Is 500 yards a long shot?

[missjordan]

“It depends”

Does the shooter know proper form? Know their ballistics? Practice longer shots a handful of times a year? Then no 500 yards isn’t a far shot.

For the hunter that whips their gun out 1-2 times a year, shoots off a bench before opening weekend and goes hunting. Then yes it’s too far of a shot.


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[khuber84]

Even a very good shooter can have a challenge at 500y in funky terrain and heavy winds. It all depends on shooter, environment and situation. Is it high stress? Rushed shot? Biggest trophy they've ever saw? Buck fever? Lots of variables.

 

[Coleredding00]

Even a very good shooter can have a challenge at 500y in funky terrain and heavy winds. It all depends on shooter, environment and situation. Is it high stress? Rushed shot? Biggest trophy they've ever saw? Buck fever? Lots of variables.

environmental conditions and shot position are the two defining variables, there are conditions where almost no one has business taking a 500 yard shot, and there are conditions where its not a second thought. The difficult part is having the restraint to know when you aren't capable of making the shot in the conditions you are presently in, when the best buck of your life is about to get away and you are desperate.

 

[Justin Crossley]

pigs, nature's reactive target?

So you don't mind wounding them because there are too many of them?

To each, their own, I guess.

 

[Ryan Gosling]

for hunting, if i dont think i can get a perfect hit the first shot then i wouldnt take it. for targets, 500 yards is the start of long range

 

[Billdoe]

When it comes to shooting there's a lot of dick measuring that goes on.

 

[hibernation]

One of the problems in these discussions online is the lack of context between shooters and their backgrounds.

You get the same problem with mountaineering. People will say that X mountain is a cakewalk, super straightforward, but that's true for someone who already knows how to self-arrest, judge the conditions, is in excellent shape, etc. Some random hiker reads that and thinks "I'll try that route that everyone says is easy", but they don't have the right tools, skills, or experience, and it often ends up with a rescue or accident.

So yeah, for the guy who shoots random distances in the mountains all year round, 500 might feel pretty doable. But for the average hunter who never leaves their shooting range bench, it's probably beyond their ability to even judge the conditions for that shot.

Looking at the cold bore challenge, 500 is a challenging shot for even pretty experienced shooters.

 

[Hnthrdr]

One of the problems in these discussions online is the lack of context between shooters and their backgrounds.

You get the same problem with mountaineering. People will say that X mountain is a cakewalk, super straightforward, but that's true for someone who already knows how to self-arrest, judge the conditions, is in excellent shape, etc. Some random hiker reads that and thinks "I'll try that route that everyone says is easy", but they don't have the right tools, skills, or experience, and it often ends up with a rescue or accident.

So yeah, for the guy who shoots random distances in the mountains all year round, 500 might feel pretty doable. But for the average hunter who never leaves their shooting range bench, it's probably beyond their ability to even judge the conditions for that shot.

Perfect explanation! Way too many YouTube snipers who drop 500-1000 yard bombs usually only show a hit and then everyone thinks if they too have xyz equipment it’s not a big deal…