Bettering the odds at long-range

I doubt if there’s a single hunter who hasn’t been entertained by someone who had an uncle or grandfather who was simply the best shot in history and apparently had no trouble shooting running deer or antelopes in the head at 300m with an open-sighted .303 and military ammunition. Unfortunately, I’ve had to endure my fair share of such tiring and meaningless conversations over the years.

I’ve enjoyed numerous hunts in regions such as the Kalahari and Karoo where long-range shooting is the norm rather than the exception. In many instances, I’ve shot animals at longer range than I care to remember, and even though I’m by no means an exceptional shot, I’ve always concluded these hunts successfully. Along the way, I’ve also done a bit of thinking on this whole business of long-range shooting and, for what it’s worth, would like to share some of my thoughts in the hope that they may be of assistance.

There are a few important preparations that anyone planning a hunt in open country needs to make in order to ensure success. The first consideration is an