Author Topic: Handgun hunting, your longest shot???? (Read 8755 times)

xphunter · « **Reply #30 on:** March 31, 2011, 08:11:32 AM »

Knowing your drop and drift and having the capability to accurately correct for that is key to LR hunting

41 magnum · « **Reply #31 on:** March 31, 2011, 05:20:25 PM »

whitetail deer @ 113 yds, with a 6.5" Ruger Blackhawk .41 mag wearing a 2x Burris, rested on tree limb from tree stand
handloaded 200 gr Speer Soft Point over 20 gr H110

shot another a week later just about 5 yds closer

sscoyote · « **Reply #32 on:** April 15, 2011, 09:38:55 PM »

Quote from: sixshot on March 26, 2011, 07:32:51 AM

My longest ever revolver shot was about 180 yds (iron sights) with an 8 3/8" 357 & the 150 gr Sierra JHC, this was about 40 years ago when I was dumb & reckless....I'm still dumb! Anyway it was a lucky shot on a fork horn muley, I hit him at the base of the neck with the second shot. We measured it using the old bill of the hat method, measured it twice.
Took a cow elk 5 years ago at 168 yds (iron sights) using a Ruger OM 45 & the 260 gr Keith slug over 23 grs of H110, she was standing in deep snow & stood out like a piece of black coal.
I try really hard to stay away from the long shots when possible though, handgun hunting to me is getting as close as possible & making a clean kill with one shot, taking multiple shots & killing isn't good shooting skill, its luck.
My longest shot with a single shot scoped handgun was a doe antelope in Wyoming at 444 yds using my 6.5/284 Encore, this was a 15" Bullberry Barrel, we lasered it after the shot (one shot) its very hard to get a rangefinder reading on antelope at extended distance. This gun had a 3X12 Burris on it, also used the same setup in Africa but the shooting was close.
I've taken rock chucks out to 500 yds with various single shots, to me the challenge in long range shooting is the wind, once you know the distance with a rangefinder you should be able to make the long shots with great consistency. If it takes more than 2 shots, thats not long range accuracy, thats long range luck.
I've witnessed Ken ONeill shooting long range chucks, he's a master long ranger!
One time we were getting ready for a long range rifle match & I entered using my 15" 7/30 Improved, the distance was 500 yds at a water filled gallon jug. My buddy & I practiced for a couple of weeks getting ready. The day before the match we had 4 steel targets set up at 500 yds, one was a full size ram, 2 were pigs & one was a chicken. I went 4 for 4 using that Bullberry 7/30 Improved & 120 gr Ballastic Tips.
When we got to the match the next day the water jug was on a table up on the side of a mountain...way above us, because of the steep angle the shot was very tricky, behind the water jug was heavy brush so no one could see the shots, 11 of us missed it twice each, on my 3rd relay I hit it & won the match.

Dick

Great writeup Dick! Felt like i was right there with ya'.

xphunter · « **Reply #33 on:** April 16, 2011, 11:33:50 AM »

My four longest connections on four different animals in yards: 1590 on a prairie dog (6mm-284 XP-100), 1037 on Antelope (7WSM XP-100), 700 on a mule deer (7-08 XP-100), 666 on a elk (7mm Dakota XP-100).

41 mag · « **Reply #34 on:** April 17, 2011, 05:00:57 AM »

Longest shot on game with a revolver was a whitetail doe with a GP-100 146gr Speer, at 72 steps.

Several hogs at 50 - 100yds with my Redhawk in 41mag, but I don't consider these game, mainly pest.

Longest with a single shot was on a whitetail doe at 283yds lasered, with my 7x30 Waters using a 140gr Ballistic Tip. I knew the load was good to 200 and held halfway between the top of her back and her mid shoulder. I hit right in the middle blowing her heart, both lungs, and the onside shoulder to pieces. She took one leap and pile up.

To be honest that was one of the most memorable hunts I have ever had. I had to stalk the seven or so does over 400yds through all sorts of brush and small hills to get to a spot I could make a clean shot. It was a cat and mouse game for sure as they were together but strung out in a long line feeding away from me the whole time. There was always one of them looking back or around so my movements were like in a cartoon from one bush to the next while hopefully none were watching me. I finally ran out of cover and had to set up under a huge live oak tree and rest across my day pack to make the shot. At the break of the trigger she was standing still, head down feeding, when the report went off she raised her head just as the bullet arrived, and knocked her sideways about 3 feet. I saw it all through the scope and it was amazing.

When my buds arrived they would not believe I shot her from where I said I did until we had to go retrieve my range finder which I left laying out to the side of me when I prepared for the shot. In my excitement I simply got up grabbed my pack and headed to the deer.

Jay HHI6818 · « **Reply #35 on:** April 17, 2011, 11:43:25 AM »

I shot a WVa 6 point buck at 240 yards with my 309JDJ Contender on the last day of the 2009 buck season. Missed him with the first shot but the second shot connected. I shot the Nosler 165 grain ballistic tip @ 2300 fps.

rugerred · « **Reply #36 on:** April 17, 2011, 09:12:26 PM »

my longest kill shot was 125 yds. with a Ruger super Redhawk 44 magnum using 225 grn. hollow point . wILD HOG . T he longest target shot was with the same gun using 185 grn. Hornady 175yds.

streak · « **Reply #37 on:** April 18, 2011, 07:35:39 AM »

Whoops!
I almost forgot another one of "One shot one kill scenario`s'!!
Many years ago a buddy and I were scouting out deer hunting territory in Bodcau Wildlife Management area in North Louisiana. There was a creek that ran through a large part of this area with a large berm on one side of it . We both belly crawled up to the top of the berm to glass around. There was a 3" drainage pipe from the berm out into creek, the pipe extended about 10-12 feet from the side of the berm. From our position we were directly behind the pipe where it came out of the berm. Total distance from our position to the end of the pipe extending out over the creek was about 30 yards. At that end of the pipe laying on top of the pipe was a 3.5 to 4 foot water moccasin with his head resting almost on the tip end of the pipe. Well we both slipped our pistols out and resting on the berm fired at the count of three! I fired a fraction of a second before my buddy and the snakes head was knocked the left as I was firing to my left
and almost instantly my buddy shot and the head was knocked back to the right! All the snake did at this point was drop off into the creek almost headless!!
So the old H&R 6" revolver did the trick again! One less cottonmouth to worry about. I have had some bad encounters with these bad boys!

45-70.gov · « **Reply #38 on:** April 18, 2011, 10:26:28 AM »

CALL ME A LIER IF YOU WANT

200 yards.... squirrel ...right through the heart

we spotted him up in a large pine
i fired...squirrrel fell
with any change in my expression i walked out and found my target...
.....tossed it in the truck as if that is just the way i always shoot

never let that man see me shoot again
i wonder if he still thinks i am the greatest shot ever lived

i new then that it was pure luck
i realize now that i am older
that it was an irresponsible thing to do

41 mag · « **Reply #39 on:** April 18, 2011, 12:20:26 PM »

Quote

CALL ME A LIER IF YOU WANT

200 yards.... squirrel ...right through the heart

I won't call you a liar, I have picked quite a few off of my deer feeders at that range, using my 25-06 and either a 100gr Ballistic Tip or 115gr Partition.

Can't really say for certain just where most were hit in the body, but for arguments sake we'll call them heart shots, plus a few head shots thrown in for good measure.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #40 on:** April 18, 2011, 01:38:23 PM »

Quote from: 41 mag on April 18, 2011, 12:20:26 PM

Quote
CALL ME A LIER IF YOU WANT

200 yards.... squirrel ...right through the heart

I won't call you a liar, I have picked quite a few off of my deer feeders at that range, using my 25-06 and either a 100gr Ballistic Tip or 115gr Partition.

Can't really say for certain just where most were hit in the body, but for arguments sake we'll call them heart shots, plus a few head shots thrown in for good measure.

25-06 on a squirrel .....any hit is a heart shot....shot on once with a 35 rem

SkinnerSights · « **Reply #41 on:** April 21, 2011, 09:08:21 AM »

It wasnt the longest... But one of the most fun..

My brother and I had run to the local gun shop after church one sunday afternoon. Somehow, (not sure how it happened) a S&W Model 17 22LR. 6", wood presentation box, beautiful BIG S&W wooden grips, etc etc. came home with me. On the way back to the ranch sat a cattle feeding shed about 175 yards off the road. On top of the shed was a lone pigeon... Fishing around in the ash tray, cupholders, glovebox, etc. we came up with a .22 round...

Elevating the front sight a bit, squeezing off the shot, surprised as could be to hit that pigeon right in the head rolling it off the shed roof.

When its your time to go... Its your time...

HenryHammer · « **Reply #42 on:** April 21, 2011, 05:19:33 PM »

Here is my best shot I have had. Single action .22 LR heart shot on this squirrel. I stepped it off to the base of the tree and it was 38 steps and she was up towards the top of the tree. Needless to say I was excited..Henry

manofthe45 · « **Reply #43 on:** April 26, 2011, 04:55:57 PM »

Speciality pistol:
Big game: striker 308 win 182 yards for the biggest whitetail taken so far
Varmints: ground hog 361 yards with a hart built 222 xp-100

Wheelgun:
Big game: black bear at 93 yards redhawk 44 mag. Outfitter had two bait setups about 110 yards apart. Hot area depending on wind you sat on one or the other. they were on oposite sides of the trail. bear circled the other bait and laid down to watch it giving me an open shot.

Groundhog: old H&R 22lr . Missed an easy shot at 20 some yards and when it stopped before dropping down its hole I decided what the heck. 52 paces in the head. I had a good backstop it case I shot over

bubbinator · « **Reply #44 on:** April 28, 2011, 08:47:11 PM »

Streak should be proud of his "one shot kill"! I watched a guy in Al put 3 41 Mag HP solid hits in an armadillo and it finally died! I once shot a cottontail while coming out from my stand at dark witha M29 Smith 6" 44Mag/180gr Sierra JHCsat about 15 yds. It ran off! Something was in the trail as I walked up-all its guts! Literally the whole mess looked like a field dressing site! Never found the bunny, too dark by then, but it couldn't have been far!

streak · « **Reply #45 on:** April 29, 2011, 01:07:25 PM »

Quote from: bubbinator on April 28, 2011, 08:47:11 PM

Streak should be proud of his "one shot kill"! I watched a guy in Al put 3 41 Mag HP solid hits in an armadillo and it finally died! I once shot a cottontail while coming out from my stand at dark witha M29 Smith 6" 44Mag/180gr Sierra JHCsat about 15 yds. It ran off! Something was in the trail as I walked up-all its guts! Literally the whole mess looked like a field dressing site! Never found the bunny, too dark by then, but it couldn't have been far!

Yeah! Those "one shot kills" are neat. Especially on a running and hopping target through the pine trees!
Just ordered me and my oldest son each a new Mod S&W 629 - 4" so hope to get some more of those "oneshot kills. The .22 pistol I used on the armadillo was a 6" H&R Mod 929.

Eugene · « **Reply #46 on:** May 16, 2011, 04:02:30 PM »

Hi all,

Almost 20 years ago, an S prefix S&W mod 29 with 8 3/8 tube, open sights, 180gr federal factory loads.

We had been out doing mass culls for a farmer, we were on a propery that was 50km x 100km square (30 mile x 60 mile) shooting roo's, goats, pigs etc as required, we started getting pretty good by the end calling head shots on walking and running game at all kinds of range.

The longest I got was a big nanny goat at 188 big paces, she was broadside on, but slightly walking/trotting away, kid in tow.
I wasnt sure of the hold over as I had it sighted for dead on at 100meters, I held level with the top of her head, and in line with the tip of her nose for lead, first shot went over her back, easily visable on the dry clay pan behind her.

I held the same lead for second shot, but held level on top of her back, down she went, in left shoulder/front of ribs, out RHS front chest/rhs shoulder, dropped on the spot. The half grown kid (the size of a whippet) then got hammerd, front on, as he stood front legs on mum, wondering why she had stopped, the kid went into the pot for us, the nanny was dog meat.

Only a few years ago, out with same shooting buddy, He was using a Para double stack 45 acp with a Clark slide and ramped match barrel, super tight hand fitted job, was used for IPSC and bullseye, using winchester factory 230gr HP, at a rangfinder verified distance (after the shot) of 90 meters, shooting well down hill, onto a billy goat, clean one shot, one kill, entered into top of halfway along rib cage, came out lower edge of rib cage, dropped on the spot. we recovered the slug from the ground, about 2" into the soft loam, opened up to almost .700" dia, looked like one in the magazine adds.

I have found that the more I shoot at the range, the better I go hunting, when I was just married with no kids, I could go to the range 3 times a week, I would shoot several hundred full grunt reloads at steel at 50-80 meters, when out in the bush, very seldom did I miss, now I find it hard to get to the range once a month, and I struggle to hit when hunting. The key is Range time.

streak · « **Reply #47 on:** May 16, 2011, 06:49:17 PM »

Eugene.
Your post I assume is about shooting in Australia!
Reminds of my time I spent in the Perth area. On weekends we would go up into the Darling Ranges just outside of Perth and hike through the bush.This was back in the early 70`s and we so numerous wallabies, a few roos, and lots of goats! These goats were of the Spanish origin and the billies had great head adornaments!! In fact I would put alot of them in the trophy class and these were no small goats. Just wished I could have hunted there but at that time it was not allowed in that particular area!
Also encountered various groups of Aboringes throughout the mountain range!
Beautiful spot!

Eugene · « **Reply #48 on:** May 16, 2011, 07:29:03 PM »

Quote from: streak on May 16, 2011, 06:49:17 PM

Eugene.
Your post I assume is about shooting in Australia!
Reminds of my time I spent in the Perth area. On weekends we would go up into the Darling Ranges just outside of Perth and hike through the bush.This was back in the early 70`s and we so numerous wallabies, a few roos, and lots of goats! These goats were of the Spanish origin and the billies had great head adornaments!! In fact I would put alot of them in the trophy class and these were no small goats. Just wished I could have hunted there but at that time it was not allowed in that particular area!
Also encountered various groups of Aboringes throughout the mountain range!
Beautiful spot!

Yes, you are correct, central NSW and central-south west Quensland, still millions of roo's, they are now however protected with big fines (up to $10,000.) per head for culling, goats are still fair game, as are deer, dingo, dogs etc along with feral pigs.

Dont really miss shooting roo's, about as much fun as knitting, but it was a must do job to get the shooting rights on the properties.

We rolled a few BIG billies, never took the trophies, but we had a picture of a Billy, with a ruger M77 with a 24" barrel held up along his "horns" they were 4" longer each end, did 2 1/2 complete turns each and were thicker than you wrist at the skull, you dont see too many like that anymore, as the farmers are selling them to help with an income.

I do love Australia, but would love to go to the USA again, went 10 year ago for a few weeks, not long enough, want to hunt in the mountains, see some of the real USA, not NY and LA.

streak · « **Reply #49 on:** May 17, 2011, 09:16:12 AM »

Well Eugene I hope you do get to make back to the states and get up in the mountains! I live in Colorado so get to see alot of them here. The hunting here used to be superb especially for elk and mule deer. I do not know how it is now as I have not been hunting the last few years here in Colorado. A lot of out of state hunters used to be a problem, that may have changed with the economy being as it is now.
As mentioned in one of my earlier post that I purchased my oldest son and I each a Mod 629 S&W.
Probably will be doing alot of pistol hunting and shooting this summer and fall. My oldest son lives in Alaska and will be going there in September for a moose hunt( archery probably) so probably will be packing the Mod 629.

Blackhawker · « **Reply #50 on:** May 17, 2011, 10:34:25 AM »

I shot a prairie dog at 250 paces (approximately 250 yards) with a 30-30. I was using a 150 grain pointed soft point bullet through a 14 inch barreled T/C with a Bushnell 2-6 power scope. Scope was set at 4X. I was sitting in a folding chair shooting off hand with my wrists draped over my right knee. I tend to shoot a lot at prairie dogs in this manner and it's not uncommon at all to score hits like this at distances of 150 to 200 yards and more with the 30-30 or a .223 Thompson Contender pistol.

martrage · « **Reply #51 on:** May 19, 2011, 01:08:37 PM »

Like to add my long shots. Many yr.s ago I had a Dan Wesson 6" 357 to which I had drilled & tapped for a Bushnell 2.5 pwr. Phantom scope . Worked up a load w/ 2400 pwdr, CCi prmr,&125gr Sierra hp. Sighted dead on @ 75 yd.s. Took a standing shot in a 3forked black cherry tree at woodchuck(groundhog here in Pa.) resting gun in fork w/ back leaning against tree.Hog looked really small ! Aimed at head end (facing to my left) eased into trigger & promptly blasted tree bark into eyes, nose& ears!! BUT heard Twack ! It lost most of it's head from 98 steps. Another revolver shot at Punxy Phil's family member , witnessed by a brother inlaw, was 110 steps with a Ruger Superblackhawk 10" tuned to perfection by it's previous IMSHA owner. To this I added a Burris 1-4 scope on a Leupold base. Load was old Unique@ 11.5 gr.s under 240 gr Hornady hp w/CCI mag prmr. Another black cherry rest was used also. This gun & load would shoot -4" @ 100yd.s,and it won a lot of coffee money at local ranges!!

S.B. · « **Reply #52 on:** May 31, 2011, 08:18:13 AM »

When I first became interested in handgun hunting, a truely successful handgun hunter was measured in how close you could get to your quarry instead of how far away he could hit your quarry? Stalking skills and woodscraft etc. were considered important parts of handgun hunting. Boy, have times changed! Now most sit in treestands, groundblinds with lazer measured distances, or some other type of blind just to get within range. Guess I'm showing my age?
Steve

Blackhawker · « **Reply #53 on:** May 31, 2011, 08:57:52 AM »

Quote from: S.B. on May 31, 2011, 08:18:13 AM

When I first became interested in handgun hunting, a truely successful handgun hunter was measured in how close you could get to your quarry instead of how far away he could hit your quarry? Stalking skills and woodscraft etc. were considered important parts of handgun hunting. Boy, have times changed! Now most sit in treestands, groundblinds with lazer measured distances, or some other type of blind just to get within range. Guess I'm showing my age?
Steve

Well S.B., the post reads "Handgun Hunting, longest shots".
If we were talking about photographic shots, I could tell you some "close in" stories.

I agree though, getting close is a skill in and of itself.

critter44 · « **Reply #54 on:** June 10, 2011, 08:55:01 AM »

1. S&W model 25 in .45 Colt: 250 gr LSWC, moderate load of Unique W/iron sights. Doe whitetail @ 50 yds. Complete penetration-double lung, dead in 30 yds.
2. Ruger Blackhawk hunter in .44 mag: 240 Rem JSP over full power load of H110 W/4X scope. Six point whitetail at 65 yds. Double lung shot, went 80 yds w/good blood trail.
3. TC Contender in 30-30 win w/4X scope. 125 gr Nosler BT over IMR 4198. 175 yds, whitetail doe. (I had NO BUSINESS shooting that far!) Dropped right in the tracks she was standing in!

Fire Fox · « **Reply #55 on:** August 30, 2011, 08:16:22 PM »

My longest shot on a deer with a revolver was at 275 yards with a 454. Next would be 17 out of 20 prarie dogs at between 325 and 350 yards with a competitor 22-250 and a wounded buck ( by a boy with bird shot in the face) at 553 yards with a 270 encore Pistol and 130 gr SST reload.These are great except I would rather get closer and shoot a hand gun closer and usually pass up extreme shots for the games sake due to wind, mirage, and finding game at these extended ranges in brush. Hope this helps.

manofthe45 · « **Reply #56 on:** August 31, 2011, 02:45:48 AM »

Quote from: S.B. on May 31, 2011, 08:18:13 AM

When I first became interested in handgun hunting, a truely successful handgun hunter was measured in how close you could get to your quarry instead of how far away he could hit your quarry? Stalking skills and woodscraft etc. were considered important parts of handgun hunting. Boy, have times changed! Now most sit in treestands, groundblinds with lazer measured distances, or some other type of blind just to get within range. Guess I'm showing my age?
Steve

New thread. "IQ, can you read the title"

Fine.
Big game
Handgun: point blank to a 4 point as he sniffed my boot
Bow: so close it was hard to extend my arm far enough to come to full draw

Small game
One of the wonderful pen raised, won't fly pheasants our game comission loves to waste money on was hunkered down less than 2 feet from me on bare ground. The single six did a good job seperating the bird from its head.

Close enough for ya

Blackhawker · « **Reply #57 on:** August 31, 2011, 03:50:07 AM »

Quote from: manofthe45 on August 31, 2011, 02:45:48 AM

Quote from: S.B. on May 31, 2011, 08:18:13 AM
When I first became interested in handgun hunting, a truely successful handgun hunter was measured in how close you could get to your quarry instead of how far away he could hit your quarry? Stalking skills and woodscraft etc. were considered important parts of handgun hunting. Boy, have times changed! Now most sit in treestands, groundblinds with lazer measured distances, or some other type of blind just to get within range. Guess I'm showing my age?
Steve

New thread. "IQ, can you read the title"

Fine.
Big game
Handgun: point blank to a 4 point as he sniffed my boot
Bow: so close it was hard to extend my arm far enough to come to full draw

Small game
One of the wonderful pen raised, won't fly pheasants our game comission loves to waste money on was hunkered down less than 2 feet from me on bare ground. The single six did a good job seperating the bird from its head.

Close enough for ya

I squashed a mosquito feeding on my arm last night.

He he he he he!!!!

xphunter · « **Reply #58 on:** September 01, 2011, 06:41:51 AM »

As of late June my best 5-shot group on paper was at MOA's Long-Range Handgun Competition at 1000 yards.
Using a 15" MOA Maximum, chambered in 6.5-284.
Group measured 5.25"
I was using Lapua brass, Fed 210 M's, H-4350 and 130 Berger's.

redneckdan · « **Reply #59 on:** September 02, 2011, 01:04:10 AM »

I knocked the head off a grouse at a touch over 35 yds once with a 6" model 19 using 150gr KTs over 14.0gr of 296. It was opening day of grouse season; my wife (then girl friend) and I were on our way back from a camping trip. Driving down a logging road I saw the bird taking a dust bath up a head. I stepped out of the truck, stood on my own hind two feet like a man, front sight, press.....and the bird came unglued.