Getting better

[SC Hunter]

Have enjoyed and continue to enjoy (and will always enjoy) the debates/comparisons on "which is the best deer rifle".... But one point that is almost always made in those threads is that with effective shot placement, they're all good. So my question for the forum is " how do you develop the skill required to take a 300 yard shot? Shooting off a rest at the range is not the same as shooting a live animal out of a tree stand on a cold morning. Many ranges don't get out to 300 yards. Wounded deer are unacceptable.

So how do you get better?

[daddus1]

Practice at 300 yds! see where your rifle shoots at that distance and practice, practice, practice!
daddus
No one can "tell" you how to do it. It is expensive in money and time!

[Hellbilly]

Ill take a 300yd shot after Im proficiant at 400yds

[Karl.Luhr]

When I start to feel like I am a good shot, one of two things happen. One is I get an idea to shoot at 200 yards that is a reality check. The other is someone that is really a good shot(one holes all day at 100yds) starts shooting next to me. I shoot with low power scopes either 4 or 4.5 power at the high end, when shooting at 200 yards that bull is starting to get small.

Karl

[Scorpion8]

There is no substitute for practice, and a lot of it should be in real situations: standing, rifle rested against a tree, shooting sticks. You can shoot off the bench all day and feel good but miss a close shot because you don't practice that way.

[Hunting Man]

Your rifle must be sighted in at 100 yds and shooting 1" groups. Moving out to 200 yds makes a whale of a difference in seeing your mistakes. 300 yds and you need some nice glass aboard the rifle and a caliber that shoots well at that distance. Like they said it's expensive to know you can make the shot and only practice will tell you if you can do it. I have started moving my optics to 4x12 and 4x16 as my eyes aren't what they used to be.