What's the farthest you've ever shot with a long rifle?

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deer broadside in a field. 265 paces. 370 grain maxiball, rainbow trajectory. Held 2 foot over the backline. dropped him like a stone. I had practiced on my range here at the farm though and was confident of the shot. T/C Hawken 50 cal with a peep sight. The deer was slightly downhill and standing in a wide open cut cornfield. I was shooting off sticks though. Would NEVER try that shot offhand. I am not steady enough.
 
What's the farthest you've ever shot at an animal/target with a long rifle? How was it's accuracy, and what mistakes did you make (if any), and how not to do them. By the way, do any of you know why I'm back to "pilgrim" instead of 32cal? Sorry for the change of subject.
The Duke did that, pilgrim! :)
 
Seeing that a prb gives total - in and out - penetration on deer at 100 plus yards, It's not that the shot won't kill or only wounds the animal at that distance; it's the marksmanship required to make a lethal hit that comes into question.
 
Tx Griz,

THUMP!!!!! Shocked he** outta me. Both my boys was with me then. Ot was our annual Spring Break hog hunt. They was in college in them days. I gave her to them to split up between themselves. Being college boys they was hard up for groceries. But they said she was quite tasty!
 
I was shooting 120 grains as a normal charge so I double loaded it. I have since backed my load down to 90 grains. However, everyone in camp jumped when I touched her off.


I wander why everybody jumped? Oh, and I'm just curious, is there a specific reason you went to 90 grains instead of 100 grains?
 
The reason I stepped the charge down to 90 is that the accuracy was the same and I got more shots per pound of powder. According to various sources I have read, the British Army charge for a Bess varied from 120 to 90 grains. So I have tried them all. I'll still double charge if the range requires it but that's only 180 grains.:D
 
What's the farthest you've ever shot at an animal/target with a long rifle? How was it's accuracy, and what mistakes did you make (if any), and how not to do them. By the way, do any of you know why I'm back to "pilgrim" instead of 32cal? Sorry for the change of subject.
My longest confirmed shot was 123 yards on a steep downhill with a spotter using a 50 caliber (.504 bore) shallow groove 470 grain conical. The first shot went over it's back due to the steep slope and trajectory... the second shot was adjusted and nailed it! We use speed loaders and properly sized bullets .001 over bore pure lead bullets. :cool:
 
I know my limitations. Target plinking up to 200 yards, normally shoot at a 100 yard range. Hunting - never need to fire much beyond 75 yards, since anything further is too far to walk & drag back the carcass.
 
170 yards at a doe, resting on a fence post. aimed 6 inches above her heart and sent a 45 cal ball through it. when she fell her nose was resting on the canadian border. it was 25 below zero that day but no wind. ravens and bald eagles were over head wanting me to leave her their. just shot a big fat buck coon and hour before at 30 yards through the chest. still have that tanned hide. a man from around new orleans now owns that gun and loves it. it is 45 cal 1/60 twist. douglas barrel.dead on accurate. i also rolled a doe in western ne through the heart at 125 yards with it shooting down hill from a sitting stance. after that i went to 50 cal and shot a lot of deer out to 125 yards with them.
 
My longest confirmed off hand shot was 90 yards on an 8 pt buck, that was with a 530 roundball, .020 patch and 80 grains of powder. I’d practiced a long time for that shot. I have shot deer further than that, although not 100 percent confirmed, my range finder was used early that season to spot the area. But never to actually confirm the 120 yard shot. That was off a rest. 440 roundball, .015 patch and 80 grains of powder. I practice quite a bit for long shots, it makes me that much better for the shorter ones. My 2 cents..
 
Target and bench rest at our ranges 20" steel plate at 225 yards. My TC PA Hunter with a green mountain .54 RB barrel, 95ff and patched roundball. It was a fun day at the range walking the shot placement up to the target. When hunting deer I have always tried to stay in the 50-75 yd window.
 
Garbage can lid size clanger ,100 yrds 90 gr 2F in a paper cartridge .735 round ball from a 1st mod brown bess
 

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