I have been shooting as an entertainment passtime with some hunting mixed in since I was pretty young. Noone really taught me properly, and I learned many substandard ways to do things, and had to unlearn them. I do have some combat training (both with carbines and pistols), but I am trying to go back into the genre for something I actually really wholely enjoy. Ranged target shooting.
My ultimate goal: To shoot non-competitively to ranges up to about 600 yards, for pure enjoyment. I don't want to make this a chore as I have done with so many of my other hobbies. I want to test myself and to learn and achieve decent accuracy at this range. If I accomplish it, I will revisit the goal, but until then, this is my goal.
Equipment: I have many tactical rifles, pistols and other firearms, but for this purpose, I really only have three rifles that fit:
A Springfield M1A national match in 7.62x51 with a Springfield 6-20x56mm government scope. This configuration uses the side mounted scope mount with two thumbscrews on the side. There is no bipod.
A Winchester model 70 custom rifle in .308Win with a macmillan A3, with a leupold Vari-X III 8.5-25x50mm scope. There is a bipod installed.
A Remington R700SS R5 Mil spec in .308Win (currently new, with no optics (one of the questions)). I have a Badger 20moa mount and 30mm badger rings for the rifle, and a bipod. I basically bought a scopeless SWS kit from snipercountrypx.com with all options for the most part.
I want to select the proper scope for the R700. There have been two very convincing schools of thought on the matter, and I need some assistance.
1) Get the highest power magnification quality scope you can afford. I was looking at the Nightforce NSX 12-42x56mm.
2) Get the most versitile high quality scope you can afford. The group is stating that something that goes from as low as 4x to as high as 25x is best. I haven't selected a scope in this range, but of course, nightforce, schmidt and binder and others are in the list.
I can truly understand #1, because if I am going to be shooting at 600 yards all the time, its going to be best.
The argument for #2 is that if I want to use the rifle for hunting, for shorter range, or for other purposes, even 12x is too high in many cases. There is also the argument that at high power mirage and other factors make a big appearance, and you must turn them down to 16 or 20 power anyway.
I have little experience shooting over 300 yards, even with these rifles, so I need some guidance on the above. I will be shooting from 100 to 600 yards. I want to shoot paper, but if I want to hunt, why wouldn't I use the R700?
So to get some time in, I want to take the M1A out to the range, and work with it. But, if I understand it, the rifle is suited to the M80 round, or a 7.62x51 round with a 147grain bullet. Unfortunately, this isn't a match round. The M118 is a match round at 173grain, but I don't know if I have much access. I can reload either, but I don't have a good load for it...I do have a progressive press and some experience though. I want to do this because 1) I want to start with the 6-20 scope I have and SEE if at 600 yards it will do what I need it to do. 2) To give myself more trigger time at the longer ranges, and 3) So I can diversify my shooting experiences.
I also have some Fed gold medal match .308 168gr that should work great at these ranges for the Win70, and the R700 to follow up. I just don't want to do this yet, as I don't want to remove and change scopes on the model 70 since they are lapped and matched...and I have yet to buy the R700 scope.
I do want to get a scope that has the ability to go beyond 600 yards if I find that I have the interest later. In my opinion, quality and durability is more important than simple magnification or cost (within reason). If it makes sense, I would prefer to buy a better scope now and not have to "trade up" later.
Questions Restated:
1) What round should I use for my M1A to train with for target shooting? If I have to reload it, then so be it. I have access and ownership of some M80, but I found it is not too accurate (south african). Any pointer to where I may purchase these rounds would be helpful.
2) What scope would be best to stick on my R700SS R5 milspec for shooting targets from 100 to 600 yards distant?
Follow up questions:
I have a qualified local gunsmith that works only with long distance shooting bolt action rifles.
1) Should I consider putting a muzzle break on the rifle? Recoil on a .308 isn't an issue for me, but if it helps me shoot better, so be it.
2) Should I consider putting in a detachable magazine plate, to make life more easily for shooting
Thanks for your help guys and gals.
Kevin
My ultimate goal: To shoot non-competitively to ranges up to about 600 yards, for pure enjoyment. I don't want to make this a chore as I have done with so many of my other hobbies. I want to test myself and to learn and achieve decent accuracy at this range. If I accomplish it, I will revisit the goal, but until then, this is my goal.
Equipment: I have many tactical rifles, pistols and other firearms, but for this purpose, I really only have three rifles that fit:
A Springfield M1A national match in 7.62x51 with a Springfield 6-20x56mm government scope. This configuration uses the side mounted scope mount with two thumbscrews on the side. There is no bipod.
A Winchester model 70 custom rifle in .308Win with a macmillan A3, with a leupold Vari-X III 8.5-25x50mm scope. There is a bipod installed.
A Remington R700SS R5 Mil spec in .308Win (currently new, with no optics (one of the questions)). I have a Badger 20moa mount and 30mm badger rings for the rifle, and a bipod. I basically bought a scopeless SWS kit from snipercountrypx.com with all options for the most part.
I want to select the proper scope for the R700. There have been two very convincing schools of thought on the matter, and I need some assistance.
1) Get the highest power magnification quality scope you can afford. I was looking at the Nightforce NSX 12-42x56mm.
2) Get the most versitile high quality scope you can afford. The group is stating that something that goes from as low as 4x to as high as 25x is best. I haven't selected a scope in this range, but of course, nightforce, schmidt and binder and others are in the list.
I can truly understand #1, because if I am going to be shooting at 600 yards all the time, its going to be best.
The argument for #2 is that if I want to use the rifle for hunting, for shorter range, or for other purposes, even 12x is too high in many cases. There is also the argument that at high power mirage and other factors make a big appearance, and you must turn them down to 16 or 20 power anyway.
I have little experience shooting over 300 yards, even with these rifles, so I need some guidance on the above. I will be shooting from 100 to 600 yards. I want to shoot paper, but if I want to hunt, why wouldn't I use the R700?
So to get some time in, I want to take the M1A out to the range, and work with it. But, if I understand it, the rifle is suited to the M80 round, or a 7.62x51 round with a 147grain bullet. Unfortunately, this isn't a match round. The M118 is a match round at 173grain, but I don't know if I have much access. I can reload either, but I don't have a good load for it...I do have a progressive press and some experience though. I want to do this because 1) I want to start with the 6-20 scope I have and SEE if at 600 yards it will do what I need it to do. 2) To give myself more trigger time at the longer ranges, and 3) So I can diversify my shooting experiences.
I also have some Fed gold medal match .308 168gr that should work great at these ranges for the Win70, and the R700 to follow up. I just don't want to do this yet, as I don't want to remove and change scopes on the model 70 since they are lapped and matched...and I have yet to buy the R700 scope.
I do want to get a scope that has the ability to go beyond 600 yards if I find that I have the interest later. In my opinion, quality and durability is more important than simple magnification or cost (within reason). If it makes sense, I would prefer to buy a better scope now and not have to "trade up" later.
Questions Restated:
1) What round should I use for my M1A to train with for target shooting? If I have to reload it, then so be it. I have access and ownership of some M80, but I found it is not too accurate (south african). Any pointer to where I may purchase these rounds would be helpful.
2) What scope would be best to stick on my R700SS R5 milspec for shooting targets from 100 to 600 yards distant?
Follow up questions:
I have a qualified local gunsmith that works only with long distance shooting bolt action rifles.
1) Should I consider putting a muzzle break on the rifle? Recoil on a .308 isn't an issue for me, but if it helps me shoot better, so be it.
2) Should I consider putting in a detachable magazine plate, to make life more easily for shooting
Thanks for your help guys and gals.
Kevin