What's your longest shot for a kill?

Johnnycat · 06-26-2008, 06:37 AM

I love asking hunters this, especially here in the South. Everyone around here thinks they need a 300mag to reach out to 400 yards and they zero their rifle at 250 yards. But there aren't many fields around here longer than 100 yrads unless you get on a power-line and most kills are made around 75-100 yards.

I'm guilty too! My main hunting rifles, a Steyr .308 and a .340 Weatherby are both zero'd at 200 and 250 yrads. The reality is that I've never made a shot for a kill over 140 yards (and that was when I was 12 and hunting with a .223). But I feel confident out to 300 yards.

I've unloaded a rifle on a nice buck at 500 yards in my youth, but I would never try that again. And I did wax a porcupine at 200 yards last year.

Out West I realize it's a different story.

SO, what's your longest distance for a kill, and what to you consider your comfort zone?

Silent Shooter · 06-26-2008, 06:56 AM

I am assuming you mean animals...

427 yards. Oddly enough, it was a powerline. Remington 700 in .243. Made it less than 25 feet. One of the few shots I actually had witnesses for. We were cleaning a deer and another one popped out at the other end of the powerlines. Then we were cleaning two deer.

TheWanderingMind · 06-26-2008, 07:26 AM

When I was hunting in Minnesota, never more than 80 yards, with a variety of old milsurps from 8mm Berthier to 6.5 Norwegian Krag to 7.65mm Argentine.

Here in Texas, my co-worker was just telling me he'd been out at the ranch guiding, taking prairie dogs at 350 yards with everything from .17 HMR to a 6.8 SPC. I've seen him take a coyote at 300+ with a .243 standing offhand, so I know he's pretty accurate on distances.

samuel · 06-26-2008, 07:58 AM

In Michigan according to the DNR the average shot on deer kills is 18yds. sam.

Wingwiper · 06-26-2008, 08:13 AM

Partridge
25 or 30 yds or so with a .20ga at a Partridge taking off, I was strattling a brook and my legs were on either side, he took off from my backside and I twisted and fired from behind my back and took him out. I wish I had a Video.

Deer

275 + or - yards, downhill, through spotchy trees. I had a Model 81, Marlin in 38/55 cal and I had only sighted in for 100 yds. I wanted to get a Deer and retire the rifle. There was the Deer and I Fired, the Deer went down and before I could get down the hill, the Deer tried to get back up. I couldn't figure that out, I had aimed at the head and figured I must have hit the neck, so to my knee and another shot, down it went again. As I got closer, I noticed he was still alive, so I pulled my Ruger Single Six and did a coup de grace, as I was dressing him, I noticed his front two knee caps had been blown out. Not my best hunt. I retired that rifle and only hunt with my M1A now, I have never had another long range shot oppurtunity like that since, but know with the M1A it wouldn't be like the last time. That was the only time I was not able to succeed with a Head shot for a clean kill and I have regretted taking the shot, ever since.

lefty o · 06-26-2008, 08:57 AM

big game 210yds, small game 677. for big game, my comfort zone is the closer the better, no more than 300yds.

ACfixer · 06-26-2008, 09:10 AM

I'm sure someone will post about killing a prairie dog at 1000 yards if we wait long enough.

Myself, I have no idea. I haven't hunted anything in so many years but if I ever shot anything over 100 yards or so I would be surprised because I didn't have the gear then. I have the stuff to reach out and touch a critter a long ways out now... but having it and doing it are worlds apart.

ArkansasHunter · 06-26-2008, 09:17 AM

My longest shot I ever made was at a Coke can that you could barly see. I was 16 years old and I was at the Deer Camp before opening morning.

Some of the Adults thought they'ed shoot there rifles to make sure they were sighted in.

The gun I was useing was my Remton 742 30-06 with iron sights.
I walked what seemed a 1/2 mile down a fence row and placed the can on top of a post.

When I walked back up to the camp everybody was saying it was impossible to hit that can.
I brought up my rifle and fired and the can went sailing off into the woods.
When I retrived it, I had hit it about an inch from the bottom of it.

Now the longest shot I've ever made at a Deer was prolly 90 to 120 yards.
A.H

AKHunter · 06-26-2008, 10:13 AM

1 Caribou, 1 bullet, 300 yards, .338wm. Everything else I shot and killed has been at less than 200 yards with the exception of a bear, he was 200. The majority of animals I have taken were less than 100 yards away.

Mike Franklin · 06-26-2008, 10:56 AM

I was a Sniper and took my work rifle hunting. I shot a deer at 325 yards. Walking to the deer I realized that I was sniping not hunting. It completely changed my way of hunting. I now hunt with a Colt SAA or a Marlin .38-55. I've taken a deer as close as 8 feet. The fartherest I'd shoot would be 200 yards with the rifle. I don't own a scoped rifle (but might set one up for squirrel).

LarryO1970 · 06-26-2008, 11:12 AM

I "killed" a 16" x 18" steel plate in Utah with my M14 at 856 yards... three consecutive shots. I did have a spotter...

I only hunt paper and steel plates these days.

PONTIACDM · 06-26-2008, 11:28 AM

A crow 160 yards with a savage .17 hmr.

DANA · 06-26-2008, 09:47 PM

375 strides. One shot kill. M1 Carbine. Base of the ear. Droped in place. Talk about luck.

DANA

killer · 06-26-2008, 09:54 PM

Running fox approximately 225 yards.

toolman · 06-26-2008, 09:56 PM

Dropped a nice 6 point white tail @ a measured 225 yds with my 2x20 scout-scoped Mosin M-44. but all of our shots run in the 175-225 yd range due to the terrain. I plan on trying to move in a bit closer this year and see how it works.

thebigitch62 · 06-26-2008, 09:59 PM

3X4 mulie at 377 yards 20 degree downhill used laser rangefinder and a .300RUM with 3.5 X10 scope.

Midas · 06-26-2008, 10:01 PM

I have only taken a handful of deer in excess of 200 yards, in my 30+ years of hunting, my longest being a 240 yard shot on a 6 point buck, which was less than perfect. The absolute longest shot I would take, is probably 300 yards, and it'd have to be nice deer, for me to even attempt THAT.

GlockMeister · 06-26-2008, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryO1970

I "killed" a 16" x 18" steel plate in Utah with my M14 at 856 yards... three consecutive shots. I did have a spotter...

I only hunt paper and steel plates these days.

Killed a 16"X18" steel plate in Utah. LMFAO Larry.

Out of curiosity, what does a license run for hunting those? lol

Mike Franklin · 06-26-2008, 11:27 PM

Once facing into a driving north wind with the temperature about 10 degrees I made an off hand shot at a deer about 200 yards away. Shot her square through the neck, dropped her like a rock. Of course I was aiming just behind the front shoulder.........

Aaronb2245 · 06-27-2008, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Franklin

I was a Sniper and took my work rifle hunting. I shot a deer at 325 yards. Walking to the deer I realized that I was sniping not hunting. It completely changed my way of hunting. I now hunt with a Colt SAA or a Marlin .38-55. I've taken a deer as close as 8 feet. The fartherest I'd shoot would be 200 yards with the rifle. I don't own a scoped rifle (but might set one up for squirrel).

I'm assuming you're/were a police officer......Aaron

06-26-2008, 06:37 AM	#1
Johnnycat Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tupelo, MS Posts: 247	What's your longest shot for a kill? I love asking hunters this, especially here in the South. Everyone around here thinks they need a 300mag to reach out to 400 yards and they zero their rifle at 250 yards. But there aren't many fields around here longer than 100 yrads unless you get on a power-line and most kills are made around 75-100 yards. I'm guilty too! My main hunting rifles, a Steyr .308 and a .340 Weatherby are both zero'd at 200 and 250 yrads. The reality is that I've never made a shot for a kill over 140 yards (and that was when I was 12 and hunting with a .223). But I feel confident out to 300 yards. I've unloaded a rifle on a nice buck at 500 yards in my youth, but I would never try that again. And I did wax a porcupine at 200 yards last year. Out West I realize it's a different story. SO, what's your longest distance for a kill, and what to you consider your comfort zone?

06-26-2008, 06:56 AM	#2
Silent Shooter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 292	I am assuming you mean animals... 427 yards. Oddly enough, it was a powerline. Remington 700 in .243. Made it less than 25 feet. One of the few shots I actually had witnesses for. We were cleaning a deer and another one popped out at the other end of the powerlines. Then we were cleaning two deer. __________________ http://sosministries.phpbb-host.com/index-forum.php

06-26-2008, 07:26 AM	#3
TheWanderingMind Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Wichita Falls Texas Posts: 633 Images: 13 Blog Entries: 5	When I was hunting in Minnesota, never more than 80 yards, with a variety of old milsurps from 8mm Berthier to 6.5 Norwegian Krag to 7.65mm Argentine. Here in Texas, my co-worker was just telling me he'd been out at the ranch guiding, taking prairie dogs at 350 yards with everything from .17 HMR to a 6.8 SPC. I've seen him take a coyote at 300+ with a .243 standing offhand, so I know he's pretty accurate on distances. __________________ Coincidences happen when I pray, and they don't when I don't...

06-26-2008, 10:56 AM	#10
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,276	I was a Sniper and took my work rifle hunting. I shot a deer at 325 yards. Walking to the deer I realized that I was sniping not hunting. It completely changed my way of hunting. I now hunt with a Colt SAA or a Marlin .38-55. I've taken a deer as close as 8 feet. The fartherest I'd shoot would be 200 yards with the rifle. I don't own a scoped rifle (but might set one up for squirrel). __________________ Aim real good we're nearly out of ammo.

06-26-2008, 11:12 AM	#11
LarryO1970 "Blazing Saddles" GOV Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Johnson Creek, WI Posts: 2,887	I "killed" a 16" x 18" steel plate in Utah with my M14 at 856 yards... three consecutive shots. I did have a spotter... I only hunt paper and steel plates these days. __________________ "Guess what?! I've got a fever, and the only prescription... is more cowbell!"

06-26-2008, 07:58 AM	#4
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	In Michigan according to the DNR the average shot on deer kills is 18yds. sam.

06-26-2008, 08:13 AM	#5
Wingwiper Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 789	Partridge 25 or 30 yds or so with a .20ga at a Partridge taking off, I was strattling a brook and my legs were on either side, he took off from my backside and I twisted and fired from behind my back and took him out. I wish I had a Video. Deer 275 + or - yards, downhill, through spotchy trees. I had a Model 81, Marlin in 38/55 cal and I had only sighted in for 100 yds. I wanted to get a Deer and retire the rifle. There was the Deer and I Fired, the Deer went down and before I could get down the hill, the Deer tried to get back up. I couldn't figure that out, I had aimed at the head and figured I must have hit the neck, so to my knee and another shot, down it went again. As I got closer, I noticed he was still alive, so I pulled my Ruger Single Six and did a coup de grace, as I was dressing him, I noticed his front two knee caps had been blown out. Not my best hunt. I retired that rifle and only hunt with my M1A now, I have never had another long range shot oppurtunity like that since, but know with the M1A it wouldn't be like the last time. That was the only time I was not able to succeed with a Head shot for a clean kill and I have regretted taking the shot, ever since.

06-26-2008, 08:57 AM	#6
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,814	big game 210yds, small game 677. for big game, my comfort zone is the closer the better, no more than 300yds.

06-26-2008, 09:10 AM	#7
ACfixer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Turning base to final -KAPV- Posts: 248	I'm sure someone will post about killing a prairie dog at 1000 yards if we wait long enough. Myself, I have no idea. I haven't hunted anything in so many years but if I ever shot anything over 100 yards or so I would be surprised because I didn't have the gear then. I have the stuff to reach out and touch a critter a long ways out now... but having it and doing it are worlds apart.

06-26-2008, 09:17 AM	#8
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,722	My longest shot I ever made was at a Coke can that you could barly see. I was 16 years old and I was at the Deer Camp before opening morning. Some of the Adults thought they'ed shoot there rifles to make sure they were sighted in. The gun I was useing was my Remton 742 30-06 with iron sights. I walked what seemed a 1/2 mile down a fence row and placed the can on top of a post. When I walked back up to the camp everybody was saying it was impossible to hit that can. I brought up my rifle and fired and the can went sailing off into the woods. When I retrived it, I had hit it about an inch from the bottom of it. Now the longest shot I've ever made at a Deer was prolly 90 to 120 yards. A.H

06-26-2008, 10:13 AM	#9
AKHunter Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 899	1 Caribou, 1 bullet, 300 yards, .338wm. Everything else I shot and killed has been at less than 200 yards with the exception of a bear, he was 200. The majority of animals I have taken were less than 100 yards away.

06-26-2008, 11:28 AM	#12
PONTIACDM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: OHIO Posts: 624	A crow 160 yards with a savage .17 hmr. __________________ We are best friends but if zombies are chasing us. I'm kicking you in the leg!!

06-26-2008, 09:47 PM	#13
DANA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WAITSFIELD VERMONT Posts: 1,598	375 strides. One shot kill. M1 Carbine. Base of the ear. Droped in place. Talk about luck. DANA

06-26-2008, 09:54 PM	#14
killer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In the rat race Posts: 905 Images: 6	Running fox approximately 225 yards. __________________ "Yeee Hawww...I'm a cowboy on an iron horse." Killer's cabin: http://buckmountainchateau.com/

06-26-2008, 09:56 PM	#15
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,582 Blog Entries: 22	Dropped a nice 6 point white tail @ a measured 225 yds with my 2x20 scout-scoped Mosin M-44. but all of our shots run in the 175-225 yd range due to the terrain. I plan on trying to move in a bit closer this year and see how it works. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

06-26-2008, 09:59 PM	#16
thebigitch62 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Port Orchard Wa Posts: 107	3X4 mulie at 377 yards 20 degree downhill used laser rangefinder and a .300RUM with 3.5 X10 scope.

06-26-2008, 10:01 PM	#17
Midas Troll B' Gone Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Springdale, Arkansas Posts: 3,823 Images: 2 Blog Entries: 6	I have only taken a handful of deer in excess of 200 yards, in my 30+ years of hunting, my longest being a 240 yard shot on a 6 point buck, which was less than perfect. The absolute longest shot I would take, is probably 300 yards, and it'd have to be nice deer, for me to even attempt THAT. __________________ "Recoil lasts for a second, gravity lasts forever"

06-26-2008, 11:27 PM	#19
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,276	Once facing into a driving north wind with the temperature about 10 degrees I made an off hand shot at a deer about 200 yards away. Shot her square through the neck, dropped her like a rock. Of course I was aiming just behind the front shoulder......... __________________ Aim real good we're nearly out of ammo.