5-7 shots to be ready to kill game at 400 yards?

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pathfinder76

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This is isn’t meant to be a target shooting thread. This is about hunting rifles at hunting ranges. The rifle in question is a custom Mauser chambered in 30-06.

I realize this isn’t a new or secret concept. But it works and I was out zeroing a newly mounted scope this morning. Note that this is also a proven load.

The process is easy. I bore sighted the rifle at home. I modified my target to include a sticker where I wanted my zero. I shot one shot to determine where it was hitting. Then I moved my crosshairs to the spot I wanted my bullet to land (the sticker). I held the rifle firmly in the rest with the crosshairs on that spot and then clicked to the bullet hole. Then I went back to my aiming point (the diamond) and fired one more round.

My vertical is not perfect, but I always fine tune that at 400 or 500 yards.

https://imgur.com/a/r9JOaMf

https://imgur.com/a/ZBcfRvo

Yesterday I checked zero at 400 yards. The scope has a BDC reticle and I’m verifying drops. Unfortunately the wind was blowing more than I like. Almost full value left to right. I’m prone with a 10x scope dividing the plate (10”) and aiming on the left edge for wind. Shots 1 and 2 are Accubonds 3 and 4 TTSX’s and 5 back to the Accubonds. There is noise around moving between mono’s and guilding metal without cleaning in between. I think it’s barrel dependant.

https://imgur.com/a/sRDgpV0

https://imgur.com/a/xSluV3N

https://imgur.com/a/R8Zry8k

https://imgur.com/a/ogAT5BI

https://imgur.com/a/qCSQGHo

Am I good to kill game at 400 yards now? Who knows.
 
I think you need to fire more shots (as in a group of 5 or more and then figure center of group) to determine for sure that your zero is sound.
One or two shots is not enough to determine with any degree of statistical accuracy the validity of the process.
There is too much variation from shot to shot in the manufacturer quality control to be confident that one (or two) shots will be sufficient.

400 yds is a ways out for hunting. Your zero has to be bang on (pardon the pun) or a miss or worse is highly likely.

I would also advise to wait for a calm day to do this and then concentrate on one loading at a time to test. Keep detailed records of all groups fired. You'll determine two important pieces of info from this. The precision of the load for the rifle you're using and the adjustment for a consistent zero for the load you decide to use.
 
So that is 5 consecutive shots with two different bullets in a 10” square at 400 yards, in heavy wind, if you are after moose and elk I say you are good to go(obviously you know a thing or two on shooting a rifle) if it is to hunt little island blacktails then I would say it’s borderline. The vital on a moose is over 20”.
There is no points in shooting 10 6 shot groups to make sure you can shoot, you are not after filling the freezer with tiny groups on paper 😂!
Good shooting by the way!!
 
Rman said:
If one doesn't know for sure, then the trigger shouldn't be tripped at all?
R.
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One can be certain of a kill but anything can happen , same as in a ten shot string in a match - the only difference is an animal is in the sights not a target, and one shot is ideally taken , not ten.
Cat
 
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I Dont Care About You said:
If you plan to hunt out to 400 yds you should practice at a minimum of 500 yds and preferably 600 yds. You also need a means to reasonably accurately determine distance. Guessing distance is a sure way to a miss or worse.
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That is a given for experienced long range hunters , and the OP is anything but inexperienced .😒
Cat
 
All of my rifles shoot point-blank to 350 yards. In real-life reality and over 300 big game kills, my average distance kill shot is between 100 to 125 yards. My rifles are prepared for the long shot, however I remotely have that opportunity. Probably because of my hunting method.
The antelope buck in my avatar was spotted at 1 mile. After a long stalk, I killed him at 175 yards, longest shot in the past 14 years, or more.
 
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pathfinder76 said:
I know you don’t hunt, but if you did how can you be 100% certain about any shot you take on game?
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What you know pales into comparison with what you don't, if only obviously.

What I don't do is spend a significant amount of time creating a post with pictures and videos, slapping myself on the back, and asking questions I already know the answer to. Says quite a bit about a feller when he does so, and then gets pissy pants when he doesn't get the replies he thought he deserved?

You need to retake the hunter education course, as the answer to your question is there. It's one of the fundamentals actually.

"Your" range only goes to a 1000 yards?

R.
 
Rman said:
What you know pales into comparison with what you don't, if only obviously.

What I don't do is spend a significant amount of time creating a post with pictures and videos, slapping myself on the back, and asking questions I already know the answer to. Says quite a bit about a feller when he does so, and then gets pissy pants when he doesn't get the replies he thought he deserved?

You need to retake the hunter education course, as the answer to your question is there. It's one of the fundamentals actually.

"Your" range only goes to a 1000 yards?

R.
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Yes, “my” range. Pissy pants?

Hunter education? Lol. And pretty sure this is the only video of my shooting that has ever been posted. Put me on ignore. You seem to hate everything I do
 
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pathfinder76 said:
Yes, “my” range. Pissy pants?

Hunter education? Lol. And pretty sure this is the only video of my shooting that has ever been posted. Put me on ignore. You seem to hate everything I do
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You’re the one that doesn’t know if his rifle is good enough to hunt with, so the course can help you out with that.
You own the land the range is on? That would be a requirement to make it “yours”?
If you don’t like the answers, then don’t ask the questions….

R.
 
pathfinder76 said:
I know you don’t hunt, but if you did how can you be 100% certain about any shot you take on game?
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I like the fundamental when hunting and shooting game.. im always beside a good shooting rest. Tree, stump, good branchs, where ever i walk. Always scanning for game and distance and postition..
helps my shooting ability to ethically take game at distance. 100%certainties on trigger pull.. i try to crack my shots ever time at the same plum and sqaure rifle, is a must in the field. Harder than it sounds when time is ticking.. so don't rush.
The slap of the round is a good indication with the animal reacting to the shot placment . i.e. gut shot animals compared to heart and lung shot.. 1 deer will slouch, the other will kick ..
Moose .elk . Deer all act different when shot

Granted at 400 yards , i would think your spotter has glass set up to see.. like my glass beside me after my shot. 1 and done..
Solo hunting is an art. Hope my 2 cents help
 
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