Thread: Whats the longest shot youll confidently take at an animal

Just wondering whats it is. For me its 200-250m if the terrain allows i will always get closer.

ive happily taken a few dozen animals out to 550, missed my first longer shot at 650. took rifle home, checked on paper and 1ft out. may of been a scope bump or somthing. dunno.

If I can get properly set up for the shot and the animal "presents" satisfactorily, I will pull the trigger on something at 400 yds and be at least 90% confidenf of a fatal shot. Quite recently I got the opportunity at a Sika stag at 405 yds. I had a great set up buf waited some time to get the side profile I wanted. Was about to give up as I thought the stag wouldn't turn but he suddenly did and I got just enough time to get the shot away. Rifles I would attempt similar shots with are my 30.06, 270W, 300 Win Mag, 300 Blaser Magnum. Wouldn't try it though with my 375 H&H or 375 Ruger although they could sling bullets that far.

About 300m for me. Otherwise I try and get closer. I know my 308 can kill much further out, but I don't trust my own ability to make a vital hit too much further.

Originally Posted by Allizdog

About 300m for me. Otherwise I try and get closer. I know my 308 can kill much further out, but I don't trust my own ability to make a vital hit too much further.

This is me ^. Know it can be done further out, but I'm not sufficiently confident or invested in it - shooting at something is very different to shooting something. Part of the challenge is getting a bit close enough to know it's humane. I don't find shooting something from half a kilometre away all that sporting (no offence to those that have that honed skill!), and there would be sleepless nights following knowing I'd wounded an animal that I couldn't retrieve.

For me more than half of it is just being out in the green stuff. I saw a what I think was a Rifleman the other day in the Tararuas while stopping for a feed. Saw a deer trot off later while tangled in some supplejack, but still tell people about seeing the Rifleman first.

Full credit to the long rangers, but that's not what I'm out there for. Each to their own.

Happily shoot targets out to 700m and expect to get on target quickly.
Limit myself to 350-400m on game, even then only if I can't get closer. I feel like there are too many external variables compounding past these distances and I'm not experienced enough to observe and correct for them in novel situations.
I have to walk over and get it anyway, may as well make the shot easier too.

with the .270 its 300-350 absolute maximum on deer...wallabies have no range limit,either they die or are missed.

I used to consider 300 too far to shoot for my first decade of hunting, but these days with a good ballistic app and rangefinder, dial scope, loads of practice and a 6.5 147g bullet travelling at 3180 I shoot between 600y and 800y confidently. Unless the wind is up then I won’t even consider a shot passed 300. In the last few years I taken about 15 deer at those ranges, I had one shot hit too far back on one animal in the chest/gut and had to do a follow up shot which dropped it. But it comes down to practice and good gear for me.

Try keep inside 300 if terrain allows, only once taken a shot at 360 on a red which was successful/sacked it.

Shot a few deer around the 300-400yds.Furtherest shot was a fallow buck at 437yds.Witnessed by 2 hunters from chch,buck dropped on the spot.If the shot was on at 500yds id have no problem taking it on a big animal.Roos give you good practice at distance.

Easier to learn to get closer than to shoot at extended ranges, kudos to those who can but I find 350 is a heck of a long way away . . . For some reason 280 ish is quite doable from field positions for me

my 350odd metre headshot

https://www.facebook.com/lars.kramer...55628231490941

On Vermin no limit as shot placement is not as important, before anyone as a cry about that comment, hit a Magpie anywhere with 180 grain bullet death is quick.

My main concern with long range shots is having time to back up the first shot.

250 is a long way for me. Don't think I've ever shot one passed 300. Definitely not since I've had a rangefinder.
I sight in for 200 and it's always a relief when someone else is using my gear and a 300 yard shot works.

I like to stay under 250 mtr,
however I have taken a few goats out at 450 mtr and would be OK taking deer size game out to 500 mtr if conditions and rest are good with my 243. (fast twist High BC bullets)
However my 358 win I would not shoot out past 300 mtrs and have only shot game as far as 250 mtr.
I mostly shoot north island farm land, bush, bush margins around tops, river flats and farms hence I don't have the need to take long shots as normally I can close the gap.
Z