[NCdrummer]

I usually confine myself to 300 yards, but last weekend I had PERFECT conditions and took a trophy whitetail at Eglin AFB at 415 yards. I was shooting a .308 Model 700SS 5R with a Meopta MeoStar tactical scope. Load was a 165 NAB over 47 grains of RE15. What's your personal best? Please NOT something you saw on YouTube!

[Ridgerunner665]

I've gone to 800 yards on deer with a 308...but in all honesty, under hunting conditions, 600 yards is my comfort zone.

[konfederate.kowboy]

I. Have made shots on steel targets at 500 but missed a shot once at 350 using a bull barreled muzzle broke h&r 30-06 with 165 grain hornady sst with 48 grains of 4895.

[schlockinz]

300yds offhand, the deer was bigger than expected, thought that I was taking a 200yd shot. Never shot at anything further because I just get closer instead. 400 is the longest that I've practiced at, learned that my bipod would throw my shots.

[R.W.Dale]

Both the deer in my sig

the doe because of the range and the buck because of the speed of my second shot

[MCgunner]

I'm okay up to 400 yards. I prefer a lot less, but I can shoot a rifle. I try never to take an offhand shot unless I'm still hunting. In that case, I'm good to about 100-150 yards.

[Hunt480]

I stay in the thickets,rarely can see 100 yards. Kill alot of deer

[ColeK]

About half the time I hunt in the thickets were a long shot would be 125 yards. But I'm been known to kill'em a long, my longest was 497 yards.
But since I started having eye I problems, I've not killed anything over 300 yards.
My comfort zone is about 300 yards.

[NCdrummer]

I hunt with buddies in Mississippi every year around Columbus. We have some long shot opportinities there on green fields, and I passed up a giant last year at 356 yards because the conditions were not perfect. I have too much respect for the animal and land owner to take a risky shot. I appreciate your restraint! Interestingly, most of my deer kills are with my bow or muzzleloader. I shoot a lot at long distance but not at animals (very often.) Interesting thread here.

[ms6852]

My comfort zone is 250 yds off hand and 600 yds with bipod or someform of shooting sticks. Have shot and killed elk at 475yds with my 30-06 using Hornady mag lites.

[interlock]

i shoot lots of deer, I will shoot up to 100 yards off hand, but normally use sticks and 250 yards from a good rest.

[Sav .250]

WV mountains...... mostly around 100 yds. Often less.

[~z]

I have taken several doe in the 600yd range, however my farthest shot was a doe at 783, everything lined up perfect, wind was ½ value 7.5mph and constant. I have had several opportunities for farther shots but passed due to conditions. Comfort zone is based on the current conditions.

I have gone farther on pigs and coyotes but as the question was deer…
~z

[Arkansas Paul]

The farthest was a buck at 150-175 yds. I wouldn't feel comfortable past 250. I need to do some shooting at longer ranges. I'm not gonna try on game what I've never tried on paper.

[ricebasher302]

I've made 200 yard shots without any hesitation. I'd take 300 yd shots under good conditions. Beyond that, I'd go to 400, but conditions would have to be perfect, and there would have to be no chance of me getting any closer to the quarry, and he'd have to be huge animal or it's the last days of season.

[41magsnub]

Whitetail specifically? I've only ever shot those in trees, the farthest was about 50-75 yards. Mule Deer and Elk? I'm good to about 400 if I have something to rest on and the conditions are good. Otherwise, 300 yards with something to rest on, freehand? About 150 yards.

[Fremmer]

The next county, which is only about 3,000 yards away. With a rest, maybe 4,000 yards.

Just kidding. 200 yards is the max, and I probably wouldn't even shoot that far. I'm not good enough to make a shot like that without worrying about wounding the thing. And the farther away that deer is, the harder it is to see what part of the timber it limped into.

[chains1240]

My comfort zone is 200 yards.

[shaggy430]

Longest deer was 300. I've practiced out to 400 and would feel confident on game with a solid rest if all conditions were perfect.

[LEVRLOVR]

The longest shot to date was around 415 yds. on a small buck.
That was from a stand with (known) yardages and a steady rest.

Under field conditions, (winded, off hand, guesstimated distance etc.) 200 yds. is about all I would be comfortable with.

[onestar]

4-500yds with a good rest and known yardage

[kansersurvivor]

Hunt480
I stay in the thickets,rarely can see 100 yards. Kill alot of deer

Our lease land in SC we have shots out to 350yds. But we place the stands where they should be, and generally kill within 100yds.

[JEB]

id say 200 yards but would prefer 175 or closer. (i hunt with a 30-30)

[H&Hhunter]

If I can get closer I get closer. If I can get steadier I get steadier.

[HB]

About 300 if I have a good rest. 150 or so offhand.

HB

[scythefwd]

I'll go out to 200y with any of my scoped and sighted in centerfires, but I can't see that far where I hunt. I'll only go out to 75y if I have the shotgun with me, and about 120-130 with the muzzle loader. The furthest stretch I can see is about 300y, but that is in the valley between two very steep ridges... I don't shoot em near that drop off.

[Deer Hunter]

I rarely find places where I have clear shots past 120 yards.

[Steve 48]

Out here in the plains, a 400 shot is the norm so I practice for that range. I got one every year!!

[blackops]

Depends which rifle I have is in my hands. The hunting rifle I feel the most comfortable with at longer ranges is my pre-64 in 270 and that's out to 550 max. I had it pillared and glassed so it's a dandy. Even then 98 percent of my shots aren't over 400. That said conditions and position have to be perfect passed 300.

[skiking]

Depending on the rifle, but with my 300WM I am comfortable out to 600 yds if a bipod or pack can be used. Longest shot was a 320 yd offhand shot. While I probably wouldn't try it again, I was rock steady and my NPOA was right where it needed to be, 1 shot into the neck and he dropped in his tracks. That was the only shot I have taken past 175 yds.

[NCdrummer]

Impressive!

[pwillie]

Most of the land we hunt on has fire breaks,and logging roads..Up to 600 yds. Average is 200 yds. Best is 450 yds. 300 Weatherby---150 Nosler Partition.

[sarduy]

to be sure i hit exactly where i aim, i keep it under 500 yards, over 500 yards i know i can hit the target jist not exactly where want. 3-5 inches to me, but they do make a difference.

[UpTheIrons]

Is everyone using a rangefinder on these long ranges? I'm just wondering, because one of the guys I hunt with SWORE he took (at least) a 300 yard shot this past season. We went back and shot it with a rangefinder, and it was only 155.

I'm not calling BS or saying y'all are exaggerating, and I know there are some real long ranges to cover - especially out West - but I'm just wondering if these are good faith estimates or actual hard numbers.

Since I'm a bit OCD, I always take my rangefinder, even in areas I've hunted for years. Where we hunt in the Texas Hill Country, 150 is the realistic longest range for most of our most shots, but there are a couple of spots where a 300 yard shot is possible, though I'd likely not take it. Unless it was a giant chupacabra and "IT WAS COMING RIGHT FOR ME!" ;)

[NCdrummer]

Good post. My 415 yard shot 31 January was laser verified after the shot by my hunting partner and me. That's a LONG way to shoot at a whiteteil deer, especially from a climbing treestand, for me anyway. And I practice and compete a lot! So I agree. Are these really long distances verified or guessed? No offense to all the snipers!

[skiking]

My 320 yd shot wasn't lasered at the time, but I did go back the following year with a rangefinder to find out how far it really was, measured 321 yds so I round down.

[huntershooter]

Comfort zone is determined by how steady I can get.
I would not attempt an offhand 300 yd shot and would think twice about 200 yds.If I were an active "cross the course" competitor that would be different. Everyone's limitations are different.
My longest Whitetail shot was 487 yds., sitting-braced against a tree trunk. If I could have gone prone, I would have.

[Ankeny]

Comfort zone is based on the current conditions. Couldn't have said it better. Yes, folks shooting long yardage are using range finders and they also have a way to correct for wind and for drop. Or they are just blowing smoke. :D

A little edit with no disrespect intended. If long yardage (where you would have to hold off of the critter) is verified after the shot, how does one know where to hold to guarantee a hit?

[UpTheIrons]

If long yardage (where you would have to hold off of the critter) is verified after the shot, how does one know where to hold to guarantee a hit?

This is kinda what I was wondering. I'd likely never take a shot where I had to hold off the hair, so I was curious about how many of y'all came up with your numbers. I know the Mags and WSSMs go a looong way and stay flat for most of that flight, but I'm looking to switch to a .308 for this next year, and even with that, I don't think I will change my maximum range for a while. I'm just not comfortable 'pushing' a shot that might be marginal. Unless it is the aforementioned Chupacabra.

[~z]

Range finders and wind meters are the only way I shoot long. Another benefit of the long game is you typically have time to read the conditions, get in a solid position, wait for the opportunity, and decide to pass if necessary.
~z

[AKElroy]

200 is about it for me. I like my coffee. I have seen numerous responses in this thread from folks claiming 450+ yrds is within there comfort zone. 600+ for some folks. I am honored to be in really rare company, then! You folks are GOOOOOOOOOD. Of course, this is an anonomous forum...........

[t george]

off hand I start feeling a little uncomfortable at just past a hundred. out of a stand or place where I can get steady and take my sweet time 300 to 350 is the edge of comfort, and off the bench at the range (shooting at paper or steel) I like to play around at 500 thats is far as I have ever shot. Longest shot on a deer was just under 200(197 to be exact) longest shot on any critter was a rangfinder varified 322 from prone position using pack as a rest with very little wind.

I wish I was good enough to take 600 yard shots but im not so I dont pull the trigger when that situation arizes.

[NCdrummer]

It's pretty simple to verify yardage after the shot. Go to the downed animal with your rangefinder and let you buddy shoot it back to your stand! Sure makes for a pretty good witness, at least in my case it did. Particularly when we had two FWC guys with us. Of course, you have to range the animal BEFORE you take the shot, too. My bet is some of the shots mentioned in this thread describe estimated yardage, but who can be be sure? This is all about the comfort zone. Practiced, confident, and deadly.

BTW, the .308 is capable of 400 yard kills but you have to know your load. It's all about retained velocity. A 165 NAB at 2850 drops about 19.25 inches at 400 yards with a 225 yard zero. Retained energy is ~1620 ft/lbs. If the shot jumps to 425 yards you have another ~4.5 inches of drop, and energy goes to ~1550, which is enough to ensure a clean kill. You just have to understand what happens to your bullet WAY out there, and you have to know your yardage. You also have to practice. That extra 4.5 inches could cause a clean miss, or worse, you could mortally wound a magnificent animal and never recover him. Plus, a 10 mph crosswind could move your shot over a foot depending on the angle, not to mention the hillside factor. Interesting puzzle, huh? 400 and short change for me, with ideal conditions, or I will CONTINUE to pass on the shot. Drummer

[courtgreene]

I have no range finder but I can be pretty sure what two hundred yards looks like and that's my comfortable range, so i won't shoot at anything that i don't think is within 150. that way when something bigger than i think it is stands at 175, but it looks like a smaller deer at 150, i am still well within my comfort zone. besides, NC doesn't exactly hold endless prairies. you shoot what's between you and the brush line or you and the next hill. for those of you that live in open spaces, I would love for you to invite me to hunt with you and watch you make your three mile shots. no opportunities for that here.

[natman]

Whitetail specifically? I've only ever shot those in trees...

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/nat_mann/deeraloneintree.jpg

[skiking]

For me, my only long shot was without a rangefinder. I figured he was about 300 yards, he was lookin at me, so I put the crosshairs on his nose and pulled the trigger. Bullet hit about 5" below that just off dead center of the neck, grazing his throat, an artery and destroying a vertebrae. This gave me a lot of room for error for range estimation, if he was closer I would have hit higher, further away I would have sent it into the boiler room.

[H&Hhunter]

So can you reliably hit a 6" steel plate off hand at 300 yards?

[skiking]

I know I can't anymore, since then my offhand abilities have gone to hell. Back, knees, and shoulders are falling apart on me. But 6 years ago I would have bet you $50 I could put 10 shots on a 6" steel at 300 yds offhand. And many people around here learned not to bet against me. It was my solution to not getting a job in high school, but still making some money.

[H&Hhunter]

Skiking,

I'll tell you what pal. I shoot with some of the worlds finest field shots and I'd go $50.00 a shot against them off hand unsupported on a 6" steel plate at 300 yards all day every day. In fact you are talking to a very accomplished field shot who fires several thousand rounds of high power center fire a year at the range and puts several hundred head of game on the ground in an average year. Quite a bit of that shooting is off hand with high power rifles

It's pretty easy to talk about doing that on the net it's another thing to do it for real. You are also talking to a guy who doesn't mince words or suffer fools lightly. You are either a liar or you just plain got lucky once but in either case you are full of it.

If you ever get those "ailments" healed up enough I will gladly put $50.00 a shot against you at 6" steel off hand at 300 yards, until then it's just a bunch of internet blow hard B.S!

PM me when your ready to put your money on the table. I'm ready any time.

[essayons21]

I'd go 600 with my 30-06 with a ranged distance, a good rest, and perfect conditions. I practice from 400-600 alot and have very precise range dope. With a good rest I can hold 3" at 600 yards.

Offhand, poor conditions, or unknown range, I'd keep it under 250yards. Longest shot I've actually taken on a whitetail is ~125 yards, theres just not that many long shots to take in my neck of the woods.

With the 30-30 I like to keep it under 150 yards.

[skiking]

Yeah, you are right. I can't prove anything, I couldn't make it to any matches the year that i "found" my offhand position. Yeah, you are the only person that has ever shot any amount to be good, I only send ~1000 center fire rifle rounds downrange each year. Are you the only person that shoots offhand? And I don't put several hundred head of game on the ground every year, I put a deer or two and maybe an elk or bear in the freezer each year. You must eat one hell of a lot of meat and you are obviously a superior shot. All hail H&Hhunter!

But for the hell of it, you should duplicate my "ailments" and see if you can again form a stable offhand position. Rotate a vertebrae, continue with PT for one year. Six months after that, dislocate both shoulders. Continue dislocating your right shoulder for the next year, get surgery. Dislocate it again 6 months later, and in the process learn how to go back to sleep after your shoulder falls out in the middle of the night. Tear your PCL, and get surgery. Then get surgery on your right shoulder again. Wait 1 year and finally after 3.5 years get your left shoulder repaired. Whip out 4 major joint surgeries in 3.5 years toss in rheumatoid arthritis, and you have a 22 year old living in the body of a 55 year old. I can't imagine that dicking up your shooting positions.

I will never shoot as well as I did in high school, I am not ashamed of that, **** happens.

[H&Hhunter]

I don't brag about stuff that I can't replicate. You never could reliably put bullets on 6" steel offhand with a high power hunting rifle at 300 yards nor can anybody else. It is a nearly impossible feat of astronomical proportions that simply can not be reliably duplicated.


We are talking beyond world class shooting here.

PS

I never said I was a superior shot. I said I'd be glad to put money against your dubious claim. I would NEVER make a claim like that and I do a bunch of shooting and hunting. Can you see the difference know between your claim and my challenge?

This dubious claim for historical fact.

But 6 years ago I would have bet you $50 I could put 10 shots on a 6" steel at 300 yds offhand. And many people around here learned not to bet against me. It was my solution to not getting a job in high school, but still making some money.

[BMF500]

I like 'em at about 30ft, directly below my tree stand.:evil:

[Ankeny]

FWIW, to put this in perspective, most of the long range tacticool steel slapping shooters that I hang with consider thumping a 2 moa target in competition under field conditions out to 600 yards or so to be a reasonable expectation. Sure they can shoot smaller groups, but there are a lot of variables in the real world that open groups and/or move them around on the target face. :)

[skiking]

Lets review the historical facts. 6 years or so ago, I neck shot a buck at 320 yds offhand, Fact there are witnesses. Fact, 6 years ago I would have bet you $50 I could put 10 shots on a 6" gong at 300 yds offhand. Fact, in high school I made a bunch of cash betting people I could hit various targets. Fact, you accused me of saying I can put 10 shots inside 6" at 300 yds offhand.

Work on your reading comprehension skills. I was more pissed because your apparent attitude towards my "ailments" as you like to call them.

I have no reason to lie, I would just be dishonest to myself.

[Mr. T]

300 yards and under for whitetail. At 300 yards, the deer would have to be standing still. If they're running I stop shooting at about 200 yards. Two years ago I shot two bucks running across a hay strip at a little over 200 yards; my twelve year old son was there to see it, which I think he'll never forget. I've never seen a kid get so excited about hunting. It was cool :)

[H&Hhunter]

H&Hhunter wrote,

So can you reliably hit a 6" steel plate off hand at 300 yards?

Skiking answered,

I know I can't anymore, since then my offhand abilities have gone to hell. Back, knees, and shoulders are falling apart on me. But 6 years ago I would have bet you $50 I could put 10 shots on a 6" steel at 300 yds offhand.

Skiking then comes back with this,

Fact, you accused me of saying I can put 10 shots inside 6" at 300 yds offhand.

I didn't accuse you of anything I quoted what you wrote.

Because you once neck shot a buck at 320 yards off hand doesn't mean that you could do it again. That is what we call lucky skilled is when you can duplicate it at will. Good luck on that.

Your ailments are of no factor your claims are impossible healthy or not.

[NCdrummer]

I sure am glad I started this thread. I thought 415 yards with perfect conditions was a pretty long shot, but now I think I need to practice more so I can keep up with some of you long range mavens. I have shot a fly at 50 yards. Can anybody top that? It was a buck, and fly season was open...

[BMF500]

I sure am glad I started this thread. I thought 415 yards with perfect conditions was a pretty long shot, but now I think I need to practice more so I can keep up with some of you long range mavens. I have shot a fly at 50 yards. Can anybody top that? It was a buck, and fly season was open...
I'm telling you 30ft is all I'm good for!

[kyle1974]

funny thread...and that's all I'm saying

[Ankeny]

I have shot a fly at 50 yards. Can anybody top that? Off hand or with a rest? I shot a prairie dog at 1047 yards with a 22-250. I think the fly at 50 would be a much easier target. But hey, the thread is about minute of dead whitetail. ;)

[Vertical453]

lol @ 10 shots on 6" steel offhand.

lololol

That's high road, dog.

[Art Eatman]

Well, lessee. For starters, I hardly ever needed to shoot a deer much beyond a couple of hundred yards. They generally were closer.

I shot one buck at 350, about halfway a snap-shot. I was in the passenger seat of our jeep and my father stopped when I saw the buck. I just sorta turned, aimed and shot. DRT.

One patient, cooperative buck shouldn't have stopped and posed. 450 yards, chest hit, DRT.

My father, in front of witnesses, called a neck shot at some 500 yards from offhand. He missed with the first shot, but that gave him the wind drift. The second shot was DRT. I've seen him call the white spot, offhand, at a good 250 yards. DRT. However, he was truly an exceptional shot.

His brother wasn't shabby, either. We were jeeping along one day when he locked the brakes, grabbed the rifle, and shot a buck at maybe 125 yards. In the neck as the buck jumped a fence. Helluva note; he was 4F in WW II on account of bad eyesight.

All that sorta gave me something to work toward. I didn't get there, but I got pretty good. During my healthy years, if I had a rest of any sort, I pretty much could figure that anything inside of five hundred yards belonged to me. I sorta got married up with that '06.

But sneaky-snaking to twenty or thirty yards is a lot more fun.

[Mp7]

.... THIS is what internet forums of any topic are great for.
As someone who in many cases ( due to european nationality )
has no verfified numbers and no personal exp. long range
i find this is the only democratic way to get to realistic averages ...

Kudos!

( i personally tend to insult bucks verbally before giving them headshots
with a Luger Artillery. So my Comfort Zone is around 9 yards.)

[Eagle103]

funny thread...and that's all I'm saying
Aint the internet wonderful. Carlos Hathcock would be right proud of some of you fellas.

[Art Eatman]

Eagle, figure this: Way, way back, my uncle did the drill-and-tap thing for a guy's Krag. Mounted a scope. Sighted it in from the benchrest on his 100-yard range; probably set it at about two inches high at 100 yards.

Guy goes deer hunting. Comes back, all irate. "You didn't sight it in right! I missed a deer at 300 yards! I held on top of his back and missed!"

Okay, off to the benchrest. Upon arrival the guy says, "Yeah, that's how far it was! 300 yards!"

You don't reckon maybe that the guy didn't shoot over? :)

I hear about these Ma Bell shots, and I quite often go to dividing.

I figure that some shooters, Hathcock would respect. Others, he's snicker right along with the rest of us. :D

[~z]

Some folks do tend to get yards and feet mixed up when telling the story it seems.
~z

[NCdrummer]

Now that's funny. I agree. Fellas, a YARD is 3 FEET! Here's my fly at 50 yards. Or what's left of him. http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa191/NCdrummer_photo/Flyat50yds.jpg This was with a .22 Anschutz.

[H&Hhunter]

DUDE!!! That is friggin hilarious.

Now stand by for best fly caliber threads!:D

[Ankeny]

I would think the best fly caliber would be a fifty of some flavor. Bigger bullet makes it easier.

[~z]

Hey me too!
115840

~z

[schlockinz]

So, was that shot to the right a.....flyer?

[kyle1974]

I rarely try to shoot any deer further than 1800 yards. Unless I'm shooting the 80 grain ballistic tips from my 243, then I might try to stretch it out to an even 2000 yards... but only if I have a good rock to rest on.

I'm sensible about things and never shoot at a deer offhand further than 900 yards. if I can't keep 38 shots inside a postage stamp, I don't try it. and at that range I"m pretty confident I can keep at least 36 out of 38 within 1"...unless it's really windy, then the groups might open up to 1.1"

[NCdrummer]

You will note, no doubt, that these flys never occupy the x-ring. Although their hairy little disease laden-bodies would blend in better on a black background, something must be in their training regimen about standing out. The "flyer" comment is funny! Splat.

[Fremmer]

You guys need to do what I do: go to a fly infested outdoor range, cover target with clear deodorant, wait for flys to converge on target, then take a shot. You'll wind up hitting one of them. See, I can shoot a fly, too! :neener:

[Art Eatman]

Looks like this thread is in need of deodorant...