Scared of long range shots... Am I hunting wrong lol :(

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Megaclocker

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I have issues taking long range shots at game... I ''missed'' a nice 5x4 Mule deer @375yards this season because of this. I did not take the shot and tried creeping in within 200yards and got busted.
I can print good 2in groups at 200yards from a bipod, but it seems like things go south quick past 300yards. Never really bothered shooting our range 400yard gong since results at 300yards were 8-9in groups. Add that buck fever shake while in the field and it makes me feel like even 200yards shots are 1km away.

I shoot a 30-06 X-Bolt with a Monarch 4-16x42 Scope. It seems like the scope does not ''track'' that well when playing with the turrets. I usually shoot Core-Lock or the cheaper Winchester commercial rounds (may be the issue ?).

I got two smaller black bear this year along with a nice whitetail. I've killed pretty much all my game under 50-70yards. I just bought a range finder and spotting scope this season, but those long shots make me paranoid.

I was thinking about buying and heavier rifle with a nicer scope with some added range time. Perhaps reloading would solve my issues with the X-Bolt ? Maybe I just suck at shooting, I don't know.

Here is a few pictures of this season (illegal moose I did not shoot, but had fun calling in), my whitetail and the small mule 5x4 (he had some weird kicker tine on the side, would have been a small 4x4 otherwise). What would you guys recommend ?

EG9OUlt.jpg

I3JbFfR.jpg

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I would just practice more shooting at and between 200-300 meters. I shoot out to 300 meters so I'm confident out to 300 while hunting. There's nothing wrong with having and knowing your personal limitations. Much better you don't shoot "way out there" like some of the orange army who can't tell you bullet drop or how many feet they lead a deer. I'm wondering what's going on out at 300 that has your groups opening up so much though. You would think if it can hold 2" @200 meters, it should still be punching 4-5" groups @300 meters. Another thing I do when practicing for hunting, is shoot at unmarked cardboard stapled to blocks of wood, it gets me away from only being used to shooting at a defined point such as a bullseye. I never seen a deer with a bullseye yet!
 
It's simply a matter of time behind your rifle and knowing the bullet will go where you put the crosshairs.
Knowing your scope too and how many clicks to put you at your target range.
I've dialed my 7mm rem mag with the 160gr accubond and have the click values for my scope and that bullet out to 500 yards.
It's set at a 275 yard zero.
dialed in rifle/scope/bullet and a good range finder to accompany and 400 yard shots with a capable combo becomes a matter of faith and skill ;)
 
Better scope, more practice.
But there’s nothing wrong with limiting yourself to 200 yards.
Better to make a good shot than have a wounded animal that you can’t find
 
With groups that large at 300, you will never know if the scope tracks properly, or what the true trajectory of your load is. And unless you use a load that you are certain of the trajectory, precise shooting at longer distances is not possible. If you are shooting 2" groups at 200 yards, the issue is likely you, not your equipment.
 
As has been said practice up, know your gear and how it acts. Everyone can always use a bit more practice. That being said it is very admirable that you recognize your limitations, and treat the animals with the respect of not making a bad shot.
 
I have had more long range practice than most, and I would say that 200 is about my max range. My shots are usually taken from the standing or sitting position.

My biggest concern is range estimation. A range finder might solve that on a fairly static animal. Or do you sit down and range the landmarks on the area you are hunting? That would work for the kind of hunting I prefer.

here is the East, most shots are close range anyway. In the West, I might have to figure out how to shoot beyond 200.
 
I do not now what you shoot for a rifle, but try it with resting on a back pack or log or similar, but without the bipod. On some guns, the bipod causes wild vibrations. On some of my rifles,including my favorite, a very accurate 300 mag, I cannot use a bipod as it changes everything, and not in a predictable way.
But as was said...practice, practice, practice. See a rock, shoot it. See a stump, shoot it. It all builds confidence in your abilities. Know your limitations and your equipment and it will get better.
 
I've hunted all my life, and despite much, much practice at up to 450 yds I don't like to shoot over a couple hundred yds. Truth be known the vast majority of deer I've shot for eg have been less than 100, furthest shot on a moose was about 60 yds, even antelope maybe 250.
Elk I've had to shoot up to 400+ but that's just the simple fact of the area's I've hunted them.

I too have been busted too many times to count trying to get closer. Nothing wrong with that. I'd much rather watch them scamper away than go over the hill dragging a leg or something.

My best advice if you've the smallest doubt about the shot, try to get closer, that's what I've always done. Proudest moment of hunting with son was when he was about 15 or 16, never took a maybe 60 yd shot on a MONSTER mule, asked him why no shot, he replied, "the angle just wasn't right". (two days later he got the deer).

Far as ammo, perhaps try some different weight bullets. We reload and the simple fact is guns generally like some bullets/loads more than others. Perhaps try a different brand/bullet wt and see? I use 165gr in my 30-06 for what it's worth(blr).

Best of luck, don't doubt yourself, trust your instincts.
 
I'm going to say the average guy should not take longer shots. Many don't practise past 100m... Hail Mary's wound plenty of game for every one they anchor.

That being said, if you do practise at those ranges, then you should know where your bullet is going... So, practise!

And, if in doubt, pass up the shot or get closer.

Cheers
Jay
 
Jay said:
I'm going to say the average guy should not take longer shots. Many don't practise past 100m... Hail Mary's wound plenty of game for every one they anchor.

That being said, if you do practise at those ranges, then you should know where your bullet is going... So, practise!

And, if in doubt, pass up the shot or get closer.

Cheers
Jay
Click to expand...

I tend to agree that most shouldn't.
Some of us on the other hand spend most of the year practicing at long range, as in 1000 yards plus, so have a better chance at properly reading the wind. Also most of us who do shoot long range are NOT running your typical hunting style rifle and scopes. ELR rigs are highly specialized pieces of equipment that extends to more than just the rifle and scope. things like portable weather stations, high quality LRFs for determining exactly what the distance is, inclinometers etc..are also used. FAR more junk than what most guys are willing to hump around in the bush, which explains why most of the ELR hunters tend to set up and wait for game to wander through their field of fire. This means serious scouting prior to the season so one knows where to set up.

Real good practice for hunting is shooting gophers with your hunting rifle. If you get good at killing the gophers with your hunting rig at 200 plus yards, deer size game at 400 yards is really not a challenge.

OP you may want to look at minimally servicing your scope if not replace it. A scope that does not track will always handicap you. The X bolt is a decent hunting rifle but there are FAR better options for precision rifles that fit well for hunting.

As others have stated practice in different positions is most important. The best rifle/scope combo in the world is wasted on those who shoot less than a box of ammo per year
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
I tend to agree that most shouldn't.
Some of us on the other hand spend most of the year practicing at long range, as in 1000 yards plus, so have a better chance at properly reading the wind. Also most of us who do shoot long range are NOT running your typical hunting style rifle and scopes. ELR rigs are highly specialized pieces of equipment that extends to more than just the rifle and scope. things like portable weather stations, high quality LRFs for determining exactly what the distance is, inclinometers etc..are also used. FAR more junk than what most guys are willing to hump around in the bush, which explains why most of the ELR hunters tend to set up and wait for game to wander through their field of fire. This means serious scouting prior to the season so one knows where to set up.

Real good practice for hunting is shooting gophers with your hunting rifle. If you get good at killing the gophers with your hunting rig at 200 plus yards, deer size game at 400 yards is really not a challenge.

OP you may want to look at minimally servicing your scope if not replace it. A scope that does not track will always handicap you. The X bolt is a decent hunting rifle but there are FAR better options for precision rifles that fit well for hunting.

As others have stated practice in different positions is most important. The best rifle/scope combo in the world is wasted on those who shoot less than a box of ammo per year
Click to expand...

I have a clone of my 30-06 in .223 so perhaps I will go shoot lots with that (just got it recently). I will investigate the scope issue. It's getting cold to be out at the range in northern BC (perhaps the scope sticks in the cold ?)
Flinging 30-06 bullets at 1$ a pop gets expensive fast and I am not a huge fan of the recoil after 2 boxes of it.

I know the equipment is probably not my issue, but I was thinking about getting something more long range oriented/heavier in .308. Something in stainless with a good synthetic stock perhaps.
I would be perfectly happy with something I can confidently shoot a deer at 300-400yards with. Maybe I had a few bad days at the range... oh well.

Rifle printed this at 200y (zero) before doing terrible at 300-400y (I did adjust the turrets for an 8in drop, and things went south on me)
JIAcHqy.jpg
 
Megaclocker said:
I have a clone of my 30-06 in .223 so perhaps I will go shoot lots with that (just got it recently). I will investigate the scope issue. It's getting cold to be out at the range in northern BC (perhaps the scope sticks in the cold ?)
Flinging 30-06 bullets at 1$ a pop gets expensive fast and I am not a huge fan of the recoil after 2 boxes of it.

I know the equipment is probably not my issue, but I was thinking about getting something more long range oriented/heavier in .308. Something in stainless with a good synthetic stock perhaps.
I would be perfectly happy with something I can confidently shoot a deer at 300-400yards with. Maybe I had a few bad days at the range... oh well.

Rifle printed this at 200y (zero) before doing terrible at 300-400y (I did adjust the turrets for an 8in drop, and things went south on me)
JIAcHqy.jpg
Click to expand...

Part of your problem I think is that your target has no clearly defined point of aim. Use a target that has a clearly marked cross on it like what Red Star Targets produce. You may find your groups shrink a bit having an exact point to aim at rather than a circle that is poorly defined.
 
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