When to Use a Long Range Shooting Rifle for Hunting

Advances in cartridge design, rifle build quality, and precision optics have given the modern hunter access to unparalleled precision. Today’s long range shooting rifle is a tool that enables a hunter to harvest animals at distances that were once considered unthinkable and unethical.

However, to effectively use a rifle for long range hunting requires a solid grasp of marksmanship fundamentals, experience shooting at distance, and careful consideration of safety and ethics. Here's what you need to know. 

When Is a Long Range Shooting Rifle the Right Choice for Hunting?

Before we get into the specifics, let’s look at what is considered long-range shooting. Although the definition varies by shooter, long-range shooting is generally taking a shot at a distance where environmental factors and physics will affect the bullet’s flight to the point that you need to compensate for bullet drop and wind. 

For many hunters, this starts around 200 yards but can stretch to 400 yards and beyond based on the weapon (typically a bolt action rifle), cartridge, animal, and the shooter’s skill level.

Open Country Hunts

Long-range rifles often become a necessity for open-country hunts, where closing the distance to the animal isn’t feasible. For example, antelope and mule deer frequently present shots across large desert expanses and open plains.

Additionally, mountain goats inhabit steep and hazardous terrain that calls for longer distance shots to avoid putting the hunter at risk. 

Minimizing Disturbance

Using a rifle for a long-range shot also minimizes the disturbance of other animals in the herd. A well-placed long-distance shot can allow a hunter to harvest a targeted animal without spooking other nearby game. If the first shot is a clean miss, the hunter may have another opportunity if the herd isn’t scared away. 

Remember: Successfully harvesting game at distances over 200 yards requires consistent practice and the ability to understand and accurately adjust for wind, elevation, temperature, atmospheric pressure, and bullet drop. 

What Are the Most Popular Long Range Rifle Calibers for Hunting?

For many experienced long gun shooters, selecting the right caliber for the job is more important than the rifle.

The most popular long range rifle calibers today include:

• 6.5 Creedmor: This cartridge is popular with competitive long-range shooters for its balance of speed, lower recoil, and relatively flat trajectory at extended ranges. 
• .270 Winchester: A classic and versatile cartridge that is considered a fantastic all-around big game caliber.
• 7mm Rem Mag: A trusted big game cartridge that delivers superior ballistics and retained energy for long-range shots. 
• .28 Nosler: An “upgraded” version of the 7mm Rem Mag that was developed in 2014 as a higher velocity round. 
• .300 Win Mag: A powerful cartridge with heavy recoil used by big game hunters and military snipers for extended range shots
• .308 Winchester: A widely available cartridge that provides a balance of power and recoil for long-range shots up to 1,000 yards.

Test out several of these rifles (and others) to find the long-range rifle that works best for you.

Safety Considerations When Using Long-Range Rifles

As with any projectile — whether it's a bullet or an arrow — your name is on it as soon as it leaves your weapon. And as with any firearm, safety is crucial.

This responsibility is amplified when shooting at extended ranges, where you have more area in front of and behind your target. Bullets fired from any of these big game cartridges can travel over a mile, so knowing your backstop is critical. Before pulling the trigger, make sure that you have a natural barrier behind the targeted animal so that a missed shot doesn’t cause unintended consequences. 

You should also be aware that your performance on the flat range doesn’t always translate to shooting at angles and from various field positions. Wind can change direction multiple times from your location to the target, so you should be confident in your wind calls and use your DOPE (Date On Previous Engagements) card to only take ethical shots. 

If possible, have a spotter to call impacts, confirm misses, and help with tracking. Practice working as a team before the season starts so you can effectively communicate with each other before and after the shot.

Maintenance and Regulations

Proper rifle and optic maintenance is essential to your success in the field. Re-torque your action and scope mounts before you leave the house and reconfirm zero once you get to a safe location. 

As always, follow your state’s hunting regulations and firearms laws. Some states have restrictions on calibers, magazine capacity, rifle type, and maximum shot distances. 

Ethical Considerations with a Long-Range Shooting Rifle

The decision to take an animal’s life demands an unwavering commitment to only taking ethical shots you know you can make. Just because you have a tool that can reach an animal at 1,000 yards doesn’t mean you should take the shot. 

Most rifle hunters have a hard and set rule of the maximum distance they’ll shoot an animal based on their abilities and their rifle’s ballistics. That distance is calculated after hours at the range and in the field, shooting in various conditions and positions. 

Again, a significant part of your development process using a long range shooting rifle is creating a DOPE card or using and modifying ballistics app data that is specific to your rifle and ammunition. Making accurate and ethical shots requires bringing that information with you on every hunt and knowing how to implement it.

Long-range shooting is a game of inches, so if you don’t trust your optics and rangefinding equipment, upgrade. Follow the “buy once, cry once” philosophy and get the best scope and rangefinder you can afford. Inferior equipment provides inaccurate data, leading to faulty decisions and unethical shots. 

Long-Range Precision Demands Preparation and Good Safety Practices

While a long-range shooting rifle can help you take advantage of specific hunting opportunities, it is nothing more than an expensive club if you cannot consistently put rounds on target. Success at extended ranges requires dedication to practice, skill, and a deep respect for hunting traditions and the animal. 

As you hone your long-range skills, make sure you also have the foundation hunters need for safe hunts. Taking an online hunter safety course through ilearntohunt helps you build that solid foundation in hunting safety and marksmanship.

Each state-specific course provides critical knowledge about local hunting regulations as well as shot placement, weapon fundamentals, basic fieldcraft, animal behavior, and safety practices to help you make the most of your time on a hunt. 

Before your next hunt, make sure you've taken your state's hunter safety course through ilearntohunt! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have answers to your questions about long range shooting rifles for hunting!

Q: Which hunting rifle has the longest range?

A: Rifle chambering matters more than the rifle brand: the longest-range hunting-capable cartridges are the very large magnums (i.e., .50 BMG, .338 Lapua, and large .375-.416 magnums). In pure distance terms, a .50 BMG platform reaches the farthest (2,000+ yds in precision shooting), but those are rarely used or legal for ordinary game.

Q: What is the best long-range caliber for hunting?

A: There’s no single “best.” However, for long-range medium-to-large game, most hunters pick .300 Win Mag / .300 PRC or .338-class. For a flatter trajectory with low recoil, the 6.5 Creedmoor (or 6.5 PRC) is extremely popular. Pick your long-range rifle based on game size, recoil you can shoot well, and local rules.

Q: Is a .223 or .308 better for deer hunting?

A: In general, the .308 is better. It delivers substantially more bullet weight and terminal energy suitable for deer. The .223 is light and marginal on most deer (and is illegal for deer in many jurisdictions). 

Q: How far will a .308 rifle shoot accurately?

A: Distance depends on rifle, ammo, shooter, and conditions. Practically, for ethical deer hunting, most shooters use 100-400 yards. When hunting, treat anything beyond where you can consistently place a vital shot as "out of effective range."

Q: What is the best all-around caliber for deer hunting?

A: The two most common are the .308 Winchester (balanced, widely available ammo, manageable recoil) and the .30-06 Springfield (provides a bit more power and flexibility). 

Before your next hunt, make sure you've taken your state's hunter safety course through ilearntohunt!