To which distances do you hunt most big game?

[kombi1976]

I seem to read quite often that "I'd like a cartridge that will shoot quite flat out to 400yds and knock over a moose".
Now I realise that hunting in certain situations requires flat shooting to distance and that's fine.
But how many of us actually use magnum power out to 400yds or beyond?
Few people seem to be lugging super magnums to hunt sheep and rams at high altitude.
So it's time to be honest and fess up; who actually uses their firepower to snipe really big game at long distances?
If you do please fill us in on what you use, what you hunt and the terrain.
Please, remember, this is your average HUNTING distances, not target.

*NOTE - please also put down which group your main cartridge sits in.(The poll has mulitple selections enabled.)
Here are the cartridges for each group:

Group 1. 30-30, 32 Special, 35 Rem, 358 Win, 38-55, 375 Win, 444 Marlin, 45-70, 577/450, muzzle loaders and slug guns(just for you, BigRedd ).

Group 2. 243 Win, 6mm Rem, 250 Sav, 257 Roberts, 25-06, 260 Rem, 6.5x55, 7x57, 7mm-08.

Group 3. 270 Win, 280 Rem, 284 Win, 7x64, 308, 303 Brit, 30-06, 8x57, 338-06, 35 Whelen, 9.3x62.

Group 4. 257 Wby Mag, 270 WSM, 270 Wby, 7mm Rem Mag, 308 Norma Mag, 300 WSM, 300 Win Mag, 300 H&H, 325 WSM, 338 Win Mag.

Group 5. 7mm STW, 7mm RUM, 300 Wby Mag, 300 RUM, 338 Lapua, 340 Wby Mag, 358 Norma Mag, 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, 458 Win Mag.

You can work out any that aren't listed from these.

 

[Foxer]

It happens - but really most shots are far less than 400 yards. Certainly 'average' shots are. C'ept those varmint hunter guys

 

[kombi1976]

I've edited the title of this post to really address medium to big game......sheep, goats, hogs, deer, elk, moose, black bear, etc.
For those Aussie hunters it includes camel and feral donkeys.
It's the reason I left out cartridges like the .22 Hornet, .222, .223, .22-250, 220 Swift and .204 Ruger.
I made the call that these cals aren't really designed for medium to big game although undoubtedly there are those that use them regularly with success.
If you want to start another poll asking who does or would use these cartridges on big game go for your life.

 

[Foxer]

It's a little odd of a question tho (not complaining or anything) because i doubt most people are thinking of their 'average' shot. The average shot might well be 150 yards for 99 percent of us, but people buy the flat shooters thinking about those 1 or 2 times something will be 'way out there'.

My dad lit into a moose at 520 yards - that was a hell of a long shot. I think his next longest shot tho is probably somewhere around 250, which is my longest. on average, he's probably around 100-150. But - it's that once or twice in a lifetime chance that's 'way out there' that get guys thinking of the big 'reach out and touch someone' cartridges.

 

[BIGREDD]

You also left out slugguns Kombi... I would guess that more deer are killed in North America with slugguns than centerfire rifles.

 

[kombi1976]

I know that guys who hunt pronghorn and the like on the open prairie or hunt deer in the desert often need something that will reach out and knock down game.
I also know of people that pride themselves on the capability of being able to utitilise a round like the Warbird or the .338 Lapua, but then they practise and their goal is to take successful shots at 300yds plus.
I guess the question I'm asking is whether or not it's really worth lugging your choice of super mag around when the chances are that most of your shots will be under 200yds.
I think that the majority of hunters, and correct me if I'm wrong here, would say "Thanks but no thanks" to something 400yds plus, especially if they can stalk closer and ensure a good shot.
The truth is that few people know how to properly hold over for serious distances, at least in my experience.
But, hey, debate is what this is all about.
Feel free to correct me.....I'm sure Gatehouse, Tod or BigRedd would!

 

[kombi1976]

Told ya so!

You also left out slugguns Kombi... I would guess that more deer are killed in North America with slugguns than centerfire rifles.

Ok, those wishing to vote for slug guns put your vote in Group 1.

 

[BIGREDD]

I agree with most of what your saying Kombi.
But the truth of it is most hunters are not as educated or experienced as the average gunnut on this forum.
Many once a year hunters do not understand long-range ballistics or how to judge range and will shoot too far, or outside of thier ability if the opportunity arises.
Flip side is that a practiced shooter with a quality long range rifle equiped with a good long range scope does not need to hold over to shoot accurately @ 400-500 yards. Just range it, set the parralax, dope the wind and use the right retical for the distance, Bobs your uncle!
I think if a hunter practices with his Magnum or Long-range rifle and he wants to carry it around for a lifetime in anticipation of a 500 yard shot on Big Game... who am I to tell him he is crazy?

 

[BC Bigbore]

C'mon guys, 500 yards ain't far according to some of the "experts" I meet at the range just before moose opens. Heck, one gentleman was sighting in his .300 Weatherby +9" @ 100 yards He claimed it would be right on at 500 yards that way He's been taking shots at moose for years and he's never bagged one yet. Says his scope keeps getting knocked out of kilter. Right...

 

[walksalot]

I guess it depends upon the country you are hunting. On the bald prairie the shots would be longer I suspect. Personally , liking to hunt in the timber, my average shot would be much less than 100 yds.
Shooting distance at the range and guesstimating the distance in the field are two different things. Unless one has a range finder of some description I would describe it as , for the average hunter, a shot out of their comfort zone for I question whether the average hunter would log the hours of practice necessary and tune the rifle sufficiently to become a long range shot..
I suspect with a rifle with the velocity of a 30-06 2" high at 100 would take any animal out to 250 yds without to much problem. Any longer than that, try get close.

 

[Boomer]

The primary rifle in your gun rack must not only be an reflection of the game you hunt and the country in which you hunt it, but it must also be a reflection of your personality. I wanted one rifle to cover any big game hunting scenario I was ever likely to encounter. With this in mind, my primary rifle would be a bear gun which could double as a hunting rifle. One solution would of been to have a big bore bear gun - say a .460 G&A, and one light rifle - say a .270, but we all know that the .270 would be at hand when the willows start to rustle, and the .460 when a caribou decided he didn't want to face another winter. Besides, the temptation would be to over-use the .270 and under-use the .460. My solution was a custom short barrelled Brno 602 in .375 Ultra.

My personality shows up in this rifle in a number of ways - the .375 H&H factory chambering would of worked as well as the Ultra, but I wanted something a little different if it was going to be a custom outfit. The cost of brass caused me to reject the .378 Weatherby - a lesson I learned from owning a .416 Rigby, and using the Ultra cartridge meant that I did not need to alter the bolt face of this paticular rifle. The sighting arrangement of a scout scope backed up by a ghost ring and post, puts shots beyond 300 yards into the desperation catagory. That's fine with me however because I enjoy stalking, and I have seldom needed a shot beyond 150 yards, although this rifle builds confidence quickly with it's ability to hit accurately and with authority at extended ranges. The 260 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip or Accubond down loaded to 2600 fps is a great flat shooting deer/caribou/black bear/sheep load.

More importanly, the rifle builds confidence when I (foolishly some say) mess with the big bears. However, I've learned alot about these guys by being being on the ground near them, and I can't think of a more stimulating wildlife experience. On a couple of occasions I never even laid eyes on the bear, but I knew he was close, and my legs were shaking so bad I could hardly walk! In those circumstances having a powerful rifle in your hands is very comforting.

 

[boney]

For deer I mainly use my Muzzleloader(occasionally a rifled barrelled 20 gauge) and most of the deer I've taken have been between 40-90yds.Some have been as close as 10yds ,others out around 150 but my average shots are made at around 65yds!
Is this what you wanted to know?

 

[stanway]

Most of my hunting is 100 yards or less with the old boring .308win.

 

[kombi1976]

Well, most of mine is done under 200yds with a weird old Aussie round called the 303/25 in an old 1914 Short Lee Enfield.
Some of you may've heard me mention it before.
About as much muscle as a 250 Savage and the game I hunt doesn't need anything stronger.
I'm hunting in timber and in open fields but I can always get a little closer to the game should I need it.
Most of my kangaroo shooting (all legal with tags mind you) is done over a spotlight and 100yds to 150yds are average distances with the odd shot out to 200yds.
With a little care and shot placement the old '25 will take down most Aussie game including pigs and would even probably knock over a fallow deer although I'd likely use my 8x57 for deer and bigger.

 

[WildWildWest]

I guess it depends upon the country you are hunting. On the bald prairie the shots would be longer I suspect....I suspect with a rifle with the velocity of a 30-06 2" high at 100 would take any animal out to 250 yds without to much problem. Any longer than that, try get close.

Welcome to the southern half of Saskatchewan (you can see for miles, literally), the average is usually about 150 to 250 yards. Sometimes longer, such as 350 or 400 yards. I have only taken one out farther than that, but it was only one time and I didn't want to go home empty handed (last day of the season). If the hunting is good, nobody goes home empty handed and you can usually still find one at 150 to 200 yards to shoot (we seem to be overrun with mulies right now). I like my .270 and .300 WM, although you don't need anything more than a .270 for under 300 yards. The guys I hunt with use anything from 30-06, .308, .300 WM, .300 RUM, etc. They all work well on mulies, whitetail, and antelope as long as you know your rifle well and are comfortable with it - most of these guys have used them for 20 or more years and know the ballistics of their specific rifles. The large calibres seem to be the "just in case" I need it for something over 500 yards (I only know a couple of guys who can make that shot consistently).

I don't think I would know what to do if a tree got in the way!!

 

[dumbdawg]

i'm using all actions as well as all types of guns including shotguns

 

[bronco_mudder]

I've carried a Tikka 695 in 7mm mag since I was 18, or 19. Last fall was the first time I didn't use it for moose hunting, taking my Lapua instead. I believe old faithful would have killed the moose at the range the Lapua did (386 yard), but likely not with the authority. The 7mm mag has never failed me, I took my deer last fall with it at 404 lasered yards, he ran about 100 yards with a hole through his heart, and died at the edge of the field. Those are to two longest shots I've ever taken on game, coincidentaly both in the same fall. Normally my shots are in the 100-200 yard range though, with some as close as archery range, and of course as mentioned some out a little farther. For my own personal limit though, I wouldn't feel comforatble shooting much more than 400-450 yards. This fall my old girl will take a rest though. I'm giving my trusty 7mm a break and am going to carry my redone 25/06 AI for deer and caribou, and I'm not completely decided on the moose rifle yet, it will be a big boomer though. Either the Lapua again, or a 350 Mashburn Super mag, a 300 Ultra, or my 8X68s mag, once September roles around I'll make up my mind.

When you bring muzzle loaders into the picture, I've done a lot of shooting with my TC Omega, and have absolute confidence in it out to 200 yards. Where as with other smoke poles I've had I'd have quit at 125 yards. Everybody has their own limits, and should only take the shots they feel are in their comfort range...........not, oh he's huge, and I'm going to take a pot shot, hoping to hit him.

 

[todbartell]

200-300 yards, non magnum medium bore

260 Remington & 30-06
​

 

[prosper]

Depends what I'm hunting, and with which of my rifles.

Varmints, offhand to ~50 paces, kneeling w/bipod to 100, sitting w/bipod to 150 and prone to 400.

I'm comfortably able to shoot into an 8-10" group at 200yds offhand unsupported with my 308 & 30-30. The 45-70 I anticipate being able to go to 200 with.

It totally depends on field conditions. If it's a clear shot, no wind, and a place to shoot from a sitting position I'm comfortable going to 400 with the 308. I can shoot farther at a range, but it's rapidly running out of steam at those distances so I wouldn't attempt it while hunting.

Really, for me, the goal is to get within 250yds or so before I take a shot.

 

[jiffydawg]

You also left out slugguns Kombi... I would guess that more deer are killed in North America with slugguns than centerfire rifles.

i would have to vote no on that one