Thread: The dinner plate challenge

I’ve been thinking, there are questions about how far is it ethical to shoot at animals, what caliber should I use for…@gimp set up a shooting challenge that proves your rifle, this it a hunting challenge.
Most animals require one shot with a cold barrel and have about a 6” kill zone. So here it is, “the dinner plate challenge”.
Before shoot you, can hit a dinner plate at your given range limit with one shot. You can choose your limit and post your plate. Mine is at 200m (last shot was over a year ago and was a kill on a deer) because that has been my range limit. I then fired a group at a target and found my point of aim needed moving left a little.
Some rifles shoot tight groups but need a few fouling shots. Some shoot well clean but foul quickly. Others may start spreading when they warm up. Gongs hits can be guided in but don’t count when you are hunting. I don’t think it matters if you are hunting, as long as you know your rifle and can make a clean kill with one shot.
Please post your plate and distance and no prizes.

I would be horrified if that was my result at 200m, no offence to you but personally thats not good enough for what i want

Yep I agree, it’s about what you do.
That was on a bipod with no back rest.
I shot this at a 1K after sighting it in on proper sand bags. The two shots on the left were after adjusting for wind.
But that was not hunting conditions.

Originally Posted by Gibo

I would be horrified if that was my result at 200m, no offence to you but personally thats not good enough for what i want

Post it up @Gibo no sighters from when you last shot. You might be horrified

So can I clarify please? It is a plate diameter based on one's assessment of the kill-zone of the target species (6" say for deer), and the first cold bore shot only, and from a rifle assumed to have been left sighted-in but could have been sitting in the safe for an indefinite amount of time, with the bore condition left as per the usual practice, and you choose the way the rifle is supported for the shot (bipod, over a pack, etc.) according to the way hunting shots are typically taken, and the shot is taken at the maximum range that would be attempted at game. Though not mentioned I'm guessing that if that maximum range was not also the zeroing range then you get just the one go at dialling on for the drop — in the same way that would be required in the field?

I would say that 200 metres looks to be a well-chosen and perhaps slightly conservative maximum distance for what you use that rifle for.

It would be interesting to see the "dinner plates" from some of the folk who go out with the expectation of taking shots at 500-600 metres.

Anyone got a 500y range ?
I regularly shoot deer from 300-500y I'm always pretty picky about shot placement happy to let them walk if they don't present a good shot or I can't get a solid comfortable shooting position. At 400-500y plenty of time to safely set up for shot, range, dial etc. I tend not to shoot at spooked animals I find them too unpredictable. That's just me

Do you mind me asking how you site your rifle in if you don’t have access to a range?

Originally Posted by dannyb

Anyone got a 500y range ?
I regularly shoot deer from 300-500y I'm always pretty picky about shot placement happy to let them walk if they don't present a good shot or I can't get a solid comfortable shooting position. At 400-500y plenty of time to safely set up for shot, range, dial etc. I tend not to shoot at spooked animals I find them too unpredictable. That's just me

How do you sight your rifle in if you don’t have access to a range?

Originally Posted by 2post

How do you sight your rifle in if you don’t have access to a range?

I don't have a 500y range.
I sight in at 100y, then verify at 200y and 300y

What would be interesting and relevant to me is 100m standing unsupported and then 200m sitting or standing supported - actual field positions not 'range shooting' off bipods taking place on the hill.

Ummmm I do shoot in the field off my bipod so that is an "actual field position"

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

What would be interesting and relevant to me is 100m standing unsupported and then 200m sitting or standing supported - actual field positions not 'range shooting' off bipods taking place on the hill.

I wouldn't take a 100m standing unsupported let alone 200m unsupported. I've done the test, can't hit shit consistently

Originally Posted by dannyb

Ummmm I do shoot in the field off my bipod so that is an "actual field position"

I disagree with bipods being a common field shot, if we look at PRS type matches they use improvised field positions to test a shooters ability to adapt. Adapt to situations that arise in the field. Anyone can shoot off a bipod so it isnt really a test or challenge. What is a challenge is shooting across a sea of Matagouri or from a window in a scrub face, situations where even a 500mm Harris doesn't work

Originally Posted by PerazziSC3

I wouldn't take a 100m standing unsupported let alone 200m unsupported. I've done the test, can't hit shit consistently

We should all practice until we can shoot well at 100 unsupported imo. Must confess my shooting isnt as good as it was once. dannyb has seen me shoot a stag, standing position at 200 ( straight after gutshooting one at 100 prone WTF - got both)

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

I disagree with bipods being a common field shot, if we look at PRS type matches they use improvised field positions to test a shooters ability to adapt. Adapt to situations that arise in the field. Anyone can shoot off a bipod so it isnt really a test or challenge. What is a challenge is shooting across a sea of Matagouri or from a window in a scrub face, situations where even a 500mm Harris doesn't work

Disagree all you like, plenty of people can and do use bipods for hunting. I would suggest fewer would attempt a standing 100y shot.
I'm just as happy shooting sitting or prone over my pack, have had to resort to that due to long tussock.
I've only ever shot 2 deer standing 1 at 30-40 yards and 1 at less than 20y......honestly I'd rather shoot at 200y off a rest /bipod or otherwise.