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…

 

[Mammoth Steppe]

It is for me. I just picked up a 6.5 Creedmoor and 500 (meters) is the upper limit which i'd be looking to take on game.

 

[JackButler]

For most people under field conditions, yes it is long. In my observation only about 20% of the guys I know that hunt have any business shooting over 300 yards. If a guy practices diligently under field conditions and knows his gear, 500 is not a huge deal. Also I know OP said assume little to no wind, but that is the biggest factor in long range shooting and many places out west no wind is rare. Certainly modern technology has made it more doable for more people but it’s still no cake walk doing it in the real world.

 

[danhuntingmi]

Thread
How many of you that think 500 yards is some sort of Herculean distance live and grew up hunting east of the Mississippi River?


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I think your attempt at ad hominem insult here falls flat....not to mention your exceptional ignorance of the variety of terrain east of the Mississippi River and odd generalization of land to the west of it.

It doesn't matter where you are raised or grow up hunting. No one doubts that you can see or shoot at a deer 500 yards in some areas out west. The question regards the basic physics of actually shooting at that range. I've killed animals in the mountains, tundra, and prairie. In every case, the animal was spotted at ranges over 500 yards and killed well short of it.

You also claim that people have always made long shots. And, no doubt, people missed and wounded game 3x+ more. I do agree that equipment matters less than people think, but in the opposite direction that you suggest.

 

[justin davis]

500 is a long shot in my book. Being a Bowhunter my whole life. I have always found you generally can cut the distance down from 500 to a lot closer!

 

[Predator_SD]

You should really add you never recovered the deer you wounded. So in YOUR situation it was clearly too far.

 

[MuleyFever]

You should really add you never recovered the deer you wounded. So in YOUR situation it was clearly too far.

I didn't see his other thread. Funny the OP makes this post about "fudds" disagreeing with him when he clearly tried a shot he didn't make so yes, too far for him.

 

[Ryan Avery]

If you shoot enough in the mountains, and you count every shot, you would know 500 yards is a long shot. We often forget that missed wind call or "flyer." I find most people have really short memories.

 

[DroptineNW]

Depending on caliber and position 500 can be a very hard shot. With wild or weird wind and cross canyon shots things get spooky. Perfect wind off a bench rested Is one thing. Off the side of a mountain on an animal with pressure and a timeframe… hard shot. Shoot within your means and caliber/load/bullet. Practice practice practice

 

[loadsandlattes]

Ok, I’ll play. This year I shot a mule deer at 529 yards.

I had been hunting 5 days and finally picked this guy up in the snow at 620 yards, and watched him make his way towards me for about 1.5 hours, finally jumping the private fence and moving towards a couple of doe’s that were at maybe 300yds.

Context: I shoot NRL 3-5x a year. I am currently still shooting a custom 6.5PRC even though I just built a 7PRC… but I just like the 6.5PRC better. I also shoot my matches with the same rifle.

Anyway, 500 yards is a long shot. I was watching wind the entire time… just trying to get an idea of what the bullet would do but hoping that the mule deer was going to come closer. And he did. Until he didn’t. He got up to about 450yds, and the got fed up with the doe’s closer to me for whatever reason and started making his way back to where he came from.

Mind you, this was the 5th day. And up to this point, despite all my efforts, I had only seen two doe and a coyote (and yes I shot the coyote). He was good sized and I was on my last day of the hunt. I’m sitting here watching him make his way back toward private thinking I’m screwed and the hunt is over, and then he stops. I checked range, checked it again, and checked again. I then texted my buddy who’s an EXPERT when it comes to long range shooting and hash it out with him while I’m sitting here watching this buck. He said send it.

Now, I will be honest that last year I took a poke at a white tail doe at like 780yds, so I’m not exactly a newbie at the long distance game. She dropped in her tracks. I am confident, but things happen.

I dialed to 2.3 mils, check wind again and set up. I’ve got the front of the rifle rested, and I’m supporting rear with a tripod. I am stable. I’m a brick wall. I glanced up to check the bubble level and once again verify that I dialed correctly and squeezed off the first round. What happened next was an absolute rodeo, folks.

Again.. I’m not stupid. I practice this all the time. I’m at 530 yards and regularly shoot way out to 1200+. I had the crosshairs on his shoulder, and about 3” forward to adjust for wind call. I shoot suppressed. The first shot goes off and I see him flinch, see impact, and then hear impact. It was about 1’ back off his shoulder toward his mid-section. Confused, I racked another round and got back in the scope. He had moved about 10’ forward and was starting to turn these crazy circles.. fast ones. I am accustomed to them dropping in their tracks, so I panicked a bit. While he is spinning around clockwise, I send another round. Impact. I heard it, but wasn’t sure where I hit him because he’s moving too fast. Reload. He drops at the second round, and then gets back up and army crawls towards a cedar bush maybe 20’ off the private fence.

I am about to lose this deer to private and have sent 2 rounds, and I’m in full on panic mode at this point. I’m watching him through the scope and see him crawling behind this cedar tree and I’m just praying he gives me another shot. And he does. He pokes his front half out past the tree and I could tell he’s hurting, but he isn’t down. I sent two more rounds, both impacted. He laid his head down and died.

So. All of this to say - yes, 500 yards is far. And conditions are wild. And life happens. And sometimes things just don’t want to die. If you’re good to take a poke at distance, please be practiced and even then, be prepared for it not to go your way. It didn’t go my way. And I bet there are plenty of folks here who will tell you the same thing. Practice a bunch. Stay in the scope. Don’t stop shooting until it’s down. And when you walk up to your deer and see that you shot it mid-body, back leg, ass, and front shoulder - don’t be surprised. If it can happen to me it can happen to anyone.

 

[Coleredding00]

Ok, I’ll play. This year I shot a mule deer at 529 yards.

I had been hunting 5 days and finally picked this guy up in the snow at 620 yards, and watched him make his way towards me for about 1.5 hours, finally jumping the private fence and moving towards a couple of doe’s that were at maybe 300yds.

Context: I shoot NRL 3-5x a year. I am currently still shooting a custom 6.5PRC even though I just built a 7PRC… but I just like the 6.5PRC better. I also shoot my matches with the same rifle.

Anyway, 500 yards is a long shot. I was watching wind the entire time… just trying to get an idea of what the bullet would do but hoping that the mule deer was going to come closer. And he did. Until he didn’t. He got up to about 450yds, and the got fed up with the doe’s closer to me for whatever reason and started making his way back to where he came from.

Mind you, this was the 5th day. And up to this point, despite all my efforts, I had only seen two doe and a coyote (and yes I shot the coyote). He was good sized and I was on my last day of the hunt. I’m sitting here watching him make his way back toward private thinking I’m screwed and the hunt is over, and then he stops. I checked range, checked it again, and checked again. I then texted my buddy who’s an EXPERT when it comes to long range shooting and hash it out with him while I’m sitting here watching this buck. He said send it.

Now, I will be honest that last year I took a poke at a white tail doe at like 780yds, so I’m not exactly a newbie at the long distance game. She dropped in her tracks. I am confident, but things happen.

I dialed to 2.3 mils, check wind again and set up. I’ve got the front of the rifle rested, and I’m supporting rear with a tripod. I am stable. I’m a brick wall. I glanced up to check the bubble level and once again verify that I dialed correctly and squeezed off the first round. What happened next was an absolute rodeo, folks.

Again.. I’m not stupid. I practice this all the time. I’m at 530 yards and regularly shoot way out to 1200+. I had the crosshairs on his shoulder, and about 3” forward to adjust for wind call. I shoot suppressed. The first shot goes off and I see him flinch, see impact, and then hear impact. It was about 1’ back off his shoulder toward his mid-section. Confused, I racked another round and got back in the scope. He had moved about 10’ forward and was starting to turn these crazy circles.. fast ones. I am accustomed to them dropping in their tracks, so I panicked a bit. While he is spinning around clockwise, I send another round. Impact. I heard it, but wasn’t sure where I hit him because he’s moving too fast. Reload. He drops at the second round, and then gets back up and army crawls towards a cedar bush maybe 20’ off the private fence.

I am about to lose this deer to private and have sent 2 rounds, and I’m in full on panic mode at this point. I’m watching him through the scope and see him crawling behind this cedar tree and I’m just praying he gives me another shot. And he does. He pokes his front half out past the tree and I could tell he’s hurting, but he isn’t down. I sent two more rounds, both impacted. He laid his head down and died.

So. All of this to say - yes, 500 yards is far. And conditions are wild. And life happens. And sometimes things just don’t want to die. If you’re good to take a poke at distance, please be practiced and even then, be prepared for it not to go your way. It didn’t go my way. And I bet there are plenty of folks here who will tell you the same thing. Practice a bunch. Stay in the scope. Don’t stop shooting until it’s down. And when you walk up to your deer and see that you shot it mid-body, back leg, ass, and front shoulder - don’t be surprised. If it can happen to me it can happen to anyone.

If there is one thing i have learned here, it is that the ability for immediate follow ups with corrections is supremely important. It is a skill i make deliberate effort to work on in PRS. Of course i want to make the wind call and have a first round impact, but it i dont the second one damn sure better be on the plate.

 

[C Bow]

I would bet a lot of money (and win a lot of money) from anyone who thinks they will reliably hit the vitals on a deer at 500 yards cold bore without a rangefinder and a scope with a usable reticle or the ability to dial.

I somewhat agree with the point you are trying to make about it not being extremely hard to do with today's tools.

Sir you will win 9 out of ten times but you will also encounter one every now and then that has shot a lot and knows it is not the arrow but the Indian that is the killer. Sometimes people get hunters and killers confused

 

[Speaks]

This year a buddy of mine arrived at our Wi deer camp. He bought himself a new rifle over the summer that he was going to be hunting with. He produced 3 boxes of ammo and asked me which of the three to use. One was subsonic and the other two had a 50 grain weight difference. I asked him which he sighted in with, he didnt recall, but said he had it really dialed in. Asked him to be a bit more specific on what he meant by dialed in. He said he put a paper plate at "something like 60-70 yards" and put most of the rounds inside of it. I did pick an ammo and get his scope sighted in then had him take a few prone practice shots at 100 which were all on the plate but certainly not grouped.

Next day we were mid day scouting and found a ridge in a cut we wanted to check out. We parked my general and walked up there, I brought my rifle and he left his behind. We spotted some does at around 300, they were moving and I wasnt planning to do anything. He picked up my rifle and took aim at them standing offhand, I asked him what he was doing and he replied he was going to shoot one of them. He didnt know I not only didnt have a round in the chamber but the mag was in my bino pouch. They started running off and he tried to take the shot at them moving. Obviously nothing happened.

This unfortunately represents far too many people. Not necessarily in the specific level of inability but in how much he over estimated it. A 300 yard shot offhand on a moving target with a gun he had never fired a single round through when that would have been an absolutely impossible shot for him on is own rifle shooting prone.

500 is a reasonable shot for some, its not for others.

It would not be for me right now under hunting conditions. The mechanics of taking the shot would be ok prone and likely sitting supported. The wind call would not be, I just have not had enough chance to shoot at that kind of range to develop that skill where I live. Ranges dont come that long.

One of my goals this summer is to find some cuts I can shoot in and start shooting more at much longer ranges.