New Long Range Shooter

[TimSues]

I am new to the long range shooting, and am interested in taking the skills learned into hunting at long range. I currently own two Weatherby's .257 and 30-378. The .257 is a Vangaurd and seems good out to 500yrds, repeatable.

The 30-378 is a AccuMark and is a new purchase, I need help with optics and if this is a decent rifle to shoot 1,000 - 1,500 yrds.

If this is not a rifle recomended for these ranges and then for hunting, what would be the cross-over (target/hunting) rifle and cartridge of choice 338 Lapua perhaps, I seem to hear or read a lot about this cartridge??

Thanks

 

[pdd614]

first of all, pack that 30-378 away until you know what you are doing at long range. you will only be punishing yourself trying to learn fundamentals with a rifle like that.
..........
257 calibers in general are not good long range rifles due to poor bullet selection. generally you want to stick with 6mm, 6.5, 7mm, .30's, and 338. and load heavy for caliber match bullets.

Honestly the best way to learn long range shooting is to start by reading Zak Smith's articles. He outlines the basics here:

http://demigodllc.com/articles/practical-long-range-rifle-shooting-equipment/

http://demigodllc.com/articles/practical-long-range-rifle-shooting-optics/
make sure the turrets match the reticles

http://demigodllc.com/articles/practical-long-range-rifle-shooting-shooting/

once you have scoped rifle in a caliber that you can actually shoot, i.e. 308,260, 6.5x47, etc
then it would be best to find a school to teach you the fundamentals.
www.riflesonly.com
www.tacproshootingcenter.com
www.tigervalley.com
sorry I mentioned all Texas schools, but they are all I know. I am sure there are lots of schools out there.



and then its all about putting rounds downrange, and keep doing it until you are proficient.

don't even think about the large magnums until you are completely confident shooting the more reasonable sized chambers.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Man I feel like a broken record here.

There is a vastly HUGE difference between long range TARGET and long range HUNTING. Firing on a live animal at ranges over 300 yards is not something easily accomplished by even the best of us. Animals move, wind picks up, thermals can easily be read wrong, range can be miscalculated, so many things to go wrong it's not even funny. It is really not worth it. You are running a MUCH greater risk of wounding an animal and it getting away to get taken down by predators or to just die a slow miserable death. Also, it is extremely difficult to pinpoint the exact location of impact at very long ranges without a very good marker. Without that location you do not have the point to pick up a blood trail. Just because a rifle is capable of a 1000 yard shot does not in ANY way imply that YOU are! Have fun at the RANGE at those extreme distances but leave those distances there at the range when it comes to hunting live game. It is called hunting for a reason. Learn the skills of getting closer to wild game. Trust me when I say this, you will feel a MUCH greater sense of accomplishment this way.

 

[pdd614]

i agree with the post above.

my post was purely for the learning the fundamentals of long range shooting.

 

[stsimons]

yup... always one...

With a 200yd zero, the max point blank range of the 257 Weatherby is apx 335 + -yds

 

[redbullitt]

That 257 will be great to shoot. Targets are doable a good deal more than 500 yards.
A 30 378 is a wild chambering. It will shoot well, but at a detriment to barrel life.
Both rifles are more than capable of long range shots on game and targets.

As was said, hunting and actually taking a shot on an animal beyond 300 or 400 yards can be quite tricky. The way I see it, hunting should involve stalking. Get close enough to take a more normal shot.

Think of it like billiards. You dont see a great player shooting crazy cuts and long angles when they can help it. They place the cue ball so they can have the easiest shot possible.

Do you reload yet? That will really open up your possibilities at long range, especially in the 30 378.

 

[BrocLuno]

I think the 257 will do nicely as training aid. It will shoot longer ranges than just hunting distances. You can learn bullet drop, reading wind, etc. with it. What ranges and distances are available nearby?

 

[pdd614]

That 257 will be a barrel burner too. Might as well wear that sucker out, and then rechamber to something a little more barrel and long range friendly.

 

[J.Boyette]

TimSues,

Before you invest in all this equipment and gear. I would ask you to look in to a .22lr rifle and learn how to hit soda can size targets at 200yds with 98% **** to hit rate.

Once you get to that point you will be ready you go.

But I know thats not what you want to do. So the next best option is to get a .308 heavy barrel rifle bolt action like a REM700, Savage 10, or a Howa.

Then a optic like a Super Sniper 10x.

Next, go buy about 500rnds of factory match ammo and take a class from a solid rifle instructor. Start shooting in local F-class matches and learn all you can.

After about a year or two, look at this post and tell me what direction you want ot move in for long range hunting.

Your outlook about equipment will change some I think.

 

[pdd614]

Welcome to thr John.

You are completely correct on all your points. I should have mentioned the 22lr. I was mainly trying to detract from learning to shoot on large magnums.

As a matter of fact, the lefty izshmash 7-4 is calling my name. Now that looks like a rifle I could really grow with, and much cheaper to work on fundamentals than shooting my 6.5x47 all the time. And believe me, my off hand shooting could use some work

 

[Kachok]

Wby mags are great long range hunters but not exactly ideal for "plinking" there are several great cheaper to feed and easier on barrel/shoulder choices, 308, 7mm-08, 6.5x55, 243, 260, 25-06 and the WSMs if you feel the need for super speed while target shooting.

 

[K-Rod]

Hey check out longrangeshooter.com. He's a local here in N. Idaho. Has a great site & forum. His name is Sean. Great guy. Will anwser any questions you have. Check out his Youtube vids as well. He shoots a Rem 700 in the .300RUM & is in the process of building a .338. Great forum great group of guys.

 

[TimSues]

Thank you everyone for your input, I understand and taking your recommendations. Here is a little more about me and my intentions.

I am interested in the challenge of long range shooting be it in the field, or at the range my questions of 1,00 - 1,500 yds were range related questions and not distances that I would shoot at live game.

I am a stalker and a bow hunter I left hunting with a rifle for the more challenging discipline of bow hunting and now almost always use my recurve, over my compound, for deer, elk, etc. I have been hunting with a rifle since I was a young boy and family has an outfitting service in Northern Idaho, I say this to point out I am not new to the sport of hunting and or shooting, and am not a reckless outdoorsman. I want to learn these lessons to extend my level of confidence down range.

One of my upcoming challenges is to hunt Dall Sheep in Alaska and a realistic stalk distance is in average of 350+yds sure there are some that are closer, but when one takes the time and effort to get in shape, fly to Alaska and incur all the expense and effort for a once in a lifetime hunting trip, I want to be as prepared as possible, for what ever situation may arise.

In saying this my thought is to get as competent as possible at ranges in excess of 1,000yds and master the fundamentals of long range shooting, and develop skills that will be paramount in taking a confident and ethical shot at ranges of 350-450yds.

Thanks again for your input. I read Zack Smiths article, and it will be a reference for many study sessions in the future.

 

[Skylerbone]

Have a look at the bench rest calibers as noted by pdd. The more I learn, the less enthusiastic I am about my current collection of centerfire chamberings. If I were in the market for a solid rifle for your proposed purpose I'd take a look at this: http://www.eabco.com/97ref.html in 6.5mm BRM. They outfit my dad for a moose hunt we're taking next Nov. with a custom barrel for his T/C in .300 Win. Mag. and a .223 Rem. so he could poke fun at me and my AR.

You'll most certainly have to reload for whatever you choose though Brown actually custom loads for the above rifle at $29/20 (not bad considering). Lots of information on their site including a history of bench rest calibers and shooting heavy for caliber bullets with high B.C.s. To be certain wind will be a factor in your hunt.

I'd also contact the guide service you'll be using as many have caliber restrictions. Your arrival date is NOT the best time to find out about those.

Good luck in your endeavor and your hunt.

 

[TimSues]

Good information thank you.

 

[r3dn3ck]

I spent my first year learning about long range practicing with a customized 6.5 swede mauser. Out to about 800M it was a great bullet/cart combo even with modest winds in play. The super long and relatively heavy for caliber bullets of nice high sectional density bucked wind well and retained energy and velocity. It's not a punishing cartridge to spend protracted sessions getting loud with either. I found the slight increase in recoil with .308 and .30-06 to be just too much. Lob 500 rounds a week down range and it starts to be too much on my light frame. The 6.5 felt recoil was just enough less dramatic that I could deal with it.

EDIT: My point being, like the guys say, learn with something that doesn't hurt to shoot first. Then extend your effective range by adding more gun. All the faster bullet is doing is stretching the max effective range.

 

[ms6852]

Have to agree with J. Boyette. Start with a 22lr. at 200 yards. At 200 yds. the 22lr mimics the 308 caliber at 800 yards ballistically speaking. By that I mean the drop and wind effect on the 22lr rounds would equate to the same 308 round at 800 yards. This way you learn how to read the wind. I shoot clay targets at 230 yards using a 10/22 or a MKII savage rifle.

Another caliber mentioned here which will out do the 308 at 1000 meters is the 243. It is quite inexpensive round to practice with. The bad thing about this particular round is that it is very vast around 4000 fps so this will wear out your barrels a lot faster. Regardless, of what you decide you have gotten some good advice from the folks here.