Which cartridge do you use for long range hunting?

Cal Sportsman ^ | 8/31/2016 | M Sargent

[w1n1]

With the latest guns, scopes, and laser rangefinders, well-practiced hunters are able to confidently take game at over 1,000 yards.

If you are looking to break into the long range hunting arena, or are trying to improve your long range accuracy, listen to what the experts at Red Rock Precision Rifles feel are the best cartridges for long range hunting.

Shooters sensitive to recoil should choose a 28 Nosler and those looking for more power should choose a .300 Remington Ultra Mag. However, that’s just one man’s opinion.

If it's deer or deer-sized game you’re chasing, you can’t go wrong with the 6.5 Creedmoor, though tons of long range game animals have fallen to the good old .300 Winchester Magnum, and the new Weatherby 6.5-3000 is quickly making a name for itself. See the video here. What are you all using?

[nobamanomore]

Honestly, I don’t take it hunting either, but the point is, if I were shooting from my elevated box stand, 500 yard shots are not unethical. At least for someone who knows what he’s doing, and has the capability to know how to hold for the wind and crank in the mils for drop.

I just don’t like to see other hunters call out someone for taking a long shot. My biggest problem is that I don’t shoot little bucks, so judging quality at that range is really hard. Doe season, no problem. Some of the people from the east don’t understand western hunting and vice versa. I’ve hunted all the western states as well as Alaska, BC, and a couple of times in Africa. We have had buddies from Wyoming back hunting whitetails and they have a phobia about running deer, let them lope by at 100 yards, waiting for them to stop. They don’t. I grew up hammering coyotes and deer on the move, so don’t think twice about it. Locals are the same way about long shots out west.

[nobamanomore]

My long range rifle is a 6.5 Creedmoor, by the way.

[nobamanomore]

OK, my 6.5 with a 123 Lapua Scenar at 2897 fps with todays density altitude of 1601 ft will need 2.0 mils correction at 1000 yards with the 10mph breeze at 3 o’clock. You just crank the turret up 7.6 mils, use the 2 mil right hash mark and with proper trigger control, it’s a hit.

[txnativegop]

Question:

How often is the wind unidirectional when shooting at 1000 yards?

do you think that out in the field there are going to be the ‘wind flags’ that the benchresters use?
There won’t be, and if you’re in the Midwest prairie, how are you even going to able to judge the wind so that your $5k scope can adjust for it?
You can’t, not with any sort of accuracy. Which makes any 1000 yard hit on anything well nigh impossible.

JMO.

[txnativegop]

How can you know that there won’t be another hunter between you and the animal 1000 yards away? You probably won’t.

The other hunter will most likely stand up after you’ve pulled the trigger and well . . . what the heck, its just a guy who got your way, I suppose.

The scenario I just described in the real reason you shoot at game in the wild for any reason.

I personally have never worn hunter orange in the field, deer especially can see it as a very bright white color.

[txnativegop]

While I do use telescopic sights (2.5x - 7x Leupold)I have never used a rangefinder and I never will.

I was taught to hunt by my father and I have decent skill at estimating the range to deer or elk sized animals.
He also taught me, and experience has borne this out, 9 out of every 10 hunts is unsuccessful.

I am a hunter, not a digital age guy who needs technology.
Using that junk is not hunting.

But it is a free country, for now, and you can do what you want.
However, I would ask a favor of you, let me know where you’re hunting. I would hate to get shot cresting a small rise because I am between you and that animal 1000 yards away.

Have a Blessed Day! FRiend.

[txnativegop]

Nice picture, but the only cartridge I would want is the 308 Win.

6XC — F Class target round
6.5 Creedmoor — designed in an effort to make cranky AR owners happy.
308 Win. An easy to reload cartridge capable of taking everything but Alaskan bears reliably.
300 Win Mag - belted nonsense, rifles that are much too light weight. OUCH!
300 Norma Mag — a 30 cal based on 404 Jeffery if memory serves. SUPER OUCH (shoulder and ears!)
338 Lapua Mag — Finnish anti-materiel sniper round that has deafened most of the soldiers (US) that have used it.
And monstrous recoil and muzzle blast. No thank you very much.

Now that I have attempted to slaughter many sacred cows (so to speak), flame away! LOL

[Chode]

yes, .308 is my preferred round

[nobamanomore]

we have to wear hunter orange, and this is nothing but bs. How do you know there won’t be one behind the deer you shoot at at 50 yards in the brush??

[nobamanomore]

Kestrel. google it.Just for info, I have never fired a shot past 500 except on coyotes. I just have a problem with once a year hunters who like to play ‘holier than thou’. I can place a first round hit at 1000 on a 12 inch gong from a fold up prairie dog type bench and sandbags. There are lots of people who can, just because you can't doesn't make it impossible.

I have been in the field in Wyoming, Iowa,, Missouri, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia, Alaska, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa. Honestly, I don't need you to tell me anything about hunting, I've been there and done it. I'm sitting in my living room with 8 mounts, two that will make every record book, a 56 in kudu and a 42.5 in gemsbuck.

I don't need your advice.

I hear the same thing about shooting game on the move, and I have killed six or seven straight running whitetails, but I grew up shooting coyotes in front of dogs, a running deer is a chip shot under 200 yards.

End result is there are lots of shooters who can put the first shot on a gong at 1000, with good equipment.

Actually while you were typing up your BS, I was at the range with my grandson, maybe you ought to practice shooting rather than cutting other people down. I hate seeing other shooters criticize certain participants in the shooting world, we need to stick together, as we have enough enemies without fighting each other.

[nobamanomore]

so a real hunter would shoot a front leg off an elk by estimating range, rather than use a rangefinder?

[txnativegop]

I have yet to wound any animal I have shot. If I have any doubts whatsoever about taking the animal cleanly. I don’t take the shot. If that means a failed hunt, so be it.

[txnativegop]

Reference my post #92.

[txnativegop]

Reference post #92 with this addition:

I have never shot an animal and had a through-n-through wound.

[nobamanomore]

I’ve heard of guys like you. Never missed a game animal, never wounded one.

Don’t hunt much, huh?

[nobamanomore]

you’ve never had a bullet exit????

[txnativegop]

Not once.

[txnativegop]

Every year since 1973.

Cartridges used:

223 Rem./30-30/30-40 (Tx deer)
6.5x55/7x57/8x57 (Va deer/bear)
257 Roberts (Pronghorn/bear)

I always hand load