Ontario - length of shot

Here in BC, in the areas I hunt, shots can vary from <50M to >450M
The excellent Leupold 6x42 has resided on many of my hunting rifles,
and the longest successful kill shot was with my 270 and that optic.

I have a number of hunting rifles now wearing the 3.5-10x40 VX III.
I carry them set at anywhere between 5 and 7x, depending on terrain.

When my eyes were much younger, I used 4x a lot, and took some long
shots with them. Never felt handicapped by the lower power.

The only rifles I have "big" optics on are competition rimfires and a heavy
6mm Remington that I shoot in 1000 yards. My 225 Winchester wears 12X.

I see some "hunters" occasionally packing rifles with 6-24X scopes, usually
cranked right up while they hunt. I just snicker and carry on. :) Dave.
 
STEELCITYSLICKER said:
He has only ever shot from behind a bench,...
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I would recommend he put in some practice in positional shooting: standing, kneeling, sitting, no bipod, tripod or sticks. The amount of shake he will see, and group size on paper targets, especially at high magnifications, will be a shock if he has not done this type of training. It might help put things in perspective.

I predict this training will help him select a smaller, lighter, lower magnification scope for deer hunting in the densely vegetated Ontario context. :)
 
You’re x4 will be better than his x24, my first couple years of hunting big game was with a 4-12x40 and it rarely got dialed past x6. I’ve never shot a deer past 100y, the closest was a wt buck I surprised at 15-20yds. Thank god he froze when he saw me as I almost couldn’t find him a x4, all I could see was brown had to do a double take to be sure I was on the vitals.

The next year I switched to a 2-7x32 on another gun and the following year a 2.5-10x40 on my .308, lower power optics are the way to go for me at 100-200yd ranges while hunting. At the range off a bench I enjoy the ability to dial up higher, but in the field when things can just appear out of nowhere in close range I like the low power wide field of view.
 
STEELCITYSLICKER said:
Threads from the past!

I am taking him out again this year. He now has a 3-9 scope after last year's debacle. :)

Thanks all.
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EXCELLENT!
BTW, I hope you guys have been practicing away from the bench, that will do you in good stead .My hunting rifles, once zero do not go anywhere near the range except for maybe a single shot on steel every now and then- one shot only. I have rifles I use at the range instead, and when seriously practicing for hunting I shoot across my pack, kneeling, standing, and off a monopod - basically the way I will be taking a shot while hunting . I shot this year's buck at 194 yards after dropping to one knee and pointing it into his lungs.
Single shot rifle with a 1.25-4X Leupold on it.
Last year's longest shot was 372 IRC with the same rifle , leaning against a power transmission pole , with a heart shot.
I practice a lot however using field positions.:rolleyes:
Cat
SbxYFHe.jpg
 
iron cat said:
EXCELLENT!
BTW, I hope you guys have been practicing away from the bench, that will do you in good stead .My hunting rifles, once zero do not go anywhere near the range except for maybe a single shot on steel every now and then- one shot only. I have rifles I use at the range instead, and when seriously practicing for hunting I shoot across my pack, kneeling, standing, and off a monopod - basically the way I will be taking a shot while hunting . I shot this year's buck at 194 yards after dropping to one knee and pointing it into his lungs.
Single shot rifle with a 1.25-4X Leupold on it.
Last year's longest shot was 372 IRC with the same rifle , leaning against a power transmission pole , with a heart shot.
I practice a lot however using field positions.:rolleyes:
Cat
SbxYFHe.jpg
Click to expand...

Fantastic!

I consider myself a "practical shooter" who is more than comfortable shooting off a pack, a limb, fencepost, knee, prone etc. At the same time, I take my firearms to the range and use them frequently there as well.

My buddy learned quite a few lessons last year. This year, I plan to teach him about the "suck" that should accompany a hunt. Wet, cold, uncomfortable conditions that need to be both respected and ignored at the same time.

Greg
 
I use a 3-9x for hunting farm fields and forests. I've taken deer out to just shy of 190 yards with the scope at 5 or 6x. I'll always try to use either a bipod, a fence post, a tree, or my pack to keep things nice and steady.
 
I have had a 2.5-10 on my hunting rifle for a very long time. At the range checking loads, sighting in its cranked up nearer the top. Hunting rarely dial it up past 5. Was calling moose this year in an old logged out area. Thick, scope was on 2.5. I never turned it up and moved a couple hundred yards up the trail when a bull answered. Shot was a bit over 100 yards, 2.5 worked just fine. 4 or 5 is my most common setting normally. Taken a lot of critters over the years with it set there.
 
I have a 3-9 on both of my go to rifles. When hunting they are set at 4. If a shot at moose or deer comes u they stay there from 50-400 yards. I only shoot standing or slow moving targets and consider range and wind calculations enough to tend to but I do not adjust the scope, it stays zeroed at 200 yards. If I am shooting paper off a bench then I can play with knobs.
 
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