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re: Building a western gun
Posted on 1/22/26 at 9:59 am to saintsfan1977
Posted on 1/22/26 at 9:59 am to saintsfan1977
Yep. Very very few people in the southeast ever shoot at paper at 200 yards in the first place, much less a >3 shot group at paper at 200 yards. Everybody thinks a deer at 200 yards is a slam dunk though, and their rifle is MOA all day if they do their part, and all that stuff we've all heard our whole lives.
It's important to keep in mind that the subset of people who post here are very much not a good cross section of our hunting peers either. In my social circles, the ones who post here are generally more enlightened about this stuff than the average dude. That's not to knock anybody - most of us only know what we've been told and what we've seen ourselves when it comes to shooting. The reality is, most people just don't shoot centerfire rifles much, and definitely do not shoot past 100 yards except at game.
So to the OP, before you go out and buy a rifle, I'd just buy a good scope since that's the easier part of this equation to figure out, buy 1000 rounds of decent ammo, go pop some primers on the rifle you've got away from a concrete shooting bench and out past 100 yards, and start forming an educated opinion on what YOU need to kill what YOU want to kill. That way, you get this right the first time.
It's important to keep in mind that the subset of people who post here are very much not a good cross section of our hunting peers either. In my social circles, the ones who post here are generally more enlightened about this stuff than the average dude. That's not to knock anybody - most of us only know what we've been told and what we've seen ourselves when it comes to shooting. The reality is, most people just don't shoot centerfire rifles much, and definitely do not shoot past 100 yards except at game.
So to the OP, before you go out and buy a rifle, I'd just buy a good scope since that's the easier part of this equation to figure out, buy 1000 rounds of decent ammo, go pop some primers on the rifle you've got away from a concrete shooting bench and out past 100 yards, and start forming an educated opinion on what YOU need to kill what YOU want to kill. That way, you get this right the first time.
3
Posted on 1/22/26 at 10:12 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
There are a lot of TX hunters on here, distances are pretty regular for a lot of them who hunt south and west TX
Posted on 1/22/26 at 10:56 am to SETH6180
quote:
There are a lot of TX hunters on here, distances are pretty regular for a lot of them who hunt south and west TX
It's also pretty regular in louisiana due to the number of pipelines we have.
And of course there are people out there who can reliably make solid first round hits at 500 yards in the field. There just aren't many, and there are A LOT of people who think they are 300 yard capable when in reality, they just got lucky once.
I think OP would likely find out after a few hundred rounds that the rifle he's got is just fine and the money would be better spent on other gear and ammo.
Posted on 1/22/26 at 11:46 am to SETH6180
quote:
There are a lot of TX hunters on here, distances are pretty regular for a lot of them who hunt south and west TX
Yep. Deer season for us is 200-600 yards. Shots 100 yards and in is almost non existent
Posted on 1/22/26 at 11:50 am to texag7
Same here man. We try to stretch it out pretty far, 3-500 is everyday occurrence. Buddies 11-year-old son killed a couple javalinas at 909 yds on video this year.
Posted on 1/22/26 at 11:58 am to Theotherpikecounty
Guy that hunts with us has few long range gun. He recently built a 300 PRC. I cant' see what scope he has on it in the picture. Thing is a beast. He went out to Cut Off and shot out to 800 yards dinging plates consistently. Dropped a Nigel with it in Texas a few months ago.
Posted on 1/22/26 at 10:35 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
You and probably everyone you ever knew probably never shot more than 20 rounds in a year from a centerfire rifle, much less actually practiced in field conditions and learned what you and your rifle were REALLY (not) capable of doing without getting lucky
Without a doubt 100% correct. I dont think ive fired 20 shots in the last 20 years. Im more comfortable target shooting my bow at a 100yds than my rifle.
Ive talked to several outfitters out west and they want you to be able to shoot 400yds. Thats why i feel the need to buy now and start practicing. I think it could take years for me to get proficient from awkward positions with that. And i may find out after going all in on a purchase i cant do it and just stick with my bow until i cant anymore.
Posted on 1/22/26 at 10:36 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
You and probably everyone you ever knew probably never shot more than 20 rounds in a year from a centerfire rifle, much less actually practiced in field conditions and learned what you and your rifle were REALLY (not) capable of doing without getting lucky
Without a doubt 100% correct. I dont think ive fired 20 shots in the last 20 years. Im more comfortable target shooting my bow at a 100yds than my rifle.
Ive talked to several outfitters out west and they want you to be able to shoot 400yds. Thats why i feel the need to buy now and start practicing. I think it could take years for me to get proficient from awkward positions with that. And i may find out after going all in on a purchase i cant do it and just stick with my bow until i cant anymore.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 6:08 am to Theotherpikecounty
quote:
I think it could take years for me to get proficient from awkward positions with that.
Not only positions. The wind can do funny things to bullets at that distance.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 6:52 am to saintsfan1977
I would also invest in a chrono and learn to use a ballistics app.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 7:29 am to Theotherpikecounty
First year I went to Montana I brought my 30.06. I missed on my only chance. I was out of shape, shooting prone on a pack which I’ve never done, and shooting over 300yds with a cross wind. Next few times I went, I was in much better shape, had a 7mag with Leupold vx5, and had practiced more at 200yds plus. Shot 3 nice bucks.
Also bought a 300wsm to hunt nilgai in south texas. Dropped a 400# bull in his tracks at 100yds.
7mag, 300wm, 300wsm, 300prc or 7prc will easily do what you want.
You’re already in great shape which helps. However, if you live at sea level like I do, once you add in elevation and hiking uphill it’s a bitch. My buddy is a world class CrossFit athlete (not sarcasm) and even he was winded although not nearly as bad as me lol.
As someone else said, download a ballistics app, get a chrono for a baseline, and practice, practice, practice. Hope this helps.
Also bought a 300wsm to hunt nilgai in south texas. Dropped a 400# bull in his tracks at 100yds.
7mag, 300wm, 300wsm, 300prc or 7prc will easily do what you want.
You’re already in great shape which helps. However, if you live at sea level like I do, once you add in elevation and hiking uphill it’s a bitch. My buddy is a world class CrossFit athlete (not sarcasm) and even he was winded although not nearly as bad as me lol.
As someone else said, download a ballistics app, get a chrono for a baseline, and practice, practice, practice. Hope this helps.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 7:40 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
much less a >3 shot group at paper at 200 yards.
Emphasis on the >. A 10 shot group will tell you what you and the rifle are capable of, a three shot group may or may not.
quote:
and their rifle is MOA all day if they do their part,
Mine are probably pretty close with ammo they like and could definitely get there with hand loads. Me? I don't know if I was ever a "MOA all day" shooter but I know I'm not as I'm looking at 60. In realistic (but still with a brace of some sort) shooting conditions I'm probably a 1.5-2 MOA shooter. I wouldn't take a freehand shot over 100 yards unless I was hungry.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 8:38 am to Theotherpikecounty
LINK
Take a look at what these guys offer. It could be well worth the money to end up with the rifle that will achieve your goals.
Take a look at what these guys offer. It could be well worth the money to end up with the rifle that will achieve your goals.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 8:39 am to Theotherpikecounty
quote:
dont think ive fired 20 shots in the last 20 years. Im more comfortable target shooting my bow at a 100yds than my rifle.
And you probably shoot your bow a lot.
quote:
Thats why i feel the need to buy now and start practicing.
You should but again, I think you should just buy a scope and ammo first and use what you've got for the first few hundred rounds at least. Its a cheaper route to go and will help you form your own opinion about what you need vs what a bunch of dudes on the internet think.
Since you've already got good experience hunting out west youre vastly ahead of where I was when I started learning to shoot.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 9:10 am to saintsfan1977
I splurged a few years ago and bough the browning 6.8 western with pro mcmillan stock and it is hands down the best shooting gun I've ever owned. I saved up this year and put a Sworo z8i on it and have plenty of confidence in shooting deer up to 400-500 yards.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 10:07 am to monroetiger1
Im not discrediting your claim, but i am going to use this as an example.
A lot of people think they can make quality cold bore hits at 500 yards on demand with hunting rifles.
Watch these guys try to do it, prone, with PRS rifles weighing 20+ pounds. A WHOLE LOT of them miss. Now, I think a 2 MOA target would be more realistic for solid hits on game, and a lot more people would score hits with a 2 MOA Target. I think 2 MOA is plenty good enough inside of 700ish yards. But the point is, these guys are PRS shooters with purpose built PRS rifles, prone, all the time in the world, as easy as a wind call can possibly be, and sometimes they miss the whole deer.
Its really difficult to truly be effective at 500 yards on game.
A lot of people think they can make quality cold bore hits at 500 yards on demand with hunting rifles.
Watch these guys try to do it, prone, with PRS rifles weighing 20+ pounds. A WHOLE LOT of them miss. Now, I think a 2 MOA target would be more realistic for solid hits on game, and a lot more people would score hits with a 2 MOA Target. I think 2 MOA is plenty good enough inside of 700ish yards. But the point is, these guys are PRS shooters with purpose built PRS rifles, prone, all the time in the world, as easy as a wind call can possibly be, and sometimes they miss the whole deer.
Its really difficult to truly be effective at 500 yards on game.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 2:43 pm to Theotherpikecounty
Something like this will do what you want for around $3k. But there are tons of other brands and options that will do the same. .300 win mag is probably the best all around cartridge, but the recoil of a light rifle in one of the .30 caliber mags (.300 win mag, .300 wsm, .300 wby) can be significant. If you do want to shoot 500 yards, I would recommend at least an 18 power (top end) scope, animals at 500 yards look awfully small with a 9, 10, or 12 power scope. I personally think 3.5-18 is the sweet spot for a long range hunting scope.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 5:17 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
A WHOLE LOT of them miss.
And most of the misses are still kill shots on game.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 8:18 pm to texag7
Thats why I said 2 moa would probably be more realistic. Point still stands. Those ethical hunting challenges are always experienced guys, badass PRS rifles, flat terrain, prone, no timer, and they still dont always hit the deer.
Now make that a regular dude, a <10lb rifle, some elevation, some wind swirl, worse shooting position, and a time limit...
Now make that a regular dude, a <10lb rifle, some elevation, some wind swirl, worse shooting position, and a time limit...
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