Hitting a Pie Plate at 400 yards

[Danny Boy]

The 8” pie plate has been used by many hunters and shooters as the standard measurement of a target. Not surprisingly 8” is also the approximately size of the kill zone for a large game.

This survey is intended to find out how many hunters have practiced routinely to be comfortable hitting a pie plate 80% of the times at 400 yards:

1) At the club off a bench

2) In the field condition (rushing with adrenaline flowing and heart pumping):

o 80% shooting off a bipod, shooting sticks, prone and/or tree branch​

o 20% shooting off hand​

 

[catnthehatt]

The 8” pie plate has been used by many hunters and shooters as the standard measurement of a target. Not surprisingly 8” is also the approximately size of the kill zone for a large game.

This survey is intended to find out how many hunters have practiced routinely to be comfortable hitting a pie plate 80% of the times at 400 yards:

1) At the club off a bench

2) In the field condition (rushing with adrenaline flowing and heart pumping):

o 80% shooting off a bipod, shooting sticks, prone and/or tree branch
​

o 20% shooting off hand
​

I don't use a pie plateat 400 yards
I use a clay bird as a base line at 500 meters
Cat

 

[303carbine]

I shot a pic of Bin laden at 400 yards with a 300 mag,I got him in the left cheek of his face that is............

 

[brotherjack]

In the field, prone, rifle rested on my pack, with a proper ranged yardage to use in elevation adjustments, and a rifle that has proven itself to shoot sub-MOA _in my hands_ consistently - as long is there isn't some crazy wind or other extenuating circumstance, I'd say that'd be pretty easy money 99 to 100% of the time. And yes, under the aforementioned circumstances, I'd feel confident to pull off a 400 yard (and probably longer) shot.

All that said, though, if the conditions aren't right, (for instance, a lack of a good rest, a running animal, me huffing and puffing after a long stalk/chase, if I'm not sure of yardage, etc), even 250 yards might be (way) outside my comfort zone.

Of course, all this from a guy who has only once ever shot an animal beyond the 45 yard mark (and that was only about 80 yards). I am a gun nut, and I practice everything I can to make myself capable to make a long shot under the right conditions - but in the field, year after year, I prove to myself that I'm really a hunter at heart; I like to get up close and (very) personal before I pull the trigger. The highlights of my hunting career have been shots inside the 20 yard mark.

 

[mbogo3]

With only a 12" bullet drop with a 130gr .270 it isn't that hard.Moose easy to hit out to 600 yards.One door bullet drop..........................Harold

 

[MD]

I can only honestly say that while I am satisfied with what my main hunting rifles do at 200, I'd only be guessing at how they shoot at 300, never mind 400.

I'm going to shoot at the 300 yard range in Mission this year to figure that out.

 

[thebaron]

Shots on our property are impossible at over 150 yards, there isn't that much open space so there is no need for me to hit a pie plate at 400... I can group nicely at 200 which is well beyond what I need.

 

[woodchopper]

using 200 grn Noslers for my 300WM lots of energy for the longer shots, 400m yes with a support. 250m freehand no problems. Thats my moose gun, deer I use my 25-06 and never seem to have to worry about longer shots, deer just seem to be closer.

 

[Camp Cook]

My range only goes to 300 yards so it is only in the field that I do + 300 yard practice.

With my 375 RUM with 300gr Sierra Gamekings @ 2775fps average velocity with a rest I average 3" 3 shot 460 yard groups.

Some of my other rifle/cartridge combo's don't do as well...

 

[slicknick]

With my .270 and handloads it likes I do not doubt it could. However, my skills are not up to par as I have been wasting away in college were firearms, pellet guns and airsoft are verboten

 

[Boomer]

While the opportunity up here for long range shooting is almost unlimited, it is unlikely that I would attempt a shot on unwounded game beyond 300. Even if I have estimated the range at 300ish, the light and wind would have to be favorable and I would need to have a stable position to shoot from before I attempted the shot. My hunting rifles and handloads are capable of fine accuracy out to 500 yards but I don't hunt with a rangefinder or put a mildot scope on a hunting rifle, and while it is possible to work out the range from a map, I am unwilling to take such a low percentage shot. The fact of the matter is that extreme long range hunting doesn't interest me beyond the technical problem of working out the range and a firing solution. That part is fascinating and when armed with my target rifle when I have time to work out the range and wind, I have made cold barrel shots on clay-birds laid out on our backstop at 850 yards from prone. I find that extremely satisfying, but so is stalking a big game animal so a close range shot can be made. Along with the successes I have also made some spectacular misses, but we don't like to talk about those do we.

 

[faswagon]

unfortunately my range only has 100, 200, 300, so 400 is not an option.
at 300 I will hit a pie plate sized target almost without doubt.

 

[44Bore]

I routinely practice off the bench at 100 and 200 yards. Have 12" swingers at 300 and 400 which I usually fire at using field positions--kneeling, prone and off hand and also side rest. I don't useually make a practice of shooting at game further than 250 yards if at all possible.

44Bore

 

[Curt]

My long range practice is on the 300m pig and 385m turkey at our range. I can't accuratley spot hits on the 500m ram, so I don't see the point of 'just hitting' it. I mostly sit with and without shooting sticks, almost always sling supported. I shoot little prone, but when I do, I do so supported with a sling. I would like to have 8" gongs at 100,200,300,400,500. The cost and maintenance of the steel is an issue at our club.

 

[Levi Garrett]

Was hitting 250 mil tetra juice packs at 500 meters, prone 10x scope

 

[JohnC]

all I have access to is a 200 yd range . have several rifles that do MOA and deliver enough energy. but fiield conditions would have to be right for a shot at game ie range finder, reasonable tracking conditions, light wind etc. longest i've taken game at ( not counting groundhogs) were 2 moose at 240 and 420 yards respectively

 

[6gm6]

all I have access to is a 200 yd range . have several rifles that do MOA and deliver enough energy. but fiield conditions would have to be right for a shot at game ie range finder, reasonable tracking conditions, light wind etc. longest i've taken game at ( not counting groundhogs) were 2 moose at 240 and 420 yards respectively

Same here 200 is what a practice with so 200 is what I am comfortable with. My Longest shot at game was about 170-180 yards kneeling. With my 6.5X55 wearing a weaver 2.5 = one dead deer. It may not seem far but I would rather not risk wounding since I'm not sure of my point of impact out past 200.

 

[Gibbs505]

Same here, 200 yards is what we have.

 

[Jasonsmack]

Gophers are fine practice targets at 400 yards. 300 yards are a gimme with a 223. 400 is somewhat of a challenge, with the 223 anyway. Gophers with the 308 at 400 is a breeze. When the gophers are hibernating we often use clays, popcans and coyotes for practice.

 

[gallen270]

my club is small, only 200, so i dunno about from the bench.

once on a gas cut, we placed a target 300 meters out (they had stakes every 100meters) so we set a target up next too the 300 yard line with the rounds impacting into a pile of gravel, and I could keep them on the target no problem with my 270, the target was about 12x12, but the groups were pretty tight, so i imagine i could do the 400 yard with the right ammo.