Rookie short range shooting mistake

[300RUM]

Rookie long range shooting mistake by Big Browns made me think of one of my own at short range. How do you screw up a 100 yard shot with a rifle on a stationary deer? I have seen myself do it, let me explain.

 

It was the last day of a long weekend and I hadn’t had much luck. Never mind a trophy, meat in the freezer would be nice right now. I had decided to spend the day in a nice little saddle that overlooked some promising terrain. I was only a few hundred yards away from my ATV climbing toward the saddle when I noticed some deer making the same climb on the next ridge over. There was a spike in the group. I already had venison steak on the grill before I slid my .300 Ultra out of the Eberlestock pack. My shooting position was not real good but the deer had spotted me so moving was not an option. I could not see the deer from a kneeling position so I stood on the loose hillside in a heavy wind trying to stabilize the rifle. It was awfully wiggly, worst case of spike fever I ever had. I finally thought I had it and squeezed the trigger. BOOM. I recovered from the recoil and saw the spike standing there, shaking his head and flopping his ears. Before I could cycle the bolt he was gone. The flames on the grill flickered and went out. It looked like a clean miss but I still went and checked for blood. None. I went back to my shooting position to try and figure out why I had so much trouble with the shot. Yes the hillside was loose and it was very windy. When I slid the rifle out of the pack again the problem was obvious. The scope was set to 22 X. I normally turn it down to minimum power when I am moving just for situations like this. I had forgot to turn it down this time and then did not notice when I looked through the scope for the shot.

 

Just like Big Browns I will share my screw-up so hopefully you can avoid trying it for yourself.

[trphyhntr]

why did that make you miss?

 

 

edit: oh i see what youre saying. cuz it was so wiggly zoomed in.

[lancetkenyon]

Don't beat yourself up too bad.

 

I missed a 50ish yard shot at a coyote this fall. My son-in-law was the last one to get behind the rifle on a long range elk. He had dialed 8.3 MIL for an elk, but the opportunity never materialized. And he did not rezero the turret.

 

Needless to say, I shot right over the coyote's back with my 200 yard zero plus 8.3 MIL, holding for a 1230 yard shot. Making it about 4" high. Right over his back but gave him a buzz cut. I am surprized he didn't have a heart attack and die.

[300RUM]

Don't beat yourself up too bad.

 

I missed a 50ish yard shot at a coyote this fall. My son-in-law was the last one to get behind the rifle on a long range elk. He had dialed 8.3 MIL for an elk, but the opportunity never materialized. And he did not rezero the turret.

 

Needless to say, I shot right over the coyote's back with my 200 yard zero plus 8.3 MIL, holding for a 1230 yard shot. Making it about 4" high. Right over his back but gave him a buzz cut. I am surprized he didn't have a heart attack and die.

I can see the family dinner table argument already. Is it the son-in-law's fault for not re-zeroing the rifle or your fault for not checking the zero before taking your shot? Excuse me, could you please pass the gravy....

 

Fortunately, it was a clean miss. It was a 2 weekend hunt so I got a second chance. I took my 7mm-08 AI out following game trails one day and found another spike. Sat down, tightened up the sling and dropped him at 330. He was delicious.

[dse]

I've missed many times more shots inside 40 yards than I ever have beyond 300,( mostly at coyotes). It seems like every year I glass up someone walking a hill and they end up missing a buck inside rock throwing distance.

[Guest akaspecials]

My short range mistake this year was keeping my rifle scope on low power... I ended up shooting a coues at 40 yards with a 300 weatherby mag. Luckily I lost less than 2 lbs of meat, but the insides basically exploded. Maybe you saved yourself from destroying a bunch of meat.

[COA]

I shot a 3x at 378 with the .300 not a drop of blood was found. I could smell the venison when ingot to where the deer was standing. I knew i had connected from the report. Incould see where the bullet hit the mountain side and a small tuft of hair. No blood just tracks.Found the deer 40yds above where i had hit him. I was dumbfounded from the lack of blood.