Favorite LONG range rifles?
- Thread starter ccoralli
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rangerruck
Member
any rifle built in 6.5-284. get you waaaaay out there.
Jim Watson
Member
What kind of "long range shooting"?
The "+" on that "1000+" is the big hangup.
Where do you plan to shoot over 1000 yards and how much over 1000 yards?
The .308 is just adequate to 1000, I shoot one in F-class myself. Get much beyond 1000 and you are in the realm of the high performance rounds like 6.5x284 and .300 magnums, and the truly exotic like .338 Lapua.
The "+" on that "1000+" is the big hangup.
Where do you plan to shoot over 1000 yards and how much over 1000 yards?
The .308 is just adequate to 1000, I shoot one in F-class myself. Get much beyond 1000 and you are in the realm of the high performance rounds like 6.5x284 and .300 magnums, and the truly exotic like .338 Lapua.
Northslope Nimrod
Member
To shoot what?
I like the .300 Win Mag for elk. Bullets are not too much $$. If cost isn't an issue then go with .300 Ultra Mag or .338. (I've stuck my my '06 because new powders allow me to reach near .300 Win Mag ballistics)
For deer...the .270 is nice.
As for a platform....I have not real opinion. I like Rem 700's and Browning A-bolts. I also like Savage.
BUT as I re-read your post....you seem to be interested in just "long range shooting"...not hunting. The .308 is a good inexpensive round for plinking/target shooting.
I like the .300 Win Mag for elk. Bullets are not too much $$. If cost isn't an issue then go with .300 Ultra Mag or .338. (I've stuck my my '06 because new powders allow me to reach near .300 Win Mag ballistics)
For deer...the .270 is nice.
As for a platform....I have not real opinion. I like Rem 700's and Browning A-bolts. I also like Savage.
BUT as I re-read your post....you seem to be interested in just "long range shooting"...not hunting. The .308 is a good inexpensive round for plinking/target shooting.
Zak Smith
Member
I shoot bolt rifles in 308, 260, and 338 Lapua to 1000 yards regularly.
If you need to shoot to "only" 1000 yards occaisonally, 308 will do the job. It is not optimal, but it will work. I have taken new rifle shooters and had them hitting a 1000-yard silhouette (IPSC) in 15 minutes-- using my rifle (308) and data.
If you want to really shoot in the 1000-1700 yard range, you need something with a BC above 0.60 and a MV 2900fps or higher (or 0.70+ BC and 2700+fps). At 1500, you need to keep close track of ammunition performance and environmental conditions in order to generate the right "data". At these distances, very small changes will cause misses.
308, 338RUM, 308, 338 Lapua, and 338 Lapua--
[ link to LARGER image ]
308, 260, and the rest are 308's--
[ link to LARGER image ]
Sight picture of an IPSC target at 1520 yards
[ link to LARGER image ]
If you need to shoot to "only" 1000 yards occaisonally, 308 will do the job. It is not optimal, but it will work. I have taken new rifle shooters and had them hitting a 1000-yard silhouette (IPSC) in 15 minutes-- using my rifle (308) and data.
If you want to really shoot in the 1000-1700 yard range, you need something with a BC above 0.60 and a MV 2900fps or higher (or 0.70+ BC and 2700+fps). At 1500, you need to keep close track of ammunition performance and environmental conditions in order to generate the right "data". At these distances, very small changes will cause misses.
308, 338RUM, 308, 338 Lapua, and 338 Lapua--
[ link to LARGER image ]308, 260, and the rest are 308's--
[ link to LARGER image ]Sight picture of an IPSC target at 1520 yards
[ link to LARGER image ]
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
Zak, You have some of the most impressive toys.
That sight picture is amazing.
That sight picture is amazing.
well, my friend took me shooting and was teaching me how to shoot at 1000 yards. i had so much fun that i wanted to get my own rifle.
after reading your posts let me withdraw the+ and say, 800-1000 yards.
the reason for my post is this will be my first bolt-action rifle, and i wanted to know some of the popular models so i can start researching them.
it would be just for targets, so i don't need any super-rare-$10-a-cartridge caliber.
after reading your posts let me withdraw the+ and say, 800-1000 yards.
the reason for my post is this will be my first bolt-action rifle, and i wanted to know some of the popular models so i can start researching them.
it would be just for targets, so i don't need any super-rare-$10-a-cartridge caliber.
My Sako TRG22
Probably one of the best long range rifles ever built in 308. I have to try to shoot under a MOA with this thing. Anyone who shoots one will tell you that these are serious long range fun, but… I want the TRG 42 in 338 Lapua real bad… I really, really want one… I’m itching I want one so bad.
Probably one of the best long range rifles ever built in 308. I have to try to shoot under a MOA with this thing. Anyone who shoots one will tell you that these are serious long range fun, but… I want the TRG 42 in 338 Lapua real bad… I really, really want one… I’m itching I want one so bad.
Zak Smith
Member
ccoralli,
For a first long range bolt rifle, get a 308. Good starting choices are Remington 700 PSS or SS, or Savage.
Buy the best scope you can, and then spend the rest on good ammunition for practice.
For a first long range bolt rifle, get a 308. Good starting choices are Remington 700 PSS or SS, or Savage.
Buy the best scope you can, and then spend the rest on good ammunition for practice.
Jim Watson
Member
Yup, .308. The guns are readily available, the ammunition is available - Black Hills 175 gr match is a little less than a dollar a pop until you get smart and start handloading - barrel life is long, and recoil is moderate.
I shoot F/TR where only .223 and .308 are allowed at up to 1000 yards and a friend shoots Palma where only .308 is allowed at 800, 900, and 1000 yards. We have to work harder on wind estimation than the guys with the hotter guns, but we do ok and have a good time.
I shoot F/TR where only .223 and .308 are allowed at up to 1000 yards and a friend shoots Palma where only .308 is allowed at 800, 900, and 1000 yards. We have to work harder on wind estimation than the guys with the hotter guns, but we do ok and have a good time.
Hutch
Member
Concur on the Remington 700VS in .308. It's not tooooo expensive, there's a vast fund of knowledge and experience among shooters on how to tweak that rifle. Componentry for the ammo is easy to find, and the Sierra 168gr MatchKing is about the most commonly found premium bullet around. There's a ton (literally) of milsurp powder for you to buy in 8# jugs that will produce fine, fine accuracy. I have one w/ a Leupold Long Range (30mm tube) 8.5x25x50 side focus. I can routinely shoot .5 inch 5-shot groups at 100yds. When other folks talk about their quarter MOA rifles, try not to smirk. Just 'cause they ONCE shot a 3-shot group that MAYBE measured .25 inches, it doesn't make that a quarter-minute rifle.
Jim Watson
Member
There are some ranges that do not allow the 168 gr SMK at 1000 yards. With handbook loads and standard barrel lengths, they drop subsonic about 900 and can then get very undstable and wild.
Shoot either the 175 or maybe the 155 Palma bullet. The latter must be loaded to the max and preferably shot from a long barrel, Palma rifles start at 30".
Shoot either the 175 or maybe the 155 Palma bullet. The latter must be loaded to the max and preferably shot from a long barrel, Palma rifles start at 30".
Gun Wielding Maniac
Member
My NDM-86 in .308 and my Swedish M41B are my two favorite long range rifles. I also shoot some at longer ranges with the Long Branch No.4 Mark 1*, but only at targets closer then 600 meters. Hard for me to see through the irons otherwise.
Spend your money on your scope
There are alot of guns and ammos out there that will make you happy(not~if you are too picky). If this is going to be your first long range gun ~ spend your money on a high quality scope.
I consider myself a newbe when talking about ranges 1000+.
Not too long ago I have bought a brand new Remmy 700 Police rifle chamberd in 300RUM. I love it. First I topped it with a Nikon Monarch and it was good. Then a good friend decided to be too nice and sold me his Shephard Counter sniper scope. The darn thing is not the best scope that I have seen but really helps you be affective at long ranges.
If you have all the money I say get the Dakota arms LongBow rifle and get it in .338 Lapua mag and top it with a Horus vision scope.
There are alot of guns and ammos out there that will make you happy(not~if you are too picky). If this is going to be your first long range gun ~ spend your money on a high quality scope.
I consider myself a newbe when talking about ranges 1000+.
Not too long ago I have bought a brand new Remmy 700 Police rifle chamberd in 300RUM. I love it. First I topped it with a Nikon Monarch and it was good. Then a good friend decided to be too nice and sold me his Shephard Counter sniper scope. The darn thing is not the best scope that I have seen but really helps you be affective at long ranges.
If you have all the money I say get the Dakota arms LongBow rifle and get it in .338 Lapua mag and top it with a Horus vision scope.
C-grunt
Member
I agree with a lot of these guys and suggest that you should invest in a good scope.
When I was shopping for my "wish I was sniper" rifle, my choices came down to a Remmy 700 pss or a Savage 10 FP. I was only looking for a 300-500 yard gun, so I went for the Savage and used the saved money and upgraded the scope to a Leupold Mark4 3x9x44.
For a 1000 yards, I would get a really nice scope with at least a 12x mag.
When I was shopping for my "wish I was sniper" rifle, my choices came down to a Remmy 700 pss or a Savage 10 FP. I was only looking for a 300-500 yard gun, so I went for the Savage and used the saved money and upgraded the scope to a Leupold Mark4 3x9x44.
For a 1000 yards, I would get a really nice scope with at least a 12x mag.
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