long range shooting

[cmsds]

hi can anyone give me some advice, I would like to be able to have a go at shooting at long distance 600/1000yds at targets and foxes. What would be a qood rifle and do I need a 26 heavy barrel also what would be the best scope for that sort of distance. I was thinking 243 as I already have one 243 and like the round

 

[Brithunter]

Why is a Fox less respected as quarry than anything other than perhaps a rat?

Most foxing in the UK seems to be done under the lamp. How can you be sure what is behind a Fox at 600 yards in the dark or either side for that matter.

Personally I think you need a reality check.

 

[bewsher500]

plenty people shoot 600yd targets with sporting rifles in sporting calibres and a 6x42 scope!!
any calibre will shoot at that range

am afraid I am with BH on the shooting foxes at 600yds thing
start with rabbits if you must!, they come out at range in daylight!


get across to Otterburn or Ponteland with any of the clubs there and you can shoot military 3"x3" targets at 600yds

 

[Tackleberry270]

How much experience of centerfire Shooting have you got? If you want to shoot at any living quarry at distance especially the distance you have mentioned you will need to be a better shot than most. Sugguested you start on a shooting range on paper.

 

[csl]

I really must start making a list of links to all the previous threads on this subject.

Suffice to say (again) that I agree with the above posts. Foxes are living creatures and not objects for you to practice 600+ yard shooting at just because you'd like to 'have a go'. Hone your marksmanship on paper at whatever range you like but also work on your fieldcraft skills to close the range and reduce the risk of wounding as far as practically possible. You owe them that much.

In fact just read these threads and follow your conscience...

• Unexpected/very welcome guest.
• Please explain whats safe and whats not ???

 

[tackb]

Buy a life size fox target and when you can hit it 9 out of ten times in the kill zone with your first shot at 600m from field positions your ready to have a go at a real one ?

as for targets , a 243 will work but there is better calibre's including specialist fast twist barrels on 243 to allow the use of long heavy bullets , any scope will do but buy the best you can afford with target turrets and it will be easier dialing your corrections at long range

 

[Vipa]

 

[bobjs]

hi can anyone give me some advice, I would like to be able to have a go at shooting at long distance 600/1000yds at targets and foxes. What would be a qood rifle and do I need a 26 heavy barrel also what would be the best scope for that sort of distance. I was thinking 243 as I already have one 243 and like the round

nice to see you got that 243 sorted.

But long range shooting fox's at 600 yards..............good luck with that, but as mentioned you will need to practice( a lot to get to know how to achive a humain kill at these ranges) and have a very good scope as well as the correct rifle ammo/bullet weight etc to do this,

regards

bob.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

hi can anyone give me some advice, I would like to be able to have a go at shooting at long distance 600/1000yds at targets and foxes. What would be a qood rifle and do I need a 26 heavy barrel also what would be the best scope for that sort of distance. I was thinking 243 as I already have one 243 and like the round

I agree with the comments above - respect your quarry. As I type, I can look up at a print of a fox looking down at me from the wall and occasionally I'll see one wander past as I look out my dining room window.

In terms of target shooting, F/TR is a good place to start and folk keep trying to persuade me to get a suitable .308 Win and try it. However, after 14 years I'm still trying to get the hang of the 260 Rem. I've only shot it competitively at ranges up to 580yds, but folk do shoot the 260 Rem successfully at 1000yds.

http://www.gbfclass.co.uk/index.php/home/f-tr-only

As Ed says there are some ranges and clubs local to you.

Regards

JCS

 

[Drag1]

Agree with the rest there's a lot more to consider when taking a long shot at an animal than just aiming above the target get some practise on targets
don't just guess the range either get a range finder and know your ability

 

[fraser]

.243 is a pretty light round for that sort of distance in my opinion. Maybe you would be better looking at a .308 or similar?

 

[charadam]

Have you ever seen a fox hit low in the gut at 100 yards - never mind 600?

The follow-up shot is almost impossible.

 

[triggersqueezer]

243 should be more than capable of shooting those distances,perhaps not competitively but capable.i have shot my 223 at 800 and plan to shoot 1000 in two weeks.it shot well at 8 but i'm aware 1000 is pushing it for stability.i could be wrong but the ballistics on a 243 are often better than a 308.
bad idea talking about long range fox shooting on a forum that prides itself on humane despatch mind.
find your local rifle club and get plenty of practice bud.

 

[griffshrek]

Cmsds

the 243 is more than capable to 600 yards what you need to do is practice practice practice and practice at extended ranger get yourself good quality rangefinder good quality wind meter a set of steel gongs/ringing plates from 4 inch to inch to 8 inches 1/2 decent dial in scope .

start shooting at the 4" plates at 300m and work up the ranges by the time you can hit the 8" plate at 700m effectively you will realise there are a lot of variables to achieve a humane kill at 600m , im not saying its not achievable but is it worth it.

 

[arron]

Have you ever seen a fox hit low in the gut at 100 yards - never mind 600?

The follow-up shot is almost impossible.

i fully agree , but some people just dont give a **** about wounding a fox and leaving it , shame really , if they were bothered then in my opinion they wouldnt attempt to shoot at these distances .

 

[sir-slots-alot]

hi can anyone give me some advice, I would like to be able to have a go at shooting at long distance 600/1000yds at targets and foxes. What would be a qood rifle and do I need a 26 heavy barrel also what would be the best scope for that sort of distance. I was thinking 243 as I already have one 243 and like the round

I have had several 243's for long range shooting - Including my last semi custom rifle which was fitted with an 8 twist trueflight barrel for 105grn - 107 grn bullets.

Firstly the standard 243 is easly caperble out to 800yrds with the right bullets and on the right day.
Bullets like the 95 grn SMK with a BC 0.460 are excellent long range performers - However these are target bullets and dio not expand at all. I have also had succeess with 87 grn Vmax ( these do expand - violently )

If a 1000 yrd shooting is in your plans - you are better with a tight twist and launch one of the 105 + grn pills. You will obviously need all the other gear / kit such as a rangefinder , wind mter and a good ballistic program ect - ect - ect.

Optics wise - well your getting into a specific area of shooting and your much better with a scope designed to be used at extended ranges. Bewsher suggestion of using 6 mag scope is ridiculas
Look at what the long range target lads and varminters are using. I sugest you become a member of one of the dedicated long range shooting forums and ask this question to get a wide range of veiws.

Scope wise - -You want a good mag range and the ability to dial in with confidence. To that end I use 6-24x56 Ziess Victorys ( Two of ) and a 8-32 NF. There are other makes of scope that are suitable depending on your budget - Sightron - Leupold - S&B ( not the 6x42) All proven performers

Without getting into the ethical arguement of shooting live quarry / vermin at extended range. All I can say that I have had several opprtunities to shoot fox at 500 yrds +. I have always left the safety on.




ATB
Alan

 

[gixer1]

I have had several 243's for long range shooting - Including my last semi custom rifle which was fitted with an 8 twist trueflight barrel for 105grn - 107 grn bullets.

Firstly the standard 243 is easly caperble out to 800yrds with the right bullets and on the right day.
Bullets like the 95 grn SMK with a BC 0.460 are excellent long range performers - However these are target bullets and dio not expand at all. I have also had succeess with 87 grn Vmax ( these do expand - violently )

If a 1000 yrd shooting is in your plans - you are better with a tight twist and launch one of the 105 + grn pills. You will obviously need all the other gear / kit such as a rangefinder , wind mter and a good ballistic program ect - ect - ect.

Optics wise - well your getting into a specific area of shooting and your much better with a scope designed to be used at extended ranges. Bewsher suggestion of using 6 mag scope is ridiculas
Look at what the long range target lads and varminters are using. I sugest you become a member of one of the dedicated long range shooting forums and ask this question to get a wide range of veiws.

Scope wise - -You want a good mag range and the ability to dial in with confidence. To that end I use 6-24x56 Ziess Victorys ( Two of ) and a 8-32 NF. There are other makes of scope that are suitable depending on your budget - Sightron - Leupold - S&B ( not the 6x42) All proven performers

Without getting into the ethical arguement of shooting live quarry / vermin at extended range. All I can say that I have has several opprtunities to shoot fox at 500 yrds +. I have always left the safety on.




ATB
Alan

Excellent response....especially the last sentence!

I really cannot see why we need to shoot quarry at long range here in the uk - the US, yes, ok as I have stood on the flat prairie type terrain there and there is very little to hide behind, in the UK though I cannot thin of any terrain like that in the UK, the longest shot you would have to take that i can think of in the UK is a stag on a flat moor and even then you should still be able to get in close if doing it right.

Live targets should be stalked leaving the paper targets for long range, and to clarify, long range (to me) is anything over 200-250 yards or basically where you loose the "point and shoot" aspect of the calibre you are using.

What I mean by this is that is that in the calibers i am using (243 and 30-06 in this case) I can place the scope reticle pointing straight at the object if it is say a roe deer up to 200-250 yards on centre point of the forward part of body and it will be in the heart/lung area providing I have not pulled the shot and the wind is low to medium (say 10mph) as this will be a max of say 3 1/2" drop or drift.

Any more than this range and I just cannot say where the strike will be and so i consider it "long range".

Regards,

Gixer

 

[Tackleberry270]

I have had several 243's for long range shooting - Including my last semi custom rifle which was fitted with an 8 twist trueflight barrel for 105grn - 107 grn bullets.

Firstly the standard 243 is easly caperble out to 800yrds with the right bullets and on the right day.
Bullets like the 95 grn SMK with a BC 0.460 are excellent long range performers - However these are target bullets and dio not expand at all. I have also had succeess with 87 grn Vmax ( these do expand - violently )

If a 1000 yrd shooting is in your plans - you are better with a tight twist and launch one of the 105 + grn pills. You will obviously need all the other gear / kit such as a rangefinder , wind mter and a good ballistic program ect - ect - ect.

Optics wise - well your getting into a specific area of shooting and your much better with a scope designed to be used at extended ranges. Bewsher suggestion of using 6 mag scope is ridiculas
Look at what the long range target lads and varminters are using. I sugest you become a member of one of the dedicated long range shooting forums and ask this question to get a wide range of veiws.

Scope wise - -You want a good mag range and the ability to dial in with confidence. To that end I use 6-24x56 Ziess Victorys ( Two of ) and a 8-32 NF. There are other makes of scope that are suitable depending on your budget - Sightron - Leupold - S&B ( not the 6x42) All proven performers

Without getting into the ethical arguement of shooting live quarry / vermin at extended range. All I can say that I have had several opprtunities to shoot fox at 500 yrds +. I have always left the safety on.




ATB
Alan

+1 It takes years of practice to get as good as you would need to be for this type of shooting. I think even with a shotgun, George Digweed will still have put in the hours to get as good as he is.

 

[bewsher500]

Bewsher suggestion of using 6 mag scope is ridiculous

read it again
not a suggestion, an observation
I have shot at 5-600 with 6x42 many times (even shot at 600yds at Ponteland with a 4x32!)

point was he doesn't need the Hubble telescope and a 30 inch bull barrel to plink at range
given he was suggesting shooting foxes at 600yds I was hoping it was a plss take!

 

[sir-slots-alot]

point was he doesn't need the Hubble telescope and a 30 inch bull barrel to plink at range
given he was suggesting shooting foxes at 600yds I was hoping it was a plss take!

Yes your right a hubble telescope is not required - but using the right equipment for for job is - especially if live quarry is in the mix.

Alan