Limited Range Rifle Shooting

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Brass Rain

Member
Joined
May 27, 2008
Messages
341
Location
Nowhere, Louisiana
I've been wanting a Remington 700 in .308 for the purpose of trying to learn long range precision rifle shooting. Problem is, there aren't that many places in Louisiana where you can even shoot out to 300 yards, let alone 600-1000 (which is what I'd consider "long range"). There's just trees everywhere.

Is it acceptable to just shoot at really, really small targets to make up for the lack of range? I'm considering going for .223 since if I can't make use of the .308's range, why pay $10 a box more for it? (Based on local Wal Mart prices that is...)

It's really pretty annoying that we don't have some more open space out here for that kind of thing. :banghead:

Also thinking about Ruger Mini-14s. I just don't like all the mixed reports of their accuracy.
 
Shooting at small targets at close ranges my help but it won't allow factors like bullet drop and wind drift to be practiced with.
 
A 223 is a fine choice. And we shoot them all the time at 600 yards, out of 20" barrels (NRA Service Rifle Comp).
 
If your wanting to shoot accurate longet range don't go with the mini. While its got its place I don't think that would be on a long range course. Get yourself a singleshot. If you ant to keep price down or you could get yourself a savage rifle and rebarrel it if you want a different cartridge later on. My 110 worked up is got about 700 into it and that's about the start price of a remmy.
 
I have no experience at this, but wouldn't you get more of the flavor of very long ranges if you went down to a minimum weight bullet. It would cause you to pay more attention to the environmental factors.
 
A couple of thoughts..If you are interested in getting into competition at long range you should strongly consider getting into reloading...I am sure in your state there must be an organization that shoots palma (long range) and hook up with them. Find a land owner that has some open space and beg your way on. If you want it badly enough there are always options :)
 
I have access to a .22. They're fun for plinking and cheap practice, but not what I'm thinking about now.
Click to expand...

Mini Palma shot with a .22 rifle is excellent long range practice. A 22LR at 200 yards is very close ballistically to a 308 at a 1000, in terms of making a windage call. This is why its a great training aid for LR shooters. Shooting any centerfire at 100 yards even at small targets does not teach wind reading skills. The .22 with its slow barrel time forces follow through and the slow trajectory forces wind reading. I shoot smallbore for this very reason.
 
Brass Rain,
If you want to PM me I'm in LA and can help you.

I have shot .223 @ 600 yds and it went very well.
 
Shooting at small targets at close ranges my help but it won't allow factors like bullet drop and wind drift to be practiced with.
Click to expand...

Shooting a .22 at 100+ yards sure will. Shooting a .308 or .223 at 100 yards won't. Might as well be a laser pointer.

A 22LR at 200 yards is very close ballistically to a 308 at a 1000, in terms of making a windage call. This is why its a great training aid for LR shooters.
Click to expand...

Bingo.
 
How about a $250-300 Yugo Mauser from a gun show, and 8mm ammo at .30/round? Mine came from last Sunday's show.
Many Yugo 48, 48As have bent bolts. Some have bright bores/rifling. At 8.6 lbs., with a 2,400(+) fps bullet and the recoil is about what my Lee-Enfield #4 produces. Maybe you could mount a scope without altering the classic rifle's looks.

For the low surplus ammo price, you go home each time (no exception) and use about four very wet patches-hot water or Windex-in the bore to remove the corrosive primer residue, then dry.

Or you can buy (always) very overpriced US-made 308., 30-06 or 8mm etc caliber ammo at Bass Pro Shop, but that's your choice. No thanks.
 
Last edited:
i think you should try to shoot a 17HMR at 200 yard. 17g the wind has a LOT to do with POI i did it once wow it very fun and hard and cheeper than center fire:neener:
 
The 17's are so much flatter shooting than 22LR that it really isn't fair having the two compete against each other. In the mini palma matches here we won't put them in the same class.
 
Thanks for everyone's input. When the .22 was mentioned the first time I guess I was thinking of it in the light of being nothing but a short-range practice aid and small game hunting cartridge. I never considered using its light bullet weight to be similar at short distances to high-powered rifle calibers at long distances.

I kind of knew the .223 was plenty capable of accuracy out to 600 yards (or more?), it just always seems odd to me that such a light bullet isn't thrown way off by simple breezes at ranges like that.

I wasn't considering the Mini-14 as being a super-accurate target rifle, I just thought if my range was limited I could use it in a standard carbine role and still reach out to the distances I would find most often. But when I looked up prices, I found them a few hundred dollars more than I thought. Around $700! Used to think of them as being decent, well-priced carbines but entry-level ARs can be had for around the same price. So what's the Mini's appeal besides looks?

If I ended up going for a high-power bolt-action (and I really do want one!) I think I've switched over to the idea of the Marlin XS7. It looks to be a great model for a low price, compared to the Remington 700.

That's the problem--I don't have the range to use .308 but I still really want a nice rifle that shoots it.
 
with limited distance to shoot, sounds like the Remmy 700 LTR would be just the ticket. 20" barrel is more than plenty for out to 800+ yards and it comes in either .223 or .308. light (for a heavy barrel) and handy and accurate right out of the box. even more so if you restock it and handload. i just bought a remmy 700 SPS Varmint and it shoots wonderfully! affordable too.
 
22 lr. is a great round and inexpensive. We shoot prairie dogs out to about 200 or so with 'em. Makes you a good rifleman.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top