would u hunt long range elk with a .50cal ?
- Thread starter AKD
- Start date
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
If I owned a .50 and got into that style of shooting, I might do it once as a stunt, but to me that isn't hunting. As for the images of varmint rifle performance on big game, that wouldn't happen. Ma deuce has the same velocity as a .30/06, and while it will produce a larger wound channel, I doubt if the results would be explosive, particularly with a high BC bullet. I have used and seen used big bore Nitro Express cartridges on game at close range with both expanding and solid bullets, and ballistically they aren't that far behind the .50, so I would anticipate the .50's performance to be similar as the velocity at long range would be greatly reduced.
It's the difference between shooting at your limits, or well within your limits. Think about that. (Not that you will)
Taking things to a higher level cements and solidifies the current level. Here's a non shooting anology. Say you worked in a certain position for years and were comfortable and competent in it. One day you were promoted to superviseing 4 or 5 people in your former position. Before the first day is over, you will be confronted with the knowledge that there was a whole lot about how the old position fit into the bigger picture than you ever imagined. Soon after that you will know more about the position that you left then you ever did when you were doing it. Going up a level is a learning experience. Those that want to think they know everything should avoid it.
canadian hunter312
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County
id call that shooting, not hunting
Meh. I'd do it. - dan
I am going to spend the same amount of time and ammunition practicing shooting regardless of the shot distance,so if my self imposed range limit is 500 yards,would it not be more beneficial for me to do all of my practicing at 500 yards or less?The more that I practice at my actual hunting ranges,the more that I get to know the trajectory and wind drift within my actual hunting ranges.Practicing at 700 yards does not improve my familiarity with the trajectory and windage at my actual hunting ranges,so it is really not beneficial as far as my hunting is concerned.It doesn't hurt to know the point of impact at 700 yards,but it sure doesn't help either,if I will never shoot over 500 yards.
Since you like analogies,if you qualified to run the 100meter and 200 meter sprints at the Olympics,would you spend your time training to optimize your times in the 100meter and 200 meter sprints,or would you spend some of your practice time training for the best 400 meter time?
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Long Range Canuck
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Athabasca Alberta aka God's Country
The .50BMG is an awsome rifle for long range hunting with very consistant bullet drop. The key is bullet selection. NO IT WILL NOT BLOW YOUR DEER,ELK OR OTHER ANIMAL TO RAT SH*T. It leaves a nice 1/2" entrance wound and not much bigger exit. It delivers alot of energy on impact and a quick clean kill with the PROPPER bullet, Contact ATRS for a great hunting bullet made in Canada. Long range hunting is a skill that takes lots of practice and knowing what your equipment and load will do where and under what conditions. Take the time to do it right and learn before going for extream long range shots. The homework pay's off.
I'd train for skill and conditioning, just like we did with our racehorses. About the last thing you wanted to do was run their guts out everyday. Training and competeing are two different things.
what are u gona do when that once in a life time monster buck pops up at 550 or 600m ? Im pretty sure ur gona shoot.
when ever you train for anything you always want to train for the next level. not the level ur competing. It gives you a better chance when ur at your level. Soldiers are the best example. They train in the worst case and most crappy conditions possible so when there in real life ticks they can handle it well.
Knowing your gun well to its max effective range is never a bad idea.
now get out there and have some fun practicing !
canadian hunter312
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County
ummmm...you need to give your head a shake if you would take a much higher risk shot JUST because it is a trophy animal
doesnt seem like something an ethical hunter would do.if you have a ton of practice at long ranges and have the gear to do so is one thing, but taking a long shot just because its a trophy is ridiculous.
being scared of 50m is ridiculous and the exact reason why if your gona shoot you should practice and be confident.
I agree 500m is a good distance but if that's 100% your limit you need more trigger time. argue that and ur a fool. Bullet energy drop should be ur limit not ur confidence. Even my stock savage .308 i can shoot 1moa at 6 & 700m. and the good thing is im no special case.
I never really see deer past 200 being realistic but if i won a tag for pronghorn for example, The area they roam in the southern Alberta, 500m might be a close shot. Good time to know how to fire ur weapon properly.
I agree 500m is a good distance but if that's 100% your limit you need more trigger time. argue that and ur a fool. Bullet energy drop should be ur limit not ur confidence. Even my stock savage .308 i can shoot 1moa at 6 & 700m. and the good thing is im no special case.
I never really see deer past 200 being realistic but if i won a tag for pronghorn for example, The area they roam in the southern Alberta, 500m might be a close shot. Good time to know how to fire ur weapon properly.
I practice to 500 yards regularly, and I am confident to 500 yards.I have no desire to shoot farther than 500 yards at any animal.It is more respect for the animals that I hunt than the limit of my confidence in my shooting.It takes only a very,very slight gust of wind to change a clean kill to a wounded animal at 700 yards,and in the open fields that I often hunt,you often can't be sure of the wind all the way out to a target 700 yards away.As well,an animal can easily move enough to cause a wound rather than a clean kill at 700 yards from the time you begin your trigger squeeze until the bullet reaches the animal.If you want to risk wounding an animal with 700 yard shots,that is your business,but I choose not to.
Unlike you,who speculates what a close shot at a pronghorn might be,I have actually killed three pronghorns myself,with the closest being 160 yards,and the farthest being less than 500 yards.I have not had to shoot farther at a pronghorn,and neither have my hunting partners,who took all of their bucks at 300 yards and less.If you can't get within 500 yards of a pronghorn,perhaps you need more stalking practice?
I have been hunting big game for over 35 years,long enough to have seen too many "sure things" go wrong when least expected.
Which is why I use accurate guns,top quality optics,laser rangefinders,spend time developing handloads that offer the best performance,then more time learning those handloads trajectory and wind drift out to the maximum distance that I will shoot,then more time yet practicing at those distances from field positions.I do what I can to increase my odds of making any shot that I decide to take at an animal,as much as possible.
