Short-mid range rifle?

[Gifted]

I was in the gun shop friday, and saw a Winchester(I think) model 70 on the rack. It was .270 WSM, with what looked like a good scope, for $400. I was inclined to believe the guy that that is a good deal on the gun, but a good deal doesn't do much if it's not the right gun.

What I was thinking while looking at it was this: I have an M1 carbine, which is good to about 150 yds. Two planned aquisitions are an AR-10, and a .50 BMG. The AR-10 will probably do the ranges the 70 would, but the reflex/dot/holographic sight I plan on putting on it would not. I don't intend for it to be a precision gun. I don't see it being reasonable beyond 400 yds or so(not saying much, I don't know enough to really speak on the matter).

I can't see the .50 being used closer than 6-800(closer to 800) yds. A bolt action precision gun to fill the gap between the AR-10 and the .50 was what came to mind looking at that .270, but I'm not sure that that gun and caliber would be the best choice. Perhaps a .308 so I have compatability with the AR-10? The guy suggested a 6.5mm, but I stopped by the other place in town and that was advised against, mostly due to ammo availability and quality. Don't know how much I trust that.

What caliber would be suggested by the people here?

 

[Ohen Cepel]

There are many good options.

If you want a military type round the .308 or 7.62x39 should work fine. The 5.56 could also do most work.

If you want precision a good starting point would be a Rem 700 in the flavor of choice.

I would stay away from the 6.5 till the dust settles some. In a year ammo may be even harder to find. Besides with the price of most of the ammo I listed above I don't see paying the 6.5mm price (assuming you can find it).

Just my 2 cents..

 

[litman252]

Are you just looking for something to fill out your "battery" of arms??? I'd go with any 308 if it was up to me. A lot depends on rounds shot per session or rate of fire that is desired. The ar-10 will keep there heads down, if your looking for something to hit a 8" plate or smaller at 500 yards then get a good bolt with a good scope and go from there.
If your hunting, without a lot of shooting I'd revisit the 270 WSM.
Don't forget a GOOD scope if your talking real precision.
FWIW

Tony

 

[Gifted]

7.62x39 out to 800 yds?

 

[WillBrayJr]

If you wan't something mid-range, try the Ruger 99/44 Deerfield! Looks like a M-1 Carbine on steroids! Packs a hell of a punch too! It's good for 100 yards.

 

[Gifted]

100 is short range. I'm looking to fill in ~300 to 800 yds. I probably won't be doing any hunting of any type unles something really ugly happens. I couldn't shoot an animal unless my life really depended on it.

I'd keep up on this pretty good. As a secondary rifle, it won't see as much use as the AR-10. I'd want to be able to hit a man-sized target at 800 yds. This'd be more of a sniper rifle to go with the carbine and battle rifle.

 

[litman252]

I'd recomend against that caliber for your use. If nothing else the cost of ammo would keep you from the practise you will need to achieve your goals.
Rem, Win, Savage or H-S precision for your needs. I'd also keep it in 308, lots of ammo for practise and alot of fun.

Personally it would be a savage with a burris, the ballistic plex (sp?).
Tony

 

[Bullet]

I'm looking to fill in ~300 to 800 yds.

300 Win Mag will do this and some more.

 

[Mulliga]

Gifted, the title of this thread should be "long range rifle." To me, 400 to 800 yards is a pretty long shot.

.308 would be the cheapest, obviously, but it doesn't have much horsepower out past about 500 yards (depends on the particular bullet).

.300 Win. Mag. is another choice. Good energy out to the 800 yard mark, but the recoil (at least to me) is fairly stout, and the ammo will be much more expensive.

As for the rifle, any good, heavy-barreled bolt action would probably do the trick. Ruger, Remington, Winchester, Savage, etc. - they can all shoot very well.

 

[buzz meeks]

I was thinking the same thing myself, Mulliga. Short to mid range to me means a few feet to about two hundred yards.

 

[Gifted]

Well, I was looking at the .50 as a long range rifle, and using it below 800 seems a waste. This was in the middle of my ranges, hence how I titled the thread. It seems it's a misnomer.

 

[NMshooter]

Guess you forgot about that 3.5-10 scope on the throw lever mount I had with the AR-10.

No worries about hitting stuff with that...

Up for another shoot sometime?

 

[Red Tornado]

I'm with Mulliga on the rifle choice. Any will be good. However, I'd throw out the 30-06 as a caliber option. It's required that someone mention it, and it looks like I'm the first 30-06 fan to show up. Realistically, it's pretty good to 800 yards, and the ammo selection is at least as large as any other caliber. If you want a particular cartridge, it's probably made in 30-06.
RT

 

[sscoyote]

THis my 1st post here, and Larry Ashcraft turned me onto the forum-- looks like a nice place to hang out-- looking forward to it.

If u're looking to shoot man-sized targets from 300-800, the 27's will work, but the 7mm, and 30's have a little better selection for bullets with higher BC's. That being said, a good friend of mine had a 16 lb. 270 WSM built up in a Nesika Round action last yr. as a long-range rifle msotly for sniping coyotes. The 1st 1 ever shot with that rig was 775 yds. using the 140 Nosler Ball. Tip/8.5-25X Leupold. That bullet has a BC of only .456, but it was enuf. Those bigger Ball. Tips/Hornady SST's should get u there no problem, and the SST's even with the cannelure are turning in some fine long-range accuracy reports.