advise for long range shooting

nappy21

I have been collecting and shooting assault type rifles for awhile now, i want to get in to long range target shooting, i'm trying to shoot at about a 1000 yard range, i am on a buget, so for the money i have to spend, i was thinking about the Remington 700 Sendero, with a Leupold Mark4 8.5-25 LR scope, am i headed in the right direction?, thanks, ~Jeff

FEENIX

Welcome! Is this within your budget?

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=89886695

wwg55

sounds like a good direction and a good budget

grumpygy

Ther is another forum I frequent called snipershide.com good place to get info. But unless you are known or ar really into long range shooting I would just read. Thats what I do and I kow a couple of them. Lots of good info in just reading.

tsr1965

That 700 Sendero is the way to go...especially the Sendero SFII. Long range...go big or stay home...300 RUM is the caliber of choice, with the next in line being the 300 Win. Mag. The rifle scope combination you have listed will get you started, but do not look for super eye poppin accuracy on a Budget that is tight.

mrbruce

You should look at the Burris Signature scopes, and forget about louie.....

nononsense

"...i want to get in to long range target shooting, i'm trying to shoot at about a 1000 yard range..."

There are several variations to target shooting at 1,000 yards and each usually has a specific 'style' of rifle that's preferred for use. Since you have already been involved in some semi-auto shooting, maybe you could consider a customized AR-type upper for long range if you have a good lower to use:



This one is set up for Palma using open sights but a scope can be utilized just as easily.

If you want to concentrate on bolt action rifles, I suggest starting with one of the two newer Savage rifles specifically designed for long range target shooting:

http://www.savagearms.com/centerfire_home.

Savage M12 F/TR in .308 Win.



Savage M12 F-Class in 6.5/284 Norma



Both of these are designed for use in the two divisions of F-Class target shooting which is shot from the prone position. They could also be fired from the bench also. They are both single shots.

White Oaks makes custom AR-type competition rifles:

http://www.whiteoakarms.com/

My suggestion is to start with something along the lines of a good .308 Win. which will be available in quite a number of semi-target or target rifles at reasonable prices. There is no need whatsoever to opt for one of the super magnums at first. Use a great standard cartridge like the .308 and practice a lot.

Scope brands each have a following and I think that Burris is a better value when compared to Leupold. The best guidance is to buy the very best scope you can afford even if you have to start with a less expensive rifle. Lots of the top shooters are using Night Force and U.S. Optics which are both right at the upper end of cost.

Find a shooting buddy that has some experience and practice, then practice some more and finally get some more practice.

Best.

JustC

keep in mind that handloading will eventually become necessary for top accuracy. Nononsense gave some great advice when he said "practice a lot",...there is NO BETTER teacher than real world target practice. The 308win is a great tool and there is a ton of factory match grade ammo available. That in itself as well as reduced recoil and long barrel life make it a wise choice.

IMHO starting off with a magnum if you are not used to the recoil could be detrimental to your accuracy if/when you develope a flinch.

sandwarrior

nappy21,

First, I would stay away from a magnum if I were you. too much cartridge too fast. Your scope choice is a good one. Look at standard cartridges. They will all get you to 1k...some nearer to 2k. Just not as fast as a magnum. My preference would be a 7mm-08 or .280(AI maybe). Better ballistics than a .308. The plus side of a .308 is you will get better at calling the wind and conditions. As noted there is a ton of match ammo for the .308. But it is all high dollar. If you learn to reload you will see that not only can you tailor rounds to your rifle but you can tailor rounds to your rifle 'for the conditions'. It's just a huge advantage to know. And still save at least 50% off the cost of Match ammo.

Second, something to look at here is just like your ammo is going to need to be handmade why don't you look at getting a 'semi-custom' made. Find an older Rem 700 and see what it would take to true it and put a good barrel on there. Then bed it. This may take a couple months as good gunsmiths get backed up pretty quickly. But it will cost what most good rifles do off the shelf. And it will at least (temporarily) meet your accuracy requirements.
I like the two rifles that nononsense posted. Great rifles from what I've seen and heard. With one exception...and that was debate-able. You will need at least an MOA quality rifle. That isn't that hard to do. But, if you can shoot 1" at 100 your going to have a tough time hitting 10" at 1000. Shooting for score you will probably find that the rifle becomes less of a factor than you do. Conditions move bullets around and you can see that, but a sub-MOA rifle can't.

Third, get a good book on shooting long range. It's amazing how many answers you will find in there.

-Good luck and have fun

Hawk Carse

You do not need - I do not WANT - a magnum or monster magnum just to target shoot at 1000 yards. A good .308 will do anything they will, just with more wind deflection for you to learn to judge and allow for. The .308 will give you more choice in rifles and in factory match ammunition. Although you will soon get tired of paying a dollar a pop and start looking into handloading. Barrel life is also much longer with a standard like .308 than a magnum or a high velocity round like 6.5x284.

Casual shooting at long range is not real rewarding unless you have some special advantages. Like a way to know what you are doing. In Long Range competition, whether Service Rifle, Match Rifle, Palma, or F-Class, you will have somebody from another relay in the target pit marking every shot for location and score. Tough to arrange on the South 40. Good reason to shoot matches; a place to shoot, logistic support and people to learn from. F-Class lets you shoot with a scope and off a rest. F-T/R with a .308 limits that rest to a bipod and a rear sandbag.

The guy who got me into Long Range F-T/R does not consider HIS Burris to be the equal of HIS Leupold, and is already planning on upgrading from Leupold to Nightforce.

Oklahoma223

1000 yard shots take much,much,much,much practice.

Hawk Carse

They don't take much practice at all. You have to start somewhere.
Getting a lot of 1000 yard HITS is what takes practice.