huntinfool87
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I want to stick with standard hunting weight rifels. any ideas on a good rifles and caliber I would like to stay under $1000 on the rifle without the scope.
i want to get into long range shooting.
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plodder
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How long range? (300 yds or 1,000+ yds??)
And for shooting what? (Paper, antelope, prairie dogs??)
And for shooting what? (Paper, antelope, prairie dogs??)
Torian
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Consider a Savage built 338 Lapua. A gentlmen had one of these at the range today...and after giving me a face full of muzzle blast (after I politely asked for warning so I could move), he felt bad and let me shoot her.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=373647833
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=373647833
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huntinfool87
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1000 and under more than likely. I can't find anyone around southern Nebraska that shoots long range.
tomrkba
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Savage 10FP in 308 Winchester with 3-9x scope worked just fine at 1000 yards. It's a good beginner setup. Try that while you learn the ropes. You will figure out what you want after awhile.
The real cost is the scope. It's going to cost as much as the gun. Going low cost does not help. It takes awhile for one to figure out what is needed and what you'll prefer.
The real cost is the scope. It's going to cost as much as the gun. Going low cost does not help. It takes awhile for one to figure out what is needed and what you'll prefer.
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huntinfool87
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U don't know what kind of competition I really enjoy shooting long range. As far as a hunting aspect I'm not a fan of savage rifles or the 308 calaber. But like I said that's a hunting aspect. I was looking at a 270 in a Remington 700 with the heavy barrel any comments on that?
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huntinfool87
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Sorry was suppose to say (I don't know what kind of competition ) I like shooting at 600 yards but I would like to try 1000 yards! I want to stick with basic hunting weight calibers bolt action rifles.
Jim Watson
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Look up the Alliance Rifle Club. Not exactly in southern Nebraska, but it was the first thing I found on a search for Long Range.
Other ranges listed at http://rangelistings.com/state.php?state=NE
NRA has a sporting rifle category for matches, but it is not very popular, I saw one guy shooting a gun that qualified at F class in Georgia. A hunting rifle with the reach for 1000 yards is going to kick a good bit. I would not want to fire my 8 lb .30-06 all day, but my 16 lb .308 is not bad at all.
If you have some religious objection to the .308 Win, for which there is more choice in factory match ammunition and reloading data than any other caliber, I suggest the 7mm 08 or .260. The .270 is a good caliber for what a hunter would call "long range" but there is not a wide selection of high ballistic coefficient bullets that I want for Long Range. The 6.5mm, 7mm, and .30 cal are much better served with bullets and data for target shooting.
You ARE a proficient handloader, aren't you?
Other ranges listed at http://rangelistings.com/state.php?state=NE
NRA has a sporting rifle category for matches, but it is not very popular, I saw one guy shooting a gun that qualified at F class in Georgia. A hunting rifle with the reach for 1000 yards is going to kick a good bit. I would not want to fire my 8 lb .30-06 all day, but my 16 lb .308 is not bad at all.
If you have some religious objection to the .308 Win, for which there is more choice in factory match ammunition and reloading data than any other caliber, I suggest the 7mm 08 or .260. The .270 is a good caliber for what a hunter would call "long range" but there is not a wide selection of high ballistic coefficient bullets that I want for Long Range. The 6.5mm, 7mm, and .30 cal are much better served with bullets and data for target shooting.
You ARE a proficient handloader, aren't you?
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huntinfool87
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Just getting into the hanloading so no I would not say proficient. I don't have a problem with the 308 as far as target shooting just from a hunting standpoint I'm not a fan. The longest range I can find around me is 600 yards so I'm not sure what you call long range but I see 1000 yards being my max.
tomrkba
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Please start thinking and stop focusing upon premature optimization. You do not even know how to do 1,000 yard shooting yet.
The point I was making is that a $500 gun with reasonably good optic will get you hits on an 18" target. Many guns will do 3/4 to 1 MOA out of the box with Federal Gold Medal Match. My friend uses a Winchester Model 70 in 30-06 and has good results at 1,000 yards. We both use Pride Fowler RR800-1 scopes.
Start with any hunting rifle in you have in 308 or higher and a $400 scope that can do 1 MOA at 100 yards. Get some training and experience before buying more.
The point I was making is that a $500 gun with reasonably good optic will get you hits on an 18" target. Many guns will do 3/4 to 1 MOA out of the box with Federal Gold Medal Match. My friend uses a Winchester Model 70 in 30-06 and has good results at 1,000 yards. We both use Pride Fowler RR800-1 scopes.
Start with any hunting rifle in you have in 308 or higher and a $400 scope that can do 1 MOA at 100 yards. Get some training and experience before buying more.
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huntinfool87
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I have a 257 weatherby that I can shoot 3/4 moa at 600 yards and a 270 that will soot just over moa at 600 yards. But I'm wanting to go to the next step. With a gun made for that.
Jim Watson
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That is very good performance.
The "next step" for less than $1000 is going to be tough.
If you wore out your .270 barrel learning the game and had it replaced (I would pick a 6.5 or 7mm or .30 cal with more bullets available) with blueprinting the action and glass bedding the stock, you would have about what you describe.
The "next step" for less than $1000 is going to be tough.
If you wore out your .270 barrel learning the game and had it replaced (I would pick a 6.5 or 7mm or .30 cal with more bullets available) with blueprinting the action and glass bedding the stock, you would have about what you describe.
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huntinfool87
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I am looking at a 7mm. I just don't know that much about the I have a 280 and I know as far as reloading goes there is a ton of options out there for the 7mm. Thank you Jim for the information.
Jim Watson
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Clarification: There are a LOT of different 7mm cartridges. The .280 Rem is quite good. The 7mm 08 should work. There are getting to be a number of .284 Win rifles on the range. There are getting to be some 7mm WSMs but that would be a full custom proposition and not a budget build.
dubbleA
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huntingfool87 said:
With that you should be able to compete at local F Class matches and be very competitive. With those cartridges(257WM and 270 Win) you will have to be in Open class. Of course the occasional 3 shot 3/4 moa group will not do, you'll have to do it with 10 and 20 shot strings consistently.
The 308 Win is a great choice, maybe a Savage 12 F/TR it would be nice entry level rifle.
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huntinfool87
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Thank you Jim and double a. I will keep looking I don't want to rush into this and get something I'm not happy with. I'm looking at a night force scope its about $900 but one thing I have learned from all you guys is that you can't go cheep with optics.
KingMedicine
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I just bought my first long range rifle and was looking at the same thing. Almost got the Savage 111 in 338 lapua, but didn't want to deal with the cost of ammo and recoil. Ended up with a Savage 12 Lrp in 6.5 Creedmoor.
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huntinfool87
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How hard is it to get ammo for that?
nastynatesfish
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If look into 260. It's a great range round and easy to load for. Sent you a pm
If you mean the tactical style of match, then 6.5 and 6mm calibers dominate the field. Low recoil helps, good ballistics, especially wind drift helps a lot. Also, lots of good bullets and cases available in these sizes. The person with the fastest number of accurate shots wins these, which leads to a tendency for the 6 and 6.5mm .308 based case size for the reasons I just mentioned, and also helps because the rifle can be built on a short action so you don't have to move your head out of the way of the bolt when cycling (back to speed here...).
Our local comps and a lot of bigger comps don't allow 338 lapua because it damages steel targets too much, even the AR500 stuff. Something else to think about with caliber selection besides recoil, muzzle blast, barrel life and overall cost to own/run.
Our local comps and a lot of bigger comps don't allow 338 lapua because it damages steel targets too much, even the AR500 stuff. Something else to think about with caliber selection besides recoil, muzzle blast, barrel life and overall cost to own/run.
Saleen322
Member
There is a reason why .308s are recommended so much, they work. Here is one of my .308s, a Savage, that I have shot at 1000 yards with the US made 10X Burris shown here.
If you want something more, here is a 40X factory chambered in 30-338. These rifles won both the Wimbledon and Leech cup 1000 yard matches at Camp Perry.
I also have another 40X in 7mm WSM that is a real shooter. That caliber at one time had the 1000 yard BR record in Great Britain. Anyone of these calibers will work at distance. Good luck.
If you want something more, here is a 40X factory chambered in 30-338. These rifles won both the Wimbledon and Leech cup 1000 yard matches at Camp Perry.
I also have another 40X in 7mm WSM that is a real shooter. That caliber at one time had the 1000 yard BR record in Great Britain. Anyone of these calibers will work at distance. Good luck.
While the big 30 caliber magnums were once the norm in long range winners circles for shoulder fired rifles used in the prone position, they've been out-scored by 26 and 28 caliber smaller cartridges. The big 30's recoil too much while the bullets go through the barrel making them harder to shoot accurately when hand held. But they're still very good in long range benchrest matches where the rifle's fired in return-to-battery rests free recoiling virtually untouched by the human firing it.
Nowadays, I'd go with the 6.5x.284 as the best compromise between accuracy and shootability. And the 7mm SAUM's a close second. They can be used in NRA matches when "any" rifle's allowed. Other long range matches, such as the Palma where the .308 Win's the international standard, are restricted to specific cartridges.
Nowadays, I'd go with the 6.5x.284 as the best compromise between accuracy and shootability. And the 7mm SAUM's a close second. They can be used in NRA matches when "any" rifle's allowed. Other long range matches, such as the Palma where the .308 Win's the international standard, are restricted to specific cartridges.
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huntinfool87
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I'm kinda gaining interest in the 260 rem or the 6.5 creed more. I would live to hear opinions on these 2 calibers.
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