What do you think of this story...

MudChucker

MudChucker

Regular
Rating - 100%
21   0   0
Location
Niverville, Manitoba, CA
A guy I know is bragging about a 600+ yard white tail kill taken with a hand loaded 30-06 round (Loaded by an uncle who has been hand loading for 30+ years)... 3-9x40 Bushnell scope mounted on a savage rifle... standing on a farm field, the wind that day was low to moderate...

the guy isn't a constant shooter, doesn't do any target practice and certainly doesn't work on his form in his living room with a laser bore site like some of us nutz with 20+ yards of open space in their homes might ;)

Something about the story just seems a little embellished...I know that I wouldn't try taking a 600 yard offhand shot if given the option to brace against my truck or sit/stand/kneel/lay on the ground...

So what do you folks think ?
 
1. The sort of person you describe shouldn't attempt a 600 yard shot on a live target. His prospect of a good enough hit for a humanely quick kill is negligible.

2. If such a person did get a hit at that range, it was a lucky shot.

3. Judging distance isn't that easy. It would surprise me if he could demonstrate that it really was >600 yards.

4. Expressing doubts about his account, criticising him for it or arguing with him about it are all likely to be unproductive.
 
Id be suspicious of the distance.

Two years ago I shot a coyote off hand at 670m with a 30-06. The only way I know it was 670m was I clocked it with the truck trip odometer. It was a fluke, but it connected. So it can be done. But to say I planned it would be a lie. I launched one at him and it hit him. Nothing more to it that that. But I did get the coyotes head mounted in honour of the hunting miracle I had been part of.

600 yds is a long way.
 
From a dead rest or prone, with the ballistic plex reticle on my 25-284 maybe.

But I would say under the above circumstances no better than a 1 in 4 chance of success.
 
the distance is a good estimate... he was on a family owned farm field, mile roads on both sides, the locations he describes would be just under half a mile apart
Click to expand...

I dunno - mind plays funny tricks. I'd still bet on '600 yards = 300 yards'.

Even assuming a hot load - say a 168 grain coming out at 2900 fps - and even assuming it's a ballistically good bullet like a tripleshock or accubond, you're still looking at somewhere around a 65 inch drop. That's a 5 foot holdover on the animal.

For a guy who doesn't practice much - that's a tough shot.
 
I say this,
it is possible to do it, for very experienced shooter.
If he doesn't practice, maybe was his lucky shot.
I would asked him few questions:
-how he zeroed the scope
-how he was able to read 600yr
-what was the compensation for that shot
 
PeterPan said:
I say this,
it is possible to do it, for very experienced shooter.
If he doesn't practice, maybe was his lucky shot.
I would asked him few questions:
-how he zeroed the scope
-how he was able to read 600yr
-what was the compensation for that shot
Click to expand...


When asking these questions... ask as if you velieve him and wish to someday make such a shot, so act very curious etc.

I am quite comfortable judging 100 yds and somewhat comfortable at 200, my rfiles are sighted in to be close from 50-250 (1.5" high at 100) so as long as I am under 250 I feel comfortable ( I have yet to make a shot on game at over 100)
I have tried shooting 300 plus with a buddy and I was really shocked at how far 300 is, we then tried 600 and I couldn't hit a 2' X 6" target!
 
I don't know why you guys waste your time arguing with people like this? Its like the classic interent discussion on everybody's rifle shoots 1/2 inch groups. 99% of talk is bull####.
 
Yeah X2 on all that. We wish! The real test would be if he could duplicate the shot. Likely not high. Great if he understands it was a lucky shot and foolhardy to say the least but if he is bragging-nah!
 
Take him to the range with these same magic bullets and get him to shoot five shots offhand at a target a measured 200 yards away.
 
bone-collector said:
why not? your saying a 30-06 is not nuff gun to kill deer @ 600 yards :rolleyes::jerkit:
Click to expand...

'06 is LOTS of gun for a 600 yard deer.:D If it hits!

Most shooters are not as capable.:cool:

Offhand. Even less likely, from my perspective too.

Possible, yes. Repeatable, maybe not.

To start believing, I'd want a reliable witness.

There are a lot of guys out there that are shooting perfect 250 scores a Stutzen/Scheutzen matches, offhand, at 200 yards. Practice, practice, practice, though. Still uncommon enough that it's commented on when it happens.

One for the Journal of Irreproducible Results, even if it did happen as described, unless the guy is otherwise leading a fully charmed life.

The shot, as described, is 3/4 of the way across a quarter section. Long ways. Most of the farm country guys I know, would have driven closer.:D

Cheers
Trev
 
pharaoh2 said:
Can you make a single off hand shot at 600+ yards? :jerkit:
Click to expand...

I did. I dont believe I could ever do it again. And I couldnt afford to do it again. Getting a coyote head mounted cost me $475......;)

I couldnt believe how many guys asked me what ammo I used, what my holdover was etc.....good grief. It was an off-hand "get out of town" shot that connected. And that is all thats to it.

I am not able to consistantly hit the 500yd target from a bench. Ive hit it, but its not like I get a group of shots to look at. For me, its a pipe dream to make a long shot. I just can not do it consistantly.
 
I have seen a purposeful 600yd shot on a Whitetail, and it definitely was not offhand. The rifle was a .308 that weighs 16lbs, and I myself used the same rifle to turn a coyote into an eggbeater at 650yds. The fella that shot that deer has made near ten kills on deer over 400yds with that rifle, and has worn out a lot of brass in that rifle at the range. If you want to find out if the guy is for real take him out to some metallic silhouettes and see if he can even hit a ram (549yds), let alone behind the shoulder.
It can be done, but not offhand.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom