- Location
- Dah Soo,ON
.308 hmmm,
- Thread starter sealhunter
- Start date
I shot a cow moose a few years back with my Remmy600 Carbine, using an el-cheapo 180gr federal softpoint, somewhere between 350-400yards.
I'd much rather be closer to an animal. Or, at lease sneak up on them, but they were moving and I didn't have that opportunity.
So, in answer to the question; I'd feel comfortable with 400 or less, but it wouldn't be my preference.
As for the .308 doing the job? No question.
I'd much rather be closer to an animal. Or, at lease sneak up on them, but they were moving and I didn't have that opportunity.
So, in answer to the question; I'd feel comfortable with 400 or less, but it wouldn't be my preference.
As for the .308 doing the job? No question.
mike shickele
Regular
Some of us (read me) don't like having scopes, or other equipment that is more complicated than it needs to be. I prefer smaller scopes , on the lower end of the power scale, with duplex recticle. I'm a still-hunter, so to me a fast responsive rifle is a necessity. Nothing wreaks the handling of a nice properly proportioned rifle than a scope that's too big (It acts like a sail, and it makes the rifle top-heavy). If I do my job right, then my shots should be within 100 yards anyways, so the other 200 yards that I allow myself is insurance. If a scope is too complicated, you may find yourself adjusting the scope when you should be shooting. with multiple cross wires you could end up using the wrong one. Last, but not least, scopes do fail, and the more there is to a scope, the more there is to go wrong. I find it odd that 4-12X scopes are becoming popular on hunting rifles, as just 20 years ago, 3-9X scopes where the biggest anyone would even dare pack into the bush, and 4X was considered enough for even the long shots. By the way, I'm not saying this out of "total" ignorance, as I myself tried a 4-12X for a while, and other than for the long calculated shots, I found it to be a total pain in the arse...........................in my opinion.
Mike
Mike, I don't think you understand what's he's saying. Sheephunter is commenting on LR hunting scopes, and you just wrote a paragraph on close range hunting. and I have to wonder, for a still hunter, how high are the winds in your stand that a scope can 'act as a sail"
2-7 or 3-9 is plenty for 400m. a big scope doesn't = big range.
hell, I shot 1000yrds comp years ago with a 3-9x40mm and a sporter weight rifle and still managed to keep all 10 on paper.
2-7 or 3-9 is plenty for 400m. a big scope doesn't = big range.
hell, I shot 1000yrds comp years ago with a 3-9x40mm and a sporter weight rifle and still managed to keep all 10 on paper.
I understand your choice of optics but I still don't understand your reference to Kentucky windage....if you choose the optics you do, then you also choose not to take long range shots IMHO. Kentucky windage is a cool phrase that rolls off the tongue with ease but it only rolls off the tonue of people with poor ethics IMHO. If you are keeping your shots within your hold on hair limit then I applaud you but don't criticize my desire to have that same hold on hair ability out 600+ yards. Please, no more references to the old days...these are the new days and technology now allows those of us with a desire to take LR shots the ability to do it ethically.
Your references to chosing the wrong crosshair and such are akin to those cheezie ads on TV for a spout that helps you pour your milk without spilling it all over the floor. I'm only a partial idiot, not a complete one and I think I can pour milk straight out of the carton and I think after using a laser range finder to determine a distance and carefully evaluating all the variables of the shot that I can choose the right crosshair or turn the right turret.......
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mike shickele
Regular
I think that you may want to go back and re-read my reference to "Kentucky windage". Was I not talking about point blank range, and my own personal limits? There are some people out there who are fully equipped, and practiced to perform long-range shots, and kudos to those guys; but the reality is that the vast majority of people, even if equipped to do so, are not capable of doing so. Yes the equipment is out there, but long range rifles are generally not considered ideal for packing all day, or crawling through the thick stuff. Again...............in my opinion.
Mike
Mike
mike shickele
Regular
I pack my long-range rifle all day long with no issues at all. I weighs just over 7 pounds and sports a 3-9x40 scope.....but then I can pour milk straight out of the carton too. If it's not for you and you are willing to confine shots to those your optics are suited to...kudos to you but not everyone that shoots long range relies on Kentucky windage and a prayer and not all shooters are inept.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
I shoot Kentucky windage all the time on my hunting rifles - I HAVE to because for the most part they do not have readily adjustable sights.
However, on my long range rifles I never use it, and I happen to have a 308 that will go out to 400 and be packed all day - I just don't use it that much.
BTW, I don't consider 400 yards long for any of my scoped rifles, and I have killed critters after humping up a slope at distance, not just right away!!
Cat
However, on my long range rifles I never use it, and I happen to have a 308 that will go out to 400 and be packed all day - I just don't use it that much.
BTW, I don't consider 400 yards long for any of my scoped rifles, and I have killed critters after humping up a slope at distance, not just right away!!
Cat
You may get lucky and get an out of the box gun that shoots.
Add to that inconsistent factory ammo and now you have to be lucky on both accounts. Two negatives don't have a positive sum in this case.
You leave a pile of accuracy potential on the table if you don't reload. Not a big deal out to 300 yards, but start to stretch it out past 500 yards and you need to squeeze out all the accuracy that only handloads offer.
A custom barrel on a trued action, tuned trigger, bedded, etc. Combine this with a proven handload and there is no factory gun/ammo combo that will touch it, at any distance.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
I have a few factory rifles , but for the most part most of my gear is rebarreled and shooting wildcats.
My 308 that is a hunting rifle is factory but shoots handloads....
Cat
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I don't seem to have any problem hitting a target at 400 yards with a factory Ruger 7RM. It's been bedded in a B&C stock and has a TImney trigger, butt hat is it. It has a 2.5-8x36 scope on it with an elevation turret. I've shot my custom 300WSM rifle to 500 yards without a problem, either. It weighs less than the Ruger...
I use handloads, but I am sure some premium factory ammo shoots good enough to use.
I'd liek to shoot further but don't have anywhere close to home that allows it.
I use handloads, but I am sure some premium factory ammo shoots good enough to use.
I'd liek to shoot further but don't have anywhere close to home that allows it.
mike shickele
Regular
While I still think that anyone that is serious about long range shooting needs to handload to get the best out of their rifle with their chosen bullet, I "uneasingly" feel that there are now some factory rifles that may be set up right out of the box to pull off consistent long range shots.
I have a buddy who bought both him and his wife Tikka T3 rifles that appear to be very capable right out of the box. And, no matter how much I believe in bedding a gun when I buy it, I couldn't see myself doing any better than what sako did with my Quad; in fact, I fear that if I touch it, I would do more harm than good.
Mike
Ah, the snobbery of the custom rifle/reloader crowd. First, I'm not going to take any rifle and any box of ammo and go long range shooting. As I said I'm not a complete idiot. I've bought several new rifles in the past few months and all will shoot sub .75 MOA off of the bench with ammo it likes. Obviously it may take trying a few brands but I've always found one. So there's nothing lucky about it. If a rifle won't shoot, obviously it's not going to be a long range rifle. Again, give me some credit. It's a hard pill to swallow but some of us could really care less about custom rifles and reloading and manufacturers are cashing in on this with premium ammunition and rifles that shoot out of the box. Sure by doing all the things you suggest you could get a rifle to shoot better than that but we aren't talking a bench gun here, we are talking a hunting gun. Be honest with me, lying prone in the grass, shooting off a bipod, how tight of a group can you shoot? Can you get that extra you gained out of your trued action and handloaded ammo? My experience says no. I know you do some serious shooting at extreme ranges at paper off a bench but a lot of what applies there isn't that applicable in the hunting world. If you enjoy tinkering with guns and loading ammunition, great, but for those of us that would rather not, the resources are there for some very effective long-range hunting rigs.
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cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
Hey fellows why don"t you all stop arguing about how far you can shoot a moose with a .308 and become a real hunter, get a little closer. That would be my answer,heck a moose dosen't see all that well. If you got close enough you could poke one in the eye with a stick and kill him. Just stay down wind Seriously if you think that the 400 yrd offhand, kentucky windage shot with a .308 is unethical why take it? Get 100 yrds closer and make sure or bring a bigger gun. 
Cdn1
Seriously if you think that the 400 yrd offhand, kentucky windage shot with a .308 is unethical why take it? Get 100 yrds closer and make sure or bring a bigger gun. Cdn1
