First off howdy everyone! I've been wanting to get into long range shooting for quit some time, glad I found this site!
My first experience shooting was with my .22 Benjamin air rifle and my sisters pump action (12pumps) BB gun...
I've had what i consider good accuracy at long ranges with the BB gun. When I was around 16-17 I once popped a running dog in the back from 50 yards...talk about shooting at an ANGLE! Course it lost so much energy by then it made him jump but only cause he wasn't expecting it. But my regular activity was shooting red wasps from a distance...50feet? I dunno really.
The 22lr i also enjoy due to its good accuracy to 50yards. So I can shoot well open sites...but long range is what I really want to do.
I also have a Winchester 30-30 that I also shoot sites only but I don't shoot it much...in fact I've actually never shot with a scope so I'm looking forward to that. My 30-30 was a gift from my grand-dad and I'm keeping it as is--->It unloads from the top and I don't feel like altering it to have a scope considering how I got the gun.
I learned many new terms on this site...which I am ashamed to admit since my 82 year old grand-dad is a gunsmith...What I've picked up on so far from quick browsing...
things I will want my rifle to have 26"-28" long free-floating barrel, 1:10 or 1:12 twist ratio...
For me I think I will go with a single shot bolt action and I think I would like a thicker barrel...or I should say...not a thinner one. Of which there are several options in several calibers...but the rifle isn't my question.
My question is not the typical "what gun is best", I have that narrowed down...I think
I'm a little unfamiliar with the calibers and all...so I guess I'm asking what a good starter longer range caliber would be.
My Winchester 30-30 has a decent kick but the 30-30 and 22lr is all I have to compare it to. If that's a little kick compared to longer range rounds then I'll just get over it I guess...but I don't really know...so I ask.
I'm guessing until I get accurate out to 600 yards there isn't much point in buying for 1000+...but at the same time why waste my time...I don't mind buying a gun of X caliber that for now has more capabilities then I am able to make use of...course I don't know as I haven't tried.
So what I mean by all that is that if I can only shoot to 5-600 but the round is capable of 1000 that is fine.
Granted I assume I am going to spend a lot of time around 5-600 before getting to 8-9-1k yards.
I don't think a 223 would get me to 1000 consistently...at my experience level, I don't think 22-250 would have the enough velocity at longer ranges either.
I'm thinking a 308 is what I might want to go with, but I'm curious as to the kick compared to a 30-30.
The following assume a rifle of adequate build for long range shots:
Are there 30-30 round capable of long range and what is your opinion of a 30-30 rifle as a long range rifle...I haven't seen much there (I would of course not use my current 30-30).
Are there .308 caliber loads that are capable of accurately reaching 1000 yards when shot by a mid-quality shooter? Would a 30-06 offer more variety/accurate rounds for same shooter? Are there 223 loads that are capable of 1k range?
*EDIT...added* would I need magnums with any of the above?
I'm looking for a range or calibers and loads I COULD use but I want a caliber that offers loads that are not hard to find, don't cost an arm and a leg, and that will be safe to use over and over in the rifle, I don't want the load to be at the rifles limit each time.
I'm not asking for THE BEST as that is certainly a matter of opinion...much as my current info on what rifle i want...
This will then help me pick through a range of rifles I also could use.
Thanks for any advice!
BcJammer
My first experience shooting was with my .22 Benjamin air rifle and my sisters pump action (12pumps) BB gun...
I've had what i consider good accuracy at long ranges with the BB gun. When I was around 16-17 I once popped a running dog in the back from 50 yards...talk about shooting at an ANGLE! Course it lost so much energy by then it made him jump but only cause he wasn't expecting it. But my regular activity was shooting red wasps from a distance...50feet? I dunno really.
The 22lr i also enjoy due to its good accuracy to 50yards. So I can shoot well open sites...but long range is what I really want to do.
I also have a Winchester 30-30 that I also shoot sites only but I don't shoot it much...in fact I've actually never shot with a scope so I'm looking forward to that. My 30-30 was a gift from my grand-dad and I'm keeping it as is--->It unloads from the top and I don't feel like altering it to have a scope considering how I got the gun.
I learned many new terms on this site...which I am ashamed to admit since my 82 year old grand-dad is a gunsmith...What I've picked up on so far from quick browsing...
things I will want my rifle to have 26"-28" long free-floating barrel, 1:10 or 1:12 twist ratio...
For me I think I will go with a single shot bolt action and I think I would like a thicker barrel...or I should say...not a thinner one. Of which there are several options in several calibers...but the rifle isn't my question.
My question is not the typical "what gun is best", I have that narrowed down...I think
I'm a little unfamiliar with the calibers and all...so I guess I'm asking what a good starter longer range caliber would be.
My Winchester 30-30 has a decent kick but the 30-30 and 22lr is all I have to compare it to. If that's a little kick compared to longer range rounds then I'll just get over it I guess...but I don't really know...so I ask.
I'm guessing until I get accurate out to 600 yards there isn't much point in buying for 1000+...but at the same time why waste my time...I don't mind buying a gun of X caliber that for now has more capabilities then I am able to make use of...course I don't know as I haven't tried.
So what I mean by all that is that if I can only shoot to 5-600 but the round is capable of 1000 that is fine.
Granted I assume I am going to spend a lot of time around 5-600 before getting to 8-9-1k yards.
I don't think a 223 would get me to 1000 consistently...at my experience level, I don't think 22-250 would have the enough velocity at longer ranges either.
I'm thinking a 308 is what I might want to go with, but I'm curious as to the kick compared to a 30-30.
The following assume a rifle of adequate build for long range shots:
Are there 30-30 round capable of long range and what is your opinion of a 30-30 rifle as a long range rifle...I haven't seen much there (I would of course not use my current 30-30).
Are there .308 caliber loads that are capable of accurately reaching 1000 yards when shot by a mid-quality shooter? Would a 30-06 offer more variety/accurate rounds for same shooter? Are there 223 loads that are capable of 1k range?
*EDIT...added* would I need magnums with any of the above?
I'm looking for a range or calibers and loads I COULD use but I want a caliber that offers loads that are not hard to find, don't cost an arm and a leg, and that will be safe to use over and over in the rifle, I don't want the load to be at the rifles limit each time.
I'm not asking for THE BEST as that is certainly a matter of opinion...much as my current info on what rifle i want...
This will then help me pick through a range of rifles I also could use.
Thanks for any advice!
BcJammer
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