Thread: Decision on an ethical shot

This wee vid by Eric Cortina demonstrates the considerations before cold bore shot. Enjoy.
https://youtu.be/6yq4u9INw94?si=cP59xv6ReuvgoDsC

Thanks @Woody that was a pretty interesting video to watch, whilst I chomped through a couple of roasted goat hocks for lunch!
Interesting for a lot of reasons:
- How far from the traditional blued walnut the American gun fraternity is
- How much MONEY some enthusiasts are prepared to spend!!!!!
- How they could all recite the list of components, that was like a competition in itself
- How near PERFECT the conditions were and yet only one shooter hit the MOA target. The others were mostly crippling kill shots but... And one clean miss, followed by a gut shot, and we have all done that at some stage. You hear a lot about fine tuning a rifle, the
load, the Nut behind the bolt, but at the end of the day, how many shooters can put that first shot where it counts? Add in field, conditions like, hunger, fatigue, adrenaline, sun, wind, rain, hail, snow, cold fingers, rock and trees. Plus a hangover and how many shooters could consistently hit the MOA kill zone. I'm not sure I could. I've never tried to hit a deer at that range and probably never will.

Last point. Interesting how most of the shots went to the left, which make me think that these fellas must be practicing at the same range as Thomas Crooks?

Yes. A five inch nominal vital area at 500yds (455metres) sounds easy but reality is different.

Nearly all 6mm of some description, and none what I’d call a hunting rifle. Fair bit of wind at times judging from bushes behind & foreground. Mostly right to left, but some the other way for some shooters. Didn’t see any one using a Kestrel or similar to help with wind call.

If my first two shots from a cold barrel are almost touching or near enough then I consider that superb for hunting accuracy.

Im really pleased these guys are doing this. Its something, probably many of us have known for some time. Also why I tend to be "jaded" in my support for LR Hunting. They were all top of the line rigs in better than hunting conditions. I like this approach more than the constant killshot one.

Originally Posted by SmokeyJason

If my first two shots from a cold barrel are almost touching or near enough then I consider that superb for hunting accuracy.

It's not about how well your rifle groups, it's about your ability to place your
first shot precisly in field conditions at 500yards.

Jezz would put @Dundee with stirling up against them any day.

The young lad in the video pulled off a great shot. Personally, I stick to 200 metres and that's when everything is right. I know my limits.

How many are confident they could make that hit first round?

Front shoulder of a red deer is more like 2-2.5 MOA target, that I could do, 1 MOA well I wouldn’t bet a hundy on it.

100% with my hunting rifle ? Not I.
Perhaps at 300 though.

yes if that is how they do with what are obviously target rifles and not hunting rigs - then how are they going to go with hunting rifles - okay some were dead deer shots and wind likely played a part = a lot shooting out to left - but gut shots and misses - the young fella was great - thanks Woody

It's an interesting one, most rifles that one would be confident in at range are not close in or easily carried firearms - generally longer barrel with a heavy profile (even if carbon wrapped or fluted to heck). Stocks are rigid, and generally heavy profiled and set up for prone use with a bipod and internally stiffened with a chassis or pillar and rail setup. Scopes are usually high mag and heavy as well. Even if the caliber isn't huge the rifles aren't close-in bush guns that's for sure. The rifles I've used in this class are all heavy and bulky, and that is where they get the repeatability - enough mass to dampen down your movements and twitches...

Most rifles carried in NZ are compromises for this sort of use, lightened and trimmed which affects ballistics and makes them more difficult to shoot repeatably every time. Also you need to be in suitable terrain, most places are limited for this.

I was looking forward to Eric having a crack.