Rifle shooting out to 400 yards +/-

[skeet]

You are right about the long range being really tough Heck till I hunted in Montana many many years ago..I thought a 2x7 was all i would ever need for bigger game hunting. Then holy Toledo.. 400 Yds is a LOOONNNGGG way and a 3x9 really isn't enough for some shooting here. Especially in the pointy places...and unless you have a good rangefinder the prairie country sure is long too but it is easier to figure yardage out there..in my opinion. I can usually get it pretty close out in the flats..the pointy areas are really hard. I almost always understimate. I ranged an elk I figured was just a bit over 450 yds. When the Leica told me it was 742 yds, I was amazed. I kinda think Petey and those guys in that long range shootin club up therehave a much better handle on the long shootin. I have my 300 Win Mag sighted at 300 yds for elk. and that sure is a Long way out there. I have learned also that there really is no such thing as a FLAT shootin rifle. If any comes close to flat it would have to be the 257 Weatherby Mag. I consider mine to be a real 450 yd antelope rifle...and like your targets..those critters target area is sure a lot smaller than you think. I figure my longest shootin range on an elk will be at the most 500 yds..in the open...not later than 2 hours before sundown and as little wind as possible. It is really amazing to me how much a bullet will drift in a LIGHT wind. In the mountains 500 yds is a very long way to walk...sometimes LOL. I have also observed that in the cold of winter in the mountains the wind is usually much lighter than in the summer. No wonder we hunt in winter LOL