How do you handle targets at different ranges while hunting

[RealNick]

How do you guys find this is best to manage?

Holdover points on scope?

Aim high or low depending on zero and target range?

Have your list of clicks taped on and make and adjustment before a shot?

Wondering what's the preferred technique.

[Gwion]

What sort of hunting at what sort of ranges are you talking?

Get to know your point blank range and kill zone on the game. If it's beyond point blank range i use the BDC reticle, but you need to practice range estimation and targeting with the BDC to be effective. I only use 223 and 22lr. Longest shot i'd take on game would be 200m. My point blank is about 150m on the game i shoot most often.

[North East]

I just hold over an 1" or so at 100 yard. That will get me out to 300 yard without doing anything. That's with a .30-06 though....usually shot's are taken at 50-100 yards.

[brett1868]

I generally handle them by means of a bullet
Smaller calibres I zero @ 100 then shoot out to 200 and see what the drop is then just point, pray, squeeze. The bigger stuff I have ballistic tables that I've calculated and proofed at range. The skill then comes to how well I guestimate the range to target or if I'm shooting for groups I'll laze the distance and do the math for drop and then crank up the elevation knob. What you're shooting at and how much time you have will be the key deciders along with the scope reticle.

[headspace]

How do you guys find this is best to manage?

Holdover points on scope?

Aim high or low depending on zero and target range?

Have your list of clicks taped on and make and adjustment before a shot?

Wondering what's the preferred technique.

You didn't say what rifle / calibre your using so it's hard to say accurately. But first you have to determine your point blank range and be familiar with how much the bullet rises in it's trajectory. At sensible hunting ranges, say up to 275m some cartridges won't require much hold over at all depending on the size of the vitals on the target. MY 270 is sighted in to be 1 inch high at 200m and dead on at 250. However there's a lot of variables that will add up to your answer. I never adjust my scope in the field.
JD

[bigfellascott]

I generally put the X-hairs on their backline (shoulder area or top of their head) and send it (300m type distances) which usually results in a dead fox, just depends on the drop at those ranges but generally that works for me.

Best way for me to work where to aim at those longer ranges is to set up a target and take a few shots to see where they are landing, then take it from there.

[yoshie]

There is a few ballistic programs that calculate maximum blank point range. I sight my hunting rifles in this way. I'm not a good enough shot in the bush to hit anything further out than 300m. I'll try and stalk in closer than try and take a long shot.

[RealNick]

What sort of hunting at what sort of ranges are you talking?

Nothing specific, just general hunting. Closer for rabbits and the like, potential longer shots for larger game.

300m or maybe 400m is the normal 'maximum' I guess?

[Lorgar]

Aim high or low depending on zero and target range?

Have your list of clicks taped on and make and adjustment before a shot?

Aim high or low, sometimes read the trajectory print out beforehand just to make sure I remember it right

I zero for 100m with my 7mm.

At 50m POI is about 0.2" low, so no need to compensate for anything.

100m zero.

At 200m need to aim about 3.5" high.

At 300m need to aim about 13" high. Easy done on larger targets as you just aim at or slightly above the shoulder depending on size. Slightly above for smaller ones. Same as bigfellascott.

I don't shoot any further than that when hunting.

[RDobber]

I never adjust my scope in the field.

Ditto.

Easier to just memorize that few inches rise or drop.

[Westy]

What sort of hunting at what sort of ranges are you talking?

Nothing specific, just general hunting. Closer for rabbits and the like, potential longer shots for larger game.

300m or maybe 400m is the normal 'maximum' I guess?

Just a quick note 300-400 is a bloody long way in the bush unless you live somewhere like Birdsville (Flat and Empty) When culling Roo's we set the crosshairs on 100m and normally use a 223 with 55grn
@ 100m it's a head shot
@200 m its a neck shot
@ 300m it's a chest shot
and anything past that is good Bloody luck IMHO
My last 10 Deer have all been shot under 100m as it's a bloody long way in the scrub as I have mentioned before!!!!!!

[headspace]

Got to agree with you on that Westy, I like to be as close as possible. I've heard all these long range stories and most of 'em are horse manure. There's an awful lot of variables between the muzzle and 400m.

[SendIt]

I've heard all these long range stories and most of 'em are horse manure.

Range is the hunters version of the fishermen's "this big"

[Patrol66]

I use the hold over method , I don't adjust the scope in field. Longest shot has been out to 180m with centre fire. Still trying to get a handle on the 22 though. Swing and a miss last weekend but that was all me, fur is much different than paper targets. More practice, practice, practice for me

[Warrigul]

I've heard all these long range stories and most of 'em are horse manure.

Range is the hunters version of the fishermen's "this big"

It is quite interesting to stand on the 200yd mound and ask someone(who hasn't been there before) how far away are the butts.

No one has ever guessed 200yds, the most extravagant was 600m the best was 250, most were 300 plus. It is even more interesting to ask someone how far are those targets at 100m, I have had a couple of blokes swear they would never shoot that far as it was at least a couple of hundred meters away.

So when someone tells me how they dropped their stag at 500m I nod, smile and congratulate them on a great shot. Why burst their happy bubble?

[BRNOmod2]

Holdover - only use few calibres for hunting, so I learn my hold overs for sensible hunting ranges.

[keen]

It is quite interesting to stand on the 200yd mound and ask someone(who hasn't been there before) how far away are the butts.

No one has ever guessed 200yds, the most extravagant was 600m the best was 250, most were 300 plus.

Sounds like me, I'm crap at it

[valkyrie]

I use the focus adjustment on the front of the scope to estimate the range and then its easy enough to judge the poi

[RoginaJack]

Range is the hunters version of the fishermen's "this big"

Ah well, that stuffs me up well and truly! I like fishing n hunting and love coffee too!.

[VICHunter]

Range is the hunters version of the fishermen's "this big"

And the size of the deer.

"Got a Chital, must have been 150kg!"

Heard of a few, never seen one

[1290]

Easiest might be the MBPR method.... no adjustment in field, no holdover within range just point and shoot provided your within the range.

Choose your accepted target size hit zone, depending on size it might be 2 4 or 6inches for example. Then use a spreadsheet or online calculator to work out the ZERO distance where the bullet path does not go greater than half the target size above or below (rise or fall in trajectory) the point of aim as it travels from the muzzle to the target.

Using the example of a 308win with a 168gr proj of BC 0.45 (the variables here are muzzle vel and BC only!)
Into the spreadsheet we get;

Zero distance 228yds (first zero at 24yds) .
This translates to a max rise of 3inches at about 130yds
and a drop of 3inches at about 267yds

This means that the projectile, velocity, zero combination provides a Maximum point blank range of 267yds. What this means is that provided you are able to determine/estimate that the range is at or less than 267yds - put the crosshair dead-on and you will be within the 6inch range (+3/-3) on the target whether the actual distance is 20 or 150 or 267yds.....

[RealNick]

Good explanation 1290