A question about long-range rifles...

[H Richard]

To me it depends on your definition of "Long Range". I like shooting Prairie Dogs, so they are a very small target at extended distances. My average shot is in the 300 to 400 yard range, and a long shot (for me) is in the 600+ range at a target the size of a 2 Liter soda bottle. My criteria is a fast but accurate bullet that will shoot flat enough to get to the target fast. I am presently using a .243 with a Nosler 70 Gr. Ballistic Tip at 3716 fps. Accuracy is right at a 1/2 MOA. This is a stock Savage 12 FV in a Choate UltraVarmint Stock. Leupold scope with target turret, CUSTOM made by Leupold specifically for that load. Read the distance and dial it in.

 

[M29since14]

We are talking about a toy here - the comment about murder is a bit far afield. The matter seems to be about to boil over, as my friend has been doing his research and is getting trigger happy. He is leaning toward an off-the-shelf .50, of some type, thinking it will have some resale value, if he loses interest.

I certainly have nothing against .50s, or anything else that burns powder, but the all-up costs just seem prohibitive. I suspect when it comes time to write the check, he may back down, but one never knows. These is so much to buy other than the rifle that it almost seems like the smaller part of the expense, and even a bolt-action, single-shot is not cheap. There also seems to be a big learning curve with the .50 and, as RTW points out, getting to a 1000-yard range around here to do the learning is a major chore. A .300 Winchester makes a lot more sense to me. It will be interesting to see how this ends up.

 

[DCC]

Originally posted by M29since14:
I have a friend who is something of a commando at heart.

He is trying to determine what to build - leaning toward a 338 Lapau, which seems a little much to me.

Any of you guys toying around with these things care to comment, or actually using them in your assignments?

and take up spare time/money. Any comments or experiences will be appreciated.

Hi y'all take a look at this -
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInter...a3LongRangeRifle.htm
now standard issue for UK forces...each round comes gift wrapped for the Afghanistan...

You can buy one these L115 "private purchase" from
Accuracy International UK
with folding stock - choose your own glass...
be warned - you may have a problem with your US Gov't when importing...

DCC

 

[feralmerril]

Here is another probley good long range target rifle Ive had forever and never really worked with it much. Its beautifull wood and workmenship. A custom .270 win built on a mauser supream action by H.W. Creighton. Its a heavy rifle. Also a heavy beast. Never heard about creighton untill I googled him lately. Seems he was a fine guru gunsmith many years ago that specialised in heavy bench rest rifles. I found a old article I think by brian pierce that praised him.

 

[cmort666]

Originally posted by MrPhil:

Originally posted by zercool:
A Savage .308 with a 20-minute scope base would probably shoot better than he does...

+1. My FP10 in 308 shoots way better than me and does it with a pretty wide range of hand loads. Those 175 grain Match Kings are great out past 1,000 yards. That big arcing trajectory gives you time to get back on target and see the impact.

If you like heavier bullets, the 112BVSS in .30-06 is a good alternative. I shoot the 200gr. Matchkings over IMR4350 out of mine. I also have a 10FP in .308. They're both great guns.

 

[fitz]

"While Larry Bartholome, Captain of the USA F-Class team, shoots a 6.5-284 in team competition, when he's shooting a match on his own, he's just as likely to be behind a 6BR or 6BR improved rifle. Larry writes:
"The reason I shoot a 6.5 most of the time now is that we decided quite some time ago that everyone on the team would shoot the same bullets in the same velocity range to make it easier on the coaches in the World Championships. If I am shooting F-Class at 1k don't count my 6BR out. In fact it has shot the only 20x clean at 1k that I know of. The BR flat out just shoots little knots. If I had to have one caliber for all my long range shooting that would be it."

 

[m657]

I was at the range a while back, a quiet week day just before noon with only 2 of us there.

A guy was working over his 338 Lapua. It had brutal recoil and annoyance factor. His brass looked like they could be scrap from a battleship barrage. His scope was LOTS of money.

His 200 yard targets were not all that special.

He was frustrated and disappointed. His spendy custom rifle was not performing as well as his old off-the-rack 308, he said.

 

[mwtdvm]

Sounds like your friend needs to buy one of the single shots chambered in 50BMG, top it with the most expensive Leupold he can buy

+10 except I would go with a Nightforce scope..

Some have said that shooting a 50 BMG bolt action is the most fun you can have with your clothes on. As he seems to be a "wannabe", let him indulge himself with a fun gun.

 

[gmchenry]

Have a friend that shoots .338 Lapua. He has a beautiful Remington 700 with a ported barrel. He hunts pronghorn antelope with it at long range. Shoots flatter for the longer ranges and puts the critter down.

It's his money.

 

[jondar]

Well, there was some pretty good long range shooting at Sandy Hook, N.J. in 1874 with an issue 1873 Springfield rifle in .45-70 caliber. The shooter hit the six foot bullseye at a range of 3000 yards, almost two miles. With open sights.

 

[M29since14]

A bit more than two minutes-of-angle, if he did it consistently. It's hard to imagine what that .45-70 slug was doing at that range, as far as drop and remaining velocity.

 

[gmchenry]

Was the rear sight about a foot tall?

 

[jondar]

No, everything about the rifle was as issued. As I remember (no I wasn't there) all bullets which hit the target frame penetrated the four inch planks and buried themselves in the sand. They closely estimated the remaining velocity by means of a primitive (but operative) telephone. The shooter, who worked at the Springfield arsenal, had the sights at their highest setting.

 

[gmchenry]

With a 200yd. zero, there's over 100+ inches of bullet drop at 500 yds. At 6 times that distance, the ballistic arc would look like a rainbow.

 

[zercool]

Originally posted by gmchenry:
With a 200yd. zero, there's over 100+ inches of bullet drop at 500 yds. At 6 times that distance, the ballistic arc would look like a rainbow.

Pretty much. I found some of the data on the Sandy Hook tests, which showed something like 2 degrees of elevation on the rear sight - so much for the "three clicks" come-ups!