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

[kjohn]

You are not hunting wrong. Hunt how you want. Practise shooting further or stalking closer, or both. Enjoy.

Right attitude. I won't shoot a whitetail much past 100 yds. I am just not that good a shot at any range. Plus, I have been using a wicked old .32 Winchester 94, which isn't a 1000 yard rifle.

I do shoot a lot during fair weather, but with umpteen dozen different rifles.

 

[kamlooky]

Know your limits.
Play within it.

I've made some decent calculated long shots with good results.
Lately I've kept my + hairs ne'er me nose.

Age does that to yer eye sight.

 

[Sumonda]

As others have said - practice. I have a spot out in the bush where I can get out to 800.. I had to work my way out to that distance mind you, it didn't happen in one season and it took a while to find the load my rifle liked, but every summer I get better.. now 300 is a chip shot.

 

[CV32]

As many have already said, practice and the knowledge of the ballistic performance of your chosen hunting rifle/scope/ammo combo will bring you into the comfort zone.

Until then, I have to applaud your willingness to recognize your own limitations. Well done.

 

[davide montini]

Well i learnt that a cheap scope is garbage and moves ...if you buy something your going to have to spend some money for quality.....ya ya if you can afford a case of beer 2 times a week or your lazer lettuce or other stuff what ever that may be ...you can afford to buy a good scope ..it’s called saving money for it .....and then practice getting to know your gun and distance....a range finder helps too .....
I’m talking throu experience I used a friends press to reload went to ranges and set up lots of targets and practice lots ....
But do what your comfortable with ....go with friends and practice and have fun set your limits and be safe and have fun
Safety...safety..safety..
Enjoy your hobby and sport
All else fails or you can’t do it ....the camera is your best friend ....
Cheers

 

[Travis_m]

First off kudos for recognising your limits. Lots of people try and push beyond their capabilities and end up wounding animals rather than killing them. You don't see alot of long range guys shooting 30-06 so changing calibre is not a bad idea, but not entirely necessary. I personally want a Browning x bolt hell's canyon long range in 6.5 creedmore. There are lots of good factory loads for 308 as well. I would look at something like that and practice at the range you want to shoot at. Having decent glass makes a big difference as well.

 

[coyoteking]

First off kudos for recognising your limits. Lots of people try and push beyond their capabilities and end up wounding animals rather than killing them. If you want to get out to the 400 yard mark I would suggest getting a different calibre. You don't see alot of long range guys shooting 30-06. I personally want a Browning x bolt hell's canyon long range in 6.5 creedmore. There are lots of good factory loads for 308 as well. I would look st something like that and practice at the range you want to shoot at.

400 yards is a chip shot for a 30-06.

The most important consideration is whether your chosen cartridge is capable of producing the necessary downrange energy to make a clean kill, the aught six easily makes the grade with 1500 ft/lb at 400 yards.

I would suggest the op spends some time on the benchrest with a few different types of ammo shooting at a proper target to determine what your rifle shoots best. Don’t skimp on the scope, there are plenty of good quality Leupolds on the EE for under $400. Make sure the scope is mounted properly with correct torque applied to the screws.

Once you have a load that you are confident in, start practicing from field positions. If you know your rifle and load can shoot off the bench, you won’t have any doubts about where the fault lies when you miss the target while practicing.

Dry-fire your rifle regularly. This is equally as important as live -fire practice, some would argue even more so.

Once you have all the above basics mastered, get a rangefinder and start practicing by shooting at randomly placed targets at various yardages from field positions.

I would also suggest shooting 22lr a lot, it’s excellent, inexpensive practice. Look up the group “Mapleseed” and if they have a shoot in your area try to attend, they are very knowledgeable in rifle marksmanship.

 

[tbrwlf]

I agree with the others. You are shooting within your comfort zone and the is the correct way to do it.

For longer ranges:
1) Better ammo. Or reload.
2) Better scope may help. Try tapping the turret just after you adjust it. Some seem to stick a little and this helps. Not too hard. Just a light tap or two with a spent brass.
3) Do you like your gun? If yes, then stick with it.

 

[stubblejumper]

The important factor for ow, is that you know your limits, and you are staying within them. If you are shooting consistent 2" groups at 200 yards, then you don't have a scope issue. It sounds like you need a lot more practise. If anything, you might try a different load.

 

[play.soccer]

Maybe its just me but if I see a buck at 300 yards I'm not nearly as nervous as I am when I got a buck at 100 because at 300 theres less of a chance that he will spook. He likely doesn't even know I'm there.

 

[IvoB]

apologies if this was already mentioned:
Sight you scope using the same bullets you will be hunting with - consecutive shots past 100 yards you may experience parallax issues -

 

[Ridersfan]

My 2 cents on this are 2 topics:
1. How you are hunting... is hunting. You are a hunter stalker and have a skill to be proud of. Worrying about long range shooting is not hunting, it's sniping. A sniper is not as skilled of a hunter as a stalker is. No disrespect meant to a long range shooter, but a close range shot just takes more skill.

2. Practice, practice, practice. Don't go to a range and shoot off a bag or a bipod all the time, fine to sight in a scope, but once sighted in... you need to practice your offhand shooting. It will help combat the buck fever if you are confident in your offhand shooting.

 

[grit]

knowing your limits will make you a better hunter, and put you ahead of most out there. Practice shooting out to 300yds , and practice not just off a bench but in field positions , get super comfortable with your rifle and you should be good to go. You should be able to get within 300 yds of your quarry 99% of the time

 

[LittleBoyLefty]

My 2 cents on this are 2 topics:
1. How you are hunting... is hunting. You are a hunter stalker and have a skill to be proud of. Worrying about long range shooting is not hunting, it's sniping. A sniper is not as skilled of a hunter as a stalker is. No disrespect meant to a long range shooter, but a close range shot just takes more skill.

2. Practice, practice, practice. Don't go to a range and shoot off a bag or a bipod all the time, fine to sight in a scope, but once sighted in... you need to practice your offhand shooting. It will help combat the buck fever if you are confident in your offhand shooting.

Both take skill, just a different skill set. Or a combination of both skill sets . There is no point in placing arbitrary divisions within the hunting community. What is "long-range" for you, may be a chip shot for another guy.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

My 2 cents on this are 2 topics:
Worrying about long range shooting is not hunting, it's sniping. A sniper is not as skilled of a hunter as a stalker is. No disrespect meant to a long range shooter, but a close range shot just takes more skill.

Sorry but this is utter B.S.
Long range hunting requires far more skills in several ways to wandering around and chancing onto an animal, not to mention far more specilized equipment.
True stalk type hunting as bow hunting requires DOES require some skill and is an art form in its own, but to say that LR "sniping" requires less skills is just 110% incorrect.

Close range shooting/hunting does not require taking wind, angle, terrain variation, trajectory, animal stability, bullet performance for distance application, precise range determination, come ups into account nor the EXTREME patience required. Also with LR hunting the knowing that you will NOT be able to take many shots due to the constantly changing variables. ALL of these skills are critical in LR shooting or hunting.

Close range hunting requires more use of your ears, taking advantage of cover, trying to be as silent as possible and having a little patience along with being able to shoot in several positions if you want to be good at it. Certainly some skill is required, but to say that LR shooting requires less skill is ridiculous.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

Both take skill, just a different skill set. Or a combination of both skill sets . There is no point in placing arbitrary divisions within the hunting community. What is "long-range" for you, may be a chip shot for another guy.

Unfortunately there are many "hunters" who feel LR hunting is not hunting. Whether this is due to ignorance or their lacking the dedication to pursue the LR game is anyone's guess, but it certainly is a divisional issue within the hunting community and it seems to always come up every time there is any conversation on the different style of hunting.
Come to think of it this same bias seems to be ingrained in the gun culture and I believe will lead to the demise of the gun culture as we always seem to be real busy condemning our own when it comes to black guns, handguns, shotguns etc.

 

[stubblejumper]

Sorry but this is utter B.S.
Long range hunting requires far more skills in several ways to wandering around and chancing onto an animal, not to mention far more specilized equipment.
True stalk type hunting as bow hunting requires DOES require some skill and is an art form in its own, but to say that LR "sniping" requires less skills is just 110% incorrect.

Close range shooting/hunting does not require taking wind, angle, terrain variation, trajectory, animal stability, bullet performance for distance application, precise range determination, come ups into account nor the EXTREME patience required. Also with LR hunting the knowing that you will NOT be able to take many shots due to the constantly changing variables. ALL of these skills are critical in LR shooting or hunting.

Close range hunting requires more use of your ears, taking advantage of cover, trying to be as silent as possible and having a little patience along with being able to shoot in several positions if you want to be good at it. Certainly some skill is required, but to say that LR shooting requires less skill is ridiculous.

Spot and stalk is not wandering around hoping to "chance" onto an animal. In many cases, the animals are scouted and spotted just as with the long range hunter. The difference begins when the animal is spotted, which may be a mile or more away with spot and stalk. At that point, the hunter needs to plan a stalk, taking into account wind, noise, and being able to see the game when you are n comfortable range. The shot distance may be 25 yards, and it may be 500 yards depending on the weapon, and on the hunter. The major difference, is that while the stalk is occurring, the animal may move, requiring correction by the hunter. On the other hand, with much shorter shot distances, there is far less chance of the animal moving while the projectile is in the air. I have killed game at 10 yards with a bow, and at 500 yards with a rifle, and I enjoy both, but the major difference is that the closer you stalk, the more hunting skills are required, and the farther you are, the more shooting skills are required.

 

[Butcherbill]

My 2 cents on this are 2 topics:
1. How you are hunting... is hunting. You are a hunter stalker and have a skill to be proud of. Worrying about long range shooting is not hunting, it's sniping. A sniper is not as skilled of a hunter as a stalker is. No disrespect meant to a long range shooter, but a close range shot just takes more skill.

This is just nonsense, both styles of hunting take skill to do well and are equally valuable to be able to do.

It will depend a lot on the terrain you’re hunting as to the approach you take, I don’t seem to be presented with much out past 100y the majority of the time due to the terrain I’m hunting. I still try to shoot out further at the range in case the need for a longer shot comes up, I enjoy the stalk though but that’s just me. Both deer I shot this season were under 40y, up close and personal you might say.

 

[alberta tactical rifle]

Spot and stalk is not wandering around hoping to "chance" onto an animal. In many cases, the animals are scouted and spotted just as with the long range hunter. The difference begins when the animal is spotted, which may be a mile or more away with spot and stalk. At that point, the hunter needs to plan a stalk, taking into account wind, noise, and being able to see the game when you are n comfortable range. The shot distance may be 25 yards, and it may be 500 yards depending on the weapon, and on the hunter. The major difference, is that while the stalk is occurring, the animal may move, requiring correction by the hunter. On the other hand, with much shorter shot distances, there is far less chance of the animal moving while the projectile is in the air. I have killed game at 10 yards with a bow, and at 500 yards with a rifle, and I enjoy both, but the major difference is that the closer you stalk, the more hunting skills are required, and the farther you are, the more shooting skills are required.

Agreed!!
I just get a bit testy with getting bashed by so many "hunters" who bash LR hunting when they know little about it. Having done all styles of hunting, spot and stalk, bow hunting and ELR hunting over the last 50 years think there is NO wrong way provided it is within the law.
Closest rifle shot was 20 feet on a lion when I was in the wrong place at the right time, longest 1190 yards on a moose we watched for 5 hours with a few hundred other critters spanning the in between over the years.

 

[NHunter]

Glass should cost more than your rifle, in most cases...
Ensure your ocular is Perfectly dialed into focus for Your eye...I use an old license plate at 300 yards..
Some rifles are ammo particular so that is another challenge..
...and as many have mentioned, you will need to put rounds down field....lots of great advice here..
Enjoy the journey. The end result is fulfilling!