The question comes to mind....what were the longest (best) shots anyone has made...with iron sights ? This could be target shooting...or shots on game. I will exclude military target practice....as I don't think 600 metre shots on 6 ft. diameter targets are all that impressive (unless one could consistently place the rounds near the centre).

As for me, I have always hunted with scoped weapons (until now)...with the exception of a shotgun, with slugs. I had a Rem. 870, with a rifle-sighted, 20" smooth-bore barrel. With Brenneke slugs, this was pretty accurate. I used to play about..target shooting off-hand with this weapon at 100 yards ...(though, not hunting at this range). I was intrigued as to the maximum effective range of this rig. Well, with practice...and alot of guesswork (holding very high....as the trajectory of these slugs was like a bell-curve)...I managed to achieve a number of 6" or smaller groups...with a personal best of 3.75 inches (for three shots). Of course, I could not do this every time.

the longest accurate consecutive shots i made were with a .22 LR. target was 2'x3' shot made from 1000' i was aiming about 2' above the target

shot with remmington hoolow point golden bullet brass plated shells

it took about 6 shots to get on target.

Hello,
I do not know what it would take to impress you tumbledown, but what is known as long range shooting, NRA classification, begins at 600 yards and goes out to 1000 yards. Mind you the x ring at 600 is 6" in diameter, and the 1000 yard x ring is 10". These distances are routinely shot by marksmen w/ micrometer "metalic" sights and Master and High Master level shooters routinely keep 50% or more of the shots in the x ring. Not from a bench, in prone with the use of a sling only for support. Cannot rest forearm on ground, matt, etc. and these matches concist of 60 shots in three strings of 20 shots w// unlimited sighters in 30 minutes. You can take all the sighters you want, but the clock is ticking and it is up to you to manage the time as you see fit. My personal best is a string of 20 with a score of 199 w/ 14 X's at 1000 yards. Rifle used was Rem. 700 /308, Jewel Trigger, Master class Stock with Krieger 30" barrel, 1/12 twist, Sierra 190's, Lapua Brass, 210M primers. Rear Sight was Warner and Front Sight was Anshutz w/ post and 1.5 lens in front. (old eyes need to see the target board number at 1000 yards so as to not crossfire)
As for keeping the shots in the"center" on military targets at 600 and beyond, that is not a problem for practiced, trained marksmen. Done every day.
dsiteman

My answer has to be qualification with the M14 as a Marine Corps boot at Camp Pendleton in early 1968. On qualifying day I shot all bullseyes from the prone position at 500 meters...BUT...as referenced above, I performed the dreaded crossfire on one of those bullseyes.

Not to worry: That kept me from scoring Expert and thereby from applying for Sniper School. As a 2-year enlistee I was headed straight to RVN. So not going as a sniper may have saved my life since I ended up going as a Rifleman but landed an OJT position as Company Clerk, HQ Co., 7th Marines. When I returned home in Oct. 1969 I saw my 5-month old son for the first time. He will turn 36 later this month.

The rest of the story: The errant 500 yd. bullseye I fired (mistakenly, for sure) kept the guy next to me from being a Non-qual. Being just a few weeks after the big Tet of 1968, it wasn't a pleasant distinction for a Marine to fail to qualify with the rifle. I guess it saved him from six kinds of h*ll for the rest of boot camp.

In the 1870's, at a place called Adobe Walls in the Texas Panhandle, during a fierce indian attack, a buffalo hunter named Billy Dixon knocked an indian off his horse at a reported range of 1538 yards. His rifle was a Sharps 50-90.

A now disproved story, was that of a Civil War sniper, using a muzzleloading rifle with a scope sight, killing a Confederate general at Shiloh, at the range of one mile. It is now known that this never happened, although the story surfaces from time to time. It is true however, that the British Whitworth rifle on many occasions created casulties among Artillery crews at 1000 yards. In 1864, at the battle of Spotsylvania, General John Sedgewick was killed by a Confederate sniper, shortly after saying to his troops "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance". The range of this shot is unknown.

Early in the Revolutionary War, at the Battle of Bunker Hill, a group of British Officers rode to within about 300 yards of the American line, thinking they were safe. Suddenly rifle balls were buzzing so close that they were forced to bid a hasty retreat. This was probably Dan Morgan's men with their Kentucky rifles. Later in that same conflict, Tim Murphy, at the battle of Saratoga did kill a British general with his Kentucky rifle at a range said to be at least 300 yards.

the lattest "longest shot" is of a sniper team in afghanistan a confirmed kill at about 3 miles.

i have heard this only at one place and that was on fox news.

The 500m line in the Marine Corps is the farthest open-sighted known-distance-fire I have accomplished.

I shot consistently with my service rifle at all distances to maintain an "expert-rating" every year, or every time I shot for score. I was a Marksmanship Instructor[PMI] as an NCO and I was sent to Quantico later as a senior SGT to become a Small-Arms Weapons Instructor. It was there that I become very intimate with my marksmanship, especially the 500m qualification phase. Learning to "call-your-shot" is very important in mastering and harnessing your complete capability in long range fire, both with iron-sights and optics. This will be extremely helpful later on...once you have a solid foundation in sight-alignment and trigger control...when afield with your hunting rifle.

I am impressed, gentlemen. Now, let's narrow the focus, a bit. How about the longest successful shot YOU have made....iron sights ONLY.... on game (or on enemy personnel). Obviously, distances are not likely measured under combat situations....so honest estimates will suffice, for those whose best shots were achieved in such conditions.

I ask only because I am curious...and I wish to get a feel for the longest, on average, distance at which (most of us) shooters might feel comfortable taking a shot (with iron sights). For me, as I stated before, iron sight distances have always been rather modest. Since I have gotten rid of all of my other guns except my "sporterized" M48 (equipped with iron sights)... I am interested to know of other's experiences in this regard. I consider MY practical maximum, on deer-sized game (with this rifle) to be about 125 yards...which will work OK, given the area in which I hunt.

Enemy humaniod target approx 200mts across a ricepaddy.Using a L1A1(SLR) ! Pro shooting Goats at a measured 300mtrs with a 303 PAT14.

This weekend went to the range and was busting clay pigeons at 330yds with Marlin 1895 Cowboy and 250yrds with Winchester Model 71. Both with reciever peeps. Of course not everytime, but consistantly.

Bill

the longest shot i made was with my trusty .22 i shot a very large dog at apx 1/4 mile i will be the first to tell you that this was a 100% luck shot i am really not that good trust me.
i hit the dog and it just kinda ran off no real damage was done. i guess the bullet lost to much speed.

i just fired to fire mostly i did not think in my wildest dreams i would even come close. i did not think i even aimed high enough.

Best rifle iron sight shots- crow sitting in the fork of a dead elm tree w/ JC Higgins 108.03(Stevens) open sight .22 at 100+ yds. Strait through the chest.
3 perfect bulls out of 5 w/ .22 U.S. military (Peep sight) at 50ft smallbore
NRA shoot. Missed the other 2 by one shot.(5 shots per bull)

Best revolver iron sight- 5 out of 6 at 10" target w/ S&W Mod19 .357 at 100+ yards.

the lattest "longest shot" is of a sniper team in afghanistan a confirmed kill at about 3 miles.

i have heard this only at one place and that was on fox news.

wow!! what were they using for sights on that shot??

Are people using iron sights a dead breed? JP

My personal best in the game fields using metallic sights only, came Memorial Day 1994 when I harvested an Idaho Spring Black Bear at 383 lazer-ranged yards with a 1903A3 "custom-by-chainsaw" rifle wearing an old Redfield receiver sight and a modified military front sight. Shot taken from sitting position, resting across knees in a hasty-sling with back braced by a large cedar log. A very memorable day!

Memorial Day Surprise (http://www.beartoothbullets.com/trail/archive_trail_talk.htm/23)

Interesting thread.

God bless,

Drilled a large crow at 225yrds. with an M1 Carbine ( Universal ). He was across a large pond, and the first shot hit the water about 75 yds. in front of him, and on the second shot he rolled right off the limb. I was leaning on the roll bar of my Jeep for the shot, and my response; " ****" !!!!!!!

Impressive, gentlemen ! I did this target at 50 metres, with some of the shots being for sight regulation, with my M48 (which I just re-stocked). I haven't gotten a chance to shoot at 100 metres, yet. Several of the (3 round) groups were less than 1". The squares on the target are 1", by the way.

When: 36 years ago
Firearm: High Standard Deluxe Sentinel .22 revolver, 6" bbl.
Ammo: Who the H*** remembers?
Target: Crow in treetop
Range: Paced off at 120 yds.
Witnessed?: Yes, and that poor fellow STILL believes I am the greatest marksman on earth. Sucker! It was, of course, a pure fluke...

Just yesterday, at 100 metres. "Sporterised" Yugo M48 rifle, with iron sights. This is a new load combination, that I discovered by accident.

Just yesterday, at 100 metres. "Sporterised" Yugo M48 rifle, with iron sights. This is a new load combination, that I discovered by accident.

Hi, I use the Yugo 48 as a brush gun. But I would like to know about your load for longer ranges. Can you give some info?

Thanks,
dave

"Hi, I use the Yugo 48 as a brush gun. But I would like to know about your load for longer ranges. Can you give some info?"

The load I used for that last target (at 100 metres), is not really suitable for long range shooting. It is a deliberately mild load, with modest velocity and pressure. But, here it is : 196 grain boat-tail FMJ bullet, over 42.0 grains of IMR-4064. The bullets were pulled from some Yugo milsurp ammo. This load is good for about 2200 fps. You could substitute 195-200 grain softpoints for the Yugo bullet - BUT, most of the heavy softpoints like this are designed for the 8mm Magnum (much higher velocity) and larger game (like Elk). So, I do not think this is a good choice (though it IS very accurate). My "regular" load for this rifle is 42.0 grains of IMR-4064, under a 185 grain Remington PSP bullet. This is also mild, as you can see, but very accurate. However, the Rem. bullet, I am told (by Remington), will expand at these moderate velocities. However, this is still not a long-range load. A hotter version of this load, with say, 46.0 grains of the powder, would likely be much better at longer ranges. I have not tested this hot, though....so I cannot advise as to the accuracy of this idea.

I know of a good long-range load...... 49.0 grains of IMR-4064, under a 150 grain Sierra PSP bullet. About 2700 fps....and accurate through an M48 (I have it on good authority). I have not tried this load yet. The secret, as I understand it, to getting light bullets (like the 150 grain) to be accurate in the M48 is relatively high velocity. I also intend to try the Hornady 170 grain round-nose softpoint, as these are devastating on deer. However, round-nose bullets do not make for a good long-range proposition. I only hunt at 150 yards or less now, though, so long range isn't an issue for me.

Target, coyote. Location, a live fire range range at 29 palms CA. Range, 450 mtrs. Weapon, M16a1. Prayer, that the statute of limitations is up on shooting a animal within the confines of a federal reservation! If its not up well...just disregaurd my last ok!

Called shot? Last November, feral catalina goat, me sitting on a 2' high rock, rested the left elbow on my knee, no sling, no rest, Browning 1895 lever '06 with Marble's tang and blade front, 235 lazered yards, with two witness'. One shot, one kill. My 'O my gosh' (aka sh**house) shot-130 steps, two witness', 1 crow, 1 shot with a Walther PPK-S .22 LR offhand.

In 1999 busted a doe at 231 long paces. It was a down hill shot, I was using an early model Marlin 336 in 30-30, shooting 150 grain bullet. I placed the bead on the edge of the deer's back, the bullet hit for a double lung shot and the deer fell in it's tracks.

This was a standing, unbraced off hand shot, was extremely proud of myself and my friend who was along on the hunt could not believe the results.

I like this tread! 1st, I'm not calling any one a lier, but a crow at 200+ yards is not even a target! A .30 carbine does not have a chance! A 1.5ft target at 100 yards is about 2" tall, at 225 it's about .90" . No way with a .30 carbine, unless there were multiple clips used, maybe! Is anyone interested in a postal shoot?
Let's set up categories, .22 commercial, Military .22, Center-fire Mil surps, and commercial center-fire! Any takers? All on the honor system, 25 yard .22, 100 yard center-fire! Rifle, ammo, bullets (for reloads) Must be stated! JP

Targets! Here's a .22 target! JP

Here's a centerfire target! jp

100 yard mil surp target, JP

Don't wimp out! Compete! there are no losers! JP

I'd say my average shooting range with open sights is 100 to 125 yd. with my 22 rifle. on the other hand my brother used to shoot competition with a handgun, 44 cal black-hawk 10 in. barrel, open sights. out to 200 meters at steel ram targets, not only had to hit them you had to knock them over . He was real good at this range, took a lot of practice, and wore out a few guns in the process.

it's amazing to see how well those guys do at silhouette shoots! my best friend and i ran the state shoot here in iowa back in 1990 at perry iowa. one of the handcannons he used was a tc contender custom chambered for .444 marlin. as for longest shots i've made myself i'd guss it would be shooting the rams from the .22 line at the range there with my model 27 ... prolly between 375 and 400 yards .. i didn't hit em alot of times but i did hit em! it was fun!

My best, 5 clay targets/5shots at 90 paces, s/w .22....... It realy impressed the two fellas with a 10-22! My wife was my witness(she has out shot me several times)

Best long pistol shot; 17 out of 20 on clay pidgeons at 70 yards with a Walther P-22 loaded with Remington Thunderbolt 40 rgain cheapo ammo. Seated, resting arms on knees.

Best long rifle shot: 5 shots out of 5 into a Folgers Coffee can at a laser measured 456 yards. Kimber built 30-06 on a Vz 24 action using it's favorite handload. Sierra 180gr. Pro Hunter, 55 grains of IMR 4350, neck sized R-P brass, CCI large rifle primer. Shooting from prone with a sling, resting over a day pack. All 5 hits were through and through. No creases.

Disclaimer: Neither incident is an every day occurance. These are just the best of the best.

Ok old thread but a good one. So my very best shots are milk jugs at 100yards with my Sig229 40S&W using American Eagle 165gr tmj. I would say i'm running around 25% hits to miss consistency.

The very best shot I ever witnessed was a buddy shooting at a 15" steel plate painted orange. One shot one hit from 300yards with his .380 auto. Pure azzluck!! but it was still great. Funniest part about it was our other buddy had just got done shooting and only hitting the plate once out of three shots with his 270 win. :confused:

"Are people using iron sights a dead breed? JP"

Old, but hope I'm not dead yet. I use a williams peep on a 1895 cb 45/70. This year I killed a nice whitetail at 283 paces. If I had a range finder I feel confident a 1 shot kill at 325 to 350 is easily possible.

When I was a kid hunting in Florida with a friend we came upon this lake and noticed a small can of 3in 1 oil with the red cap(remember those?) laying in the weeds.My friend picked up the little can and threw it into the lake as far as he could and said: " hit that".All that was barely visible was that little red cap. I raised up my trusty Remington Nylon 66 and pointed and shot all in one motion without a pause.And hit that red cap dead center.Lucky? You bet.Couldn't do it again if I had to.The can was probably 50 yds away.My friends jaw dropped.I said"Find me another".

Crows at 800m with no1mk3 303.Not every shot a winner but the misses were no more than half a foot.

Longest I've ever done was at Ridgeway PA . Around halloween every year they have a lever action shoot on the 500 meter silhouette course.
At 200 meters I shot a Marlin Model 1936 in 32 Speciel with a tang sight .
At 300 meters I shot a Marlin 336SC in 30-30 with a reciever sight.
At 385 meters I shot a Marlin 336SC in 32 Speciel with a reciever sight .
And at 500 meters I shot a Marlin 336SC in 35 REM with a reciever sight.
All the rifles used cast bullets and they were not overly fast loads either. I cannot say I hit them all , but I did get a couple at least at every yardage . Most likely because of the excellent spotter I had that day.
Up to that point in my life the farthest I had shot at targets or groundhogs was around 350-375 yards. And that was with a 20x scope.
I enjoy shooting from the bench with my open sighted Marlin's at 100 or 200 yards . And with cast bullets of course.I've even been known to hunt with open sighted levers with cast bullets .