which is the best caliber for big game hunt at 500+ meters?

Question

I plan on going hunting Marcopolo Sheep and Mid-Asian Ibex in the mountains of Central Asia. I already own a .223 but i guess its not worth the game!

Answer 1

You need a good 1000 meter gun. They are expensive... you need to be knowlegdable and skilled to use them... and if you don't know what they are you shouldn't be shooting at things 500+ meters away for a long time.

Answer 2

Leo, I agree and disagree with a lot of the posts so far.

It's a very attainable goal to shoot and cleanly kill an animal at 500 meters, but it's not for the novice. You are correct in the fact that your 223 will not work for the task. Look into something along the lines of a 300 Weatherby or better yet the 30-378 Weatherby, but you'd better yet be sure to buy a quality scope. The optics will cost at least what the rifle does. Go to opticstalk.com and ask lots of questions on the forums, read as much as you can on the subject. And you'll need a good rangefinder, there's no guessing at that distance.

Secondly, buy lots of bullets and plan to shoot a bunch. If you're going to cleanly kill an animal at 500 meters it won't be without practice. You can find ballistics programs online to help with charting the path of the bullet over such a great distance, you'll need this info too. Read also about wind "doping", you'll need to compensate for that to if it's blowing that day, at 500 meters it can go from a hit to a complete miss (or worse yet a wounded animal fast).

Lastly, mentally prepare yourself to pass up a shot. The conditions need to be right and if they're not than it's not right to pull the trigger. The very worst thing you can do is wound an animal and not recover it. Gives a bad name to the sport and you'll hunt with a heavy heart after than.

Good luck, hunt hard, shoot straight!

Answer 3

NO..and I mean NO...hunter worth his salt is going to try and drop ANY game from 500 meters. You've been watching way to many Steven Segal movies or something. Images of a guy dropping an bugling elk across misty morning mountain tops at 400 and 500 yd ranges are the stuff of fantasy.
It's a document fact that most game dropped in North America is done so in the 60,70 to 150,175 yard range. MOST are dropped in the 100 yard range +- 25 yds.
Taking shots out at 250 yds and beyond are risky. A real hunter is not looking to wound..or main and that's what happens taking potshots at telephone distance range.
Sure..there are documented kills out to super long ranges..but check the record books and you'll see the are few and far between.
Also..I guess I have to tone it down a bit..I just read that 300 yds is that average shot and a lot are taken at 500 for the Marco Polo. Wow. Against what I've learned..but I never did world class big game either. We learn every day!.
I'd recomend a 270. , .300 or .308.

Answer 4

Part of being a hunter is to be able to get within a close proximity to your target known as stalking. It is way too hard to try and bring down an animal at that range get it within 400yds. I would say.

Ibex are way cool you hunt should be fun. I would take at least .300Winchester Mag. and maybe a .338 Rem. Ultra Mag or Lapua Mag if you need a bullet to traverse gorges and small canyons!. Lapua Mag is very flat shooting. If the Ibex and Marco Sheep are anything like the mountain sheep here they will have excellant eyesight and you will be a long ways away!

Answer 5

That is a "very" great distance.
Do you have the skill to hit a paper plate at that distance
provided you have a fine rifle of suitable caliber?
(under field conditions)

I am not certain I could,and I am an "expert" rifle shot.
The wind alone could change directions 2 or 3 times in this
distance.

Given "perfect" conditions "and" a solid rest "and" a bullet that will
Perform as needed at that distance "and" a shooter that can
"reliably" put three rounds into a paper plate,(at 500 yds)
The choices of caliber are going to be in the mid diameter
magnum class.
I suggest you try to stalk closer and take a 250 yd shot.

Answer 6

Many good choices. I'd go with the .30-06 Springfield with a good variable scope or the 7mm Remington Magnum.

Specifically, I own a Steyr Mannlicher Pro Hunter stainless steel in .30-06 w/composite stock that should be excellent for the condition and location you describe.

H

Answer 7

Yeah, first of all, .223 NATO is like a vermit caliber, I own an AR & a mini14. Try calling the local hunting warden, or hunting place you'll be hooking up with and ask for their advice. Then, practice, practice, practice, .......... and get in a very good shape !

Answer 8

you are able to upload a scope to particular AK form rifles which will settle for a scope mount, yet i does not even difficulty. maximum AKs are not precise adequate to warrant the addition of a scope. The 7.62x39 around is sufficient for deer looking, yet there are not very many different lots and bullet types obtainable for it. lots of the ammo accessible is 123 grain FMJ. in case you desire a good deer rifle, i might propose a bolt action in .243, .270, or .308 high quality. 30-30 and 30-06 additionally are superb selections.

Answer 9

300 Weatherby Magnum

Answer 10

.338 Winchester Magnum