Is 500 yards a long shot?

[BigCountry49]

A lot of other variables have an affect, it is by no means distance alone, nerves are a big one. Hunt hard for several days straight and frustration starts setting in, then see your first bull/buck and it turns out to be a monster. Then maybe you realize that you have to make the shot fast before he disappears into the trees and all sudden you forgot to think about the 6 mph cross wind that’s now a 12 mph cross wind and ignore your reticle shaking all over hell and 500 turns into something totally different even though it was a lay-up at the range.

 

[roadrunner]

Yes.

 

[Jethro]

Long enough that there’s numerous threads about guys not recovering game after shooting that distance.

 

[Mountainrancher]

500 is absolutely a long shot. That doesn’t mean that it’s unethical or wrong for someone that is capable of making that shot to take it. Many people including myself overestimate our ability to hit things at any range. If you don’t think 500 is a long shot go read the cold bore challenge threads and see how many of us missed one or both shots.

 

[surfr716]

its subjective. If youve practiced, preferably a lot further than 500, and you can hold your shit together, get stable and make the shot , than no, i wouldnt consider it a long shot. Theres people that have no business shooting that far though, and theres days when conditions shorten my ranges considerably as well. My 2 cents are, it comes down to can you confidentially make the shot with a reasonable certainness of the outcome?

 

[bowrunner81]

I think most people think they are better shots then they are. You see a lot of people posting that they are wanting an 800 yard rifle but the people that should be taking shots that far on game are very few. To each their own, but I think it takes some of the fun out of it. Nothing against it, but it’s not for me.

 

[blacktailcentral]

its subjective. If youve practiced, preferably a lot further than 500, and you can hold your shit together, get stable and make the shot , than no, i wouldnt consider it a long shot. Theres people that have no business shooting that far though, and theres days when conditions shorten my ranges considerably as well. My 2 cents are, it comes down to can you confidentially make the shot with a reasonable certainness of the outcome?

100% agree

 

[Tmac]

Hey roksliders, apparently there are a few fudds on the forum that think a 500 yard shot is sooo long and unethical for a shot. Parameters for this discussion, low to zero wind, ballistic rangefinder thats been trued out to 1000yards, shooting off a tripod with a bag or bipod prone.

As you described it, for me, it is a long shot, but an ethical one. I practice to 600 for just such a shot, but so far have always been able to stalk closer. I know several folks for whom it would be very unethical, based on how they shoot at 300 off a bench.

 

[blacktailcentral]

As you described it, for me, it is a long shot, but an ethical one. I practice to 600 for just such a shot, but so far have always been able to stalk closer. I know several folks for whom it would be very unethical, based on how they shoot at 300 off a bench.

100% conditions, set up etc play alot into how hard a shot is at varying distances. 500 yard of a bench super easy, hunting with good rest and time relatively easy

 

[C Bow]

If you ask if 500 yards is a long shot it for sure is a long shot.

 

[207North]

Yes it is a long shot.

My personal rule on a live animal is half the distance I can reliably hit a 10” target on the range in similar conditions.

Some days the max may be under 100 yards, others it can be around the 500y range.

 

[RWT]

Of the 60K members on this site there are MAYBE 200 that have practiced enough and proficient enough to do it ethically.

Then there are the 1500 of us that THINK we can because it’s a book animal and we have hit steel at a local range a few times at those distances.

Then there is the 5000 FUDDs that will throw lead and use Kentucky windage. They statistically get lucky about 30% of the time. They still make a bad shot.

The remainder realize the distance is beyond their capability and work on a plan to get closer.

I’ll say I am in between the 200-1500 group. I’ve killed 1 at 500+ and another 20ish in the 350-450 range. I used to think I was Bob Lee Swagger. Then got on here and realized I am closer to Yosemite Sam. Practicing to be closer to the 200 club.

 

[hiker270]

Totally dependent on the shooter and how accurate the rifle is.

 

[Poser]

Yes.

I'm indifferent to what distance someone may have shot at the range. Real world conditions + practical real world shooting set up + real world stress makes that a "long" shot

 

[Speaks]

Honestly it would be for me in most conditions.

I very regularly shoot to 200 and some at 300. I extending my personal range out to a little over 400 this year but cant get any further on my property and most ranges around here are 100 with a handfull having a 200 yard option. Dialing and knowing the drop to 500 or well beyond is not hard. That does not translate to wind calls in the mountains.

350 in a WI clear cut with minimal wind is about my personal max right now. This summer I plan to find some county land cuts where I cat stretch out further and get some reps on real wind calls. Not really sure that translates to mountain wind though anyway.

Its not a long shot for a bunch of people, but it is for me right now.

 

[Timplant]

My personal limit on an animal is 400 we shoot alot of whitetails in the summer out to that range.... and theyre smallll that time of year! I shoot 300 350 and 400 almost as much as i shoot 100. I get a zero at 100 and immediately move to further distance, when i "check" rifles, i check them at distance 95% of the time.


I have one spot within an hour I can shoot 700. and we go two or three times a year before a trip to confirm dope at that range. 500-600-700.

For me personally anything beyond 400 is a follow up shot only.

 

[Billy Goat]

There's a whole bunch of "Ethical hunter" challenges on YouTube from a well known shooter. 500 yards.


Results are a bit interesting.

Might be those guys don't shoot in the wind much, but it definitely seems like they spend some time shooting.

 

[FLS]

Hey roksliders, apparently there are a few fudds on the forum that think a 500 yard shot is sooo long and unethical for a shot. Parameters for this discussion, low to zero wind, ballistic rangefinder thats been trued out to 1000yards, shooting off a tripod with a bag or bipod prone.

Your question is framed to get the response you want. Reality is, those conditions are rare in the field. More realistic would be, I drove non stop halfway across the country to get here, I haven’t slept good in a week, I had to hustle to get in an awkward position, and I’m shooting cross canyon in a hurry and my wind call is SWAG. I missed him on the first shot, hit him a little back on the second, got my shit together then anchored him on the third. So, in a realistic scenario, yes it’s a long shot. I know all Super Snipers on here are one shot one kill wonders, but that scenario is way closer to the reality I’ve witnessed.

 

[207North]

Your question is framed to get the response you want. Reality is, those conditions are rare in the field. More realistic would be, I drove non stop halfway across the country to get here, I haven’t slept good in a week, I had to hustle to get in an awkward position, and I’m shooting cross canyon in a hurry and my wind call is SWAG. I missed him on the first shot, hit him a little back on the second, got my shit together then anchored him on the third. So, in a realistic scenario, yes it’s a long shot. I know all Super Snipers on here are one shot one kill wonders, but that scenario is way closer to the reality I’ve witnessed.

Absolutely! Freezing your ass off unable to take a guaranteed shot at 30y is more realistic than a perfect 75 degree calm wind range day.

Lots of guys will shoot at animals BEYOND the furthest range they have practiced at in those perfect conditions.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

As you described it, for me, it is a long shot, but an ethical one. I practice to 600 for just such a shot, but so far have always been able to stalk closer. I know several folks for whom it would be very unethical, based on how they shoot at 300 off a bench.

Agreed.

500 yards is a long shot on an 8” target. Especially one that could move. I don’t like thinking about what happens if the animal takes a step during the time of flight. To me, the combination of time of flight and wind make 300-600 yards “long range” on game animals. Anything past that is ELR.

I absolutely will not shoot at any deer at a range further than I have recently gone 10/10 on an 8” target from that field position in those conditions. Shooting is a perishable skill and one that requires honest practice to maintain proficiency. If I can’t get within range on a deer, he “wins” and I, or someone else, get the opportunity to hunt him again another day.

There’s no exception for a so-called BOAL. Assuming a BOAL exists, I want to recover him, not have him feed coyotes and vultures.

And even if the deer is within my maximum range, if wind, terrain, and available light give me the opportunity for a stalk, then I will stalk closer. If I can make a 350 yard shot into a 220 yard shot without spooking the animal or losing the opportunity, then I will always do that. Put me in the camp of “you can almost always get closer.” I can validate my shooting ability on the range. The only way to validate my hunting ability is by recovering game animals.