, the velocity of my .30-06 loads, and the difference at 500 yards is 3.7".  Crank it up to 3090fps, the velocity of one of my .300 Win Mag loads, and the difference in drop at 500 yards is right at 3.2"

The key here is that the difference in drop is easily calculated and accounted for.

Personally, I don't zero for fixed ranges, I zero for Maximum Point Blank Range (MPBR) for a 6" target (maximum 3" rise and/or drop).  Using the same loads:

.308 Win, 168g TTSX @ 2650fps, MPBR zero for 6” diameter target
500 Feet
265yds = MPBR Zero
- 6.7" @ 300
-22.4" @ 400
-46.8" @ 500

9000 Feet
273yds = MPBR Zero
- 5.7" @ 300
-19.8" @ 400
-41.4" @ 500

Here the worst case difference is 5.4” at 500 yards for the .308 Win.  With the 2900fps .30-06  load it is 4.3” and with the 2090fps .300 WM load it is 3.6”.  Again, easily calculated and accounted for.  In fact, if one was to estimate the difference in drop as 1” @ 300, 2” @ 300 and 4” at 500, , one would never be more than .5” off at 300 yards and  .6” off at 400 yards.  At 500 yards the .308 Win would shoot 1.4" lower than estimated but the .30-06 and .300 Win Mag would both be within .4” of the estimate. 

Given the above, it isn’t even necessary to re-zero – just calculate new drop tables.  One should, of course, always check the zero after making a lengthy trip.  Without re-zeroing, one would just check it against the new drop tables -- preferably at 300 yards or more.

In my case, I shoot all year at a range where the long-range rifle range sits at 6237 feet with MPBR zeros.  When shooting at 9000 feet, the calculated differences for 500 yards are :

1.5”  for .308 Win
1.4” for .30-06
1.0” for .300 Win Mag


At 500 yards, those are differences I can ignore.

[roper]

teddy:
 I presume you are aware of the trajectory variation from altitude and temperature. A rifle sighted in at the altitude of Indiana is not going to be hitting the target at the same place at 9000 feet.
It isn't a big difference but something to be aware of.

Yeah, I didn't do a good job of explaining it, but if I ever go hunting out west I'll have to either re-zero my rifle when I get there and make a whole new drop chart, or re-zero and limit myself to 300 yards max.  I don't see it happening any time soon, but if I ever go out west I'll probably limit myself to under 300 yards after re-zeroing.

Here in Colorado the Division of wildlife has some rifle ranges  and most will use them to check there zero.  There one in the area I hunt and it goes to 300yds.  You can call DOW and they can tell you if any in the area you are going to hunt or any on your way into the state.

[Ahab]

A 3 inch group at 1000 yds. He should be thinking camp perry, or the olympics. .300 MOA out to 1000 yds is impressive, very impressive in my book.

Hmmm, I thought I was doing good with a 9" group (7mmMag, sporting class)

Check this out. http://www.6mmbr.com/1000ydpg01.html