We headed out to the desert with the expectation of needing a little 4 wheel drive. We needed a lot of 4 wheel drive as it was a muddy mess.
Parked on top of one of my favorite grassing spots for antelope and started looking over all the different bucks from about a mile away. One of the bucks stood out as bigger than the rest and so we hiked off the hill heading his way. When we got to the herd we were between 175 and 350 yards but we couldn't see the big buck. Laying on our bellies glassing away and a pickup drives right into the herd. Well out pops the big buck. He runs out to about 400 and stops with a doe in front of him. The pickup realized we were there and politely backs out but the herd took off.
We circled around them and got on a hill above the herd as it was getting late in the evening. I started trying to find the big buck in the low light and ranged him at 525. He was grazing away from us at a slow walk. He finally stopped at 580 and turned broadside. I dial in 6.75 moa and hold 1 moa for 5 mph full value wind and send a round at him. Clean miss! I will say even though I had a side kick with me, he didn't do any spotting other than with the binos. So I ran the turret, shooter app, range finder and wind. That is a lot to think about while trying to make a good shot as well. I racked the bolt and reset as the buck took just a few steps and looked around.
The second shot hit the buck just behind the shoulder a bit low and exited in front of the off side shoulder. He ran about 30-40 feet before finally expiring. After the 600 yard walk to the downed buck I found I had harvested one of the average bucks in the herd not the big one I was after. My conclusion was that doing this long range shooting is a challenge when pressed for time especially when trying to manage all of the data and maintain good shooting technique and selecting a quality animal mixed in a herd.
Gun details:
264 Win Mag
Rem 700 LA BDL w/ factory tuned trigger set at 2#
28" Lilja barrel
McMillan A3-5
Harris bipod
Nightforce 5.5-22X50 with gunwerks reticle
140 Berger VLD @ 3135 fps
Leica 1600 LRF
I will say the Berger hit quite a bit of bone as it went through the bottom of the brisket taking out the breast bone and shredding the heart in the process. It was quite destructive.
Parked on top of one of my favorite grassing spots for antelope and started looking over all the different bucks from about a mile away. One of the bucks stood out as bigger than the rest and so we hiked off the hill heading his way. When we got to the herd we were between 175 and 350 yards but we couldn't see the big buck. Laying on our bellies glassing away and a pickup drives right into the herd. Well out pops the big buck. He runs out to about 400 and stops with a doe in front of him. The pickup realized we were there and politely backs out but the herd took off.
We circled around them and got on a hill above the herd as it was getting late in the evening. I started trying to find the big buck in the low light and ranged him at 525. He was grazing away from us at a slow walk. He finally stopped at 580 and turned broadside. I dial in 6.75 moa and hold 1 moa for 5 mph full value wind and send a round at him. Clean miss! I will say even though I had a side kick with me, he didn't do any spotting other than with the binos. So I ran the turret, shooter app, range finder and wind. That is a lot to think about while trying to make a good shot as well. I racked the bolt and reset as the buck took just a few steps and looked around.
The second shot hit the buck just behind the shoulder a bit low and exited in front of the off side shoulder. He ran about 30-40 feet before finally expiring. After the 600 yard walk to the downed buck I found I had harvested one of the average bucks in the herd not the big one I was after. My conclusion was that doing this long range shooting is a challenge when pressed for time especially when trying to manage all of the data and maintain good shooting technique and selecting a quality animal mixed in a herd.
Gun details:
264 Win Mag
Rem 700 LA BDL w/ factory tuned trigger set at 2#
28" Lilja barrel
McMillan A3-5
Harris bipod
Nightforce 5.5-22X50 with gunwerks reticle
140 Berger VLD @ 3135 fps
Leica 1600 LRF
I will say the Berger hit quite a bit of bone as it went through the bottom of the brisket taking out the breast bone and shredding the heart in the process. It was quite destructive.
My buddy and I have been trying to do a better job of picture taking to preserve those memories.
