"Building a tack Driver"

[Mr. Gunwrench]

either a .338 Lapua or .416 Barrett would be fine. GOOD LUCK on the champagne taste with the beer budget, you'll need quite a bit more to invest in those ranges with that accuracy

[samuel]

Originally Posted by Mr. Gunwrench

either a .338 Lapua or .416 Barrett would be fine. GOOD LUCK on the champagne taste with the beer budget, you'll need quite a bit more to invest in those ranges with that accuracy

Yepper,and you can pick rifles up chambered for either of these cartridges at your local gunshop or gun show for whatever change you happen to have in your pocket.Threads like this are always funny,but most replies are hilarious. ,,,sam.

[deadzero]

if you want to shoot at 1,000 yards or beyond your going to have to pay for the real estate in between. current value is at $5.00 to $15.00 a yard, depending on the particular setup used. and no, that price does not cover ammo expenses. that cost will vary depending on how big a hole a particular cartridge puts in your wallet for the money to drain out.

[Shootester]

Originally Posted by danf6975

well this is my personal opinion .
you wont spend less than $2400 on proper optics to reach that distance . as your distance increases so does your lighting requirement and this is where high end scopes demonstrate their prowess.

and we havent even gotten to the weapon yet.

the first thing to remember that firing over any long distance is more effected by the knowledge and skill of the shooter than by the weapon itself. that being said anyone that has a hope of doing it will be skilled and knowledgeable enough to not need forums to get opinions. its not polite or politically correct but its the truth.
now if you have about $12000 for equipment AND LOTS of ammo and time and someone skilled in the arts to train you it will be possible.

the only weapons i would consider using for this ( you did not state what your real intent is) are either the M82A2 barrett ( you cant get the A3 and most people sell off their A2 for better weapons) or the civilian version of the MK15 called the MacMillan Tac-50 .

in the end it just isnt going to happen.

I have to disagree with you here on a couple different points.

First, about the scope. The better the scope the better off he will be, but you sound like it can't be done with $1,000 scope. The $2,400 might make it easier, but it is still possible with a cheaper scope. Don't get me wrong though! You definately need something ALOT better than a $50 scope.

Second, going online to get help is not a bad idea at all. With all the information there is, it is a great place to get started. Of course that won't change the fact he will need plenty of practice on the range. It is still a way to get STARTED, which it sounds like he doesn't know anybody to help him, otherwise he probably wouldn't be here. Having someone by your side though would help give you pointers.

Third, The weapons you suggested are unnecessary. They are both .50BMG. They, of course, can shoot those distances, but the guns are expensive, as well as the ammo. Custom building a gun that will work, in a smaller caliber that isn't as expensive, can be HALF the cost of those guns.

The thing is that if he had someone by his side that he could talk with, get suggestions, and to help teach him different skills needed, that would definately help him. Does he HAVE to have someone by his side? No. If he has the determination, takes the time to practice, and gives himself time to improve he will be able to do it. It may take him longer, though. I wish him luck, and hope he sticks with it!

[danf6975]

you are absolutely right , it can be done for less .now i did not say this was a bad place to start but anyone starting out here while they may save time and money , are not going to be of the caliber to achieve what they are asking ( pun intended) and the cheeper you go the more skill it will require.

he did not give any real information on his target so all we can do is assume.

having been required myself to make shots out to 1200m and even as long as 1400m once i can say im glad uncle sam was footing the bill because if i had to pay for all the practice and training there would have been no way .

[Dragunov]

Chek out Mel at snipercentral. He's very reasonable.

[Purdy]

Originally Posted by samuel

A 10/22 Ruger using the CCI stingers.I believe they say their range is 1 1/2 miles so you should have some to spare. Open sights should do it but if you feel you need a scope,get a 4X tasco. ,,,sam.

You figured out that this was a joke right ?( LOL ROTFLMAO ) and a "tack driver" no less.

Nobody mentioned a howitzer for that 1 mile and over LOL

[wily1]

WWII Vintage German 88mm anti-tank/anti-aircraft gun I'm sure some Russian or Ukrainian has one in a scrap yard he'd let go for $1000. No scope needed just look down the bore!! May have a hard time finding ammo tho!

[telkev]

First, for a $1000 budget, that won't even buy the optics you will need. There is really no point in going further, but what the heck, next, if you don't reload, you will have to buy all the equipment. I don't think your gonna get good enough consistency with a green box of remingtons from walmart.
Now you have to decide whether or not you just want a 1000yd rifle or a 1 mile gun. A larger bore, excessively large case capacity will be needed for 1 mile. There are several 6mm chamberings that will shoot to 1000yds very well. Now all that being said, a stock, off the wall, bolt gun is not going to realisticly be in the category needed to perform at these distances.
Your $1000 budget will probably be a good 20% down payment for what you would really need.

[Shootester]

Originally Posted by danf6975

you are absolutely right , it can be done for less .now i did not say this was a bad place to start but anyone starting out here while they may save time and money , are not going to be of the caliber to achieve what they are asking ( pun intended) and the cheeper you go the more skill it will require.

he did not give any real information on his target so all we can do is assume.

having been required myself to make shots out to 1200m and even as long as 1400m once i can say im glad uncle sam was footing the bill because if i had to pay for all the practice and training there would have been no way .

Fair enough. It was just the way I was reading it. I did say it would take him alot of practice, though. I don't think there is a person in the world who could hit at 1,000 yds with only hunting or 100-500yd target experience.

[Shootester]

Originally Posted by deerhuntertyler

I would like to build a rifle that I can acurately shoot past 1000 yds. Mabe even 1 mile. I'm not sure where to begin. I was thinking a would buy a good rifle and "upgrade" it. So, what would be a good base rifle to do this. The budget would be around $1000.

If you could get more money together, or wait until you do, you could take a class. If you do a search you could probably find various offerings. Thompson Shooting Systems, Inc. – Specializing in Long Range Rifle Shooting - Hunting DVD I found this and it seems to be a good start. It is $1,000 for the class, and then you can buy the rifle you use for $3,200. I almost forgot about this site.

[squirrelblaster]

seems like we get this question about once every 9 months or so.... and i love the answers every time!!!! keep it up guys! good answers!

[deadzero]

Bottom line is:

do you simply want to shoot over 1000 yards? well there are a lot of simple options to do that. Many guns can shoot that far.

but, if you want to consistantly hit what your aiming for at those distances, then the $1,000 is only going to get you in the ballpark for a good set of optics. even the best of rifles is limited to how precise the scope can do it's job. the rest is in your skill level and a LOT of practice.

[big shrek]

Originally Posted by telkev

First, for a $1000 budget, that won't even buy the optics you will need. There is really no point in going further, but what the heck, next, if you don't reload, you will have to buy all the equipment. I don't think your gonna get good enough consistency with a green box of remingtons from walmart.
Now you have to decide whether or not you just want a 1000yd rifle or a 1 mile gun. A larger bore, excessively large case capacity will be needed for 1 mile. There are several 6mm chamberings that will shoot to 1000yds very well. Now all that being said, a stock, off the wall, bolt gun is not going to realisticly be in the category needed to perform at these distances.
Your $1000 budget will probably be a good 20% down payment for what you would really need.

Ya know, it strikes me that an old Sharps might be the ticket.

1874 U.S.A. Shooting Team Creedmoor Sharps 45-70

But it's still going to cost at least $1500
1874 Sharps U.S.A. Creedmoor 45-70 Black Powder Cartridge Rifle

People used to shoot 1000 yards with peep sights all the time...
dunno why you youngins need fancy optics...

[deerhuntertyler]

Ok, I'm sorry I guess It was a pretty dumb question. I should state that I don't actually plan n making a tack driver. Me and a friend were just talking about it really got me thinking. I honestly don't have anywhere close to enough disposable income to do so. I just wanted to know what all you smart folks knew bout long range rifles to try and settle my curiosity. And good one sam, thanks for the input.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by deerhuntertyler

Ok, I'm sorry I guess It was a pretty dumb question. I should state that I don't actually plan n making a tack driver. Me and a friend were just talking about it really got me thinking. I honestly don't have anywhere close to enough disposable income to do so. I just wanted to know what all you smart folks knew bout long range rifles to try and settle my curiosity. And good one sam, thanks for the input.

Just funnin' with you.Seriously,don't ever loose your quest to shoot further and better,but start where all of us did,a .22 at 25/50yds.Best of everything. ,,,sam.

[big shrek]

I still think the Sharps is the way to go

[Bart B.]

Accurate shooting equipment at 1000 yards ain't as expensive as most folks think. But there is lots of hype by 'smiths scamming customers for stuff that's not needed. And most folks really don't know what's actually needed to shoot MOA long range groups all day long. Nor do they know what handloading/reloading stuff's plenty adequate to get the job done.

Here's what I've done to get a rifle that shoots all day long inside 7 inches at a thousand. Did well enough to win a lot of long range matches and get on international USA long range rifle teams. And get an NRA long range classification of high master; top 1% of all classified NRA high power long range competitors.

Here's what I've typically used with reloaded ammo:

Winchester Model 70 action.
Kreiger barrel, .308 Win. or .30-.338 Win. Mag.
Wood stock, epoxy bedded.
Weaver T series scope for "any sight" matches.
Rings and a 20 MOA rail for the scope.

One could probably get one of this ilk for $1500 these days if he bedded the barreled action in the stock then fitted and finished it himself. A few hundred dollars will get an excellent scope for this; I've used a Weaver V16 with excellent results. A used T16 or T20 will do just fine. Ultra-high-priced scopes ain't all they're cracked up to be.

Choose the 'smith to do the metal work carefully. A few (1% of them, or less) know what's needed and the rest are quite ignorant as well as greedy. Few rifle shooters know what's needed; same percentage goes for them, too. I've seen dozens of them show up at long range matches with all the "popular opinion based" stuff and after the awards ceremony's over and they're wondering why they placed at the bottom of the scoreboard, they don't believe what simple, inexpensive, but well assembled stuff was used to win the matches and set the records.

Otherwise, get a Savage 12F in 6.5x.284. This cartridge is the current rage in long range prone competition; been that way for years. Easier and cheaper to shoot accurate than any belted magnum and bucks the wind as good as most. And the barrel will last much, much longer than the 30+ caliber magnums. Put a Weaver T24 on it.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by Bart B.

Accurate shooting equipment at 1000 yards ain't as expensive as most folks think. But there is lots of hype by 'smiths scamming customers for stuff that's not needed. And most folks really don't know what's actually needed to shoot MOA long range groups all day long. Nor do they know what handloading/reloading stuff's plenty adequate to get the job done.

Here's what I've done to get a rifle that shoots all day long inside 7 inches at a thousand. Did well enough to win a lot of long range matches and get on international USA long range rifle teams. And get an NRA long range classification of high master; top 1% of all classified NRA high power long range competitors.

Here's what I've typically used with reloaded ammo:

Winchester Model 70 action.
Kreiger barrel, .308 Win. or .30-.338 Win. Mag.
Wood stock, epoxy bedded.
Weaver T series scope for "any sight" matches.
Rings and a 20 MOA rail for the scope.

One could probably get one of this ilk for $1500 these days if he bedded the barreled action in the stock then fitted and finished it himself. A few hundred dollars will get an excellent scope for this; I've used a Weaver V16 with excellent results. A used T16 or T20 will do just fine. Ultra-high-priced scopes ain't all they're cracked up to be.

Choose the 'smith to do the metal work carefully. A few (1% of them, or less) know what's needed and the rest are quite ignorant as well as greedy. Few rifle shooters know what's needed; same percentage goes for them, too. I've seen dozens of them show up at long range matches with all the "popular opinion based" stuff and after the awards ceremony's over and they're wondering why they placed at the bottom of the scoreboard, they don't believe what simple, inexpensive, but well assembled stuff was used to win the matches and set the records.

Otherwise, get a Savage 12F in 6.5x.284. This cartridge is the current rage in long range prone competition; been that way for years. Easier and cheaper to shoot accurate than any belted magnum and bucks the wind as good as most. And the barrel will last much, much longer than the 30+ caliber magnums. Put a Weaver T24 on it.

There are several on here that know their way around firearms and ranges and can set competition guns up and do good at matches.But thanks for reminding all of us lower echelon gun/match lovers how great you really are.Personally I enjoy being in that 99%.I can talk to more people and enjoy myself more.It must be very lonely up there where you are.Do you ever condecend and indulge the lesser gifted? ,,,sam.

[Bart B.]

Big Shrek's suggestion on a .45 caliber black powder Sharps may not be such a bad idea. Few people know what accuracy levels these old rifles had. And the targets they used in the late 1800's for high power rifle matches remained essentially unchanged in scoring ring size until the 1970's. High scoring part was 3 feet square, but changed to a round 3 foot bullseye in the early 1900's. In 1972, it changed to 20 inches. Their biggest advantage was one had enough time to easily look through their spotting scope and see the bullet strike dirt when shooting sighting shots to get zeroed when the wind was blowing pretty bad.

Hardest part of one of these rifles being able to shoot accurate was making a rear sight that held its zero from the heavy recoil. Those high tang and butt mounted sights often shot loose. A few 'smiths had the skills to make them well. A 10 thousandths inch play at the aperture meant a 1 MOA addition to whatever your best group size was with it tight. It was a common process to push the sight aperture staff gently to one side after making adjustments so it would pretty much be in the same place for each shot.