Long Range Rifle

[newdrenalin]

I am thinking of buying a long range rifle for hunting/shooting. I've been reading as much as i can find on this site and the long range hunting site. One of my questions is it seems all the info i've been reading is geared towards .30 caliber and bigger calibers. Would i be alright shooting something like a 270 wsm at long range. I hunt moose, deer and deer. Another question i have is there a factory production rifle that would be accurate right out of the box or should i go with custom right off the bat. I am looking to spend about $2000 for the rifle and another $1000 or a scope. I am not stuck on the 270, just not a big fan of really heavy recoil.

[catnthehat]

When a person talks about long range shooting, the first question asked by us that tend to "get out there" is HOW long?
Long for some is normal for others.
My idea of long with a 6.5WSM wildcat is "idling speed" for ATR and his big 338's or his 50's.
At the same time, it's too far for many who shoot rifles that tend to give it up at 700 yards.
So, what distance are you planning to shoot at ?
Cat

[Eagle Eye]

Well, I think the Remington Long Range Tactical Model 700 would fit this bill nicely. I have one in 308 and it is a shooter, right from the box...small cloverleaf. They are similar to the Remington police model 700 but have a better stock and finish. Also has fluted stainless steel barrel with black trynite coating and aluminum bedding system. Reasonable price too. Check it out at Remington.com

[tkhiebs]

Originally Posted by Eagle Eye

Well, I think the Remington Long Range Tactical Model 700 would fit this bill nicely. I have one in 308 and it is a shooter, right from the box...small cloverleaf. They are similar to the Remington police model 700 but have a better stock and finish. Also has fluted stainless steel barrel with black trynite coating and aluminum bedding system. Reasonable price too. Check it out at Remington.com

What load do you use for this rifle. I have the same rifle but can not find a good load.

[Eagle Eye]

I shoot match bullets only with it since I use mine for target shooting but there are hundreds of appropriate hunting bullets out there that are sure to work. What have you tried? Any of the premium bonded bullets, like the Hornady Interbond or Nosler Accubond behind Hodgdon Varget would be a great start for cold weather hunting. I would also try some Nosler Partitions because they have always been so effective on game for me in the past.

I use Sierra 155 gr PALMA in my Tactical and mine also likes the Sierra 168 BTSP Match. It has a 1 in 12" twist rate so really heavy bullets are not likely to fly well. One of these days I will experiment with some premium hunting bullets in case I ever need to use this rig for hunting. I carry a light weight REM 700 Mountain rifle in 270 WIN for regular hunts because that matches my style of hunting (lots of slow walking and no trucking).

Regarding your Tactical rifle, have you adjusted the trigger yet? Because it uses the 40-X target trigger, it is user adjustable without removing the rifle from the stock. If you are not sure about this issue, check the manual. It is a superb trigger.. I have the same one in my REM XR-100. Not a hint of creap, over travel or movement before or after either one lets go at 1.5# pull.

Hope this helps, let me know.

[elkhunter11]

A rifle like the 700 sendero in 7mmremmag would be a great choice.The heavier weight will also reduce felt recoil.If you want even more accuracy,or the choice of stock,barrel length etc,you might consider buying a 700SPS,and then have a reputable gunsmith true the action, install a premium barrel and a high quality stock.

[hal53]

I Agree With Catinthehat...How Far Is Too Far?????.......

[222rem]

Originally Posted by tkhiebs

What load do you use for this rifle. I have the same rifle but can not find a good load.

How clean is your barrel?
Just asking.

[Canuck44]

In my opinion get what you want, I personally would not be happy with something that someone else reccomended if it wasn't what I wanted. If you want a 270wsm get a 270wsm, if you want a 7mm get a 7mm.

I am not a long range shooter, the longest shots I have taken are with my 270 win at 500yrds but I believe that the important thing is knowing your gun and how it shoots. If you know this and the gun is reasonably accurate you should be fine. Once I had the drop figured out on my 270 I was hitting the gongs regularly at 300 & 400 yrds and grouping about 8 inches at 500, not much by some peoples standards but with a range finder and a good rest on a calm day I would be fine on deer out to 400+ yrds.

[elkhunter11]

In my opinion get what you want, I personally would not be happy with something that someone else reccomended if it wasn't what I wanted. If you want a 270wsm get a 270wsm, if you want a 7mm get a 7mm.

He is asking for recommendations,because he is not sure just what he wants.The reason that I suggested the 7mmremmag over the 270wsm is that there is a much better selection of .284" match bullets suitable for long range use.He did mention that he would like to get into long range shooting out to 1000 yards.In that situation,a match bullet is more suitable than most hunting bullets.Berger for one,does not even list a .277" match bullet on their site.

[Homesteader]

I would pick a plain jane rem 7mm for long range with minimum recoil, but I haven't really done any of it. The bigger 300s+ will definately reach out further, but recoil will go up. 270wsm is newer but I see more pros than cons, vs the 7Rem. Availability and being able to go to heavier bullets is the biggest reason, as well as possibly getting better numbers reloading vs wsm cases. Not quite sure if the factory velocities are easily attained. You should get some good feedback from others on here. You need to watch your impact velocities to ensure good expansion, I'm not exactly sure what you mean when you say "long range".''

Goodluck

[Solothurn]

Originally Posted by newdrenalin

I am thinking of buying a long range rifle for hunting/shooting. I've been reading as much as i can find on this site and the long range hunting site. One of my questions is it seems all the info i've been reading is geared towards .30 caliber and bigger calibers. Would i be alright shooting something like a 270 wsm at long range. I hunt moose, deer and deer. Another question i have is there a factory production rifle that would be accurate right out of the box or should i go with custom right off the bat. I am looking to spend about $2000 for the rifle and another $1000 or a scope. I am not stuck on the 270, just not a big fan of really heavy recoil.

For the budget you have alotted for a rifle, you are miles away from a true custom. But given what you are wanting to do , yes I have read the entire postins so far, I think a tuned factory rifle will be more than adequate.
The 270 wsm would not be 1 of my first choices as you are extremely limited in what rifles are produced in this caliber, there is NO premium type ammo or components for the caliber either, which will be a significant handicap.
There is a reason that the 7s , 30s and bigger are used for real long range work.
Physics is most of it. Heavier bullets with higher BCs are easier to get predictable trajectories with, and retain velocity and energy further down range.

A 7Rem Mag in a heavier weight rifle is NOT abusive at all yet can easily be used to ill game at 1000 yards IF the shooter is competent.
The bigger the caliber the better the chances of clean kills at long range, hence the popularity of the big 30s and 338s for this specific task.

As mentioned the 7 Rem Mag has some really good bullets available, that are designed for match accuracy but work well in the hunting situation.
That would be my minimum caliber, the 300 win mag would be a step up and has won tons of 1000 yard competitions, so is know for accuracy and still has plenty of killing power available.
The 700 Police line from remington, comes in 7 Rem Mag and 300 Win Mag as well as 300 RUM if you really want a big 30.
They also come in smaller calibers but they would NOT be effective for killing game at the 1000 yard mark you hope to attain.

With minimal tuning the 700Ps are known to be 1/2 moa shooters and under the $2K budget you have.
To alot more $$ for optics would be a wise idea, mediocre optics are NOT something you want for long range work.

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by newdrenalin

I am not stuck on the 270, just not a big fan of really heavy recoil.

With a statement like this I think you are going to have to do a lot of getting used to, before proclaiming you want to hunt or shoot at long range.

Perhaps you would be better served, learning how to shoot first, and gradually extend the ranges you intened to shoot at.

Take a look at most of the recommended calibers thrown out here, if you've got issues with the recoil of a 270Win., you've got a long row to hoe.

Understandibly the interest in long range shooting and hunting seems quite appealing, but sometimes you are better off learning how to walk before you intend to run a marathon.

[Kutenay]

No offence intended, but, listen to what Dick is saying here and think about it carefully.

I have shot rifles since 1958 and have had assistance from some of the top shooters alive, world dhampions, as a young man; I am at best a mediocre shot and KNOW this and thus govern my actions accordingly.

I KNOW how to shoot, but, a lack of available and especially long range practice facilities has made it so my former shooting skills are now pretty pizz poor and you have to REALLY learn and REALLY practice if you intend to succeed at long range shooting.

That said, in your situation, the 7 Rem. is a good starting place and I would prefer a .300Rem. for general long range work, but, I habitually shoot .338WM, 9.3x62, .375H&H and .458WM rifles, so, am somewhat used to recoil.

[newdrenalin]

First off, thanks for all the replies. Second , I'm not recoil senitive to the 270. The only reason i talked about recoil is that i got scoped by a 338 when i was 15. I'm 43 now and a little bit bigger (Lol) I think i'm leaning towards the 7mm UM now. Would a muzzle break and sims pad help much in the bigger 300's?

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by newdrenalin

First off, thanks for all the replies. Second , I'm not recoil senitive to the 270. The only reason i talked about recoil is that i got scoped by a 338 when i was 15. I'm 43 now and a little bit bigger (Lol) I think i'm leaning towards the 7mm UM now. Would a muzzle break and sims pad help much in the bigger 300's?

Yup, it would help big time.
One thing about long range hunting , the more recoil you have the les accurate you are.
Braks and good pads go a long way to eleviate this problem.
On lighter guns it is not so much a problem - the problem with lighter calibers is tha amount of residual energy once you get out there.

A 308 Winchestr is NOT a long range (past 400) cartridge that leaves any margin of error at all, so I do not recommend it.
The big ones that I do , need breaks to be shot effectivle at long range .
if they did not help, the true long range rifles wild not be made with them
Cat

[asheepatthewheel]

catnthehat what would you consider a good 5 or 600 yd rig....and what do you think of the WSMs??