What is your maximum distance for medium/large game?

[md7]

I find this topic interesting.

Seems that maximum distance a person is willing or able to take on game varies considerably based on cartridge, game, geography, and of course…. the bullet’s effectiveness on game at a given distance.

For myself, I’m after whitetail. The lay of the land varies from wooded to rolling hills and usually surrounded on the edges by woods. 300 is about as far as the terrain will permit a shot, and in nearly 30 years I’ve only had rare occasions to shoot beyond 200 yards.

I shoot a 270 Win and 308 win. For me, I’d rather keep shots at 300 and in. Both cartridges are capable beyond that and I may consider 400 yards under ideal circumstances. (If I had the opportunity)

But I’m no long range shooter, so that’s my personal limit.

What’s yours? Curious to listen to y’all’s experience and limits.

 

[9x56MS]

As you said depends on cartridge and sight system. Open sights under 200. Same with 35 rem. Scoped rifles under 300 I am shooting. But to be honest I am a still hunter so most of my shots are <50 yards. My longest shot has been 162 yards. I don’t hunt fields or power lines. Actually I did kill one buck in a field but I was just crossing it to get to another wood lot and jumped him up at 20 yards.

 

[Robert]

For me, nothing outside of 400y.

 

[JmacD]

The area I hunt, I could(I don’t) shoot a mile if I wanted…. My furthest shot was 460some yards, with a 270win… most are 100ish… 250 not uncommon. I’m still not comfortable enough with LR ability to be positive of a clean kill, so I’ll let it walk rather than risk a bad shot. Old school ethics with modern equipment ya know…

 

[jmorris]

Depends what it is I guess. If I saw a field full of pigs 1000 yards away and all I had was my belt fed 308, I’d start sending them…

 

[Chief TC]

I find this topic interesting.

Seems that maximum distance a person is willing or able to take on game varies considerably based on cartridge, game, geography, and of course…. the bullet’s effectiveness on game at a given distance.

For myself, I’m after whitetail. The lay of the land varies from wooded to rolling hills and usually surrounded on the edges by woods. 300 is about as far as the terrain will permit a shot, and in nearly 30 years I’ve only had rare occasions to shoot beyond 200 yards.

I shoot a 270 Win and 308 win. For me, I’d rather keep shots at 300 and in. Both cartridges are capable beyond that and I may consider 400 yards under ideal circumstances. (If I had the opportunity)

But I’m no long range shooter, so that’s my personal limit.

What’s yours? Curious to listen to y’all’s experience and limits.

I pretty much think exactly like you. I am accurate for a kill shot out to 400 but energy is really getting really low by that distance.

 

[md7]

The area I hunt, I could(I don’t) shoot a mile if I wanted…. My furthest shot was 460some yards, with a 270win… most are 100ish… 250 not uncommon. I’m still not comfortable enough with LR ability to be positive of a clean kill, so I’ll let it walk rather than risk a bad shot. Old school ethics with modern equipment ya know…

Yep. I want one shot, and a clean kill.

Like you, I won’t shoot if I’m not certain of my ability to do it. No sense wounding game, if it’s an iffy shot.

 

[Gun-Reck]

Still hunting is point-n-shoot out to about 250 yds.

After that, it depends on the conditions and my ability to judge the distance.

Probably 400 yards though, which is a 'light under the cross-hair' hold.

 

[md7]

Depends what it is I guess. If I saw a field full of pigs 1000 yards away and all I had was my belt fed 308, I’d start sending them

Yep. Send em. Boars are destructive beasts.

 

[mongoslow]

my rifles, my area, 250 max

 

[Chuck R.]

There's a lot that goes into this.. so the answer isn't simple.

For me it comes down to equipment, conditions and rest/position.

I have several rifles/calibers capable of 700+ yards. Have accurate ammo/weapon data.
My backyard range goes out to 760yds, I have swingers at various distances.
I practice frequently from field positions; standing, kneeling, prone unsupported, supported, tripod sitting, kneeling etc. Prior to hunting season I set up a hunting "coarse of fire" with multiple targets so we can practice. I have a pretty good idea of how well I can hit by position/rest.
I've also got an "I love me" wall with medals and plaques from placing in rifle matches.

I don't like shooting at live game past 500yds. I will IF I have to; the conditions are perfect, and I have a very stable rest I can/will stretch it. Further than that and the animal gets a vote (movement etc.) and there's just too many things that can go wrong. ToF, plus reaction times start to add up, it's easy to miss wind calls etc.

Off my back deck I have a swinger at 547yds, when the wind is goofy I step out back and take a few shots. I miss that plate or marginally hit it, frequently enough to establish that as a pretty good limit.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I hunt the woods. So not far for deer. Hunting wood chucks i have taken them out to 100 yards roughly.

 

[drobs]

Under 200yds is what I see around here in SW Missouri for Deer and Hog Hunting in Florida.

 

[md7]

There's a lot that goes into this.. so the answer isn't simple.

For me it comes down to equipment, conditions and rest/position.

I have several rifles/calibers capable of 700+ yards. Have accurate ammo/weapon data.
May backyard range goes out to 760yds, I have swingers at various distances.
I practice frequently from field positions; standing, kneeling, prone unsupported, supported, tripod sitting, kneeling etc. Prior to hunting season I set up a hunting "coarse of fire" with multiple targets so we can practice. I have a pretty good idea of how well I can hit by position/rest.
I've also got an "I love me" wall with medals and plaques from placing in rifle matches.

I don't like shooting at live game past 500yds. I will IF I have to; the conditions are perfect, and I have a very stable rest I can/will stretch it. Further than that and the animal gets a vote (movement etc.) and there's just too many things that can go wrong. ToF, plus reaction times start to add up, it's easy to miss wind calls etc.

Off my back deck I have a swinger at 547yds, when the wind is goofy I step out back and take a few shots. I miss that plate or marginally hit it, frequently enough to establish that as a pretty good limit.

Man, ain’t that the truth! There is a lot that goes into it.

Your knowledge and experience at distances exposes my lack of it and the very reason I would limit myself to 400. (Assuming I even had a place that offered a shot that far)

Still… very interesting to read of folks like yourself and others, and how they determine max distance.

Also… the “I love me wall” bit was hilarious

 

[Gun-Reck]

I practice frequently from field positions; standing, kneeling, prone unsupported, supported, tripod sitting, kneeling etc.

Was sitting/sling an exclusion or oversight?

I use it most at ranges past 100, and out to iffy, as it is quick to snap into, solid, and keeps my head above the grass.

 

[Chuck R.]

Was sitting/sling an exclusion or oversight?

I use it most at ranges past 100, and out to iffy, as it is quick to snap into, solid, and keeps my head above the grass.

Yes and no, I can count on one hand the times I've actually slung up hunting and that's skipping a few fingers.

I have quick adjust slings on my rifles, it's just a question of how much time.. I'm either straight off-hand or IF I do have time to sit, I'm off a backpack. Simple motion to slip off a shoulder and use as a rest. I've gone to a Mystery Ranch Pop-up 38 and the adjustable handle makes a neat rest, so I strap a small bag with git-light fill to it.

IF I'm already in overwatch, I'm using a tripod; either clamped in, or shooting with a bag on the head.

 

[Gun-Reck]

Yes and no, I can count on one hand the times I've actually slung up hunting and that's skipping a few fingers.

I have quick adjust slings on my rifles, it's just a question of how much time.. I'm either straight off-hand or IF I do have time to sit, I'm off a backpack. Simple motion to slip off a shoulder and use as a rest. I've gone to a Mystery Ranch Pop-up 38 and the adjustable handle makes a neat rest, so I strap a small bag with git-light fill to it.

IF I'm already in overwatch, I'm using a tripod; either clamped in, or shooting with a bag on the head.

All my rifles have web slings, and are left set for a hasty sitting position.

So sitting is quick and solid for the ranges used.

Prone ranges will generally offer time the sling-up and adjust.

 

[mcb]

Spent years hunting deer in a slug only state and my maximum was about 70 yards, a bit less when I was using a 410 slug gun. Now that I am hunting in a rifle friendly state and given the rifles I am using I would limit myself to 200-250 yards with most of my rifles and a few with open sights I would not go much past 100 yards. That said in the couple dozen deer I have killed with slugs, rifles and archery equipment I think there has only been a few taken at ~100 yards, most much closer. The property/terrain I have hunted most of my life gives very few long shots.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I just don’t find myself hunting in areas where anything over 200 would even be possible.

 

[.38 Special]

I believe a personal limit should be set through realistic practice. Decide on a circle the diameter of your animal's vitals. For most things, that will be six to eight inches. So every time you go out for practice, take the first shot out of the rifle at that circle - and take it from a position you are likely to use in the field. If that's a benchrest, fine, but if you are more likely to take a hunting shot from seated, offhand, whatever, then do that in practice as well. The distance at which you can hit your target every time should be your personal limit - and in my experience, that limit (for most folks) is a lot closer to 200 yards than 400 and beyond. Of course, for those folks with the skill and equipment to "pass the test" at longer ranges, then more power to them.

With a typical big game rifle - and when I am in practice - 300 is my outer limit and I much prefer 200 or less.

 

[.38 Special]

Seems that maximum distance a person is willing or able to take on game varies considerably based on cartridge, game, geography, and of course…. the bullet’s effectiveness on game at a given distance.

And because I'm feeling especially cynical this morning, I'll note that my experience at SoCal rifle ranges indicates that there is a significant number of people for whom "maximum distance" is decided upon primarily by magazine articles and internet bullsh**. If I had a nickel for every time I've heard "This baby is good out to 800 yards" from the mouth of someone who is shooting 5 MOA from a benchrest, well, I'd have a buck or two anyway.

 

[Gerd33]

My maximum distance is determined by terrain.
This is one of the spots I sit at most often and the longest possible shot is about 75yrds to the base of the hill on the rt hand side.
Of the 3 deer I got from that location last year the longest shot I took was about 60yrds with the BP inline on a deer that was just across that small ditch on the right hand side. The other two were between 20-30yrds (one x-bow, the other a 444 Marlin) as they came out from the left. I think the longest shot I've managed to be in position to take was just a bit over 100yrds.

 

[jmr40]

This baby is good out to 800 yards" from the mouth of someone who is shooting 5 MOA from a benchrest, well, I'd have a buck or two anyway.

There is a big difference in what a rifle/load is capable of and what a shooter is capable of. That realization is why I no longer own a magnum rifle. A lot of those cartridges are capable. And even though I feel I'm a better than average shot my personal limit doesn't require a magnum cartridge.

I've shot at paper as far as 600 yards. Not a lot mind you, and I have been pleasantly surprised at how well I've done. But I don't have enough trigger time at that range to have the confidence to try a shot at a big game animal anywhere near that range.

I do however feel pretty good at 300. With most cartridges the drop at 300 yards isn't hard to compensate for and it takes a pretty stiff wind to make a significant difference. Beyond 300 yards precise ranging and wind calculations are important. On a dead calm day with a range finder and a solid rest I MIGHT try a shot farther than 300, but not much. At the same time, I recognize others have the skills and equipment to do it. I don't judge. Good for them.

 

[md7]

I've shot at paper as far as 600 yards. Not a lot mind you, and I have been pleasantly surprised at how well I've done. But I don't have enough trigger time at that range to have the confidence to try a shot at a big game animal anywhere near that range.

I do however feel pretty good at 300. With most cartridges the drop at 300 yards isn't hard to compensate for and it takes a pretty stiff wind to make a significant difference. Beyond 300 yards precise ranging and wind calculations are important. On a dead calm day with a range finder and a solid rest I MIGHT try a shot farther than 300, but not much. At the same time, I recognize others have the skills and equipment to do it. I don't judge. Good for them.

Agree with this logic. Like you, I’m fine with 300, but it’d have to be ideal circumstances for me to go to 400 yards.

For those that can go further, that’s great.

 

[LoonWulf]

Far as i feel like walking to pick it up....400 or so has been my limit so far.
Course if i don't have time/opportunity to set up and shoot, or the conditions to do so.....how far im WILLING to walk dosent mater.