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Need Rifle Caliber Recommendation
Posted by auwaterfowler on 9/20/22 at 6:55 pm00
I want to get into long-range target shooting, but I want a caliber appropriate for my son to use the rifle out West for hunting big game such as elk. I guess it also needs to be something that I can find ammo for at least every now and then.
This post was edited on 9/20 at 6:57 pm
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by jgthunt on 9/20/22 at 6:58 pm to auwaterfowler
6.5 or 300 prc??
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by DownshiftAndFloorIt on 9/20/22 at 7:22 pm to auwaterfowler
.300 win mag is the best thing going for those criteria.
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by bigbuckdj on 9/20/22 at 7:24 pm to auwaterfowler
The same thing that is great for killing an elk at 700 yards isn’t going to be fun to shoot at the range, I’d be playing in the 6.5 prc space with those requirements.
I think I’d get a 6.5 manbun to target shoot and just shoot that knowing you’ll be undergunned for elk or buy something larger later. The money savings in ammo in the manbun may buy you something more appropriate when elk is on the menu.
I’m not recommending that to elk hunt with but There is a good thread on rokslide with a lot of dead elk that came from a manbun or a .260. Your margin for error would obviously be smaller but they don’t do well with holes in their heart.
I think I’d get a 6.5 manbun to target shoot and just shoot that knowing you’ll be undergunned for elk or buy something larger later. The money savings in ammo in the manbun may buy you something more appropriate when elk is on the menu.
I’m not recommending that to elk hunt with but There is a good thread on rokslide with a lot of dead elk that came from a manbun or a .260. Your margin for error would obviously be smaller but they don’t do well with holes in their heart.
This post was edited on 9/20 at 7:26 pm
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by Ol boy on 9/20/22 at 7:28 pm to auwaterfowler
You will get a lot of answers but here’s my take.
What you want is not really the way to go.
A rifle for sure enough long rang target shooting your gonna want heavy gun that’s stable heavy barrel that can withstand multiple shots without heating up low recoil so you can watch your impacts and something that doesn’t cost 3$ per shot.
6.5 creedmore or 308 10pound rifle without scope large ffp scope.
For elk you want something light enough to pack around cus unless your going on private ranch your gonna walk up and down, you also are not worried about multiple shots so cold bore shot is the only thing critical but you want enough arse to turn a marginal hit into a kill.
8pound or less rifle shooting at least 180gr bullets of .3 caliber at or around 3000fps with a lighter weight scope of up to 14 power.
What you want is not really the way to go.
A rifle for sure enough long rang target shooting your gonna want heavy gun that’s stable heavy barrel that can withstand multiple shots without heating up low recoil so you can watch your impacts and something that doesn’t cost 3$ per shot.
6.5 creedmore or 308 10pound rifle without scope large ffp scope.
For elk you want something light enough to pack around cus unless your going on private ranch your gonna walk up and down, you also are not worried about multiple shots so cold bore shot is the only thing critical but you want enough arse to turn a marginal hit into a kill.
8pound or less rifle shooting at least 180gr bullets of .3 caliber at or around 3000fps with a lighter weight scope of up to 14 power.
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by DownshiftAndFloorIt on 9/20/22 at 7:29 pm to bigbuckdj
quote:
same thing that is great for killing an elk at 700 yards isn’t going to be fun to shoot at the range
Especially if being great at killing elk at 700 yards is a criteria. That puts you into some really serious horsepower like 375 Weatherby or 338 ultra mag. Really big kaboomers.
.300 win mag is the right answer here. It's both a great general purpose lower 48 caliber and a great long range target round, albeit a bit expensive to shoot a whole lot.
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by Rize on 9/20/22 at 7:37 pm to auwaterfowler
That’s two separate guns for me. I’d want the lightest for hunting elk out West and something heavier for long range target shooting.
I’m sure you could find something to do both decently but I like guns so I say get two.
I’m sure you could find something to do both decently but I like guns so I say get two.
This post was edited on 9/20 at 10:03 pm
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by DownshiftAndFloorIt on 9/20/22 at 7:52 pm to Rize
quote:
you could find something to do both
A NULA 300 win mag with a good brake and a SWFA 3-9HD FFP scope
We need to know what long range means to OP. Banging a plate at 500 every now and then, or shooting for score at 1000 yards? One is easy to do with a decent off the shelf rifle and the other requires a purpose built rig that will absolutely suck for hunting.
This post was edited on 9/20 at 7:54 pm
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by auwaterfowler on 9/20/22 at 8:12 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Great feedback from all. I really appreciate it.
I am just looking for something to shoot out to 500-600 yards every now and then. If I ever got competitive, I’d definitely buy a rig just for such.
I am just looking for something to shoot out to 500-600 yards every now and then. If I ever got competitive, I’d definitely buy a rig just for such.
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by DownshiftAndFloorIt on 9/20/22 at 8:15 pm to auwaterfowler
quote:
shoot out to 500-600 yards every now and then
.338 win mag
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re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by down time on 9/20/22 at 8:37 pm to auwaterfowler
30-06 or 7 mag is just about max comfortable recoil for most people in the sporter style.
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by DownshiftAndFloorIt on 9/20/22 at 8:47 pm to down time
quote:
30-06 or 7 mag
Are also both great general purpose lower 48 calibers and easy 500 yard steel bangers.
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by EF Hutton on 9/20/22 at 8:56 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Hathcock took out a Nth Vietnamese General, at 700 yards with a 30.06
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by jgthunt on 9/20/22 at 9:06 pm to auwaterfowler
Yeah if you are just talking 500 yard targets then I'd say 300 win mag or 30-06. Plenty of ammo availability and plenty good enough for elk
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by bbvdd on 9/20/22 at 9:23 pm to auwaterfowler
How do you define long range shooting? And are you wanting to shoot in f-class matches?
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by D500MAG on 9/20/22 at 9:34 pm to auwaterfowler
300 RUM
Can reload for target (308 type loads)
Or get some 200+ gr rounds and let it strut its stuff.
I have one in SS bull barrel with laminated stock. I would describe recoil as a "push", not a "kick".
Can reload for target (308 type loads)
Or get some 200+ gr rounds and let it strut its stuff.
I have one in SS bull barrel with laminated stock. I would describe recoil as a "push", not a "kick".
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by wryder1 on 9/20/22 at 10:02 pm to auwaterfowler
I just doped out both of my rifles this past weekend for an upcoming elk hunt in Montana. My primary rifle is a .300wm loaded with a 215gr Berger bullet (hand load) and my back up rifle is a 6.5PRC loaded with a 156gr Berger (hand load). I took both of them out to 200, 300, 600, 800, 900 and 1000 yards. Both of them had damn near the exact drop in MOA. I chose the 6.5prc with this bullet because of this so that I can practice with the PRC but hunt with the win mag. The main thing to remember is to practice practice practice. Also read as much as you can and listen to a lot of podcasts on the fundamentals. I’ve put thousands of rounds down range and I can tell you for a fact that what makes a good shooter, a great shooter, is wind calls. That’s what separates everyone. To minimize bad wind calls, you’ll want high BC heavier bullet for whichever caliber you choose. Due to ammo availability, I’d choose the .300wm in a 200gr hornady factory bullet or bigger since everyone is wanting to shoot the 300prc and 6.5prc. People tend to overlook the old and proven cartridges.
re: Need Rifle Caliber RecommendationPosted by ChatRabbit77 on 9/20/22 at 11:49 pm to auwaterfowler
Everything Rize said is correct. If I was building guns based on your criteria as a 500-600 yard target gun and a 500-600 elk gun here would be my options.
For the target gun, a heavier bolt action .223 or 6mm arc. Both calibers are plenty good to that distance and have no recoil. You can spot your misses and shoot cheap.
For the hunting rifle, get a .300 win mag lightweight gun like a Tikka.
For the target gun, a heavier bolt action .223 or 6mm arc. Both calibers are plenty good to that distance and have no recoil. You can spot your misses and shoot cheap.
For the hunting rifle, get a .300 win mag lightweight gun like a Tikka.
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