I am hunting a power line, and I want to start trying 500 yd. shots. What would be a good bolt gun to purchase. I am currently shooting a BAR in 3006 caliber, love the gun and the caliber, but not sure about it's accuracy at 500 yds. . Would appreciate any advice from any or you 3006 bolt gunners out there.
3006 bolt action
- Thread starter tggdeer
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ranger335v
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Win 70, Rem 700, Savage 110, Sako, CZ, Weatherby Vangard, Tikka, Marlin, Nosler, etc.
LOLBELL
Member
Browning bolt gun chambered in .280. VariX III scope sitting on top.
Seems kind of silly to go buy another rifle when you don't know if the one you have isn't perfectly adequate. Unless you already have a good long range scope and range finder it would make more sense in investing in those items first and seeing how well the BAR does at 500yds. It its not adequate, then get another rifle and put the scope on that one.
Hunting doesn't require small groups, just the ability to put the round into the kill area.
Hunting doesn't require small groups, just the ability to put the round into the kill area.
NCsmitty
Member
If you can shoot 1.5" groups at 100yds with the '06, then with a good hold, you can hit the dead zone on a deer at 500yds.
It will depend on your ability to shoot that, or any rifle, well enough to consistently keep your shots inside of 10" at that range. If you can only do that at 300yds, then that will be your max range.
NCsmitty
It will depend on your ability to shoot that, or any rifle, well enough to consistently keep your shots inside of 10" at that range. If you can only do that at 300yds, then that will be your max range.
NCsmitty
Captcurt
Member
I found out last week that some BAR's will shoot. After sighting in a friends BAR I had several 3 shot groups ranging from 1" to 1 1/2". I have had bolt guns that didn't shoot that good. Take it out and see what it will do before you buy a new one.
You have to know your limitations when you try a longrange shot. Try some shots around 300 yards if you have place to shoot that offers long shots. If you can't hit at that range while shooting from improvised rest (not a sledsled or sandbags) you don't need to shot at live game at that distance. I see too many people shooting their guns locked in a vise. I have never had a vise in a treestand.
You have to know your limitations when you try a longrange shot. Try some shots around 300 yards if you have place to shoot that offers long shots. If you can't hit at that range while shooting from improvised rest (not a sledsled or sandbags) you don't need to shot at live game at that distance. I see too many people shooting their guns locked in a vise. I have never had a vise in a treestand.
I don't use a tree stand but that is what i have been saying all week. I see these people out here at the range on Saturday on a bench with a vise & & back Monday after noon wondering why they missed 3 deer that morning. These people haven't shoot since last season.
Then i see people paint a 12" circle place it out at 50 yards & even if it just catches the edge you hear them say that's good enough to kill a deer.
OP sorry about the rant but back to your question. A 30-06 should be able to do 500 yards but you should work up a good round or buy one that you know holds good groups & practice 200, 300, 400, & 500 until you can shoot it. the main thing is a high power scope. Unless you have some really good eyes a 4x9 probably won't get it.
jimmyraythomason
Member
This..you MUST know what your rifle is capable of and THAT requires a vise (to eliminate human error). Once rifle and scope are in sync then you work on YOUR capabilities. Shooting at 500 yards is MUCH more difficult than at 200 yards. Even the smallest mistake can mean a miss or worse.
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Why so?
A deer at 500 yards through a 9x scope appears to be only 55 yards away.
I have killed coyotes at 500+ with a 3x-9x, and at 400+ with a 6x fixed power.
The problem isn't seeing them through a 9x scope.
The problem is being able to estimate range close enough, and shoot well enough to hit them in the kill zone that far away.
rc
ArchAngelCD
Member.
tggdeer,
What ever you do please don't try to kill a Deer at 500 yards unless you practice a lot at that range. It would be unethical to do any less. You should make sure you can place ALL your practice shots inside a 10" circle @500 yards before you try it on live game. We have a responsibility to be sure we can hit what we shoot at and make sure it's a good hit that will not make an animal suffer. A 500 yard shot is way different than a 300 or 400 yard shot. Most hunters shouldn't be shooting past 200 yards from what I've seen in the woods.
Talking about scopes, last year I changed the scope on my 30-06 from a 3-9X40 to a 4-12X40 because my eyes are getting worse all the time. I also changed the 4X32 scope on my 30-30 to a 2-7X32 for the same reason. I just can't see anymore!
What ever you do please don't try to kill a Deer at 500 yards unless you practice a lot at that range. It would be unethical to do any less. You should make sure you can place ALL your practice shots inside a 10" circle @500 yards before you try it on live game. We have a responsibility to be sure we can hit what we shoot at and make sure it's a good hit that will not make an animal suffer. A 500 yard shot is way different than a 300 or 400 yard shot. Most hunters shouldn't be shooting past 200 yards from what I've seen in the woods.
Talking about scopes, last year I changed the scope on my 30-06 from a 3-9X40 to a 4-12X40 because my eyes are getting worse all the time. I also changed the 4X32 scope on my 30-30 to a 2-7X32 for the same reason. I just can't see anymore!
Comment is based only on how I see thing. At 500 yards I don't see well enough with a 3x9 to make a shoot that I'm comfortable with. I can see a deer but would have no idea where I hit it. I use a 16x for 100 yards. With 16x I can see which hair I'm shooting at but I need to be that exact before I'll take that shoot. I take squirrel 100 yards with a 16x but at 500 that is a whole other ball game.
Again speaking only about myself but as I get older I not only see as good but I don't shoot as well. A few years ago I could free hand shoot at 100 yards & keep 1.5" groups but the other day I was shooting 5" groups. A shooting stick helps much but like the stick a high power scope is a must for me.
If I'm shooting a 5" group & the cross hairs cover another 4" of my target then that makes a possible miss of 9".
That is my why.
huntershooter
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I shoot 2/3/4/5/600 yds at the ranch.
Most calibers drop SIGNIFICANTLY past 300 yds. Range estimation is critical.
I frequently shoot a .308 Kimber (84) with a fixed 6X leopold scope that has a ranging retical-mil dots at 3/400 and top of heavy vertical post is 500.
It is no trick to keep rounds within 6-8" @ 500 yds with this equipment (and a rested position).
I don't believe a hi-power scope is necessary, familiarity with equipment that is set up properly is.
Unless I'm mistaken the majority of scopes on service "sniper rifles" are 10X.
Most calibers drop SIGNIFICANTLY past 300 yds. Range estimation is critical.
I frequently shoot a .308 Kimber (84) with a fixed 6X leopold scope that has a ranging retical-mil dots at 3/400 and top of heavy vertical post is 500.
It is no trick to keep rounds within 6-8" @ 500 yds with this equipment (and a rested position).
I don't believe a hi-power scope is necessary, familiarity with equipment that is set up properly is.
Unless I'm mistaken the majority of scopes on service "sniper rifles" are 10X.
Captcurt
Member
A lot of variables.
You must remember that even when a gun shoots 1 MOA, it doesn't mean you can shoot a 3" group at 300 yards or a 5" group at 500 yards. At long range all mistakes are amplified and not always in a linear fashion. Any mistake, a difference in the way that you hold the rifle (e.g. slight canting), even the type of rest that you use can change the POI. A light breeze may be coming from the right at 10 mph at 100 yards and be a quartering gust of 25 mph at 400 yards. Oh yes, long range shooting is a little different.
The only way to know if you can hit a deer at 500 yards is to practice a lot at 500 yards.
You must remember that even when a gun shoots 1 MOA, it doesn't mean you can shoot a 3" group at 300 yards or a 5" group at 500 yards. At long range all mistakes are amplified and not always in a linear fashion. Any mistake, a difference in the way that you hold the rifle (e.g. slight canting), even the type of rest that you use can change the POI. A light breeze may be coming from the right at 10 mph at 100 yards and be a quartering gust of 25 mph at 400 yards. Oh yes, long range shooting is a little different.
The only way to know if you can hit a deer at 500 yards is to practice a lot at 500 yards.
soloban
Member
Get a CZ-550. I've got a CZ-527 in .223 and its an OUTSTANDING rifle. Pretty sure CZ-550 is the large bore model of the 527.
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