7mm Mag vs 300 Winchester Mag vs .338 Winchester Mag for long range shooting

[MachIVshooter]

A lot of people underestimate Nikon, but don't realize that they have been building lenses longer then most other companies building scopes have been around.

Nikon certainly makes good glass, but the Prostaff are their cheap line. Still decent, and I have one on my AR-10. But i use that rifle for pig hunting, not precision shooting. My .220 Swift is also topped with a Nikon, but it's no Prostaff model; It's a 6.5-20x 44mm UFCH Monarch, a $600 scope.

If you really want to shoot well at distance, you need to get over your $600 budget and distaste for handloading. With a $1,000 rifle budget and a $500 scope budget, you can start to be competetive at long range-but you really are going to have to handload.

 

[chaser_2332]

you should swap those numbers, i would much rather have the $1000 spent on a scope, plenty of $500 rifles shoot fine.

 

[Ranger30-06]

I just took a look at the box, it says monarch on it. I got a better steal than I thought! That scope has sat in the glass case at my Wal-Mart for ay least 4 years, and I just kept watching the price go lower and lower.

I'm thinking something like this here http://m.savagearms.com/#/firearms/model/10FPSR

 

[Bobson]

If you're absolutely set on buying a new rifle, I wouldn't look any further than a Savage 10 in .308. If you do though, this is about as far as I'd look. Savage 10 with Accustock/Accutrigger, 24" bull barrel with 5R rifling and 1:11.25" twist.

Down the road you can swap out the stock with a custom by McMillan or B&C, replace the bolt and trigger group, etc, etc. As far as barrels, the 5R rifling with 1:11.25 twist is about as good as it gets for accuracy with a .308. That's what I've read over at SniperCentral, anyway.

If you want the original, look into the Remington 700 Milspec 5R.

Having said all that, I heartily agree that good glass atop an "entry level" rifle would be a better (or at least, sufficient) option for what you described in the OP.

 

[tango2echo]

If you're absolutely set on buying a new rifle, I wouldn't look any further than a Savage 10 in .308. If you do though, this is about as far as I'd look. Savage 10 with Accustock/Accutrigger, 24" bull barrel with 5R rifling and 1:11.25" twist.

With mid range glass and a good bipod this will exceed your skill level for the life of the barrel.

If your budget is truly $600 then I would suggest a high quality .22lr target rifle and optic and a brick of ammo. The money would be better spent in learning proper shooting form for long range shooting than on the rifle itself IMO.

I send several thousand rounds a year of .22lr downrange at 9mm cases @ 50y-100y in training for shooting .308/.300WM/.338L at distance. Quality Match .22lr ammo cost about a quarter a round or less. Just brass for the .338L is close to $4 a round.


T2E

 

[eastbank]

a 7mm mag shooting a good 160gr boat tail bullet at 3000fps will get you to 1000yds with no trouble. and in fact will out shoot the 300win mag shooting a 178gr bullet at 3000fps. with every thing being equal. eastbank.

 

[mnhntr]

First off 200-600yds is not long range. A .308 will do that with ease and be cheaper and easier on your shoulder than the Magnum calibers. You can save a lot of money looking at any of the .243 any of the 6.5mm or .308. If you already have an AR get a 6.5 grendel upper and be done with it.

 

[rcmodel]

I agree.
600 yards is not long distance.
Well, I guess it is.
The National Match course is fired with 5.56mm M16's now!

Before that it was 1,000 yards fired with 30-06, or .308.

Start out learning to shoot long range with a .308 or something you can afford to shoot.
It won't kick you silly, while burning a barrel out before you get good enough to know it or not.

rc

 

[chaser_2332]

a 7mm mag shooting a good 160gr boat tail bullet at 3000fps will get you to 1000yds with no trouble. and in fact will out shoot the 300win mag shooting a 178gr bullet at 3000fps. with every thing being equal. eastbank.

Why would u waste a 7mag on a 160gr when you can have berger 180's at 3100?

 

[Ranger30-06]

You guys are putting me to shame here! The longest designated area to shoot around here is 600 yards, so that's "long range." I'm actually liking the new AR upper idea, but will those intermediate calibers reach out with enough power to kill at those ranges, and will I be able to get a good upper for under $600?


Now I saw Olympic Arms's WSSM uppers, and that's something to consider there. How much do they usually go for though? MidwayUSA has them, but for almost $800 and that's getting into the too pricey zone.

 

[rcmodel]

with enough power to kill at those ranges

Kill what??

You never said anything about wanting to kill anything in your first posts question!

I thought you wanted to learn how to shoot paper or steel targets at 600 yards?

rc

 

[Ranger30-06]

Kill what??

You never said anything about wanting to kill anything in your first posts question!

I thought you wanted to learn how to shoot paper or steel targets at 600 yards?

rc

Well in short, it would be nice if the rifle could double as a medium range hog gun. I wanted a long range gun anyway, but there's a chance I may be able to get some hog hunting in down in texas. If I did this hunt, my rifles would be an '06 for under 200 yards and this setup for over 200 yards. (It would be on a farm with some VERY varied shot distances.)

This is why I mentioned the magnums and WSSM, but I didn't want 1000 people giving me hog hunting advice

 

[mnhntr]

The Grendel will kill hogs at that distance and you can put your own upper together for under $600.

 

[rcmodel]

but I didn't want 1000 people giving me hog hunting advice

Yes, but you could have avoided 38 of us people trying to help you if you had simply said what your intended use was going to be in the first place.

As for hogs?

A .308 will kill them deader then Jimmie Hoffa at any range, once you learn to hit them at long range.

Hitting them at long range with a .338 Lupata or .300 Magnum would be harder still, until you learn how to shoot a .223 or .308 rifle at long range.

If you already have a 30-06 and can't shoot hogs as far as you can see them?
It ain't gonna get no better with a belted Eargasplitten Lounder Boomer Magleum.

rc

 

[Ranger30-06]

I would love to know where you see a grendel upper for less than $1000. It seems like a niche area of the market there.

And sorry RC, I wasn't expecting tons of answers suggesting totally different options. I also can shoot out to 400 yards no problem, I just want to get a rifle better suited for long range shooting than trying to force my existing guns into roles they weren't intended for.

 

[mnhntr]

I said build an upper not find.

 

[nastynatesfish]

Inside of 800yds you can use a 308 to do your dirty work. A 7mag is balistically superior to the 300 when you look at coefficient and drop. If your target shooting you don't need to worry about retained energy.. Your kinda all over the pale with your post. I have a custom built Mauser in 308 and a custom 700 in 7mag. If your going to get serious about it you need better glass. Sure you can hit a 24" square plate at 600yds but where at each shot? Target shooting is about being able to see your point of aim not just your target and hold that same spot for your series of shots. I have a bushnell 4200 6-24-40 on my 308 and now want a 50 ml objective and a 30 mil tube for sight.

 

[nastynatesfish]

If your pushing a 180 bullet at 3100 your way over max to start. I run 162 amax at 3100. +\- and 168 bergers at 2975 about. And just cause you can push blazing speed with anything doesn't mean your gonna hit a target. Load accurate and work up to speed

 

[Ranger30-06]

I said build an upper not find.

Can you just put a 6.5 barrel on a .223 receiver and use .223 gas blocks/washers/etc. on the upper?

 

[Lloyd Smale]

I own them all and in my opinion a 300wm is tough to beat for an all around big game gun in the US.

 

[chaser_2332]

If your pushing a 180 bullet at 3100 your way over max to start. I run 162 amax at 3100. +\- and 168 bergers at 2975 about. And just cause you can push blazing speed with anything doesn't mean your gonna hit a target. Load accurate and work up to speed

Bn coated bullets and reloaded powder does wonders.

 

[BoilerUP]

There's absolutely zero need for a belted magnum for 600 yards...paper and steel don't care about retained energy.

A 9-twist 223 shooting 75/77gr bullets will make consistent hits at 600yd ALL DAY LONG, with a fraction of the recoil and per-round expense of a belted magnum.

Get a Remington SPS Tactical or Savage 10FP-SR in 223 along with a Bushnell 3200 Tactical 10x scope and a few boxes of Hornady Steel Match 75gr ammo and you'll be good to go.

If you absolutely must have something bigger than a 223, go with the same rifles above in 308, with the same scope, and shoot 175gr Federal Gold Metal Match.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

The 30-06 is just as well suited to shooting 400 yards (or even 600) as ANYTHING there is or ever has been...as is the 308 Win.

me thinks the OP just wants something new and shiny...lol...nothing wrong with that, but it is what it is.


EDITED TO ADD: That is to say...I agree with rcmodel.

 

[Kachok]

Just remember when hunting longer ranges that most rifle bullets are not designed to expand below 1800fps. That will really limit your effective range with a 308 especially if you are using flat base bullets. A 260 Rem, 6.5 Creedmore, or 6.5x55 can maintain 1800fps out past 700 yards with low drag bullets easy, plus their recoil is alot less.

 

[xerxesthecat]

at 600 yards, I agree with everyone saying 308 over 300 wm. I have tactical rifles in both, but the 308 is far easier to shoot accurately, especially in hot weather. If you wanted to go the extra mile for a custom rifle, 6.5-06 is real hard to beat.... versatile, accurate, modest recoil, excellent BC. I use 100 gr nosler BTs for paper or smaller game, 130 gr accubonds for the bigger stuff. otherwise, yes, everything the previous guy said. I'm also a big fan of the 6.5's in all guises.