Hunting without trajectory validation up to 600 meters possible?

First of all: Why does someone even ask something like that?

In many European countries, there is no possibility to train long range shooting very often. Most shooting ranges have 100m and 150m targets. Of course, there are some shooting ranges with targets up to 1000 Meters, but they are usually not opened for civilians.

Maybe once or if you're very lucky twice a year, these military facilities are opened for a competition and most of the time only for a limited number of participants. Most countries just don't have long range shooting stands you can visit regularly. Hunters and shooters are very restricted by law as well. Zeroing your rifle in the forest? Forget it! Trajectory validation in an open field? Not allowed! (Depending on the country.)


Now Imagine: You're on a hunt. You see your trophy of a lifetime at 600 Meters (no wind). You absolutely have to take the shot because it's not possible getting closer. Hunting season ends tomorrow and you haven't shot anything yet. At the end you don't take the shot, because you don't know if your ballistic calculator is right and you don't want to injure the animal. Do you guys feel the pain?

Oh we envy the american people and their freedoms.

To the question:

Let's assume I have a 24" 1:10" 300 WinMag hunting rifle. The ammunition manufacturer published the bullets MV with a 24" 1:10" barrel as well. I give my StrelokPro sight height, zero distance, pressure, humidity, temperature, BC and MV from the manufacturer. Would it be realistic to hit
let's say a red deer buck in his vitals without having done trajectory validation?


How accurate are ballistic calculators when fed with the manufacturer BC's and MV's and how far can I expect it to be accurate?

I'd really like to extend my shooting distances up to maximum 600 Meters. I do train a lot. But only at 150m.

Having just recently started using Ballistic calculators, I can tell you that you have to shoot to prove the calculations. Then adjustments can be made. I found elevation to be the biggest variable. You may sight in at say sea level, enter the intel, but when you are at 2500 ft. above sea level, if you calculator desn't adjust for elevation, the come ups will be off. That's all I think I know.

The manufacturers published velocities for ammunition are also normally overstated.

I'd say yes if you can verify the velocity. I'd also research some real world BC of the bullets you're shooting.

Can you get your hands on a good chronograph. If so it will help you. Not all chronys are that accurate but would probably get you in the kill zone at 600m. From what I hear lab radar is spot on.

Labradar chrony data from your rifle and load in current temps.
True BC known- bryan litz or hornady radar data.
Kestral environmental readings that are current and accurate.
Deer ranged precisely.
Actual Scope adjustments have been checked and compensated for (if needed). I like a level once past 400y, and the scope true to that level.
No wind, or very very little since "no" wind never seems to happen.
Good solid shooting position and fundamentals.

Then I would say its possible, but I don't think I would try it.

As others have said, it is definitely possible to 600 yards (meters) with something like a 300 winmag.

Out to this distance, the main determiner of trajectory is velocity. At this distance you can have a very wide discrepency in BC, and as long as the velocity is spot on, you will be very close (as in within a very few inches or cm) to actual trajectory.

The BC's of bullets are published and more than accurate enough for this distance. So you won't have to true the BC or any of that.

The main issue you will run into is obtaining that accurate velocity. You will absolutely need that reliable chronograph. The velocity printed on the box should be regarded as nothing more than advertising.

Here is an example run on JBM Ballistics:180 grain Accubond @ 3000 fps, @ sea level.
600 meters @ a .507 advertised BC
Drop = 92.4 in / 234.6 cm
13.4 moa / 3.9 mil

600 meters @ a .557 BC
Drop = 88.8 in / 225.6 cm
12.9 moa / 3.8 mil

So you see that even a rather large BC discrepency has very little effect at this range with this caliber. It amounts to 3.5 inches or 9 cm. Or in angular measurements 0.5 moa or 0.1 mils. But that velocity has to be correct.

I feel for ya, not an enviable situation!!

I'm very confident in setting up ballistics, I know my tools for data gathering are accurate and I wouldn't take a shot on an animal at an unverified and unpracticed range. Honestly if your allowed to shoot at game at that range I'd take a shot at a target near an animal and verify it in that situation, just any way to at least get one or two verification shots in before going to game. You can verify your dial up at 100 and make sure your dial ups are matching what it shoots for each range then you just need a couple verification rounds at the actual distance.

It's not a shot I would take and I used to practice out to 1200 yards almost every weekend. Even to this day I haven't taken a shot past 125 yards. I've only shot at varmints and predators past 125 yards and even then I try to go for a clean kill. But that's a personal choice. I'd work on my field craft to be able to stalk closer in to say 200 yards, maybe 300. And I'd try to learn the area ahead of time to use the nature cover to get me in close.

There's some good posts already, but let's put it this way, if ur experienced enough, have scope that tracks accurately, use a kestrel with a proven chrony and reliable bc then it probably would work, but there's so many little things that go wrong. A very easy on is bouncing the wrong object with your rangefinder and doping the wrong distance.
My opinion, build a lightweight target with a shootnc target on it, when you set out in the morning, set it up, walk to 600 and verify your shot at least then continue hunting, you can easily see your impact at 600 on those targets.

What you could do is a "zero point blank range" like on JBM's ballistics calculator. I just did one for 200gr AccuBond going 2950 fps. Gets you out to 360 yards with plus or minus 5 inches of point of aim. But without verifying your hits at distance I still consider it risky.

I would shoot to your comfort level. From the sounds of your post, 600 meters is outside of that. Maybe try to get to your hunting area a day early and get some longer range practice in. From that practice you should have a good idea of your comfort zone. Trust your gut though. If it feels too long dont take the shot.

It's great to live in America

Not a good situation to say the least! For me anything past 300-400 yards is pushing it unless I 've practiced plenty with that rifle at longer ranges. One thing you could do that might help is once you've got all your dope down is check it by setting up a tall target at the max range you can shoot. You can then check your elevation by dialing up and shooting bullseye. Then measure the height of your groups from were they are compared to what they should be with the applied elavation.