My first long range rifle, what can i expect

[yotehunter243]

I finally had my first true "long range" rifle built. I have been shooting coyotes for 15 plus years now and have always shot .243 win. in a varietey of rifles. I have killed hundreds of dogs with my longest recorded kill at 749 yards lazered. I finally broke down and sent a Rem. 700 action to Benchmark Barrels in Arlington Washington. Here are my specs on my new stick

Remington 700 LA Blue Printed
27" 8 twist Light Palma Contour barrel fluted
Chambered and throated for a 6-284 Norma and 105gr Berger VLD
Replaced J-lock and firing pin
Shilen Trigger tuned to 20 OZ
Grey Bull Precision stock bedded
Badger 20 MOA rail burris extreme rings
Leupold VX3 4.5x14 AO with M1 turrets

My hopes are for this rifle to be a 1000 yard lazer beam for coyotes. I will eventually hunt pronghorn, mule deer and possibly whitetail (bowhunter at heart) with it. My question here is, Am i going in the right direction here??? What can i expect from this rifle as far as distance?? ( all my rifles, Tikka, Savage and Remingtons i have been able to develope handloads and shoot them all 3/4-1/2" so I can do my part with the trigger) I am hoping to find a load with Retumbo, H1000, or H4350 and ii have no clue what primers i am going to use. SO all you Veterans out there please help out a rookie.

 

[Coyboy]

I would go with a slower round, larger bullet with a higher bc if your plan is to shoot coyotes at 1000 yards. Overbore cartriadges can be finicky to tune, and some bullets have a distinct velocity range thay like to run. No point of running a 105 at 3350 if it likes the range of 2900-3100 fps.

 

[yotehunter243]

Jim, thanks for the info. On the slower, my gun will be here nxt week so i cant change the chambering. I will keep in mind the advise you gave me. You built a Rifle for one of my best friends Phil Lincoln, it was the 6.5 SAUM. I shot that gun on a Caribou hunt last September and it was an absolute dream to shoot. Great craftsmanship!! PS it absolutly destroyed a varmint with the 140 VLD running right around 3200 fps

 

[jeff 300]

Expect to SPEND THOUSANDS FROM HERE ON OUT this stuff i addicting!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[midnightmalloy]

Expect to SPEND THOUSANDS FROM HERE ON OUT this stuff i addicting!!!!!!!!!!!

yes and all your time and thoughts

 

[FEENIX]

my first long range rifle, what can i expect?

fun !!!

 

[Buffalobob]

To repeat what Jim said, you may need to change to either the 115 Berger or a Sierra or the Berger Target VLD to withstand the velocities.

You can expect to clean the barrel frequently and probably differently than you do now. You can expect that shots will take 5 - 10 minutes to get all of the data collected and an output together.

Killing antelope at and beyond 1K will become routine and you will find that the lazer qualities are long gone and that wind is not the problem so much as a very accurate range. Of course if you insist on shooting in winds that are beyond your skills then you will be a very frustrated person.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

I have a 6-284 1-8" twist & can help you out.

Rem 700 LA/LH
28" SS Kreiger
McM A-5
Shilen match trigger (very underrated)
HS DBM


Ramshot Magnum is fantastic
Fed 210m
Lapua Brass
Sierra 107SMK
OAL ~3.100

You don't need to slow down for the Sierra, the 105VLD may or may not like your setup (won't after 300-400rounds).

Velocity used in bal. calc. 3375 or 3380 (shoot lots of calibers sorry).
best group so far is 1.5" 3-shot @ 500yds in perfect conditions.

The 6-284 is crazy fun, but keep your bbl cool cause it is a bbl hungry beast. A few of our LRH brethren have made kills on whitetail/pronghorn @ 700-800 which is where I would call it quits with the 6mm's .

 

[yotehunter243]

Thanks. For the info. Nice rifle. What causes the VLD to stop shooting after X amount of rounds? Will I need to keep chasing the lands? This is strictly a calling set up so no worries bout getting the bbl hot.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

My knowledge of the hunting VLD. The 6-284 can push the 105 up very close to 3400fps (properly equipped rifle). Most VLD's are known for having a velocity threshold at ~3200, you can usually push them harder with a new bbl. After a few hundred rounds, you throat will get a little rough, which isn't very nice to the already thin jacket of the Hunting VLD. At 3400fps, you have a good possibility of the hunting VLD coming apart on you. This is why most people are using or suggesting the 115VLD, they should run right around that magic 3200 area...


The SMK being designed as a target bullet, has far stronger jacket & can be pushed at pretty much any achievable velocity you can throw at it. The down side it, when velocity drops terminal performance can suffer.

Clear as mud?

 

[yotehunter243]

i was thinking along those lines, haha thanks for the explenation. Do you think the Berger Hybrids will hold up better then the hunting VLD? My local shot carrys all kinds of Sierra bullets, everything but the 107's haha

 

[yotehunter243]

forgot to mention outlaw our guns will almost be brothers haha, just a different name on the stock minus cheek piece

 

[Buffalobob]

I have shot several antelope beyond 1K with the Berger 115. It is a great bullet that opens well but does not blow apart. It will penetrate very well and actually will do better in the wind than the lighter bullets. I would not hesitate to fire at a mule deer at 1K wit the Berger 115 launched at 3250 fps (which is what I get with it). If that was what I had and I had a shot that I felt was doable given wind, rangefinding and animal angle I would not hesitate on an elk, but things would need to be very good for me before I would break the trigger.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

i was thinking along those lines, haha thanks for the explenation. Do you think the Berger Hybrids will hold up better then the hunting VLD? My local shot carrys all kinds of Sierra bullets, everything but the 107's haha

I (along with several folks) Have high hopes for the Berger Hybrid. I'm really hoping they will hold together in my 6.5WSM better than the 140VLD's are reported to do. I am also curious to see how the 6mm versions conduct themselves.... only time will tell... unfortunately !

I have shot several antelope beyond 1K with the Berger 115. It is a great bullet that opens well but does not blow apart. It will penetrate very well and actually will do better in the wind than the lighter bullets. I would not hesitate to fire at a mule deer at 1K wit the Berger 115 launched at 3250 fps (which is what I get with it). If that was what I had and I had a shot that I felt was doable given wind, rangefinding and animal angle I would not hesitate on an elk, but things would need to be very good for me before I would break the trigger.

Thanks for the input bob, I probably would have gone with the 115 had there been any significant increase in the BC over the 105VLD or 107SMK. Just not enough to warrant doing so (especially when compared to the 115DTAC @.580)


The bullet I am really starting to get curious about is the 117 Matrix, with a published (albeit static) BC of .650! WOW... now, I know it is a static listing (****!), but even if it turned out to be .600.... makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up!!