Long Range Rifle????

[look'n 4 deer]

If you guys could hunt / shoot long range what Rifle and scope combo would you buy / build?
We have some fields on the lease I'm on that have large fields and it never fails if I'm on the south end the big deer comes out on the north end, 600 yards away.
Just curious as to how many guys hunt / shoot long range. And what Rifle & scope combo they are using.

 

[BirdDog123]

600 yards a 270 or 308 all day long. I have a 270 WSM w/ a Leupold VX3 4.5-14x50 that performs at that range pretty easily. The only downside is it can be expensive to shoot if your not reloading.

The reason I recommend a 270 or 308 though is because you can shoot them fairly affordably. Get plenty of practice in, good breathing control, and a slow squeeze and youll be just fine.

Also, maybe think about resetting the turrets on your scope to zero, use a ballistics chart to get a general idea of your drop at a certain distance, and dial the turret in at the correct elevation before your shot. A lot of people will write that information down on a piece of paper, laminate it, and stick it to their gun.

There are some people who will use holdover and guess the drop at those distances; not me. If I am going to take a shot that far, I want to be confident in my shot and not take chances on wounding that deer. Hope this helps!

 

[deerhunter10]

270 308 and also look at a 280 they are awesome! And Leopold scope.

 

[Crosshairy]

Not to be inflammatory, but in my book, a deer that is 600 yards away is just lucky that he's too far away to shoot.

My rifle will shoot that far. If I practiced at those distances to the point of confidence at hitting targets consistently, I still wouldn't shoot one that far away.

Step inside the tree line and double-time it for 300-400 yards, then make the shot. Along the way, you'll say to yourself "I'm actually hunting this deer...this is fun!"

 

[Hunter 257W]

I bought what I consider the perfect long range deer rifle 3 yrs ago. It's a Remington 700 CDL stainless in 257 Weatherby. I've been a gun nut since I was just a kid and have looked at a lot of ballistic charts and the 257 Weatherby is one of the best cartridges to combine a very flat trajectory, adequate energy and very tolerable recoil.

My particular rifle shoots .5 to .6 3 shot 100 yd groups with two bullets so far - 120gr Speer Grand Slam and the 100 gr Barnes TTSX. It has been glass bedded, however since I didnot even fire it before doing the glass bedding, I have no idea what it would have done "out of the box".

 

[Hunter 257W]

Not to be inflammatory, but in my book, a deer that is 600 yards away is just lucky that he's too far away to shoot.

My rifle will shoot that far. If I practiced at those distances to the point of confidence at hitting targets consistently, I still wouldn't shoot one that far away.

Step inside the tree line and double-time it for 300-400 yards, then make the shot. Along the way, you'll say to yourself "I'm actually hunting this deer...this is fun!"

I agree completely. I wonder if these 500, 600yd or beyond deer are really just a "long ways out there" and the hunter just throws out the 1st impressive number that comes to mind. Very few hunters are good judges of range from my experience. A deer at a true 300 yards looks like a dog. 300yds is a long shot and few can make it. 400 is getting very long. OF course on the internet a 1,000 yard shot is easy. :grin:

And before I get jumped on for saying that nobody can hit a target at 1,000yds, it is completely different to shoot at a known distance compared to unknown where you have to guess holdover. I have a heavy barrel 22CHeetah that I can shoot tiny little groups with at ridiculous distances if I'm allowed to shoot a few zero shots and use a solid bench and good leather sandbags. Take me out to a place I'm not familiar with and give me just one shot and it's a different story.

 

[landman]

I have a 300 Win, in Remington Sendero with Leupold VX3 4.5x14
it will work

 

[BirdDog123]

I think if you are going to shoot that far then practicing and knowing the correct adjustment on your turrets is the whole point... I don't think the guy that started this thread wants to throw a hail mary and completely guess the elevation if he is asking for a good scope/rifle combo.

As far as saying its not hunting at that kind of range... I know guys with compound bows that will tell you using a rifle is not hunting.. at the end of the day if meat is in your freezer and it got there in an ethical manner... its hunting. There is nothing wrong wtih taking a far shot if you are familiar with your rifle and capable of making a clean kill.

The only caveat to that is I personally would not take a shot that far in a heavy crosswind. While I can determine elevation.. windage is a totally different story and can throw off a shot 8-10 inches. However, if you have the discipline to take the shot when the conditions are right.. nothing is wrong with it IMHO.

 

[Hunter 257W]

I think if you are going to shoot that far then practicing and knowing the correct adjustment on your turrets is the whole point... I don't think the guy that started this thread wants to throw a hail mary and completely guess the elevation if he is asking for a good scope/rifle combo.

As far as saying its not hunting at that kind of range... I know guys with compound bows that will tell you using a rifle is not hunting.. at the end of the day if meat is in your freezer and it got there in an ethical manner... its hunting. There is nothing wrong wtih taking a far shot if you are familiar with your rifle and capable of making a clean kill.

The only caveat to that is I personally would not take a shot that far in a heavy crosswind. While I can determine elevation.. windage is a totally different story and can throw off a shot 8-10 inches. However, if you have the discipline to take the shot when the conditions are right.. nothing is wrong with it IMHO.

My comments above weren't meant for you personally. Since you talke about zeroing the reticle and becoming familiar with the trajectory and even taping a trajectory chart on your gun, you obviously have put thought into what it takes to make a long shot. Many shooters though just buy the bullet drop compensating scope, bore sight it and go hunting. They don't even verify that it's actually sighted in for the load they are shooting.

And I do some of my hunting from a shooting bench and sandbags while other days I am on the ground in the woods. I like them both. :)

 

[hitek7]

I have a hard enough time judging to see if it is a deer I want to shoot at 250 yds much less 600 yds. I know I am not a good enough shot to do it anyway, 250 is about my max right now.

 

[Vermin93]

Just a suggestion, but you might want to also pose this question in some of the long range shooting forums and Western hunting forums that are out there. If you are thinking about dropping some money on a long range hunting rig it wouldn't hurt to get the opinion of some guys who practice long range shooting fairly often.

 

[yamaha200]

Go the the web site, Long range pursuit. See the guns they r making, and the scopes they r using. I am sure you can find out where thier custom guns are being made at, and maybe talk to someone and tell them what ur looking for.Them guys know thier stuff to. But u will need a deep pocket, and I mean deep.

 

[muddyboots]

Hot Tamale!

 

[blackhawk611]

your best bet is getting a 280 Remington the 7mm bullet is Superior to all other calibers

 

[blackhawk611]

in case you don't know the 280 it uses a 7mm bullet in a 30-06 case.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Anyone ever watch the show Long Range Pursuits? Holy Toledo!!! Some of the shots they make on there are INSANE!!! But alas, they are set up for it, make extensive use of rangefinders, wind meters, and understand ballistics like a dang physicist.

I have 2 rifles set up for our big fields: One in 25-06 and the other in 7mag. One is a bull-barrel while the other is a medium weight barrel. Both have Leupolds and are bedded with adjustable triggers, are sub 1/2 minute, and only because I have spent TONS of time time at the range will I take long shots. With both of these rifles, the terminal performance is absolute (if I do my part).

 

[blackhawk611]

the 270 winchester is close it shoots a very good bullet of 130 grain to 140 grain very accurate and as flat shooting as a 7mm Remington magnum.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Didn't mean to sound redundant, Yamaha. When you hit send I was still typing.

 

[blackhawk611]

the 25-06 is good i own one i love how it shoots and don't kick like a mule.to you what is long range? to me that is 450-500 yards.

 

[blackhawk611]

most hunter without a bench rest can't hit a deer at 600 yard. to make a clean kill not wounding the animal.

 

[Urban_Hunter]

If its 600 yds across the field... hunt in the middle. The difference between 300 and 600 yards is astronomical as far as trajectory and ballistics go. Almost all the sub-magnum rounds really start falling fast at 400 yards. If you go too light you will really have to factor in wind as well.

Regardless... I know you mentioned practice, but please realize that tons and tons of practice is necessary to make a 600 yard shot inside a grapefruit. Everyone can say what they want, I have taken this shot (not on deer) many times and it is just a lot of factors that go into putting that bullet there.

 

[redblood]

it is far less about caliber, and much more about practice, zero, optics, practice, bullet selection, practice, ballistic coefficient, sectionsl density, wind and practice.

 

[look'n 4 deer]

Believe me guys!!
I do not plan to buy a Rifle and attach a scope and think I can make a shot like that, right out of the box!!
My Question was if anyone was shooting these ranges, and what their Rifle and scope combos are.
I have looked at some of the Long range web sites, but thought I might get some opinions from the guys on here.( which I have for sure!)
I think there might be some people on here that think just because they drop $ 4,000 on a rifle and another $2,000 on a scope that they will be able to make a 1,000 yard shot out of the box!!!
I am not that guy!!!! Give me a little more credit than that!!
And as far as guessing how far a target is such as a deer, well I think I would be using a Range Finder!!!! I am not that stupid!!!

 

[bloodtrailing]

This will sound harsh but meant to be helpful. If you have to ask about calibers good for long range you do not know enough about rifles and shooting to shoot long range. Most popular big game calibers are capable out to 300 yards which is 100 yards beyond where 100% of my hunting friends should shoot.

 

[MRUTVOL]

Believe me guys!!
I do not plan to buy a Rifle and attach a scope and think I can make a shot like that, right out of the box!!
My Question was if anyone was shooting these ranges, and what their Rifle and scope combos are.
I have looked at some of the Long range web sites, but thought I might get some opinions from the guys on here.( which I have for sure!)
I think there might be some people on here that think just because they drop $ 4,000 on a rifle and another $2,000 on a scope that they will be able to make a 1,000 yard shot out of the box!!!
I am not that guy!!!! Give me a little more credit than that!!
And as far as guessing how far a target is such as a deer, well I think I would be using a Range Finder!!!! I am not that stupid!!!

Here is what I have and a 600 yd shot is a piece of cake with it.

I have a savage model12 with a 32 inch bull barrel topped off with the Burris Eliminator-3 scope in a 308 caliber. I shoot 178 grain Hornady bullet in it. It is not a gun you tote around all day due to its heavy (17 lbs) weight but if you have large open type areas such as I hunt then it is a great gun for sitting and watching at long distances. The Burris scope automatically will range your target and highlight the recticle with a lighted dot to show you what the holdover point is out to 1200 yds. The model-3 will also give you the windage point of hold. Almost like playing a video game ! Of course you still need to practice but it does take a lot of the guess work out of it and provide you with a more reliable kill shot. So far 743 yards has been my longest shot with it. It aint cheap but I enjoy long range shooting and this meets my needs.

 

[KPH]

I would think most shots on deer in Tennessee is less than a 100yrds. Most likly 50yrds. I have made shots on P-Dogs of 800 and 900yrds but that is off a good rest.

 

[look'n 4 deer]

This will sound harsh but meant to be helpful. If you have to ask about calibers good for long range you do not know enough about rifles and shooting to shoot long range. Most popular big game calibers are capable out to 300 yards which is 100 yards beyond where 100% of my hunting friends should shoot.

There again I was asking opinions!
I'm shooting a 7MM & 300 WSM now!
And I also know a 308 is a good long range caliber.
So don't need your $.02 ;)

 

[look'n 4 deer]

I would think most shots on deer in Tennessee is less than a 100yrds. Most likly 50yrds. I have made shots on P-Dogs of 800 and 900yrds but that is off a good rest.

We have fields and power lines on our lease that have give opportunity to make long shots.
This is what we are shooting out of. So the rest is not a problem.

 

[Boll Weevil]

I would think most shots on deer in Tennessee is less than a 100yrds. Most likly 50yrds.

C'mon over to the west side...there's places flat and wide open enough that you can shoot for-ev-er (if you wanted to) :)

 

[turk870]

longrange hunting has wealth of info.as far as cal.the list is endless.the 300wsm should serv well.if your wanting a new gun.go for it..you could look at 30-378wby.338-378wby..338lapua.or eaven a 416 barret.but like i said cal.are endless