What do you consider a "chip shot"

[McCrapper]

The confidence in this thread is astounding.

 

[JohnJohnson]

Ton of variability for sure. I'm fairly confident that I can shoot a tighter group at 400 yards prone off a pack than I can off-hand at 100 haha

I've decided to carry a heavy enough rifle that offhand past 50 yards is a no-go for me. For now I'm just going to go all in on supported positions like tripod, prone, or seated off a gamechanger bag.

 

[ianpadron]

The confidence in this thread is astounding.

Considering we're on a long range hunting thread on a forum that tends to collect individuals who are serious about their passions, I don't find that surprising at all.

If this post was made on the Western Hunting Facebook page, and Jim Bob and Bubba were telling you about killing bulls at 600 with a lil Kentucky windage, I think you'd have a point to make.

 

[Macintosh]

Thank you- but that’s my point. 400 yards on animals is not what I would consider a “chip shot”, and my experience is when people say it is- they don’t have very much experience killing animals at 400+ yards. Though suppose it depends on someone’s definition of what a “chip shot” is.
The Cold Bire challenge on here revealed to any watching it- that a whole lot of “600 yards is a chip shot” believers missed once or both times at sub 500 yards on a 10” target.





Believing that any shot is a chip shot or an easy shot is often what leads to poor outcomes, because it means we aren’t giving the shot the attention it deserves. The last animal I killed was at 782 yards, the one before that was 1,106 yards, the one before at around 100 yards- I did not think any of them were chip shots. It’s just probabilities based on shooter, environment, and animal.

So, I’ll single myself out. This is what I initially wrote:

To me a chip shot is one I cant miss.

Ok, this is overstating it. Guns shoot predictably, but I should have said it was a shot with very high odds.

Assuming a rock solid shooting position—prone or as-stable as prone—Im going to go out in a limb and say its 500 yards in easy wind conditions. Add in tricky wind and its shorter. It might be longer than 500 in ideal conditions, but thats +\- the range where small ranging errors, mirage, up/downdrafts, etc have surprised me.

I also think the cold bore challenge threads are an eye-opener in this regard. An awful lot of people missed on shots they thought they could make. Im no different.

In hindsight, what I didnt mention was time, and “cant miss” is a %-point or two high. yes its clear there is never 100% odds, so “chip shot” probably implies less focus—my assumption was that shooter focus is a given, I certainly did not intend to convey anything other than full attention to it. Having high confidence is not the same to me as being cavalier. I shoot casual PRS and have for a solid handful of years, so long range is not a new thing for me, but Im also no ace and I dont get to practice as much as Id like—so I dont take the distance lightly. I also hunt a decent amount and have for a long time, so am very familiar with how a jacked-up hunter can mess up an “easy” shot even at very close range when adrenaline is pumping, and all the various things that happen to make a less than perfect shot. So totally true, I dont have the experience to say Im a seasoned long range hunter—Im absolutely not—but I do know well what I can do with a rifle under a time limit at longer range, and I know well how I react to a shot on game and other pressure.
That said, we all know a reasonable rifle on a rock solid rest with +\- zero wind, on flattish terrain, with grass and low brush as a stand-in for wind-flags, and a solid range via lrf, hitting a vital-area sized target (10” was the cbc size, right?) is a matter of having a good range, good confirmed dope and executing a good trigger press. Other posters mentioned 200 yards NOT from prone, shooting offhand, not dialing, shooting quickly, etc.—thats a totally different ballgame, not at all what Im talking about. Hopefully my post made it clear that me saying 500 yards was ONLY under the absolute best of conditions. Wind, or terrain that doesnt allow for evaluating wind easily, will shorten that up a lot. Position will shorten it up a lot. Time will shorten it up a lot. Me out of breath and not having time to steady both gun and nerves will shorten it up a LOT.

But I guess I interpreted the question differently. I tried to answer only for the most ideal conditions, ie describing the “longest chip shot” was more than the yardage, but also included the full array of “as easy as it exists” conditions, including probably having time to dry-fire a few times, adjust position for npoa, etc. because under normal conditions Im not taking a long shot!! I guess a high-% shot is the only shot Im taking, so its kind of the same thing as my self-imposed maximum range for whatever position/conditions/etc we’re talking about.

Regardless, Guess I still don't see that shot, in those rare conditions, is less than a very high probability shot. Do you see it differently? If you plug in a 1.5”ish es rifle with essentially zero wind and all ideal conditions into the wez, what does it say?

And yes, as soon as you start introducing all of those factors into the equation more, all bets are off. This is really a teaser thread for the ‘24 CBC, isnt it?

 

[huntnful]

Considering we're on a long range hunting thread on a forum that tends to collect individuals who are serious about their passions, I don't find that surprising at all.

If this post was made on the Western Hunting Facebook page, and Jim Bob and Bubba were telling you about killing bulls at 600 with a lil Kentucky windage, I think you'd have a point to make.

Agreed. I’d wager a good amount that I could put a bullet within 5” of the bullseye under the parameters I gave.

 

[ianpadron]

This thread makes me certain we need to start implementing weapon restrictions. Growing up I never heard of someone shooting over 300 yds really, now everyone wants to send it @5-600 all the time. Bring on the open sight rifles baby!!!!

Growing up did guys have easy access to laser rangefinders? Ballistic apps? Portable weather stations? High BC projectiles and cartridges optimized for them?

That argument doesn't make a lot of sense.

I don't think anyone in this thread is shooting grandpa's .30-06 loaded with 180 core lokts and a duplex reticled scope haha

 

[180ls1]

Growing up did guys have easy access to laser rangefinders? Ballistic apps? Portable weather stations? High BC projectiles and cartridges optimized for them?

That argument doesn't make a lot of sense.

I don't think anyone in this thread is shooting grandpa's .30-06 loaded with 180 core lokts and a duplex reticled scope haha

Yeah, todays muzzleloaders outshoot the rifles of years past.

If we're talking restrictions let's start with the "limited" weapons. Heck, if I shoot a standing group with my bow and my 30-30 I bet it'll be close.

 

[JohnJohnson]

This thread makes me certain we need to start implementing weapon restrictions. Growing up I never heard of someone shooting over 300 yds really, now everyone wants to send it @5-600 all the time. Bring on the open sight rifles baby!!!!

Open sight muzzleloaders and only traditional archery, none of that COMMUNIST (I mean compound) blasphemy. As someone who doesn't understand how animal populations/ecology works, I think weapon advancements have made hunters too effective and caused game populations to go down. I can prove it through anecdotes from a hungover fish and game guy I once talked to about it.

 

[Diced]

This thread makes me certain we need to start implementing weapon restrictions. Growing up I never heard of someone shooting over 300 yds really, now everyone wants to send it @5-600 all the time. Bring on the open sight rifles baby!!!!

Who's we? Do you mean states need to start implementing restrictions on what rifle/scopes can be used?

 

[S.Clancy]

Growing up did guys have easy access to laser rangefinders? Ballistic apps? Portable weather stations? High BC projectiles and cartridges optimized for them?

That argument doesn't make a lot of sense.

I don't think anyone in this thread is shooting grandpa's .30-06 loaded with 180 core lokts and a duplex reticled scope haha

You're making my point

 

[S.Clancy]

Who's we? Do you mean states need to start implementing restrictions on what rifle/scopes can be used?

Yes. Max scope power, remove the ability to use BDS rangefinders and binos. Hell, I would be fine getting rid of range finders in general

 

[S.Clancy]

Open sight muzzleloaders and only traditional archery, none of that COMMUNIST (I mean compound) blasphemy. As someone who doesn't understand how animal populations/ecology works, I think weapon advancements have made hunters too effective and caused game populations to go down. I can prove it through anecdotes from a hungover fish and game guy I once talked to about it.

I would add open sight rifles as well.

 

[ianpadron]

I would add open sight rifles as well.

OK, so not to derail this thread more than it already has been, why are ya on the Long Range forum? Pretty sure rule #1 is pretty clear over here...just sayin!

 

[Reburn]

I have learned to not take any shot at any range for granted.

 

[S.Clancy]

I wonder how these "chip shot" distances would change if 25K was on the line and not an animal....

 

[ianpadron]

I wonder how these "chip shot" distances would change if 25K was on the line and not an animal....

You putting up the $25k?

 

[Hnthrdr]

Yes. Max scope power, remove the ability to use BDS rangefinders and binos. Hell, I would be fine getting rid of range finders in general

Do you own stock in weatherby rifles? This is how we get a bunch of 6.5-300 weatherby’s as the premier cartridge since it only drops X” at 500 yards

 

[Ryan Avery]

The cold bore challenge is coming. I hope to see you all there.....

 

[S.Clancy]

Do you own stock in weatherby rifles? This is how we get a bunch of 6.5-300 weatherby’s as the premier cartridge since it only drops X” at 500 yards

Haha. I know a guy back before rangefinders that shot a .300-378 for that reason.

 

[TaperPin]

I don't think anyone in this thread is shooting grandpa's .30-06 loaded with 180 core lokts and a duplex reticled scope haha

I have a couple old Remington -06 barrels, so out of curiosity to see what gramps was working with - that bullet sure runs out of gas past 400.