Long range target rifle

[Big_Sparky]

correct, it'll still be a challenge but you'll stand a good chance with the 300PRC of getting some consistency at 1 mile. Although good luck spotting your misses

I had to read that a few times…. Why would he be targeting his Missus…..

Ill get my coat…..

 

[aris]

Well worth the money IMO. I've never had mine go down when in use in austere conditions. And it's been through many austere environments; from 110+ * temps down to below freezing, with driving sleet, snow and rain.

Ok, but from an accuracy point of view compared to a custom built rifle - or a different brand of factory rifle?

 

[The Optimist]

Ok, but from an accuracy point of view compared to a custom built rifle - or a different brand of factory rifle?

My AI is superb. An AX308 with a 26 inch barrel. Heavy but so, so reliable, robust and accurate. Lots of adjustments on the stock means you can have a perfect fit. The build quality on mine is outstanding - but then it should be as it was quite pricey. I shoot it accurately out to 1000 yards without any problem - and that’s more a reflection of the rifle than it is my ability. I am sure you could do just as well with a custom build.

 

[308tikka]

Having some experience of shooting at 1200 and even 1500 gards, with 308, Id suggest that you need a stiff, strong action that can take the powder charge you will need to trickle...
Its important to have the right barrel, minimum 32” and preferably 34” if you want to maximise velocities and consistently hit.
for ‘any rifle’ class the answers above are therabouts, but if it were me Id want to experiment with the best bullet, and chamber to accommodate from there.

 

[Loler UK]

I have a Barnard model 10 338lm built by dolphin I seldom use. I've taken it out to 2000m. Exceptional rifle but I'd want a touch more than £2k for it. Drop me a pm if it interests you.

 

[MarinePMI]

Ok, but from an accuracy point of view compared to a custom built rifle - or a different brand of factory rifle?

No difference. Whether it's an AI barrel (AI UK) or a WinTac (AI North America) they have superb accuracy.

They key difference with the AI is reliability. They almost never go down (save the competition trigger debacle), and perform superbly regardless of the conditions.

Come to think about it, I finally just wore out one of my first AW mags. That mag is 7 years old, and my AI has had at least 9k rounds through it. The only time it has malfunctioned was when it was me, short stroking the bolt on a 10" mover plate at 500+ yards...

 

[angusb1]

I have a Barnard model 10 338lm built by dolphin I seldom use. I've taken it out to 2000m. Exceptional rifle but I'd want a touch more than £2k for it. Drop me a pm if it interests you.

Thanks very much for the offer but I would like to stick to my budget. I bet that's a lovely rifle

 

[Elliottholme]

If your going to be doing a lot of shooting I wouldn’t recommend a 300/7wsm as they are pretty bad barrel burners, I’ve had 6 barrels on my rifle and one of them a Krieger ,the barrel died after 400 shots , this was shooting 1000 yd benchrest. I also shoot straight 300wsm and these give considerably more barrel life and with the right bullets are astonishingly accurate, although I haven’t shot beyond 1400yds so can’t tell you what there like at a mile ,

 

[badmolassesaccident]

I see there are several recommendations for a 308. This has the advantage of cheap and readily available ammo. It has the significant disadvantage that it is inefficient for long distance work. The best bullets out of long barrels will be subsonic before about 1200 metres. It is still quite possible to be accurate with the right subsonic bullet, but overall you are making life more difficult than it needs to be.


Anything bigger than a .30 magnum will be expensive to run. Anything smaller than a .30 makes it harder to spot misses/splash.

So I’d go with 300 win mag or 300PRC.

If you want a bit cheaper to run, then 6.5 Creedmoor. The 6.5CM will always be subsonic by then, but you can still hit stuff, if you can see the splash.

 

[angusb1]

I see there are several recommendations for a 308. This has the advantage of cheap and readily available ammo. It has the significant disadvantage that it is inefficient for long distance work. The best bullets out of long barrels will be subsonic before about 1200 metres. It is still quite possible to be accurate with the right subsonic bullet, but overall you are making life more difficult than it needs to be.


Anything bigger than a .30 magnum will be expensive to run. Anything smaller than a .30 makes it harder to spot misses/splash.

So I’d go with 300 win mag or 300PRC.

If you want a bit cheaper to run, then 6.5 Creedmoor. The 6.5CM will always be subsonic by then, but you can still hit stuff, if you can see the splash.

Thanks for this advice. I have written off the 308 and 6.5s for these reasons, supersonic to a mile will make everything easier and I will be able to concentrate on my skills better. I think the 300PRC is going to be my choice partly because of budget and ballistics, plus I think the lack of belt is a bonus.

 

[C h r i s]

Something like this..?

 

[angusb1]

Something like this..?

Either that or a custom. I'm tempted by a custom in an MDT Oryx but the B14 would just work straight off the shelf according to quite a few people who know lots more than me about this. The lack of waiting and hassle is very appealing and it would leave more money to spend on glass

 

[MarinePMI]

Just an idle question I suppose; but have you shot much long range/ELR before, or is this your first foray into this particular discipline?

 

[angusb1]

I've only shot out to 600 before. I like it and want to go further.

 

[martin_b]

I'm in a similar position to the OP, looking for a rifle to shoot out to 1 mile. In my case it needs to be Bisley legal so I can shoot it there while my 6.5CM has a new barrel fitted some time next year. For that reason I too have decided on 300PRC, but while waiting for my variation to come back, ive been calling round a few dealers and there dont seem to be many of any sort in the country. Now not wishing to hijack this thread I always single feed, so if any builders have a shot-out target rifle they can re-barrel in 300PRC for <£2K all in let me know

 

[John Gryphon]

Iirc I have about 30 bullets left,i`m not into LR deer shooting at all but I will one day target a daylight dog on a cow a kilometre up behind the sheds.
The .338 Lapdancer handles a mile,but wind is the enemy of every calibre at range.
Over in WA the fella`s on the station there run 50 BMG`s for the disciples of bang.

The Ella Valla range is a 2.7-kilometre straight, one of the longest non-military ranges in Australia.

Shooting high-powered firearms on remote station a tourism drawcard

A remote pastoral station in Western Australia is attracting firearms enthusiasts from around the world who are keen to spend time in the outback shooting high-calibre rifles.

www.abc.net.au

 

[MarinePMI]

I've only shot out to 600 before. I like it and want to go further.

Fair enough. I only ask, since shooting a magnum of any kind for precision long range as a first gun/cartridge, without good fundamentals (usually learned on a short action cartridge) is a recipe for frustration and failure.

I've seen many a people come out ot our range with a .338L, 300PRC, 300Norma etc., and couldn't hit the broadside of a barn at 800, because they were trying to learn LR shooting with a cartridge that requires good fundamentals to manage recoil and flinch. Ultimately, they usually give up, or sell it off for a 6.5 CM/Manbun.

I don't get the feeling you fall in the crowd now, but figured I'd mention for those that may read this, and not understand the distinction of moving up to a magnum for LR, versus starting with a magnum.

 

[C h r i s]

Best to learn LR with a 50BMG, that way you'll never flinch again when you go back to a .300/338

 

[angusb1]

Fair enough. I only ask, since shooting a magnum of any kind for precision long range as a first gun/cartridge, without good fundamentals (usually learned on a short action cartridge) is a recipe for frustration and failure.

I've seen many a people come out ot our range with a .338L, 300PRC, 300Norma etc., and couldn't hit the broadside of a barn at 800, because they were trying to learn LR shooting with a cartridge that requires good fundamentals to manage recoil and flinch. Ultimately, they usually give up, or sell it off for a 6.5 CM/Manbun.

I don't get the feeling you fall in the crowd now, but figured I'd mention for those that may read this, and not understand the distinction of moving up to a magnum for LR, versus starting with a magnum.

I shot a fair bit in my teens using 7.62 target rifles with iron sights up to 600 but I've never shot a magnum .30. That said, when I was a kid I was small and the rifles unmoderated. When I shoot 308s these days with moderators and scopes it almost feels like cheating in comparison. The rifles seem smaller and the targets are easier to see . I probably ought to go and shoot a .30 magnum before I go and spend money on one.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[finnbear270]

Best to learn LR with a 50BMG, that way you'll never flinch again when you go back to a .300/338