long range

[leroy]

iv ben wanting a long range gun 300 yard+. mostly just for targets and the ocasional crow, praire dog, coyote. i dont know what caliber for sure. iv been looking at 6mm's 25-06, 270wsm, or a7mmRUM? idk im just kind of been thinking about it havnt got real serious yet. any info would be appreciated

[Midas]

Savage 110FP .300 Win Mag

[samuel]

.223 Rem.,.204 Ruger,.22-250 for varmints/target only. .243 for varmint/deer. sam.

[nathangdad]

I would suggest you spend a little time at a target range to really get a good "feel" for how great this distance really becomes in relation to a target the size of a fox, coyote, antelope, or deer. Optics, and I do mean the expensive kind, will come into play. Also, in a hunting environment you will encounter wind drift more times than not.

This distance is for the more powerful cartridges with heavier bullets such as a 180 grain in .300 Winchester Magnum with a target quality barrel.
It also requires precision reloading in annealed cases if you wish to pursue this to the max.

Please spend some time studying people who do shoot at these ranges such as the Army Marksmanship Team. This type shooting can be done and done well but do not think it is an easy or inexpensive accomplishment.

Good luck on all your shooting and, if this is what your pursue, I admire you accomplishment in advance.

[270wsm]

Winchester model 70 Ultimate Shadow chambered for the .270WSM.If using factory loads,go with the 140 gr. Accubond.

[Onesonek]

Originally Posted by leroy

iv ben wanting a long range gun 300 yard+. mostly just for targets and the ocasional crow, praire dog, coyote. i dont know what caliber for sure. iv been looking at 6mm's 25-06, 270wsm, or a7mmRUM? idk im just kind of been thinking about it havnt got real serious yet. any info would be appreciated

I been looking at a few of the other replies, But I want to ask something.....Leroy, are we talking 3-400 yds, 3-500yds or beyond? I would just like to get a better idea of your expectations wants.

Dave

[two-70]

I would not leave out a good 270 winchester

[Pumpkinheaver]

.243
.25-06
.270
30-06
The list goes on and on.
All of them are good for over 300 yards.

[billy]

.416 rigby

[samuel]

Originally Posted by nathangdad

I would suggest you spend a little time at a target range to really get a good "feel" for how great this distance really becomes in relation to a target the size of a fox, coyote, antelope, or deer. Optics, and I do mean the expensive kind, will come into play. Also, in a hunting environment you will encounter wind drift more times than not.

This distance is for the more powerful cartridges with heavier bullets such as a 180 grain in .300 Winchester Magnum with a target quality barrel.
It also requires precision reloading in annealed cases if you wish to pursue this to the max.

Please spend some time studying people who do shoot at these ranges such as the Army Marksmanship Team. This type shooting can be done and done well but do not think it is an easy or inexpensive accomplishment.

Good luck on all your shooting and, if this is what your pursue, I admire you accomplishment in advance.

The man said 300yds+.I dont agree with a word you say.Have you ever tried the things you post about?Cartridges designed for that exact range and that job will always outperform cartridges designed for big game.Right now the .22,s are supreme on the bench rest range at that range.The 6mm holds the 1000yd title.

[billy]

Originally Posted by samuel

The man said 300yds+.I dont agree with a word you say.Have you ever tried the things you post about?Cartridges designed for that exact range and that job will always outperform cartridges designed for big game.Right now the .22,s are supreme on the bench rest range at that range.The 6mm holds the 1000yd title.

yeah but what about the 416?

[Wingwiper]

300 yds is NOT considered LONG RANGE, in every type of competition it is part of the short range matches. 400 yds is the threshold for LONG RANGE but in HIGH POWER matches it is 500 and 600 meters and at Perry up to 1000 meters.

Now with that said .223 is fine for Fox size targets as well as Coyote and as far as gopher, you may have to concentrate a bit more but it should not be a real problem. In my neck of the woods we use to shoot chuck with old 303 British Enfields at 300 yds most all of the time, any closer and they were long gone before you got the shot off..

I am also referring to OPEN SIGHTS and a scope is not necessary at 300 yds, if it is, you need to get more Range time. I would suggest without trying to be disrespectful for you to be able to hit a BEER CAN at 300 yds with OPEN SIGHTS before you invest in a scope. you will be glad you did and you may change your mind about a scope. I think at 300 yds, scopes are in the way and add extra uneccessary weight.

Get a target, pace off 300 yards and put a ORANGE SPotter in the Center, now aim for the spotter and you will be surprised how easy it is to hit it. Of course you will need to learn about positions, breathing, trigger control, sight picture and sight alignment and cheek weld. Once this has been conquered you are ready to move to any caliber you so desire and you should have no problem popping cans at 300 yds.

Good Luck and Good shooting

[samuel]

Originally Posted by billy

yeah but what about the 416?

The .416 is an exelent choice.I once shot 2 rockchucks with one.Forget the range but I can remember the recoil. Now we have one that can hit pop cans with open sights at 300yds and advises a scope isnt necessary at that range.I dont think I need range time as bad as he does as I dont think he has ever been there. sam.

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by samuel

The .416 is an exelent choice.I once shot 2 rockchucks with one.Forget the range but I can remember the recoil. Now we have one that can hit pop cans with open sights at 300yds and advises a scope isnt necessary at that range.I dont think I need range time as bad as he does as I dont think he has ever been there. sam.

Hitting Pop Cans at 300 yds is not that hard and with an AR 15 at that and with OPEN SIGHTS. I have done it many times with my M1a and I have done it with my HBAR AR 15 many times and I DO NOT nor have I ever owned a scope. Well Ido own a Spotting Scope.

YES! as a matter of fact I have spent many years on the range and was shooting open sights the whole time. Scopes get in the way and I say you need to learn to shoot before you need to worry about scopes.

[utahvarminter]

Savage all the way - get something like 243, or 7mm.

[samuel]

I think it rather sublime to pretend you didnt understand I was talking about .22 centerfire.I looked,I found no time the .45-70 held group size honors at Camp Perry.Could you post this info?That would be intresting.There are several championships listed as having been won by .243/6mm if you look them up. sam.

[billy]

i can barely see a 12 pack of pop @ 300 yds.

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by samuel

I think it rather sublime to pretend you didnt understand I was talking about .22 centerfire.I looked,I found no time the .45-70 held group size honors at Camp Perry.Could you post this info?

actually NO I can't, you see I said 45-110 and not 45-70

[samuel]

I will look. sam.

[Onesonek]

Originally Posted by leroy

iv ben wanting a long range gun 300 yard+. mostly just for targets and the ocasional crow, praire dog, coyote. i dont know what caliber for sure. iv been looking at 6mm's 25-06, 270wsm, or a7mmRUM? idk im just kind of been thinking about it havnt got real serious yet. any info would be appreciated

I'll just give you my thoughts.
For the most part, it don't look like you are considering a dual purpose rig, varmint/big game.
So, I would stay away from the bigger cartridges you mention, they aren't needed.
I agree with Sam on the .22's. The .223 will do what you want with plenty of ammo available if you don't handload. The faster .22's will increase your range, to a degree. The 6mm's buck the wind a little better, and again if you don't hand load, the .243 has a 55 gr. available. I shoot the 55's out my 6mmAI, and don't have a lot of problems with light wind out to 600 yds. You can easily get out that far with the .22's. wind is just a little more critical.
The 6mm's are better with the 70 gr. ers. give or take. I have taken Prairie Dogs at 800 with the 55's but, it's tough in a breeze.
While it's just a personal opinion, for the most part once you get past that range, more specialized rigs are a benefit, and handloading is a big plus. But generally I use another fast twist barrel with the 6mmAI and heavy VLD(very low drag) bullets, for pushing those 600-1000 yd shots. Although, a factory .243 loaded with, and that will stabilize heavier VLD bullets will work. The 6.5 caliber has some excellent bullets for long range work as well. I still prefer the 6mm's. Right now I'm building another 6mmAI long range rig, set up with a 20moa scope base and Burris Sig. rings with added capability of the moa inserts. This setup will be zeroed with the scope close to bottomed out at 800 yds. and have 1500 yd + capability with 115 gr. D-Tacs.
As for scopes, get the best you can afford. For 800 yds and under, I prefer variables in the 8-32 power range. Beyond that range, I like higher fixed power. But you don't necessarily need 1-2000$ scope.

Another issue to long range shooting,, is recoil. These aren't hard kickers by any means, But I brake most of my long range guns. This is so, that if I don't have a spotter, reducing or eliminating muzzle rise allows me to see bullet impact. If I mis-read the wind, seeing the impact allows me to better gauge the correction needed.
As for the rifle itself,,,, Well If I had an idea of your budget on this, I could give you my thoughts there as well. You can PM me if you wish.

Dave