how far and still accurate with 300 mag?

[hunting over women]

found some nice long shots that i wouldnt dare take with my beloved 30-30 but would with my 300. i bought this gun new and is sighted in with the scope for 100 yards. i want to knwo if i have to reshoot and adjust the scope if i want to take 150-200 yard shots? the guns are fast so the bullet should still be in kill zone with extra 50 or 100 yard shots right???

[Walker]

Correct. At those ranges just hold where you want to hit. On paper you will see about 3" drop at 200yds. On a deer it will still be in the kill zone. Walker

[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: Walker ]

[Shadow]

The .300 mag is quite capable of making kills past 1,000 yards. However, very few shooters are near that skill level. I think most of the ones that are, are over seas playing "Find Bin Laden". In hunting applications, you would not have to hold any differently at the ranges you mentioned. I like to sight my rifles in about 2 inches high at 100 yards. (This puts me dead on at about 250 yards with my 7mm Rem Mag). This allows shots out to around 300 yards with little to no adjustment depending on the cartridge and bullet weight. Every shooter has a differnt idea about what a "long" shot is. The key to makeing long shots is having a good rest. Remember B.R.A.S.S. Breathe, Relax, Aim, Sight, Squeeze the rifle should actually catch you off guard when it goes off. Good Luck.

[hunting over women]

thanks for the help guys. a LONG shot to me is 200 yards and the 300 mag. i have is capable of that with the scope that way it is. I guess i'll ask about my 30-30 and sighted in at 100 yards. Does that have the SPEED and the POWER to drop a deer at 100, 150, 200 yards with the setup of scope sighted in at 100yards? I asked about the 300 cause im afraid to take a shot over 75 yards with my 30-30. I have been fortunate in past years to shoot deer within 20 yards or so. The deer are getting smarter and every year the shots are getting longer. I will wait till a close shot so i dont hurt the deer and chance not finding the deer. Following a blood trail into a watery swamp i really dont want to experience so i like to drop my deer right there or not to far from that spot smile.gif If i shot and wounded and never found a deer i would be sad. thats all that runs threw my head at long shots. i have confidence and know i can make the shots..... you tell me what is my 30-30 range that is not to far? thanks, LEO

[Shadow]

The 30-30 has plenty of power out to 200 yards. You might want to look at a trajectory table though. I don't have time to do it right now, maybe tomorrow. I think trajectory will start to be a problem with the 30-30 at 200 yards. You may have to hold high, ie the deer's back. 200 yards is getting a bit long for the 30-30, but is possible if you know what the bullet is doing. However, your best bet it to stick with the .300. It has enough power to flatten anything within the distances you have mentioned. The 30-30 is a great gun in the brush, but when expecting shots over 150 yards I would pack the big .300. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot at a deer between 100 and 150 yards with the 30-30. I would aim a wee bit higher than my intended impact point. I understand your concern of hunting in swampy areas. I too hunt in areas that often flood. The key is to get down soon after you hear the death crash. You can follow the stirred up mud in the water. Sometimes the frothy lung blood will float on top as well. It is imperative that you put a good hit on the animal. Don't panic if he doesn't drop. He won't be far if you did your part. I had to pass a 300+ yard shot on a really nice ten point 2 seasons ago. It was almost dark, and he was standing belly deep in water. There would have been no way to find the exact spot he stood if I didn't drop him. It was hard to do, but I am sure I did the right thing in letting him walk. I will look up some trajectory tables on the 30-30 tomorrow. Congrats on that buck.

[ November 21, 2001: Message edited by: Alan Shadow ]

[hunting over women]

hey alan,
if you dont end up having time to find trajectory chart for 30-30 and know places i could try i would be more then happy to look them up. I dont want to bother you and have you doing my homework. thanks, leo

[Shadow]

The Hornady web page shows the 30-30 to be about 8 inches low at 200 yards when sighted dead on at 100 yards. The actual figures were 8.2 with 150 grain bullets, and 8.9 with 170 grain bullets. The energy is getting a bit weak at this point though. It is 989 with the 170 grainers, and 858 with the 150s. That is below the 1,000 foot pounds recommended for big game hunting, but would most likely take out a whitetail, especially with a double lung, broadside shot. So, you can make a 200 yard shot with the 30-30, but you are going to have aim very high on the deer, most likely just below his back. I have heard figured that the average deers chest cavity is 16 inches from back to belly. Of course this is different for every deer, but it is a good thing to keep in mind when you are trying to figure your point of aim. However, by packing the .300 you will elimnate all the guess work out to 300 yards or so. Maybe even further if you sight in a couple inches high at 100 yards.

If it were me, and I was worried about a deer running off, I would stick with the .300. It has more power to anchor the deer where he stands, especially on longer shots. Of course shot placement has a lot to do with them dropping too. I have found that if I hit the deer just a little bit forward of the shoulder (about a inch or two), and dead center between the back and belly that they fold everytime. It takes out both shoulder blades, and sometimes the spine. The spine is actually lower in the deers body at this point than you think. Good Luck to you!

[hunting over women]

thanks alot for the help and suggestions for what shots to take and not take with my 30-30 and 300 mag. take it easy and good hunting. thanks leo

[hunting over women]

alan,
can you tell me website where found the trajectory statistics. thats if you found them. im curious and would like to research the other guns i have for power and stuff. thanks, leo

[Shadow]

I went to www.hornady.com (http://www.hornady.com) The actual web address with in the site is https://gateway.hornady.com/web_store.cgi?page=storehome.html&cart_id=

It is not the most complete ballistic table. Remington usually has some good ones in their catalogs. You can get a catalog free at any gun dealer. The Remington site might also have some tables on it. I couldn't get it to open this morning though. www.remington.com (http://www.remington.com)