Hunting-Shooting Over Open Sights

[AKGuy]

Just for the sake of "conversation," what are the maximum distances/yardages at which you (presuming "you" are a "good shot"--I'm sure that you get what I mean without having to write a six-paragraph qualifying description) would be comfortable taking a shot at game with any/each of the following over open sights or using a non-magnifying holosight type device targeting the following game animals:


A=41 mag Revolver 5 inch barrel 180-200gr JSP or JHP bullets
B=44 mag Revolver same barrel/bullets
C=308 Rifle 180-200gr bullets (Nosler Partition or Barnes TripleX)
D=7mm Rem Mag Rifle 180gr bullets (same bullet types as preceding)
E=358 Winchester Rifle 200-225gr bullets (ditto the last two)
F=338 Winchester Mag Rifle 200-240gr bullets (ditto)


1=Average Size Sitka Deer
2=Average Size White-Tail Deer In The Midwest
3=Brown Bear 7 to 8 foot sq size
4=Black Bear 5-7 foot sq size
5=Wolf
6=Coyote
7=Alaskan Mountain Goat
8=Alaskan Dahl Sheep


This isn't an invitation to editorialize/lecture question, and none of it suggests that a particular tool would be best/worst for each type of game...it's just a discussion/conversation "piece." So, with that in mind, "if" you had the opportunity--however (un)likely for each animal--what's the maximum distance in yards at which you could/would personally take a shot in good conscience...?

And for simplicity's sake, assume open ground between you and the game, optimal lighting, and no wind.

 

[jmr40]

With a handgun 50 yards is my max and 35 is even better. Don't see that as a problem since it is farther than I am comfortable shooting a bow.

With a rifle, in good light and a good rest I feel I could make hits on most big game at 200 yards. A scope helps more for shooting in low light or for ranges over 200 yards.

 

[AKGuy]

...oops ...I forgot to stipulate broadside animal presentation...

 

[AKGuy]

41 and 44 mag handguns--both the same values--1: 25; 2: 35; 3and4: 25 5-8: 35


308--1: 35; 2-4: 50; 5: 75; 6: 50; 7: 75; 8: 60


7mmRemMag and 358W--Both the same values--1: 45; 2and3: 60; 4: 50; 5: 75; 6: 50; 7and8: 65


338WinMag--1and2: 70; 3and4: 60; 5: 75; 6: 50; 7and8: 75.

 

[Art Eatman]

I take a somewhat different approach: My basic limit with rifle or pistol is that distance at which with field positions I can reliably hit the end of a beer can.

A decent rest with a scoped rifle, that's a good ways out. With irons on my Redhawk, probably no more than around 50 yards or so.

And, it varies with the mood, the Zen thing.

 

[Harve Curry]

" I can reliably hit the end of a beer can."

My Marine friend says beer is a group tightner

With a rifle my iron sight limit on big game seems to be about 200 yards. Otherwise the front bead covers to much and I can't see a smaller bead.
With a revolver 100 yards on coyotes but I'll shoot at them as far as I can see.

 

[achildofthesky]

+1 on what Art said.

I too like end of a beer/soda can accuracy standard. The bigger target/longer range thing applies somewhat but at 100yards most irons eat up too much real estate on the target. if I am lucky enough to hunt something that is presenting THAT big of a target at 100 yards it would likely be on the hunt of a lifetime and I just as likely would have some sort of scope to help my older eyes and chances of success. Can I hit something big? Prolly no problem. Can i hit it adequately well to drop it quickly? I defer to the beer can accuracy test with considerations to rifle/pistol rest, wind, sighting conditions etc...

Clear as mud, eh?

Be safe
Patty

 

[AKGuy]

Wow... You folks are pretty hardcore so far!

At first I thought it would be interesting just to see what people thought/said, but once I filled out my own "quiz" I began to see that pretty much it was 30-40 yards for revolver shots and around 75ish for rifle shots, period. Dangerous game inspired more caution on my part even with heavier hitting calibers. Not so dangerous game got more distance if the caliber seemed likely to lay on some serious hurt even if not strictly centered in a deadcert kill zone, trying to balance ethics with odds and skill.

My problem would be the sense that I'm shooting at the whole animal versus a specific target zone on that animal. And once I get much past 35-40 yards it seems more like shooting "at" the whole animal because of the size of the target-and-site picture. You folks able to take longer shots with open sights must be some serious marksmen.

The "end of a pop can" notion is an interesting. I've always gone on the notion of being able to get 4 out of 4 rounds in a pie tin at whatever range, so I can see where being able to whack the end of a pop can represents an even higher level of skill but also seems to have the potential for making a person feel bad or inadequate compared to what's really "good enough."

Any other takers?

 

[mavracer]

40-50 yards for most handguns.My redhawk has a the bead/shallow V sights with a rest I'd streach it to any thing under 100.and I'm not hunting big bears with a handgun.
Rifles off-hand out to 100 depending on ho steady of rest I have I'd probably go out to 300.but all my rifles that fit your parameters wear good milatary peeps or vernier tang sights and are easily regulated for a proper sight picture at that range.
My BG rifles include Marlin 1895CB and Sharps both in 45/70 and a M1 garand 30/06 or M1A any of which I would use for the game discribed (properly loaded of course)

 

[MDMadrid]

" I can reliably hit the end of a beer can."

My Marine friend says beer is a group tightner

Beer makes every thing better!!

I hunt with iron sights...50-75 yards is my range. (my eyes are not what they use to be...I may go to a scope soon)

 

[Shawnee]

Talking about complete confidence...

With a "regular" handgun (as opposed to my G2 Contender) -

For deer, goats and sheep - 100yds
Wolf/Coyote - 50-60yds.
Black Bear - 40yds.
Brown Bear - not in your wildest dreams.

With the rifles -

For deer/wolf/coyote - 200yds
for the bears - 75yds.

Precise shot placement is even more critical on the bears than on the other game listed for a couple reasons, and due to their physical characteristics (longer hair, looser skin, more fat etc.) picking precisely the right spot is trickier too. Thus my conservatism with the distances for them.

 

[Art Eatman]

AKGuy, the majority of my pistol shooting has been a bunch of plinking (.22 through .44 Mag) and IPSC. I've not hunted with a pistol.

But I've got a bunch of years with rifles. Beaucoup. And I've been at the hunting game long enough that I got over the "aiming at the brown". I don't just aim for the neck on Bambi; I try for that specific aiming point where the bullet hits the spine.

Same for the heart/lung shot. I try for those few inches above the belly line, and almost touching the foreleg (assuming the 90-degree cross-body shot). It's like there's a two- or three-inch circle there that I'd like to center-punch.

Naw, I don't try for any one particular hair, Shawnee.

I dunno. I guess it's just practicing one's shooting and doing enough "autopsying" on deer to know how Bambi's all put together. Trying to insure that confidence that in and of itself aids in making a proper hit.

 

[caribou]

"C", "1-8"
Open sights.

Range from 50 feet to 250 yards, because on open Tundra, sometimes thats as close as you can get to a Wolf or Caribou. Especially in winter.

Mostly, its 50 to 100 yards.

I too, have shot very few animals with a pistol, though I did get a 5 foot Black Bear with my PR-9 and two shots.....and a .22LR on fur, isnt at all uncommon.....LOL!

 

[AKGuy]

Art....what you've added to the thread pretty much reflects my thoughts on the how/why of where I'd put the various line-limits. I don't feel like I'm aiming at a specific aim point on the various animals once the distances get to where the bead/post are pretty much 'covering' the game...well, except for high powered shots on coyotes/wolves/deer (eg 338 win mag) where I figure that the energy deposited on/in the animal is going to wipe it out so long as the hit is close enough to the vital zone that shock alone will put the animal down. So it sounds like our thinking is similar--not just aim at the whole animal but a specific part of it...