Caveman0101
Well-Known Member
I've been hunting for almost 40 years, that is to say, all my life I can remember. Started with dove, squirrel, rabbit with 410 and 22. Grew up in the south, hunted and lived out west for the past 27 years. Killed my first deer with a gun when I was 9, first bow kill at 12. Most animals I've taken have been on public land all western game have been DIY. Never really kept count of deer and elk, until the last 6 years when my boys came of age, we've killed 20 elk in that time. So I think probably personally something like 50+ kills with a bow (whitetail, muley, elk) 25 or so with a muzz, 100+ with a rifle. I say all this not to brag but to establish I might know a thing or two about hunting. Mostly these days on hunting trips I get friends and family into a position to kill an animal and I enjoy it as much as doing it for myself and then I bat cleanup late season.
Now to my point, I keep reading guys asking what cal., for a given distance for western hunting and that they would never shoot over 500 yards. I say to myself either this person has no clue what hunting out west is actually like or they are going on a canned hunt where shots can be passed up until you get just the right situation. That being said you should never take a shot you aren't absolutely confident in making cleanly. Know your personal limitation and your firearms capabilities.
With today's bullet design I truly believe up to moose any North American game can be taken with proper bullet placement with 140 grain and up bullets as long as the velocity is within the designed range. This is a primary limiting factor in the bullets performance. So as long as you put it where it should go and the bullet is traveling the appropriate speed at impact they will do their job. !!! Please read that carefully before saying "it doesn't matter how fast the bullet is going if you don't put it in the right spot" I said bullet placement is crucial. But if the bullet is designed to work down to 2200fps then that should be your absolute limit whatever the distance. I've personally seen people in disbelief when you tell them and show them that there range with a 180gr bullet in a 30-06 with a 22" barrel should be limited to 400 yards or less. Because the MV was @2600fps and the low design limit was 2200. My suggestion was if you're going to shoot 30cal with that bullet get a magnum if you want more range or change bullets.
So what I'm trying to say is bullet selection is more important than caliber. After that, it is knowing exactly what your chosen caliber is doing at any given range.
Now about actually hunting. The most consistent way to take elk and deer on public land out west with a rifle is to be able to shoot from ridge to ridge. Mostly that puts the ranges at 400-800 yards. Once I became proficient at this form of hunting elk we've taken multiple elk every year. And for the guy who is going to say "you can always get closer" I can't even begin to tell you how full of bulls!!! that is. I've killed elk at 7 steps with an arrow, I've called in 25+ bulls for friends and family to shoot with bow and arrow, I know how to get close. If you are on public land and have an opportunity to take a good clean shot with a solid rest at a distance you know you can place the bullet at the exact right spot then take it. Because I don't care how far back you think you are, there is more than likely some other guy trying to do the same, or an Fn coyote is about to mess it all up. (had both happen on several occasions)
So in conclusion: stop asking what cal. for out to 500 yards, start asking what bullet should I use for long range hunting that can also do the job at 50 yards. And pick something in a range and weight that you will be comfortable with the recoil.
P.S. I started elk hunting with a 30-06' then 340wby, then 300wby, I've killed the last several with 280rem and 260rem out to 700 yards all one shot DRT.
So think bullet, bullet placement, bullet, bullet placement in whatever caliber you like and shoot well.
Now to my point, I keep reading guys asking what cal., for a given distance for western hunting and that they would never shoot over 500 yards. I say to myself either this person has no clue what hunting out west is actually like or they are going on a canned hunt where shots can be passed up until you get just the right situation. That being said you should never take a shot you aren't absolutely confident in making cleanly. Know your personal limitation and your firearms capabilities.
With today's bullet design I truly believe up to moose any North American game can be taken with proper bullet placement with 140 grain and up bullets as long as the velocity is within the designed range. This is a primary limiting factor in the bullets performance. So as long as you put it where it should go and the bullet is traveling the appropriate speed at impact they will do their job. !!! Please read that carefully before saying "it doesn't matter how fast the bullet is going if you don't put it in the right spot" I said bullet placement is crucial. But if the bullet is designed to work down to 2200fps then that should be your absolute limit whatever the distance. I've personally seen people in disbelief when you tell them and show them that there range with a 180gr bullet in a 30-06 with a 22" barrel should be limited to 400 yards or less. Because the MV was @2600fps and the low design limit was 2200. My suggestion was if you're going to shoot 30cal with that bullet get a magnum if you want more range or change bullets.
So what I'm trying to say is bullet selection is more important than caliber. After that, it is knowing exactly what your chosen caliber is doing at any given range.
Now about actually hunting. The most consistent way to take elk and deer on public land out west with a rifle is to be able to shoot from ridge to ridge. Mostly that puts the ranges at 400-800 yards. Once I became proficient at this form of hunting elk we've taken multiple elk every year. And for the guy who is going to say "you can always get closer" I can't even begin to tell you how full of bulls!!! that is. I've killed elk at 7 steps with an arrow, I've called in 25+ bulls for friends and family to shoot with bow and arrow, I know how to get close. If you are on public land and have an opportunity to take a good clean shot with a solid rest at a distance you know you can place the bullet at the exact right spot then take it. Because I don't care how far back you think you are, there is more than likely some other guy trying to do the same, or an Fn coyote is about to mess it all up. (had both happen on several occasions)
So in conclusion: stop asking what cal. for out to 500 yards, start asking what bullet should I use for long range hunting that can also do the job at 50 yards. And pick something in a range and weight that you will be comfortable with the recoil.
P.S. I started elk hunting with a 30-06' then 340wby, then 300wby, I've killed the last several with 280rem and 260rem out to 700 yards all one shot DRT.
So think bullet, bullet placement, bullet, bullet placement in whatever caliber you like and shoot well.
