I don't consider 1000 yard shots hunting.

i 2nd Bee, the only thing you need to be shooting at 1000 yards is paper or milk jugs.

If you were hunting a game animal, I'm with the other guys: neither. However, I understand that sniping nuisance coyotes has become a somewhat popular sport out West, and in that case I would choose the .300 Weatherby.

I can't imagine shooting at a living animal at the distance you speak of. I shoot at targets at a 600 yard range and from the bench with lots of bags the conditions have to be just right to connect. I know that there are dedicated riflemen with very sophisticated and specialized equipment that could make shots at the 1000 yard mark but I'm not so sure under hunting conditions. As a side note I've shot 80+ deer in my life and I have never taken a shot over 100 yards.

The .300 Weatherby is a much better extreme range cartridge that any of the 7mm's. I would not encourage anyone to hunt at 1,000 yards.

Oh great. More thrill killer sniper wannabe crap. It's not even remotely close to something that could be called hunting, not to mention a fair chase practice.

This makes me sick, and more importantly, makes the hunting community look absolutely terrible.

Duck... the .300 Weatherby is the only one of the two that carries enough energy at 1,000 yard to effectively dispatch at deer at that range. With bullets like the Berger 210g hunting bullet, it maintains velocity, it is HIGHLY accurate, and it also bucks the wind better. This provides a more predictable shot. I know I differ from most on this site and consider long range shooting a valid sport. Like most on this site however, I have great respect for all animals and would not encourage anyone to blast at a deer or any other animal at that range unless they shoot accurately enough to hit it in the heart and kill it cleanly. This can be done with a .308 bullet and LOTS of practice. It takes a special rifle to be that accurate and the typical .300 Weatherby is not that accurate. It headspaces on the belt leaving a bit of chamber wobble and the Weatherbys have an exceptionally long freebore so they can achieve high velocity with minimal pressure. These combine to make a 1,000 yard coke can pretty unlikely. I shoot a .300 Dakota for 1,000 yard hunting for that reason. It is extremely accurate (head spaces on the shoulder and gets a more consistent powder burn) and is faster than a .300 Weatherby providing higher terminal energy. I have been practicing for two years and one of these days I will be ready for my 1,000 yard shot. Preparing for this shot has been one of the most difficult things I have done in hunting. I am still testing bullets, powders and loads. It takes a lot of money and a lot of practice. I won't take the shot unless I can consistently hit a coke can at 1,000 yards with all reasonable wind conditions. I grew up in South Dakota and although most deer I have shot have been under 400 yards, I have seen many a deer that I wanted to shoot beyond that range but was not prepared to make the shot. That is why I am working on it.

1000 yards isn't hunting, it's unethical. Please leave it as just a dream as you've stated.

Im in the same boat you are, Duckslayer. Im barely into the the sport of shooting and Im hitting targets from field positions in excess of 300 linear yards. Consistently (as in coke bottle). Im looking at either a .338 (I was thinking Lapua or Winchester, either economy or the mancannon, no compromising) or a 7mm or .308/.300 mag for ease of ammunition. Ive narrowed it down (finally decided on either a Remington Sendero in 7mm/300 Win) or a custom .338 lapua, depends on how much dough I have when my scope gets here :D. As to your dream, my father has killed caribou at 250-780 yards with a custom .270 on a ruger action his friend made him, and my great-uncle has bang-flopped animals past that with ion-sight .303 Lee Enfields, as has my grandfather. Look at the numbers, listen to Dakota and Bigboy, or anyone who is positive, and achieve your dream.

I can see how this could lead to an argument as ishawooa said, like between traditional against compound/crossbow/and blackpowder against inline. I wouldn't want that to happen,that's why I said their are some that can and will work hard enough to make those type of shots. I like freedom more than my own opinon,so I think others should be able to hunt any way they choose if it's legal. Here in the South I use to run deer hounds many didn't like this either. We worked hard at training our dogs and taking care of them all year. We worked on roads,camp,foodplots and other things to help the deer herd. I once asked my good friend why he didn't have more members and he told me I want more hunters but I don't want anymore ASSASINS. I knew what he meant because some in our club were there for only one reason and that was to shoot the deer. These men would sit all day waiting for a shot while others put dogs on deer sign and kept the dogs from leaving our property and all the other things that made the hunt. It's just my OPINION that at some point or DISTANCE it becomes shooting and not hunting. I too do alot of shooting all year so that I might get better and because I love to do it. But I also love getting close and observing deer, so I don't set up for 400yd plus shots. Hunting is alot more personal to me than 1000yd shots.It's like an old WWII vet told me about dropping bombs from his bomber,he said it wasn't very personal. He told me he often wonderd want it would have been like on the ground fighting them up close. He wasn't taking anything away from what he had done only that it HAD to have been much more personal. HUNT the way you want this is JMO

Hey ish, good post, so you get a +1 from this cowboy. Bottom line, whatever situations (weather conditions, mean distance, line of sight obstacles) ethical hunters finds him/her self up against, they must take the sanitary shot, the one lethal shot, or pass on it. I have seen the end result of hunters not taking the clean shot. Sure, this is a blood sport but it can be done in a "humane way."

I laugh at how people find long-range hunting offensive. Guess what, people? The definition of hunting is the pursuit of game to provide for yourself and your family. It doesn't make a differance to me if its a bow, a dirty thirty or a .338 Lapua, or 50, 100 or 1500 yards. If its clean, effective, and bags the animal, each has its own skill set, its own perks, rewards and achievements. I want to try them all. Let the -1s roll in.

fng maybe you said it best...

"Those who have the attitude of Bee would be denounced by traditional bow hunters as much as he apparently despises those of us who choose to make the long shots successfully and consistently. Do what you like but it is best not to condemn those who are accomplishing what you can't because you have not tried."

Dear Ishawooa,

I do not despise you sir, I disagree with your tactics. No, I do not consider shooting game animals at 1000 yards "Sport" nor do I care to try. I consider it a stunt even if performed by those of considerable ability and specialized equipment. There are too many uncontrollable variables in shooting at such ranges to take a chance at wounding an animal needlessly at over half a mile. I often wonder for every clean kill bragged about by the long range specialist how many bullets drift into the guts from that cross wind or sudden gust you can't detect or predict in that wide open space. Such a thing is merely off target on paper and shrugged off with an "oh well, it happens..." I fear many long range hunters do the same when a game animal is involved.

I sir possess the necessary skill to make long range shots with a rifle, but I choose to rise to the challenge of actual hunting not sniping. I was taught to hunt by two of the finest men who have ever drawn breath on this earth. Two men who honed my skills with a rifle and shotgun to a razors edge. They also taught me respect for the animals I pursue and that hunting is a game of wits with the animal, be it still hunting squirrels in hardwoods or shooting big game out in the open. The object of hunting is getting as close as possible and making a quick clean kill.

I hunt quite often with period correct muzzleloaders and enjoy them greatly. Flint, steel and real black powder. I realize my limitations with traditional archery equipment and hunt with a compound bow but keep my shots at 30 yards or less... and yes I don't care much for 70 yard shots with a bow either.

I regularly shoot at paper on a 600 yard range both off the bench, off shooing sticks and offhand. I too can consistently put rounds on target; I also inconsistently miss at that range... It is the inconsistency that bothers me for I have factored out the variables and I don't like wounding game or breaking it down a little so I can get a bit closer.

I can understand that you gain satisfaction from your practiced accomplishments and your specialized equipment. I also understand that you hunt regularly in an environment much different than mine and the one I regularly hunt in. I also know that your experience came from years in the field and on the range. I did not come from opening a box.

"I often wonder for every clean kill bragged about by the long range specialist how many bullets drift into the guts from that cross wind or sudden gust you can't detect or predict in that wide open space."

EXACTLY. They always write this off and tell me that they can read the wind and hit on the first shot every time. BULL!

"Are those 800 yard "internet" shots or 800 yard real world field shots! I wonder how many wounded game animals run off before the TV heroes can get one bang-flop on video for their 800 yard fantasy shots?"

I wonder too, and get pretty angry in the process. What is this world coming to?

Sirs, I could not ask for better competition on this field, the Internet debate and dialogue. I agree, to a point. I want to sneak into peeing distance of a deer, bowhunt elk, snipe mountain sheep, fire at animals that no one else but I have ever seen. I want to try anything, EVERYTHING to do with hunting. 1000 yards, on the last day of the season, whether it be a nice little 3 point, a mega trophy elk, a moose, or a nice little doe/cow/sow, I want to be ready. So do I want to be ready to stalk them, and hunt them in any terrain with my chosen weapon, the rifle. Im not much of an archer but if I could accrue the experience, yes I would try it. As to wounding animals, that can happen at 100 or 500 yards, sometimes, MUrphies law takes it into account. My equipment and training are based on lowering those chances drastically. My dad likes small guns, light weight, and stalking. Me? so far all Ive done is haul out quarters of moose, I have yet to drop the hammer and I look forward to it this fall (I have killed no big game creatures). To Bee, I agree, there are a lot of variables.

Ishawooa

I don't know John Porter and don't want to trash someone I am not familiar with. That said, all the noobs and buttheads I see on the extreme range hunting shows are dipsticks of the highest order. Granted, I have not seen them all. Is he part of the Gunwerks infomercial passing as an outdoor show? They are the Ginzu knives of the rifle trade. Phooey!

WMH

and also to WAM, there is no transition at this point, it is simply take a look where you hunt (for me, the praries), decide on a weapon system (bow, gun, giant butterknife :P) and then practice it to death. I have no preconceptions, Im simply willing to do what I have to.

There have been many good comments made and I respect everyone's. The longer I'm here on this Earth,the more I see the Outdoors and Life itself holds differant meanings to each of us.While some welcome all the new technology that seems to come out everyday to help us take game, I struggle with much of it. All of you know what I'm talking about. I have and use alot of it but a few times last deer season I just had to shake my head when I would pick my backpack up to go in the woods.I see this extreme,LONG RANGE shooting the same way, a little more high tech weight. I now believe the tools needed to build a home or cabin in the woods would weigh less than what I now carry in my pickup for a weekend hunting trip. Both activitys now require the use of a utility trailer behind the pickup. My Dad and I many years ago would go to the woods for 3 or 4 days or longer and it all would fit in a VW BUG or his 65chevy shortbed no problem. I now carry nearly that many items to my tree stand. This bothers me because I love the simple life, and like my ancestors I try to blend in with the great outdoors. But then I've always felt and my wife agrees that I was born 200years to late. JMO

ishawooa, that my friend is a beautiful picture in my mind. I would have no problem with any of that. I know that a love of the outdoors and great respect for the animals we hunt will take care of these small matters of how we go about it. All of which you stated I would take part in and enjoy,my long range would only be shorter. But even in my 50's I try to learn, if you made one of those long shots I could gain something from it and be happy for you. Good night GOD BLESS