Shooting within your limits.

Edd101

Member
Obviously it's important to know the capability of your chosen rifle/calibre. It's then vital to ensure you are accurate enough to kill. I know that the DSC1 is a 4" group @ 100yards, I think it's a given that most experienced people will be shooting 1" or so at that range. When extending the range what would you say is an acceptable benchmark at 200yards or even three hundred yards? Lets say you consistently shoot 3" at 200yards, would that be your limit until you'd got that better?
 
3" @ 200yds isn't going to cut the mustard. I'm sure you are going to get a plethora of opinions on this subject.
 
"Real stalking conditions" is the thing here. Conditions vary so much. Weather, terrain, is there time to deploy your sticks or use another steadying method or not? I really don't think you can be proscriptive in specifying groups at specific ranges except when on a range or other controlled environment. There might be a reasonable killing shot at 200 yards in some circumstances and in another, 50 yards might be a push.
 
From an inch @ 100 yards to three inches @ 200 yards, there is something wrong with your rifle / load.
I guess it was just a slightly arbitrary example to illustrate the point of how a novice stalker progresses in their marksmanship and confidence without taking unreasonable much risk on live quarry.
 
3" @ 200yds isn't going to cut the mustard. I'm sure you are going to get a plethora of opinions on this subject.
And yet DSC1 etc only requires 4" group at 100yards? While not ideal if the point of aim on a body shot is correct that area is still in the engine room.
 
In my experience going from 100-250m is pretty straightforward if you know your kit. And probably doable with maximum point blank range idea in most calibres. Once you get to about 300m and above it’s all about reading wind and that’s a skill most traditional stalkers never learn or really need. It’s easy enough to stretch a decent group to 350m in no wind but to do the same in a decent breeze takes practice.
 
On a range and against a static target which is a piece of paper, I would shoot 4’s, 5’s and Vbulls at 600 yds with all my stalking rifles, but I would never shoot beyond 300 yds in a deer simply because the risk of ‘what if’ is many times greater when it’s a living creature.

Despite I know I can shoot at extended ranges, I personally don’t feel that the risk is worth it, and I also like the challenge of getting closer!
 
3" @ 200yds isn't going to cut the mustard. I'm sure you are going to get a plethora of opinions on this subject.
Why not?
Under the conditions that I did my DSC1, you were doing exceptionally well to get within 4" at 100 yards. I'm sure @Kalahari will bear me out on that.
Regardless of experience. And a number of experienced stalkers did fail the test that day.
I'd be pretty much ecstatic to get measured groups under 3", consistently, at 200 yards. But I kill deer consistently at that distance.
 
Don’t over think it. Just do the same as you do at 100m. You do need to be able to take effective longer range shots. So it’s worth practicing. You won’t get a straight answer on here. However 3” at 200y with a modern rifle and scope is probably on the **** side.
 
"Real stalking conditions" is the thing here. Conditions vary so much. Weather, terrain, is there time to deploy your sticks or use another steadying method or not? I really don't think you can be proscriptive in specifying groups at specific ranges except when on a range or other controlled environment. There might be a reasonable killing shot at 200 yards in some circumstances and in another, 50 yards might be a push.
I find my likely accuracy is affected by whether I am breathing out of my a@@@ while wondering whether my lungs are bursting or I am going to have a heart attack.....
 
The whole thing gets down to what can the shooter actually do without being on a bench rest. If you can hold inch groups off sticks or some other means of rest such as a pack do the shooting at extended ranges to find out what you can do. Blaming the rifle and load for shooter error is ridiculous. I will now await the coming abuse.
 
Years ago I went from a 4x40 scope to a 3-9x40 variable on the recommendation of the late Hubert Heatherington (Stag1933).

Seeing the extent of the wobble was a revelation, if within the kill zone great, if not don't shoot. I still do that today, it teaches you you limits.
 
Don’t over think it. Just do the same as you do at 100m. You do need to be able to take effective longer range shots. So it’s worth practicing. You won’t get a straight answer on here. However 3” at 200y with a modern rifle and scope is probably on the **** side.
You need a lot more technique as the ranges increases.
I also very much doubt that the average shooter is capable of shooting a true 1 1/2” group consistently at any distance even from a rest. You might, I might but I”ve seen far more candidates fail HCAP and DSC shooting tests than the written exams.
 
Why not?
Under the conditions that I did my DSC1, you were doing exceptionally well to get within 4" at 100 yards. I'm sure @Kalahari will bear me out on that.
Regardless of experience. And a number of experienced stalkers did fail the test that day.
I'd be pretty much ecstatic to get measured groups under 3", consistently, at 200 yards. But I kill deer consistently at that distance.
Fairly tricky day Tim! Blowing a real hoolie and freezing cold. I will never forget the odd feeling of peeling my coat off the ground getting up from prone because I was frozen to the ground.

David.
 
Fairly tricky day Tim! Blowing a real hoolie and freezing cold. I will never forget the odd feeling of peeling my coat off the ground getting up from prone because I was frozen to the ground.

David.
Not to mention horizontal driving sleet and reduced visibility. It was a day to remember!
 
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