shooting 600-700 yards

[longbomb]

hi everyone,
I waslooking at building a long range rifle but was wondering if a factory gun would work if the right scope was used .I want it for shooting out to 600-700 yards.im using a tikka t3 25-06 with 87 grain sierra spitzer and a tikka t3 7mm rem mag with 140 grain berger vlds.just looking for some expirience to help make my decision.thank you

[angus-5024]

Your answer is Yes. You can deffinatley buy a stock rifle that will get you to 600-700 yards. Both calibers you mentioned are good, the 7mm being better for that distance.
Before we start you may want to lay out some guidelines. Is this going to be a big game rifle, predator, target rifle? what kind of weight? what kind of hunting will you be doing with it (if any)? recoil sensitivity? Budget? Will it be Braked?

The recoil sensitivity is nothing to be ashamed of. you'll be much better off in the long run if your honest with yourself. some guys can take lots, some not so much.

I would start by looking at the Remington Senduro's, and the Savage Long Range Hunter models. there are others but its a start.

I personally use a remington XCR in .338 RUM that I've done alot of cheap tweeking to, but it gets me to 800 yards. Optics is where I put most of my $$ and I'm glad.

[roninflag]

sendero or winchester laredo. if you could get a heavy barrel tikka , my understanding is they never imported them in the big cal like 25-06

[Long Time Long Ranger]

I have Tikka T-3 Lights in 300 wsm, 300 win mag and 338 win mag. All three will easily take game at 600-700 yards off the shelf with proper loads. These are very accurate rifles with proper loads.

[azsugarbear]

If your Tikka in 7mm Mag will consistently group under 1 MOA then there is no need to look at another rifle if your goal is 600-700 yards. I would shoot the heaviest VLD bullet that your barrel twist will stabilize. You don't mention what scope you currently have, but a simple Leupold 4.5-14x40 CDS (custom dial system) will get you out to 700 yards with just one turn of the turret. You could spend a lot more, but the above will get it done on a budget.

[SBruce]

What are you planning on shooting at 6 or 7?

Reason I ask is you mention 87 Sierra. Predators and Varmints.......Sure.

I love the 25-06, gotta lot of experience with them; but the 87 (made by nearly anybody) isn't a 600 or 700 yd big game bullet. Most all 25 cal big game bullets are at least 90 grain, and usually more like 100-120 grain......just not enough energy and momentum left by time it gets there with the 87's, and most 85-87 class bullets are made and designed for varmints or thin skin game.

I am not saying that if you hit an antelope broadside between the rib bones that it wouldn't do the job, but I personally would question it's ability it you hit any bone at all.

Just my .02...........yes, accurate factory rifles are plenty capable.

[Keith1]

This past year I have been shooting my 25/06 a lot out to 600-800 yards with 87 grain Sierras. The only reason that I use the light bullet at that yardage is because my rifle shoots it super accurate. At that range if there is only a slight breeze you can't believe how much you have to adjust. Also there isn't very much energy left.

I would use a larger bullet but this rifle just don't shoot them so good.

Regards, Keith
Semper Fi