Sighting in your rifles for hunting

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 6, 2020

Shootist43 said:
Lots of good advice so far, but what if the quarry is a crocodile? Maybe as was mentioned the correct answer is somewhat "game" and distance dependent.

Shootist43
Just get one of them gator hunters off swamp people mate then just pop the sucker in the head from 2 to 3 feet and don't worry about sighting in or caliber. Just need a 22 rimfire then.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha
Cheers mate Bob

Tanks · May 6, 2020

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:
Buckdog
My sentiments exactly. If you have time to dial in your scope you can usually stalk closer. ...

Depends on game. Nowhere in hell we could have stalked closer in Turkey going after Anatolian Bezoar Ibex. Out West sometimes you have to shoot across canyons for Elk and the shots can be 600+ yards at times.

That is why I am building a .300 RUM, any place any distance PG rifle.

Frederik · May 6, 2020

Lot of good comments here.
But in the end it's not so much how you sighted in the rifle but how you handle it. The more you shoot with it before your trip the more you will know it and hopefully learn the drop. Having confidence in your gear puts you 85% there already and I'm not talking confidence in the so and so brand or bullet but confidence that the gear works and you have tested it. Not just from the bench but from other shooting positions.

For example 2006 I had 3 Austrian clients on a hunt one of them brought along his trusty well used 30-06 didnt have any issues and most of his animals went bang flop.
The other guy brought along a brand new Mauser M03 with a 375 H&H barrel when it came to checking the zero on the farm it was going to be his first shot with the rifle. His excuse he didnt have time and his gunsmith sighted the rifle for him. Ended up wounding 4 animals we found them all after some difficulty. His bushbuck was found while he was on his way back to the airport.
3rd Hunter had a beautiful Argentian mauser with gold engraving in 338 win mag same story gunsmith sighted in the rifle, checked zero it was fine. After 3 misses on animals went back to the range and saw that one of the mounts of the scope came loose tighten them up rezeroed and off we went.

Hunter with 30-06 had great confidence in his gear what do you think the other hunter had in theirs?
Yes that spoils the dream hunt you always dreamt off when things like these could be prevented.

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 6, 2020

Frederik said:
Lot of good comments here.
But in the end it's not so much how you sighted in the rifle but how you handle it. The more you shoot with it before your trip the more you will know it and hopefully learn the drop. Having confidence in your gear puts you 85% there already and I'm not talking confidence in the so and so brand or bullet but confidence that the gear works and you have tested it. Not just from the bench but from other shooting positions.

For example 2006 I had 3 Austrian clients on a hunt one of them brought along his trusty well used 30-06 didnt have any issues and most of his animals went bang flop.
The other guy brought along a brand new Mauser M03 with a 375 H&H barrel when it came to checking the zero on the farm it was going to be his first shot with the rifle. His excuse he didnt have time and his gunsmith sighted the rifle for him. Ended up wounding 4 animals we found them all after some difficulty. His bushbuck was found while he was on his way back to the airport.
3rd Hunter had a beautiful Argentian mauser with gold engraving in 338 win mag same story gunsmith sighted in the rifle, checked zero it was fine. After 3 misses on animals went back to the range and saw that one of the mounts of the scope came loose tighten them up rezeroed and off we went.

Hunter with 30-06 had great confidence in his gear what do you think the other hunter had in theirs?
Yes that spoils the dream hunt you always dreamt off when things like these could be prevented.

Frederick
Confidence in your rifle, your selected load and yourself only comes about with practice and maintaining your own rifle. That way you understand how things work and if something goes wrong you can tell immediately..
While hunting in Namibia I found listening to my PH paid off as well.
I knew where to hit game I shot in Australia and had studied shot placement for African animals as well.
By listening to my PH and where he wanted the bullet put resulted in 5 shots 5 animals including my kudu and black wildebeest..
Cheers mate
Bob

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 6, 2020

Tanks said:
Depends on game. Nowhere in hell we could have stalked closer in Turkey going after Anatolian Bezoar Ibex. Out West sometimes you have to shoot across canyons for Elk and the shots can be 600+ yards at times.

That is why I am building a .300 RUM, any place any distance PG rifle.

Tanks
You are a far better shot than me. I wouldn't attempt a,600 yard cross canyon shot on any animal. With wind swirls, thermal currents and other variables I just plain wouldn't attempt it . I know my chance of wounding would be to high for me to ethically take the shot no matter what I was using.
Just my thoughts
Bob Nelson

fourfive8 · May 6, 2020

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:
Tanks
You are a far better shot than me. I wouldn't attempt a,600 yard cross canyon shot on any animal. With wind swirls, thermal currents and other variables I just plain wouldn't attempt it . I know my chance of wounding would be to high for me to ethically take the shot no matter what I was using.
Just my thoughts
Bob Nelson

Exactly- well said there! Have to shoot? Where in the world does anyone HAVE TO SHOOT in a long range hunting scenario? I have no use for unethical sniper shooting as it is not hunting. Little more than a stunt for the benefit of internet posting or BSing those more impressionable than I. Relegates and degrades the game animal to little more than a "target".

Buckdog · May 6, 2020

Tanks said:
Depends on game. Nowhere in hell we could have stalked closer in Turkey going after Anatolian Bezoar Ibex. Out West sometimes you have to shoot across canyons for Elk and the shots can be 600+ yards at times.

That is why I am building a .300 RUM, any place any distance PG rifle.

tanks,
god love you if you like taking cold barrel shots with the wind blowing as it always does in the mountains at ranges of 600yds or more, I consider myself a pretty damn good shot and I have no interest in that BS. Sheep and goat hunts are expensive 1 shot 1 kill propositions (I know I have killed most of them) and never had to shoot more than 400yds and declined shots at 600yds or more several times. Same for Africa those trigger pulls can be expensive and I prefer 1 shot 1 kill. Know your gun and know yourself. Shooting that far at paper or steel is just fine but not 1 shot cold barrel in the wind at what is usually a very expensive trigger pull! Good luck with your rifle build a 300 RUM will weigh a ton and kick like a mule not exactly a petite field rifle LOL PS I have seen at least one of the so called long range hunting show guys shoot and he couldn't shoot for shit in the field under real life condtions! Shot fine off the bench but not on the side of a mtn with the wind blowing cross hill cold drizzle, animals milling around and moving and no nice bench rest he was definitely not a hunter.

Tanks · May 6, 2020

Frederik said:
...
3rd Hunter had a beautiful Argentian mauser with gold engraving in 338 win mag same story gunsmith sighted in the rifle, checked zero it was fine. After 3 misses on animals went back to the range and saw that one of the mounts of the scope came loose tighten them up rezeroed and off we went. ...

My personal view. I think it is the job of the PH to verify that all firearms are zeroed right the first day of the hunt, especially considering the flights etc.. The PH is getting paid for his experience and part of that is to make sure that the client's firearms are functional.

Every guided hunt I have been on we checked the zero after I arrived.

Buckdog · May 6, 2020

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:
Buckdog
My sentiments exactly. If you have time to dial in your scope you can usually stalk closer. Know you rifle and practice. Simple Plex reticle no dialing , know your rifle .
The more you have to play with the more chance of a mistake. I don't want my nice eating spike.t to be a big stag by the time in ready to shoot it.
K.I.S.S
Cheers mate Bob

Bob, I see a kinda common thread if you will in the posts most of us with some gray hair and probably a lot of animals put down like KISS method and have learned the hard way don't mess around in the field know your gun know yourself and put em in the dirt when the opportunity comes.
I have learned the school of hard knocks way the big boys don't like to present as ideal targets and don't give you a lot of time to F ___ around. Just practice and know your gun!

Tanks · May 6, 2020

Buckdog said:
tanks,
god love you if you like taking cold barrel shots with the wind blowing as it always does in the mountains at ranges of 600yds or more.

Good luck with your rifle build a 300 RUM will weigh a ton and kick like a mule not exactly a petite field rifle LOL ...

I personally have not been taking that kind of shot at anything other than prairie dogs, max has been 450 yards or so, but one guy at camp did, with his .300 WM. The previous year he got one at 700+ one of the guides told me.

.300 RUM recoil is a love tap compared to the big bores I'd say, and the weight is going to be 9.4 pounds (+ammo) with a scope. Not bad compared to the double I am taking this year weighing in at 11.6 lbs.

However, you do have a good point, which is why I train with a weighted vest working up to hiking 10 miles a day months before a hunt. It helps that my front yard is a National forest with hiking trails and hills etc. as there is no driving to get there.

Edit: The purpose for the .300 RUM is to take any PG out to 400 yards if needed, not to start long distance hunting at 600 and beyond though the firearm would be capable of it for sure.

Frederik · May 6, 2020

Tanks said:
My personal view. I think it is the job of the PH to verify that all firearms are zeroed right the first day of the hunt, especially considering the flights etc.. The PH is getting paid for his experience and part of that is to make sure that the client's firearms are functional.

Every guided hunt I have been on we checked the zero after I arrived.

Tanks, I think I either don't understand your comment or you have misread mine.
That is excatly what we did checked zero and two of the hunters never fired the rifles before in their life even if if was their own rifles.

IvW · May 6, 2020

Tanks said:
My personal view. I think it is the job of the PH to verify that all firearms are zeroed right the first day of the hunt, especially considering the flights etc.. The PH is getting paid for his experience and part of that is to make sure that the client's firearms are functional.

Every guided hunt I have been on we checked the zero after I arrived.

It never is and never was the PH's job to make sure your your rifle is sighted in or is in functional condition.....

Yes you should be given the opportunity to fire and check your own rifles zero and functionality. I cannot sight a rifle for a client, he/she needs to do that themselves....

What have the flight to do with sighting your rifle??

Unless I misunderstood your reply I stand by my flag......

IvW · May 6, 2020

Tanks said:
Depends on game. Nowhere in hell we could have stalked closer in Turkey going after Anatolian Bezoar Ibex. Out West sometimes you have to shoot across canyons for Elk and the shots can be 600+ yards at times.

That is why I am building a .300 RUM, any place any distance PG rifle.

Tanks said:
I personally have not been taking that kind of shot at anything other than prairie dogs, max has been 450 yards or so, but one guy at camp did, with his .300 WM. The previous year he got one at 700+ one of the guides told me.

.300 RUM recoil is a love tap compared to the big bores I'd say, and the weight is going to be 9.4 pounds (+ammo) with a scope. Not bad compared to the double I am taking this year weighing in at 11.6 lbs.

However, you do have a good point, which is why I train with a weighted vest working up to hiking 10 miles a day months before a hunt. It helps that my front yard is a National forest with hiking trails and hills etc. as there is no driving to get there.

Edit: The purpose for the .300 RUM is to take any PG out to 400 yards if needed, not to start long distance hunting at 600 and beyond though the firearm would be capable of it for sure.

You keep contradicting yourself......not sure who you are trying to impress but you are doing a bad job of it...

Tanks · May 6, 2020

No, I wasn't saying the PH had to sight in client's rifle. I was saying the PH had to make sure it was on the schedule for the first day (or when client arrived) for the client to do.

After 20+ hours of flights I would want to make sure the optics still work, and nothing has changed. That's what I mean by the flights.

Tanks · May 6, 2020

IvW said:
You keep contradicting yourself......not sure who you are trying to impress but you are doing a bad job of it...

No, I didn't say I personally shot Elk at 600+ yards. Look at my dope sheet for my Elk rifle. Ballistics/scope doesn't go that far. I was just pointing out that not everyone hunts at the type of terrain for bow shot distances. Also, I have listed my calibers before, I don't have a gun capable of 600 yard shot after .308 next is a .416 wildcat.

For whatever reason bunch of people are prejudiced against long distance shooters, almost the same prejudice against anyone who does use anything bigger than the .375 H&H for game. Most seem to have a view that competence and long distance/big bore shooting are mutually exclusive.

For the record I don't need to impress anyone. Especially, I don't need validity from a keyboard jockey on the Internet.

IvW · May 6, 2020

Tanks said:
and the shots can be 600+ yards at times.

That is why I am building a .300 RUM, any place any distance PG rifle.

^^^^^^
You wrote specifically that you were building a 300 RUM for 600+ yards...that is what you wrote.....

"validity from a keyboard jockey" haha at least you have a sense of humor....

Tanks · May 6, 2020

I have always said I wanted a "any distance, any place" as a generic term describing the .300 RUM rifle if you look at my previous threads for longer shots. I no longer hunt big game (not counting bears and cats) in NA so those 600+ canyon shots are not for me. Now, a 400 yard shot at Masailand, yes I'll take it.

If I don't go to Africa this year I will go prairie dog hunting and I will do my best for 500+ yard shots there but I think I'd leave the .300 RUM home (wouldn't get built in time anyway) as 3-400 shots a day would be a tad much. Might as well have a truck run over my shoulder.

8 x 60 · May 6, 2020

Bonk said:
MPBR. +/- 4". Simple is good.

What he said.

375 Ruger Fan · May 6, 2020

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:
Shootist43
Just get one of them gator hunters off swamp people mate then just pop the sucker in the head from 2 to 3 feet and don't worry about sighting in or caliber. Just need a 22 rimfire then.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha
Cheers mate Bob

Just choot'em!

Buckdog · May 6, 2020

Tanks said:
No, I didn't say I personally shot Elk at 600+ yards. Look at my dope sheet for my Elk rifle. Ballistics/scope doesn't go that far. I was just pointing out that not everyone hunts at the type of terrain for bow shot distances. Also, I have listed my calibers before, I don't have a gun capable of 600 yard shot after .308 next is a .416 wildcat.

For whatever reason bunch of people are prejudiced against long distance shooters, almost the same prejudice against anyone who does use anything bigger than the .375 H&H for game. Most seem to have a view that competence and long distance/big bore shooting are mutually exclusive.

For the record I don't need to impress anyone. Especially, I don't need validity from a keyboard jockey on the Internet.

Tanks
I have no issues with long distance shooting I love to do it myself JUST not a animals. As you know it requires specialized expensive guns, ammo and optics and a lot of practice. I usually carry a gun capable of long range but just don't want to take those shots at an animal. My prejudice is based upon knowing and seeing many many self proclaimed long range hunting gurus shoot and they couldn't shoot for shit!
So no offense please,
on a lighter note who is building your rigg what barrel, stock, optics etc why a 300RUM?

Sighting in your rifles for hunting

Bob Nelson 35Whelen

Tanks

Frederik

Bob Nelson 35Whelen

Bob Nelson 35Whelen

fourfive8

Buckdog

Tanks

Buckdog

Tanks

Frederik

IvW

IvW

Tanks

Tanks

IvW

Tanks

8 x 60

375 Ruger Fan

Buckdog

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