02-06-2012, 05:47 AM
VA, I agree with you about being an ethical hunter. Shooting past 300 yards at a big game animal is poor practice. Unless your using a 300' 338' or even a 270 comparable cartridge the power factor isn't there. Plus you have to have the accuracy, skill and conditions to even think of shooting at those distances. At our local long range shoots I have seen some competitors hit past 1000 yards on small targets with 5.56 ar rifles but they would never hunt at those ranges with that caliber.That's why they have a hunters class and a precision class competition. Wounding animals is what any ethical hunter try's to avoid. Save the hail mary shots for competition or battle. Seeing suffering animals isn't something an old hunter like me cares to experience.