Ok, I'm not the expert here on makin long shots/kills. I'm 47 and have heard all kinds of 'long shots' made. Some over 400, maybe even 500 yds! Like I told my son:if you didn't see it, just nod your head a little, say 'Wow' and move on. I don't wanna hear "I made a shot at ---yds." from everyone (see above). I have to question anything over 300 yds. Not saying it didn't happen. Just start questioning at that range.
But just wondered. What percentage of long shot stories do you think are B.S?

I watch Best of the West television show and they shoot very often between 400 and 700 yards. Pretty amazing.

I wouldn't brag about taking a really long shot myself or take a long shot unless I upgraded and got a long-range scope and rifle.

they say 75% of all statistics are made up

If it is here on the THF, then it has to be true. But only on the THF.

I dunno.

get a great rangefinder too...that's what will generally make or break ya.

I'd say ask the "story teller" which range finder he had. When he says he doesn't own one, just walk away.

Got that same advise from my old man when I was a young lad. We've killed some rocks and targets at those distances but not with out making a shot or two and adjusting for windage and everything else that takes an effect on a bullet at those ranges. I myself see it as risky to take such long shots. Im sure it happens but probably not as offten as some claim.

lol...I've gone as far as counting telephone poles to get a reasonable estimate of how far a deer was.

Any shot over 300 yards takes alot of rifle, alot of scope, and alot of shooter. Not to mention a little luck.

I made a shot at 275 yards once years ago. All other long range attempts I have missed. I think you can reasonably shoot 200 yards out of your deer blind window. Further than that and you would need a bench rest. The guys that do the long range shooting do a tremendous amount of practice at true long range targets to learn everything about their rifle and the way it shoots. Those type of shooters are few and far between, but know that there are a few that can do amazing shots at long distances.

Most people just run their mouth and toot their own horn on long shots trying to one-up.

I seriously doubt they are that far.

Well, back when I was in sniper school....

LOL, bout what I expected!
I have a Vortex 6x24x50 scope. Clear, great scope in my opinion. My vision is close to 20/20 with glasses, but still, my eyes aren't good enough to be shooting that far. And agree with you guys, without a rangefinder, I wouldn't be able to estimate yardage out past 150 or so very accurately. It kills me when people talk some of their crap about shots they made.

Your right, lots of BS. The longest I have made was 278 on a buck, 282 on a doe of my own and 334 on a doe somebody else wounded and ran out of bullets before I put her down. Yes I own a range finder and that's how I know the distances. I prefer 100 yards and in when I can managed what I anticipate what may happen ahead of time. I have to have a very steady rest to take shots that are over two hundred yards or I simply pass on the shot. I have killed lots of deer in my life and have to say 90% or more have come from less than 100 yard out and that's how I like it. Same thing with archery. Lots of BS when people talk about long shots. I like mine around 15 yards. No jumping the string there. My longest shot taken has been 25 yards. Wont go out farther than that. Too many things can go wrong.

I dont like them all that close to me. Makes it harder to slip off the property without being detected.

I often wonder how many animals they wound shooting at those distances.

I watched my wife shoot her first deer at 291 yards, how do I know it was 291 yards, I have a Nikon Laserscope on my gun, and she has a Nikon Monarch with the BDC reticle on her's which really helps on long shots. I also took the time to take her to Thunder range so she could shoot the 300 yard range with confidence. It paid off. Did I mention, she shot this doe without a rest or stand, with no feeder or bait. I personally shot a spike 3 years ago when I was home on leave at 370 yards, I did miss the shot the first time. But he was so far he didn't run. So I got a second chance to re-evaluate the distance. I pulled the trigger and he dropped about a second later. The problem I have seen with a good majority hunters is that they buy $500 rifles, then put $80 optics on them and then think their now snipers. Another problem is they never study the trajectory of the rounds their using. In my opinion, there is no difference in 100 yards and 500 yards in normal low wind horizontal shots. The trajectory is the main concern, second is the shooters ability to manipulate the trigger, third is firearm and optics, but poor optics and firearms can still be the main problem.

I feel comfortable at making 400 yard shots if I have a good rest. I have killed several animals between 300 and 400 yards. The longest was 490 yards on a deer. I have the gun to do it and a long shooting range here at the ranch so I practice. It's not hard to do if you know your gun and practice.

I know that they are some that can make long shots. But as stated you have to have the right equipment to do it. Rifle, optics and then the right weather conditions also. I have a friend that has a range that he shoots at regularly up to 500 yrds at. He practices for the times that he has to make those long shots. If you are hunting a Bighorn sheep for instance and the closest you can get is 375 yrds then your have to prepared to make that shot of a lifetime on a once in a lifetime hunt. I have seen him shoot at 500 yrds on the range and he is can do it very well. He has shot whitetails out of a deer stand with a good rest at 500 yds. He does not take the shot if it is not right. Can I do it? I might could with the right rifle and a lot of practice but I choose not to unless I have to have a follow up shot if needed. I have killed deer out to 275 yds. Hogs out to 290 yds. Coyotes to 275 yds also. All with the same .270. That is about my limit that I want to shoot. I do shoot out to 300 yds on the range just to know where my rifle hits so if and when I have to I have the confidence that I can do it. The bigger the trophy the closer I want to get.

I've seen that show as well. Those are precision rifles with custom barrels. They use yardage and windage turrets and the scopes are matched to the ammo/charge. What they use is a "system" that is matched start to finish. Anyone can shoot their firearms if they are there to help with doping.
I got a Bud that competes in 1000 yard competition nationally. He loads aprox 100 rounds a week, and is constantly wearing out barrels practicing. AFter he set his 1st rifle up, I shot 2 rounds at 1000 and hit both shots in the head of a steel plate about 5 " apart. It can be done. With lots of practice anyone can shoot at these ranges. Now hunting, that's a different story. About 300 yards is the farthest he'll shoot at an animal. Me personally my longest shot at a Deer was 385 yards with a 300 Win Mag. at a Buck that was about 150. Clean miss.

300 yards is a long shot?! If we get within 300 yards out in the country we hunt consider yourself lucky.

It takes alot of skill and practice to pull off the shots we take and no BS. Shoot last year 90% of our shots ranged from 300 to 600+ yards on our sheep hunts.

A good clear scope and steady rest and knowing your gun is all you need to pull off a longer range shot. And yes a range finder to confirm distance.

I will try to post a video of some of the longer shots we took this year.

Let me clarify:I'm not sayin any of you are lying. I am saying that most people that have told me of their shots of 300+ yds, I can't believe. Most guys don't shoot that often, or that far (preparation). It's good to hear most guys here shooting that are preparing to do so in a way to not injure animals.
I can't say I would be comfortable shooting over 200-225 myself, but haven't prepped to do so either. And yes, can tell you where my bullet from my rifle, and from son's should hit at 100, 200, and 300 per ballistics table. But doesn't mean I could do it.

I checked the ballistics on my bullet and at 300 yrds with a sight in at 100 yrds and it should be 9" low but in reality it is 14" low. So I am glad I practiced at 300 yrds to know it was not as printed.

Google earth says my farthest shot was about 325 yards. I had a couple of good landmarks to measute. Sometime I will go by with a range finder. That shot was 15 years ago.