Long-range hunting: an ethical question?

Some shooters consider long-distance hunting to be unethical. I do not know why.

Sure, to be successful at longer ranges you need top-notch equipment, starting with an accurate rifle.

I suppose the first question is what is long range? Everyone has their own definition. For me it’s anything over 300 meters or so.

I started out with rabbits, initially with a .243 Winchester and 90gn Speer Softpoints. As I increased the range closer to 300m, I had more misses than hits. I had more hits when the .22/284 Imp arrived in the gun cabinet.

The rifle/cartridge combination must be suitable for all long-distance work. The rifle must be able to deliver the projectile with accuracy, and the projectile must arrive at its target, be able to expand, and deliver the potential energy to ensure a clean kill.

Bullets for long-distance use usually have a high ballistic coefficient and must expand reliably.

Projectile weight tends to be high for the caliber, making the muzzle slower but maintaining better low-end velocity and energy.

Ammunition must be benchrest grade and manufactured to the highest standards with matched components. Attention to detail provides the best accuracy.

Projectiles must be compatible with the rifle’s twist rate for best accuracy.

A suitable telescopic sight for long distances must be professionally mounted on the rifle. There are many types of reticle. I would recommend a clear one.

The original .22/284 sight has a plain mil-dot reticle. It works like a charm and has never let me down. Coupled with a ballistic map and an electronic rangefinder, the combination is accurate.

The only projectile I use is the 80gr JLK Low-Drag Boat-Tail.

Under normal conditions, the rifle is fired with a front rest and a rear pouch, a stable combination so important for long-range work.

For heavier targets at long range, I have several rifles to choose from.

A Tikka T3 in 6.5x55mm with 160 gram custom protector point projectiles with a BC of .509 and a modest velocity of around 2360 fps is accurate to at least 400 yards and groups on average at .86 inches for three shots. With a 6-18×50 European sight, it’s a good long-range combo.

Another option still in development is a .257 Roberts Ackley Improved with a 115 gram liner point projectile. The first few shots show good speed and, more importantly, accuracy in the ½ inch range.

This is a custom projectile, but the range of .257 caliber projectiles is not huge. It’s always a balance of speed and projectile weight with the ability to deliver enough energy at range to get a clean kill.

Many of the tools and techniques developed for or by long range shooters have proven beneficial to the rest of the shooting community. The attention to detail in the processing of brass is a case in point.

After all, whether or not to attempt a long-range shot depends on the person pulling the trigger.