New to the Long Range game.

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corpsmanup!

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As a corpsman, my rifle experience is limited to an M4 with an ACOG on it out to about 100m. I just bought my first bolt gun in the form of a savage 110 in 30-06. I did this because I've heard about the superb accuracy of the 110 and was able to pick up a complete at the box store for an inexpensive price. I chose 30-06 because of the extra 150 fps it gains and heavier bullet weight (180gr at 2700fps). It can also chamber .308 with a drop in chamber adapter according to Boston TP if I had to, within only 2 MOA accuracy (acceptable).

My question I have though I guess is, what is the limits of the 30-06? What is considered farthest humane shot on game?- What is the maximum effective range on point and area targets? Any help sure is appreciated. I used the search function and didn't come up with a whole lot.

Doc
 
My question to you is how far you think you will take a shot while hunting? What kind of terrain, and game would it be? Honestly, I don't think you will have to worry about taking a shot that will cause an inhumane kill. Due to distance at least, shot placement is more important at distance.
 
I would steer clear of chamber inserts. I have never used one my self but I have never heard anything good about them. For my shooting skill I would consider 300y my limit for a shot and still be humane. Not saying I can't hit targets farther out, but that I would not be sure of my shot placement. Terrain, weather conditions and many other things determine when and if I take a shot. But as Tyler said, shot placement is #1.
 
Just stay with shots that YOU are comfortable with. I personally hunt with a .308, but haven't even seen a buck (the only deer you can shoot where I hunt) farther out than 20 yds. I would be completely comfortable with that shot. and 30-06 is very universal as far as what game you take with it, bullet weights come in a wide range for the 06, so pick your round for the game you are hunting on a particular hunt. Good luck!
 
The 30-06 is an awsome starter cartridge. The Savage 110, an amazing rifle platform. I wouldn't worry about chamber adapters because 30-06 is just as acssesible as 308, and cost the same, so its kinda a moot point. I wouldn't do it. The 30-06 is capable of taken all game in the lower 48, and with the right bullet, and a set of cahoonas, even grizzly at respectable ranges. Its a great rifle and a great round. Have fun shooting and try lots of different ammo to see what shoots best out of your rifle. I have found that in my 30-06 and 308, fedeals cheap walmart ammo shoots 1" groups all day. And its cheap!! About 13$ a box.
 
With 175 - 180 gr bullets 600 yards would be your limit. At such distance bullets still have more then 1000 energy which is generally required to produce clean kill. But having 2 MOA accuracy I would think twice before shooting that far, 2MOA at 600 yards is like 12", you might not hit vitals at all, with my 308 I have 0.5 MOA accuracy but I limit myself to 300 - 500 yards tops... 500 yard shot can become a challenge specially when wind changing its direction, and when you hunt you won't have an opportunity to set flags, so learn to read wind by looking at the trees leafs and grass...
You welcome to get more information on long range here http://www.longrangehunting.com
 
The gun/cartridge is capable of humane kills at longer distances than anyone really has any business shooting. I'd put that out of your mind.

The real question is what you can do with the gun, under realistic field conditions. In my experience far too many people will shoot some groups at 100 yards from the bench, take the smallest group as representative of what their gun can do consistently, and then assume that if they shot a one inch group at 100 yards from the bench then they can shoot five inch groups at 500 yards from field positions.

I practice under the assumption that I need to hit an 8" target every time under any condition. I start missing occasionally when the range grows much beyond 200 yards. I can extend that range 100 yards or so with a good rest or a solid prone position, and have to cut it down by 100 yards or so for a shot from standing, after having sprinted up a hill to get into position.

I suggest you (and every hunter) practice by hanging up 8" paper plates at various ranges and having at them from the positions you will use in the field. The range at which you can hit them 99% of the time, in realistic conditions, is the range to which you should limit yourself while hunting.
 
Friend of mine did the test with some deer hunters with good track records on the game. They were pretty much at or beyond their maximum effective range at 300 metres. And that on static targets in the open with no time pressure.

Sure, longer shots are made, but they are often a case of man bites dog; remembered because they are unusual.
 
I don't see problem shooting up to 300 - 500 yards if you position yourself correctly, that would also involve use of bipod and monopod from prone position, it can be done while in seating position, with just a bipod or shooting stick.
 
I consider the longest humane shot on large game to be about 500yds (with good shooting practice and equipment); the .30-06 is more than capable of taking any ConUS game at that distance with good shot placement. I do not consider the .30-06 adequate for large, dangerous game as you might find in AK, but save for those few species, it is a "do-all" cartridge. For LR target work it is more than capable of 1200yd shots, with the selection of a good load.

:)
 
Doc,
Robert made some excellent suggestions.
If you are really only experienced in close range shooting, then you need to find out what you can do in realistic field conditions.
I shoot prone as often as possible. If you are considering LR, I wouldn't waste time or money with a drop in chamber adapter.
For some folks, 400-500 yards in good conditions is not as big of deal as some would have you think.
But those folks have done a lot practicing way beyond 500 yards.
Do you have a place where you can shoot at distance and set-up a portable steel target?

Reloader or will you be using factory ammo?
 
Reloader or will you be using factory ammo?

No, reloading is something I am understanding I will eventually have to get into for price/ and to play with loads. Right now it is just factory ammo. We have a police rifle range here out to 300 and I suppose that would be a good place to start.

If I can consistently hit an eight inch target at 300, I will work shrinking groups until i can shoot up north at farther ranges.
 
Maverick223 said:
I consider the longest humane shot on large game to be about 500yds (with good shooting practice and equipment); the .30-06 is more than capable of taking any ConUS game at that distance with good shot placement. I do not consider the .30-06 adequate for large, dangerous game as you might find in AK, but save for those few species, it is a "do-all" cartridge. For LR target work it is more than capable of 1200yd shots, with the selection of a good load.

:)
Click to expand...


Target work at 1200? That's impressive. The bullet would lack enough energy to take any game at that range though correct?
 
I think this is my last and final question. The Simmons 3x9x40 scope that came with it- is it any good? The visual clarity in it is good- nice and bright. Should I just get a Leupold and bipod just to knock it up a notch?
 
The Simmons is a $40 scope. When you can make, import, and sell what is supposed to be a precision instrument for $40, what does that tell you about the quality of the parts and construction?

Don
 
I think this is my last and final question. The Simmons 3x9x40 scope that came with it- is it any good? The visual clarity in it is good- nice and bright. Should I just get a Leupold and bipod just to knock it up a notch?
Click to expand...

I'd bought a Savage package rifle some years ago; it had a cheap Simmons mounted on it. The scope lasted for less than 100 rounds of 30-06.

Replacing that scope with a Leupold is a good idea. And, fortunately, there are other choices out there, too. The Bushnell Elite 3200 and 4200 are good scopes, same with the Nikon Monarch and Buckmaster. I've heard good things about the Weaver Grand Slam, too.

If you decide on Leupold, the VX2 and VX3 are both good.
 
Target work at 1200? That's impressive. The bullet would lack enough energy to take any game at that range though correct?
Click to expand...
Ask USSR about what a properly constructed .30-06 precision rifle can do. In fact I am discounting the range, but that is the farthest that I consider practical. It is not capable of taking large game at that range, but you could try varmint hunting at such ranges if you were so inclined. I consider the maximum range for taking large game to be 500yds; the .30-06 is more than capable of meeting my goals at that range, so I couldn't ask for more.

I think this is my last and final question. The Simmons 3x9x40 scope that came with it- is it any good? The visual clarity in it is good- nice and bright. Should I just get a Leupold and bipod just to knock it up a notch?
Click to expand...
I have had bad service out of the Simmons that I owned, I would look elsewhere. That said, I consider Leupold to be overpriced, especially on the lower end series (Rifleman, VX-I, et cetera). Without knowing your budget, I would look at offerings from Vortex (excluding the Crossfire series), Sightron, Nikon, and Bushnell Elite series. All have good quality, are well constructed and reliable, and have good CS (particularly the Vortex, which has an excellent warranty). I wouldn't worry about a bipod until everything else was sorted on the rifle, besides a good rest will perform better anyway.

:)
 
First, I would see what you are capable of with three shot groups with different factory ammo @ 100 yards off of a bench.
Since you are hoping for further distances, I would choose bullets with the better BC's (Higher the number the better the more aerodynamic it is).
Find the ammo that your rifle likes best. Then when you find your most accurate ammo, then get a Harris bi-pod (Swivel version with notched legs). I use the BR model the most, but the LM may be better for you, depending on your body type. Get a pod-loc for the bi-pod as well. I would upgrade optics if you can afford it. I use VX-3 LR/T Leupold's. Getting a good scope level is very important as well, since canting is common disease among shooters.

Then get off of the bench, and start shooting from field positions, to see what you are capable of in the field.

I shoot game beyond 500 yards, but that is not really the issue here.
First issue, is what you are capable with your given rifle set-up in field conditions, under pressure with a critter in your sights.
Second, even if you were capable of "X" number of yards, is the load capable?
It is possible to be able to out-shoot your bullet.
Each bullet will have an impact velocity threshold where it will not perform like it should.
For instance, the ballistic tip has minimum velocity of 1600 fps, whereas the accubond is 1800fps.
 
In my opinion the most important job of a riflescope is to hold its zero. I have a Simmons that's done that on several different rifles of up to .300 Magnum.

Some people call on their scopes to do other jobs as well. Some people constantly adjust their scopes and need reliable, repeatable adjustments. They have no choice but to spend money, because inexpensive scopes cannot be expected to do that.

Other people demand top quality optics (for some reason that has never been logically explained to me) and also have no choice but to pay for them, because you are not going to get that on a budget scope.

What do you need your scope to do? Is your Simmons doing it?
 
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