Can I make this happen?

[CLICKBANGBANG]

Sorry this will be so long winded but I have allot of questions.

I have a Winchester M70 (Back Shadow) in 7mm Rem Mag That I picked up 12 years ago that I want to hunt out to 500 yards with. I have only ever taken game out to 150 yards, but have the itch to put a pill in an antelope from a little ways out. Just wandering what y'all thought of my plan over the next year.

This is a budget hunting gun that I'd like to try and get some distance out of. I don't have the money to re barrel, drop in a new trigger, or pick up a high dollar ring base set up. I haven't shot this gun in three years as it has been in pieces and haven't had a scope worth dropping on it. But back when I was shooting with it, it would do 1.5" groups at 100. So we have allot of room for improvement.

I'm going to try to use the factory 26" barrel but I did put a muzzle brake on it. The gun is in great shape with only 400 rounds through it because it is not my primary hunting gun. I have worked on the trigger myself getting it down to three pounds, and am ditching the craptastic synthetic stock for a wood that I'm finishing out myself. So far it is laid in and the action/ barrel is bedded for the first three inches. After that it is free floated vs the synthetic that raped it everywhere.

I'm going to pick up a Leupold VX-III 3-9x40 CDS for it this Christmas. They're doing a two free dial that I'm going to get in on. I have some cheapo Leupold rings and two piece base that I would like to use. I'm going to aline and lap the rings as the ring left some minor ring marks on my Sightron SII scope that came out of this gun years back. Is it worth epoxy (JB) setting the base to the receiver? I've seen some LR shooter do this to their 20 MOA base race LR smoke poles but didn't know it was worth it to do

I'm still trying to pick some loads to set the turrents to. Winchester Supreme 150 grain ballistic tip is "claimed" 3100 fps in a 24" barrel. That puts me at 35" drop at 500 yards with a 200 yard zero which seem doable for me. But the CT Ballistic Tip seem to have a bad rep for not performing correctly. So I still have to figure that out. The other turrent cap will be set to a Hornady 162 A-Max at whatever speed I can push it.

I have also picked up a new Harris bypod for it and a rear bag. I have H4831 on order that should be here in a min.

What do you all think? Any advise to get out to 500 yard with this set up? Thanks for the help.

 

[texan79]

If you can work up a load that will shoot at 1 MOA, I dont think your asking to much with a 500 yd requirement. I would recomend a rebarell and blue print if your going to stretch it further.

 

[royinidaho]

If this fella can do it, you can do it. But I doubt the 3-9x40 will cut the mustard for distance.

Go here:
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f86/two-nice-first-lrh-elk-63740/

 

[squirrelduster]

+1 with Roy on the scope.
If you really want to be able to go to 500 yards I personally would get something that goes to 14 or so power. There are better scopes for the money than the Leupold. Check on the Sightrons or Vortex units.
Go with the Warne bases and rings. Ditch the turret idea and print up a set of charts for areas you hunt and you will be money ahead along with more accurate.
A good bedding job and some ladder testing should get you under 1 moa.

 

[CLW]

Well they dont make a VX3 3-9x40, let alone one in the CDS. Your choices are the 3.5-10 with a 40 or 50 mm objective or the 4.5-14 with a 40 mm objective........ I would suggest the 4.5-14..... I just bought one and will use one of the free dials for the gun the new scope is going on and will be sending in another 4.5-14 VX3 to have it set up for the other free dial. If you put an accurate load together and practice then 500 yards should not be much of an issue. The ballistic tip is probably actually a good bullet for a long range shot on an antelope with that gun as it will still open up well, the issue you may have is if you end up getting a shot at 50 yards while looking for that 500 yard shot. That bullet may come apart at the speeds you will have at short distance....... Still shouldnt be much of an issue on an antelope, you should get enough penetration I would think even if you get a little fragmentation. Wouldnt want to shoot an elk at short distance with one though.

 

[OKIE2]

A 6-24X50 or 8-32X50 would do you a much better job at long range
I have a 10-40X56 mil dot side focus on my 300 wsm

 

[CLICKBANGBANG]

`qa1

+1 with Roy on the scope.
If you really want to be able to go to 500 yards I personally would get something that goes to 14 or so power. There are better scopes for the money than the Leupold. Check on the Sightrons or Vortex units.
Go with the Warne bases and rings. Ditch the turret idea and print up a set of charts for areas you hunt and you will be money ahead along with more accurate.
A good bedding job and some ladder testing should get you under 1 moa.

I have a Sightron SII 4-16x42 MD but it is sitting on a varmint .223 AR-15. It is some nice glass and use to be on this 7mm. I am trying to get away from the heavier scopes on my hunting guns. Also the FOV of my Sightron is from 24.5-7.0 feet which for me, is not wide enough on the lowest power setting for a hunting rifle. The Leupold (VX-3 3.5-10x40 CDS, my humblest apologies for being off on my numbers) is from 30-11 feet. I'm going to start practicing with it on this gun out a ways. I also have a 3-9x40 Bushnell that I'll try to get out this weekend to see what a 3-9 looks like at 500 yards.

Now lets try a pic.... New stock I'm finishing and gun going into it. I know it is not the tacticool norm but I don't have the cash for a $400 stock and the scope. So call me old fashion with a wood stained stock. But this stock fits me like a glove. I have tried fit it to my liking and it is woking out. I have the barrel free floated unlike the synthetic stock and the receiver and first three inches of the barrel glass beaded.

 

[royinidaho]

Don't concern yourself with not having the "typical" tactical stock. The one that you're finishing will be much better, for you, as it fits you like a glove.

I'm sure it will be a critter gitter for you.

 

[silvertip-co]

Yes it can. I sold my Blk Shadow 7mm RM in May and missed it so much I just bought another one. It's a great choice due to the 26" bbl. They zero easy at 500 and shoot like a laser. Good luck with yours.

 

[CLICKBANGBANG]

Yes it can. I sold my Blk Shadow 7mm RM in May and missed it so much I just bought another one. It's a great choice due to the 26" bbl. They zero easy at 500 and shoot like a laser. Good luck with yours.

How did your Shadow do at longer ranges?

I have never been able to do any bench shooting with this gun past 340 yards. And have never taken game past 150, so I'm hoping to change all that quickly. I just finished building a privet 650 yard range at my buddies ranch that is only 15 min from my place. Also I'm getting in on an antelope hunt this year.