600 Yard Hunting Challenge: What hit rate Is realistic?

Backfire
6 Apr 202433:55

TLDRThe video explores the realistic hit rate for hunting at various distances up to 600 yards. It follows three amateur hunters, including a professional hunting guide, a dentist, and a fan of the channel, as they attempt to hit targets in different hunting scenarios. Factors such as wind, shooting positions, and the hunters' familiarity with their firearms impact their performance, leading to a discussion on ethical hunting ranges and the importance of confidence and practice with one's hunting weapon.

Takeaways

  • 🎯 The 600 Yard Hunting Challenge explores the realistic hit rate for amateur hunters in various hunting situations out to 600 yards.
  • 🔫 Mike the Marine's attempt to hit 100% of shots in a YouTube live event resulted in a low hit percentage, sparking the question of what an average hunter can achieve.
  • 🏹 The Fan Edition of the challenge involved three amateur hunters, including a professional hunting guide, testing their skills in realistic hunting scenarios.
  • 🦌 The first stage of the challenge had hunters shooting from a hilltop with sandbags, achieving a 60% hit rate at distances up to 530 yards.
  • 🏔️ In the second stage, hunters faced more challenging conditions without sandbags and with a timer, resulting in a lower hit rate and highlighting the difficulty of acquiring a stable shooting position.
  • 🌬️ Wind was identified as a significant factor affecting the hit rate, especially in the latter stages of the challenge where it was more prominent.
  • 📈 The hunters' experiences suggest that in perfect conditions, shots out to 600 yards could be attempted with confidence, but more often, a range under 300 yards is preferred.
  • 💨 The final stage simulated a high-pressure situation with hunters doing burpees before each shot, which further reduced the hit rate due to increased heart rate and instability.
  • 🥅 Despite the challenges, all hunters managed to hit at least 40% of their targets, demonstrating the potential for success even under adverse conditions.
  • 🌟 Confidence with one's rifle and ammunition, as well as practice, were highlighted as key to improving hit rates at longer distances.
  • 🎖 The event concluded with a tie between two hunters, emphasizing the variable nature of hunting and the importance of preparation and practice.

Q & A

  • What was the initial challenge presented in the script?

    -The initial challenge was for Mike the Marine to hit 100 out of 100 shots in realistic hunting situations, but he ended up with a low hit percentage.

  • What is the purpose of the 600 Yard Hunting Challenge?

    -The purpose of the 600 Yard Hunting Challenge is to determine what hit rate is realistic for an average, passionate amateur hunter in various hunting situations out to 600 yards.

  • Who participated in the Fan Edition of the challenge?

    -Three fans participated in the Fan Edition of the challenge, including Twinkie the hunting guy, Jake, and Brandon.

  • What type of firearm did Jake bring to the challenge?

    -Jake brought a Cascade CVA chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum with a nice looking back stop recoil pad.

  • What was Twinkie's profession and what courses does he offer?

    -Twinkie is a professional hunting guide and offers great hunting courses at process-based Hunter.

  • What was the significance of using milk jugs as targets?

    -Milk jugs are used as targets because they are a fun target to see explode, they are cheap, and their size is relatively similar to the vitals of a white-tailed deer.

  • What was the difficulty encountered in the second stage of the challenge?

    -In the second stage, the difficulty was shooting from a hill with no sandbags and using only real hunting implements like rocks, hunting bags, and tripods to support the shots.

  • How did the participants handle the pressure of the timer in the second stage?

    -The pressure of the timer affected some participants, causing them to rush their shots and miss targets due to lack of stability in their shooting positions.

  • What was the main factor affecting the hit percentage according to the participants?

    -The main factor affecting the hit percentage was the wind, especially in the latter half of the day when it was not completely silent.

  • What ethical hunting distances did the participants suggest based on their experience?

    -The participants suggested keeping shots under 250 to 300 yards in most conditions, but in perfect conditions and with a high level of confidence and practice, they might extend to 600 yards.

  • What advice was given for shooting off a tripod?

    -The advice given was to square off to the tripod instead of leaning into it, and to stand up straight with the tripod as a third leg for stability.

Outlines

00:00

🎯 The Challenge: Amateur Hunters' Performance

The video script begins with a recap of a previous event where Mike the Marine attempted to demonstrate his hunting skills but ended up with a low hit percentage. The narrative then shifts to introduce an amateur hunting challenge where three fans, including Twinkie the hunting guy, will test their abilities in realistic hunting situations at distances up to 600 yards. The first shooter, Jake, discusses his choice of weapon, a Cascade CVA chambered in 7mm Rington Mag, and his confidence in the upcoming challenge. Despite the initial confidence, the participants struggle with various aspects of shooting, such as ranging and wind, leading to a mixed bag of results.

05:02

🏹 Assessing the Amateurs' Shooting Strategies

This paragraph delves into the strategies and performances of the amateur hunters during the challenge. Twinkie, a professional hunting guide, and the second shooter, shares his experience and the type of gun he's using, a Savage 110 Tactical in 6.5 Creedmore. The discussion touches on the difficulties faced by the shooters, such as the impact of wind and the need for precise ranging. The results show a pattern of three hits out of five attempts, highlighting the challenge's difficulty and the reality of hunting scenarios. The importance of proper positioning and the unpredictability of shooting in the wild are emphasized.

10:02

🌄 Challenging Terrain and Timed Shots

The script continues with the third competitor, Brandon, a former serviceman and passionate hunter, facing the challenge. Despite initial confidence, the shooters' performances are affected by the challenging terrain and the added pressure of time constraints. The second stage introduces a timer, simulating the urgency often experienced in hunting situations. The shooters must adapt to new positions and the absence of sandbags, leading to varied results. The discussion includes tips on shooting off a tripod and the importance of practice in improving hit rates, especially in difficult conditions.

15:06

📈 Analyzing Misses and Ethical Hunting Ranges

In this paragraph, the participants reflect on their performance, particularly the misses, and discuss the factors contributing to them. The conversation focuses on the importance of wind in shooting accuracy and the need for ethical hunting practices, which include considerations of appropriate shooting ranges. The participants agree that wind significantly affected their shots and suggest keeping hunting shots within closer ranges, around 250 to 300 yards, under most conditions. The discussion also includes personal experiences of long-range shots and the confidence required to take such shots successfully.

20:07

🏃‍♂️ Physical Challenges and Final Stage

The final paragraph describes the last stage of the challenge, where participants face physical exertion by doing burpees before each shot, simulating the rush and elevated heart rate of an actual hunting scenario. The shooters must also decide on their shooting positions and distances, with a maximum of 75 yards allowed. The pressure and physical demands prove to be challenging, leading to a tie between two competitors. The video concludes with a reflection on the realism of the challenge and the insights gained about hunting situations, emphasizing the importance of practice and preparation for ethical hunting.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hunting

Hunting is the practice of pursuing or tracking wildlife or feral animals with the intent to capture or kill them. In the context of the video, hunting is the central activity around which the challenge is based, with participants aiming to hit targets in realistic hunting situations. The script discusses the ethical considerations of hunting, such as ensuring a high hit rate and the importance of not wasting meat.

💡Hit Rate

Hit rate refers to the percentage or proportion of successful shots taken by a shooter. In the video, the hit rate is a critical measure of the participants' performance in the hunting challenge, with the goal of achieving a high rate to simulate effective hunting in the field.

💡Ammunition

Ammunition refers to the materials used in guns, which include bullets, shells, and other components necessary for a firearm to operate. In the context of the video, ammunition is crucial as it directly affects the accuracy and effectiveness of the shots taken by the participants.

💡Wind

Wind is the movement of air from high to low pressure areas and can significantly affect the trajectory of a bullet or arrow in hunting or shooting. In the video, wind is mentioned as a factor that can influence the hit rate, especially when shooting at longer distances.

💡Ethical Hunting

Ethical hunting refers to the practice of hunting in a manner that is considered to be morally right and fair. This includes considerations such as ensuring a quick, humane kill and not exceeding the number of animals that can be sustainably replaced. In the video, ethical hunting is a central theme, with discussions on the importance of having a high hit rate to avoid wasting meat and ensuring the animals are killed humanely.

💡Shooting Positions

Shooting positions refer to the physical stance or body position a shooter takes when firing a weapon. These positions can include standing, kneeling, sitting, or prone, and are chosen based on factors like stability, concealment, and the shooter's comfort. In the video, shooting positions are crucial for achieving accuracy, especially in the challenging conditions of the hunting challenge.

💡Target Practice

Target practice is the act of shooting at designated targets to improve accuracy and shooting skills. In the video, target practice is the method used to test the participants' abilities in a controlled environment that simulates real hunting scenarios.

💡Firearm Accessories

Firearm accessories are additional items or equipment that enhance the functionality, accuracy, or comfort of using a firearm. In the video, firearm accessories like bipods, backpacks, and specialized ammunition are mentioned as tools that can aid participants in achieving better shooting accuracy.

💡Hunting Guide

A hunting guide is a professional who assists hunters in locating and tracking game, as well as providing instruction on hunting techniques and regulations. In the video, one of the participants is a professional hunting guide, indicating a high level of expertise and experience in the field of hunting.

💡Shooting Challenge

A shooting challenge is a competitive event or test where participants aim to demonstrate their shooting skills, often by hitting targets with accuracy and speed. In the video, the 600 Yard Hunting Challenge is a specific shooting challenge designed to assess the participants' abilities in conditions similar to real hunting situations.

Highlights

The 600 Yard Hunting Challenge explores the realistic hit rate for amateur hunters.

Mike the Marine attempted to hit 100 out of 100 shots in realistic hunting situations but ended up with a low hit percentage.

Three fans, including Twinkie the hunting guy, participate in the Fan Edition of the challenge to test their hunting skills.

The first set of targets is placed between 200 and 530 yards, testing the hunters' abilities at different distances.

Jake, a participant from Idaho, uses a Cascade CVA chambered in 7mm Rington Mag for the challenge.

Twinkie, a professional hunting guide, struggles with the challenge, hitting only three out of five targets at 530 yards.

In the second stage, sandbags are removed, and hunters must use natural surroundings to create stable shooting positions.

A timer is introduced in the second stage, limiting hunters to 5 minutes to hit each target, simulating the pressure of a real hunting scenario.

The third stage involves shooting from a steep slope, testing the hunters' ability to compensate for elevation and unstable positions.

Despite the challenging conditions, all hunters manage to hit at least three out of five targets in the first stage.

The hunters discuss the importance of wind as a factor in determining ethical hunting ranges.

Confidence with one's rifle and practice are highlighted as key to successful long-range hunting shots.

The challenge concludes with a discussion on the ethical hunting ranges for each participant based on their experience.

The results of the challenge show that even with perfect conditions and practice, hitting targets consistently at 600 yards is challenging.

Jake, one of the participants, shares his personal experience of successfully hunting animals past 600 yards with a gun he is extremely confident with.

The 600 Yard Hunting Challenge provides insights into the skills and limitations of amateur hunters in realistic hunting situations.