Mounting scope for a 1,000 yard gun

[redneck2]

I have a Remmie 700 Sendero 7 mag that I'm going to set up for 1,000 yards. It came with Leupold QD mounts and 1-piece base. Using an 8x32x44 Burris scope with mil dot reticle.

I've read that it requires about .020 offset to compensate for the extra distance. Is this correct???

Anyone ever try shim stock to get the .020??? My local hardware has brass stock in .016 so I thought I'd start with that if it's close enough. I'll probably be a once or twice use and not dedicated to the 1,000 yards so I'd rather keep the standard bases if possible. Hate to invest a lot in something I may only use once or twice.

While I'm asking, anyone have an idea of how much high I need to sight at 100 yards to be close at 1,000? Just looking for something to start with. TIA

 

[HankL]

You didn't say what load you might be using. Using a Sierra 168 gr. Matchking and launching it at 3000 fps you will be roughly 200" low at 1000 yds. If your scope has 20 MOA of elevation adjustment you will not need to do anything about the base.
Have fun!

 

[Sunray]

This is something that you may want to talk to a guy who shoots HP regularly. One of the guys here may jump in though. Surf over to the NRA site and look into the High Power Shooting page.
If you set up the sight for just 1,000 you'll have to compensate for shorter ranges. Not all matches are at 1,000 only. Mind you, some of 'em won't let you use a magnum anything in a match.

 

[4v50 Gary]

You can buy thicker bases that will give you the extra height.

 

[Watchman]

Or you can get a tapered rail to mount your bases on. If Im not mistaken, its more around .030 on a 6"long base.

What it does it allow you to center your windage and elevation when you are zeroed at 600 yards. Your scope will be at the minimum at 100 yards.
and you'll still have adjustment for 1000.

Not all scopes will have the necessary travel. That is why most folks use Leupolds or Nightforces due to the amount of elevation adjustment built into them.

 

[Kestrel]

redneck,

I like the Badger Ordnance mounts that have the 20 degree compensation built into them. I also like their rings.

No offense, but 1,000 yard shooting requires more than just once or twice experiences. It takes a good bit of practice, ballistics study and studying your situation. If you aren't interested in spending the time to master 1,000 yard shooting (and there's nothing wrong with not being interested in that), it's probably a waste to set up your rifle to do so.

Is this for target shooting or hunting? (I doubt if you're talking about hunting, I can't imagine taking a 1,000 yard shot at a game animal.)

Take a look at the Badger Ordnance stuff - Brownells carries it, as does Arizona Gun Runners.

Good luck,

Steve

 

[artherd]

Badger rings and bases. Not cheap, but worth every penny. (and belive me, you'll do this more than once or twice. And you'll be glad you went straight for the Badger kit, instead of wasting some $69 first.)

 

[dakotasin]

redneck-
if you want to set your gun up for 1000 yard shooting, you should look seriously at a 20 moa base. i would reccomend the badger base, and the badger max-50 rings.

my long range gun is set up this way. i haven't tried to bottom my scope out, but at 100 yards, i have my knobs marked for 1.5" high, at 200 i'm zeroed, and then beyond that i spin the turrets to zero each yardage increment.

for your scope, you will need a leupold vx-3 or better (nightforce is pretty common on lr rigs). part of the reason is for the repeatability of the knobs. does you no good to mark off your knobs for yardage, only to find that your notes are useless because your scope is not repeatable and the tracking sucks.

i would say to forego the brass shims... 1000 yard shooting requires precision - not cobbling together and a by guess and by golly approach.

i have no experience w/ the burris 8-32, but beware: at the higher power levels, mirage might be so bad that going above 20 or 24x would prove futile on many days, especially if it isn't early morning or late evening.

good luck w/ your project! there is something extremely satisfying about hammering that first prairie dog (on purpose) that is so far out there, nobody else could see it w/ their naked eye!

 

[redneck2]

Got the rifle used (unfired) for $800 IIRC. Had 1.75x6 VXIII with the QD Leupold mounts. Since the mounts and rings are worth about $100, it breaks my heart to not use them. Worst thing is, I got a 700 in .223 but it uses the short base.

I have 3 friends that have gotten PD's at 1,000+. Since we're planning a trip, thought I'd try it.

It's not something that I'll do every week-end. Like to get something that works, but I'm just messing around with it right now. Not into the hard core competition.

Haven't even shot it yet, but I suspect that a few dozen shots from a 7 mag with 168's will be all the fun I want for any one day.

 

[dakotasin]

nah... the 7 mag ain't that bad... i have a couple sporter weight 7's, and i get 25-30 shots per session. yours being a sendero will probably grant you an extra 8-12 shots before it becomes too much fun.

hey, you got a steal of a price for the set-up... you can afford different bases and such for what you have into it.

 

[ctdonath]

You definitely need the 20MOA sloped scope mount.

I tried using the Burris Signature/Zee rings (scope rings with spherical 20MOA adjustment shims). Neat idea, cheap, worked tolerably, but I wouldn't use them for anything more than a short-term interim solution - which is exactly what I did at Storm Mountain, firing up to 900m...and sold 'em as soon as I finished the course, as they did not hold the scope securely enough (had a 1/8" slipage, and another slip which likely cost me a crucial 100m shot).

For long-range work, don't skimp. Get the Badger Arms 20MOA sloped scope mount, or something comparably solid and done right. Don't skimp.

 

[redneck2]

One of the things I've figured out is that the front portion of the mount needs to be raised to clear the objective over the barrel by at least .050. If I raise the back of the mount by .020, that will add another .080-.100 to the front due to the angle.

Looks like new mounts are the program, and will probably be the best solution anyway. May as well get the .020's and be done with it. Buy good and cry once.

 

[HankL]

redneck2, You will have fun! 1000 yds is great! I'm playing around at 1800 yds. now and it keeps my thinking cap turned down pretty tight.

 

[TechBrute]

Regardless of what some people will tell you, here are two facts about 1Km shooting:

1) It's not magical. Anyone can do it with the right setup and a little practice.
2) It's not cheap. It doesn't matter how much your current rings and bases cost if they don't do the job, and they don't. Get the right setup. Otherwise you're just beating your head on a wall.

 

[Red_SC]

Shimming the back of the base will cause it to flex when you tighten the screws, throwing the rings out of alignment. This will actually flex the scope tube and put stress on the internals. It wouldn't seem like shimming a little would do this, but it does, unless you bed the base. Use a tapered base, from Badger Ordinance if you have the money for the best, or from Farrell, which is a lot less money but still a quality product. Brownells sells Farrell bases.