Has anyone ever felt or wished they had more gun with them sometimes? I passed up on a Buck this weekend because I felt it was a little out of range for my .308 win. I was cursing, wishing I had a .300 win with me for the extra range and power. It was the only buck I had seen all season. Last hour on the last day of rifle.
Passed up on a shot.
- Thread starter Stewie333
- Start date
how far was it?- you DO know the 308 has a mpbr of 267 yards, if you're good enuff to hitand practise at that range- your 300 is only another 50 yards or so- being 325- both using 180's- if that was 300 , i'd have chanced it- or got closer
No chance to get closer, he was moving across a corn field. My position was stable, I use handloads and have a decent amount of experience shooting at 300 yards up to 900 meters.
I estimated his range at about 400-450ish. That's why I was thinking the .300 win. Not that even with that calibre I would be guaranteed an ethical kill. The .308 is dropping pretty fast after 300 yards.
I estimated his range at about 400-450ish. That's why I was thinking the .300 win. Not that even with that calibre I would be guaranteed an ethical kill. The .308 is dropping pretty fast after 300 yards.
I watched a huge buck less than 75 yards away opening morning this year, walking through the brush and couldn't get a clear shot.
Could only see bits a and pieces of him, felt good that I passed him up rather than wound him.
Good call, if you are confident of a clean kill dont take the shot.
Could only see bits a and pieces of him, felt good that I passed him up rather than wound him.
Good call, if you are confident of a clean kill dont take the shot.
Major Sights
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Westlock, AB
Yes, I have wished I had a bigger rifle I could trust at the further distances. When I shot my deer last week I wished I had a scoped rifle bigger then the .223 that was in my hands. However, I knew the .223 and where it dropped (Mostly because where the deer was standing is where I set my target up in the summer... 
), however I took my time and made sure the shot was true. Fixed my breathing, squared away my "buck fever", made sure the rifle was sturdy on my sandbag and made a slow smooth trigger pull.
As it as been said before, its not the power of the round but the location of the shot. Had that deer been beyond 200m then I would have passed on that shot. However, Odin smiled upon me and made sure he was 120m away.
), however I took my time and made sure the shot was true. Fixed my breathing, squared away my "buck fever", made sure the rifle was sturdy on my sandbag and made a slow smooth trigger pull. As it as been said before, its not the power of the round but the location of the shot. Had that deer been beyond 200m then I would have passed on that shot. However, Odin smiled upon me and made sure he was 120m away.
Slackbunny
Member
- Location
- Fredericton New Brunswick
I've never had that specific thing happen. I was lucky enough to get a textbook shot at the first buck I've ever seen while hunting last Saturday. But I have kicked myself for taking the rifle out for a walk where I see half a dozen partridge that I could have easily gotten with the shotgun. I suppose that is better than going for a walk and seeing a big buck with only birdshot in my pocket. But that problem will be solved for next season. I'm buying a combo this summer.
Suka
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
This.
All good hunters watch lot's of game run away because the shot isn't right. Could be distance, could be angle, could be any other number of reasons. Don't ever regret making the correct decision.
My hat's off to you.
X2. I know a hunter
who lost 3 deer this fall because he insists on taking head on chest shots. Far better to watch one walk than feed the coyotes!
Good on you Stewie for passing up on the shot, if you dont know the balistics on the rifle youre using.
Most standard centre fire cartridges have similar balistics using mid weight bullets.
I go by the -10" @300 -20" @400 -40" @ 500 yd rule of trajectory if zeroed at 200 yards for 308, 30-06 and 284 Win.. Youre rifles and ammo may vary slightly, but Its a good average and the numbers are easy to remember.
I dont want any flaming from balistics experts...
Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to realistically understand our own limitations, GOOD FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND YOURS...
DragonFire
CGN Regular
- Location
- mid Canada
I tend to do it quit often. Find myself admiring the animal and then it's gone. Tend to let a few too many coyotes get away also. Just find it interesting to watch them sometimes.
I'm not starving so dropping an animal isn't a top priority for me.
I'm not starving so dropping an animal isn't a top priority for me.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
It's the guys who won't pass up a shot that I worry about, not the ones who know their limitations. congratulations. Maybe next time you'll have better luck, or perhaps develop better hunting skills. It is called hunting and not shooting for a good reason! Not all long distance "shot opportunities' can be cleanly made even with the precision equipment and finely honed shooting skills. One still has to kill the animal quickly and humanely, and recover said animal. Those require hunting skills like a fast follow up shot if necessary, marking the original location of the animal, tracking, etc. etc. Many times it's wise to just let it go.
My sentiments exactly! I never judge a successful hunt by what I've killed. Enjoying the outdoors with good friends and family make the hunt. Harvesting some game and sharing it with others is a pleasurable by product. Too much emphasis these days is put on taking "trophies".
