long range hunting
- Thread starter 6.5x55swm
- Start date
cdn1canhunt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- southwestern ontario
I had a really long internet fight about this once. My opinion is the same now as then... 300win mag !
I will say no more.
I will say no more.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Shooting moose at 400 yards + is for people who are poor hunters but think they can compensate with technology and shooting skills. Wounding rates go way up. The moose deserve better. Learn to hunt.
You're going to want to handload cause that will make practice a little more affordable and you'll need to do lots of that if you're going to stretch things much past 400. How far past 400 are you dreaming about, cause the Ruger M77 you already have may be up to the task, perhaps with a new spout on it if the current won't supply you the desired accuracy with a suitable bullet. Aside from shooters abilities optics and projectile are key to achieve your goal. Other gear you will want is a wind meter and a quality range finders.
Try shooting a .22LR beyond 200 meters for accuracy and you'll get an education on what it takes to shoot long. It will be cheaper and teach you some things that will help with centerfire too.
Try shooting a .22LR beyond 200 meters for accuracy and you'll get an education on what it takes to shoot long. It will be cheaper and teach you some things that will help with centerfire too.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I've done most all my meat critters inside 100 yds. Varmints on the other hand are happily bombed out to as far as yer rig can take 'em.
I personally use 338 Lapua and 50bmg for long range. I spend a lot of time practicing in the actual locations where I hunt that these long shots present themselves.
The vast majority of animals I have shot have been under a hundred yards with many even close enough to poke with a stick. The idea that if a long range shot presents itself within you and your rifles ability to harvest the animal cleanly, that it should be passed on is laughable.
The vast majority of animals I have shot have been under a hundred yards with many even close enough to poke with a stick. The idea that if a long range shot presents itself within you and your rifles ability to harvest the animal cleanly, that it should be passed on is laughable.
After 35 years of hunting big game, I can tell you that the average distance of all the animals I have harvested in that time is just 137 yards. My farthest distance to date on a moose is just 220 yards. i can also state that I have only ever taken one shot at an unwounded animal past 400 yards, and I underestimated the distance.AndI have hunted the mountains to the prairies, and all field conditions in between. Yes, I hunt the brush a fair bit, but I have also hunted a fair amount of wide open spaces too.
As for a moose on the far side of a lake or marsh at last light...for me, he can stay there safe until the next morning.
Sorry, I've hunted and packed enough moose to know that you can usually call in one in closer during the rut, or get closer on moose in other circumstances. I do not always hunt with someone else, and have never done so in a big party where there are lots of hands to help carry that beast out of the bush, swamp or ravine. An animal that weighs a minimum of 700 lbs requires some forethought before pulling the trigger when you first see it. If you do take that shot, and it runs, how long is it going to take you to get across or around that lake or marsh to find and retrieve that animal? It can make for an extremely long night. Have helped those who shot first and thought about it afterwards, then expected help. Not an endearing act of friendship.
As for cartridges capable of taking moose cleanly at 400 yards or more, there are plenty. As long as your chosen bullet is placed properly and has enough retained velocity and energy to penetrate to the vitals and expand reliably to cause enough shock and tissue damage, the moose will be harvested cleanly. I like the old recommendation of 1500 ft-lbs of energy for this.
It has been working very well for decades. The rest is up tp the shooter and their ability to place that bullet consistently and reliably under any and all field conditions and circumstances.
As for a moose on the far side of a lake or marsh at last light...for me, he can stay there safe until the next morning.
Sorry, I've hunted and packed enough moose to know that you can usually call in one in closer during the rut, or get closer on moose in other circumstances. I do not always hunt with someone else, and have never done so in a big party where there are lots of hands to help carry that beast out of the bush, swamp or ravine. An animal that weighs a minimum of 700 lbs requires some forethought before pulling the trigger when you first see it. If you do take that shot, and it runs, how long is it going to take you to get across or around that lake or marsh to find and retrieve that animal? It can make for an extremely long night. Have helped those who shot first and thought about it afterwards, then expected help. Not an endearing act of friendship.
As for cartridges capable of taking moose cleanly at 400 yards or more, there are plenty. As long as your chosen bullet is placed properly and has enough retained velocity and energy to penetrate to the vitals and expand reliably to cause enough shock and tissue damage, the moose will be harvested cleanly. I like the old recommendation of 1500 ft-lbs of energy for this.
It has been working very well for decades. The rest is up tp the shooter and their ability to place that bullet consistently and reliably under any and all field conditions and circumstances.
Depends on how far away the big bull is......if he outside of your range then IMHO yes you pass him up.
coleman1495
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Whitecourt
Meh hunting is always a gamble. Everyone eventually shoots an animal and doesn’t recover it. It makes a person feel pretty lousy.
Most hunters spend very little time practicing and testing their equipment.Lots of guys I know wouldn’t have any better success at 100 yards than I do at 400.
It’s hard to draw the line at what’s an acceptable shot.Maybe shooting without a sturdy rest is irresponsible?
Bottom line is shoot whatever you can reasonably shoot.
Most hunters spend very little time practicing and testing their equipment.Lots of guys I know wouldn’t have any better success at 100 yards than I do at 400.
It’s hard to draw the line at what’s an acceptable shot.Maybe shooting without a sturdy rest is irresponsible?
Bottom line is shoot whatever you can reasonably shoot.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Yes. Pass. Sadly, for some, anything legal is "hunting". Consider this. How would you propose to even find the spot where that moose was standing, after walking all the way around that lake? After dark? Or track the moose after dark in a swamp? Or do all your shots magically result in a moose dead in its tracks with a strobe light leading you to the glorious set of antlers? A moose is big, but it isn't unusual for shooters who aren't skilled hunters to hit and lose one without the planning and skill required to finish the deal. Shooting across a lake with 15 minutes of light left is likely a bad idea no matter how far the shot is. At dawn, or during the day with a buddy to watch and mark the spot and direct you as you circle the lake, or if you could paddle your canoe directly to the spot it was standing without taking your eyes off of it, would be a different story.
Just because you can see a moose (or any other game animal) does not mean you have a "shot opportunity" - well of course you do, kinda, but responsible, and dare I say ethical hunters, know better than to shoot at anything they see.
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Great post. I have never been in this circumstance but I can imagine it being a heart breaking decision to pass on the shot, even though it is the right decision.
