Whitetail hunting 450 yards

[BGD]

I have a field that I can see across a hollow from my deck that is 450 yards away. I am thinking about setting a corn feeder up next year and hunting from my deck. I have a rock river 308 and a browning A bolt 270 WSM. I am trying to decide on which rifle to use and what optics to buy. I think I may need something with high magnification a 6 X 20. I will set some targets over there do lots of practicing. I have a telescope I can use for seeing where I am hitting during target practice. It should be lots of fun. Whatever optics I purchase I will be stuck with for a while so I want it to be what I need. I think I will be able to spend approx. 1000.00 on the scope. Does anyone have any experience with hunting from this range?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[jmr40]

I don't normally shoot at that range, but either gun is capable if you are. The 270 WSM will shoot a lot flatter if it is accurate enough.

Are you referring to a 6-20X scope, as in 6 power to 20 power? Normally a 6X20 refers to a fixed 6 power scope with a 20mm front objective. At any rate that is way more power than you need. You could make that shot with a fixed 4X scope. Any quality 3-9X40 scope would be plenty, and cost much less for a scope of equal quality.

The real key is, can you make that shot? The equipment will do it.

 

[BGD]

I have a 2.5 - 10 X 50 on my 270 WSM I will play with that and see if I need a higher power to see the target well enough.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[proven]

i have to be honest with you, that sounds like being lazy....not hunting. to each his own i suppose.

 

[trex1310]

Sounds like a very bad idea all around. IMHO.

 

[crazysccrmd]

I think that's a pretty awesome idea. It certainly isn't anymore lazy then a guy sitting up in a tree stand above a feeder waiting for a deer to approach for a 50yd shot. You should be able to set up a really nice shooting platform for yourself where you have room to lay prone and take full advantage of the range (unsuspecting deer) and wait for the best shot. Also plenty of off season time to become proficient with making that long shot or set reference points in the clearing to help with ranging.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I'd probably use the 270 WSM with a high BC 140 or 150 grain bullet...you don't really need a scope that powerful, a 4-12x variable will do fine (use your telescope if you need more to check for antlers)

Either gun will "go the distance", but the 270 will be less affected by wind, bullet drop is easy (constant), but wind is what will kick your butt.

You can get a very good 4-12x scope for around $350, my son just bought a Nikon Buckmasters 4-12x40mmSF with a Mil-Dot reticle for $300 (on sale), we looked at the Monarch 4-16x42mmSF ($449)...but we both agreed that the Buckmasters version seemed to be the better optic.

 

[788Ham]

"IF" you hit a deer at that range, how long is it going to take you to get over there and check on your animal? My point, if its a wounded animal and runs off, how soon will you be able to find it? A wounded animal that runs off and dies a slow agonizing death, that ain't pretty, not ethical either! My opinions. Possibly you should shoot at a closer range until you can hit consistently, then move your target out. Gambling on hitting an animal that far away, not for me! YMMV

 

[Dmitri Popov]

"IF" you hit a deer at that range, how long is it going to take you to get over there and check on your animal? My point, if its a wounded animal and runs off, how soon will you be able to find it? A wounded animal that runs off and dies a slow agonizing death, that ain't pretty, not ethical either! My opinions. Possibly you should shoot at a closer range until you can hit consistently, then move your target out. Gambling on hitting an animal that far away, not for me! YMMV

With all due respect I know people who can't make a 50yd shot yet alone a 450yd shot.
If this guy is confident in his ability, more power to him.

That being said, I think the real problem, as others have said, will not be with the equipment, but with the shooter. Practice, lots, before deer season comes in.

 

[Savage99]

To BGD,

If you must do it I suppose its legal however I would not tell anyone what I did.

Buy some meat in the store and hunt deer but not like that.

 

[mshootnit]

If you have the chance to set up and pre sight your rifle in at that distance, all you need is around 8 power for a deer at that range. As far as which gun it doesn't matter because both retain more than enough energy at that range and you could sight either to be dead on at that distance. Wind will be a factor up to about 14 inches at that range if there's a stiff side wind. I would pick the rifle that shoots the smallest group and that you are most comfortable with. In my part of the country deer are shot at this range occasionally though I believe my farthest shot to be about 350 yards.

I used to practice on a piece of 10" I beam at 400 yds and got quite comfortable hitting at that range. 450 can be done, just sight in and practice.

 

[Dmitri Popov]

To BGD,

If you must do it I suppose its legal however I would not tell anyone what I did.

Buy some meat in the store and hunt deer but not like that.

I'm truthfully not seeing an ethical question here.
The general rule for an ethical shot is one that you can get a clean kill, with one shot, from a distance that is within your ability. If he is capable of accurately making a clean shot at 450yds, then I see no reason why he shouldn't. If all you ever do is take the super easy, close range, completely un-challenging shots, how is that testing your abilities as a marksmen, or a hunter?

 

[snakeman]

If I can take a antelope cleanly at 516 yards in a 40 mph crosswind with a 257 weatherby, you can get a deer from 450 with your wsm with practice

 

[T Bran]

Run the feeder year round so they get used to the gunfire that way it you miss they wont even run off.
Now to be serious reading wind is the trickey part as it may not be the same over there as it is over here or could gust any place in between. At the very least put up some wind flags at the feeder and someplace in the middle to help estimate it. Practice a lot when you can hit clay pidgeons every time you are all set.
LUCK
T

 

[BGD]

It is about 15 minutes away on a 4 wheeler. In my experience going after a wounded animal Just makes them run that much farther into the woods. Most of the hunters I know will sometimes wait 15 minutes before getting out of their stand to give the animal time to die and avoid having it run farther into the woods.

Living on a farm has many advantages if you like venison. I have shot more deer walking through my yard than in the woods. One time my baby son was sleeping on my bed and I whispered to my wife to pick him up and move him because I didn't want to scare him while I killed a deer from my bedroom door. We still laugh about that.

I would never take a shot that I thought was a gamble. I don't like dressing gut shot deer and I haven't had to yet. I have watched and laughed at my brother as he gagged while he field dressed a deer that ruptured its guts. Hunting from 450 yards sounded like it could be fun. I would never risk wasting venison it is just to good to eat.

I will set some targets up and see how it goes. If I find I cant hit at that range I wont hunt from there. It will be fun finding out. I was just curious if anyone though I need more magnification that my 3.5-10x power scope on the 270. I have not purchased a scope for the 308 yet and am willing to buy a scope with higher magnification.

 

[snakeman]

I practiced and practiced and practiced and more practice! It cost me quite a bit of money but my antelope didn't go anywhere.

 

[BGD]

Snakeman- what kind of optics do you have on that 257 weatherby?

 

[mshootnit]

As far as magnification goes I don't think you need real high power for a deer at that range, now maybe for a prairie dog or coyote maybe. And not for crosshair placement but just for seeing what you are aiming at better. Heck a good marksman with a good rifle could make that shot with NO scope at all on a deer. I think its just what you like. I know that 14 power would be plenty. And I have a good feeling that 10 power would be good enough.

 

[Eb1]

Set markers also at 400/350/300/250/200/150/100 yards. Run the feeder year round.
If a boiler room shot is made @ 450 and the deer runs off. It will be dead by the time you get there . Most likely it will be a bang flop on a deer that is totally unaware.

I'd use the .270 WSM if it is accurate enough, and at least a 14x power by 50mm scope, and lay prone on a good mat, and use a good leather sling, and use it correctly with a shooters glove.

 

[BGD]

The way the land lays I will not be able to set markers. There is a deep wooded hollow between my house and the field. the ground drops about 200 feet before rising 150. I have my rifle zeroed at 200 yards. It would be handy to have a scope that can easily turn the elevation up or down. I will probably just practice with a hold over at first and see how that goes. I have some large pieces of cardboard that I can fasten to a t-post to shoot at.

 

[snakeman]

It wears a nikon buckmasters mildot 6-14x40 sf. Sighted for 300 my holdover was thirty inches and drift was somewhere around two feet. 100 grain s.p. factory load.

 

[sixgunner455]

I don't see what the big deal is about the 450 yard shot. Dope out your trajectory, practice, and practice, and practice. That kind of range isn't uncommon where I live (high mountain desert). People hunt with spotting scopes and big binoculars and have bipods on their rifles.

Personally, I'm not confident past 400 yards yet. More practice is in order for me.

I prefer to shoot them closer, but it's not always possible.

OP, you don't need huge magnification, you need quality. A clean, clear 2.5-10x or 3-9x will do.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

450 yards is easy with a decent optic, an accurate rifle that has the power to do the job, the right bullet (150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip), and a working knowledge of how your rifle shoots at the given distance (practice, not a ballistics program).

Heck, things don't get really complicated until you get past 600 yards...you don't need a heavy barreled 30-378 Weatherby to cleanly kill a deer at 600 yards. Even the 308 has PLENTY of power to do the job, I've taken deer at 800 yards with a 308...1 shot kills, dead within 50 yards.

I killed a coyote last week at 375 yards with a brand new 30-06 that I had only spent one day at the range with, with factory ammo...I spent 40 rounds firing at 300 yards, getting familiar with the trajectory and wind doping.

I put that bullet EXACTLY where I wanted it...right through the shoulder, just like I would have a deer.

EDIT TO ADD: The scope on this rifle is a Nikon ProStaff 3-9x40mm, its just a scope I had laying around...I'm gonna put a 4-12x on this rifle soon (not sure which flavor just yet)



I'm no professional shooter of any kind, I've never competed (except in "loser buys the beer" competitions) and I have no desire to...I'm just a guy that has enjoyed shooting at long range since he was a kid. I started out busting groundhogs with a 25-06 when I was about 13 and I will never forget the sense of accomplishment I felt when I finally connected with one at 500 yards...it took a lot of trial and error for me to figure it out back then. I didn't have the internet to tell me it couldn't be done...instead all I had was Jim Carmichael's "Book of the Rifle" which explained ballistics in a way that a simple minded country boy like me could understand.

With that book....and a lot of rounds fired...I figured it out (reading wind, understanding bullet flight, ballistic coefficients, etc.)

What I'm trying to say to the OP is this...Hitting a 6 inch target at 450 yards (or even 600) is fairly easy with LOTS of practice, an accurate rifle (does NOT have to be a heavy barrel), and enough common sense to know when to shoot and when not to...

If you're not positive that you can make the hit (due to wind, etc.)...don't pull the trigger!

 

[DRYHUMOR]

I would opt for something with a higher magnification, something that will magnify and help define details. I have a 8.5-25x50 and it seems to stay on 25X all the time.

As to practicing. Get a full size paper archery target of a deer, cut the deer out of the background and make cardboard cutouts you can shoot at. You can stake them broadside and right/left quartering. Consistent hits in the vital zone, at that range, should dictate if you are willing to take the shot when the time comes.

Berger VLD Hunting bullets may be worth trying if you reload. I've been using them in 257 Roberts and 260 Remington, and am pleased with the accuracy. You may find, that when they are loaded/seated for the best accuracy, you may be at the point of single loading due to the bullet length.

An honest evaluation of your rifle's accuracy (or lack of ) is a must.

 

[CollinLeon]

Where you located at to have those long shots available to you?

Around here, I'm lucky to be in an area where it can even see 50 yards... The underbrush is just a bit thick where I've been hunting lately... Plenty of tracks, but haven't stumbled over anything yet this year... Or maybe I should say *last* year...