Light, Longish Range Recommendations

[tenth1]

This is a long shot (haha)...

I've spent waaaay too much money on building lightweight packages without finding acceptable accuracy. Acceptable is less than .75"@100yd.

This is only for hunting. I'm giving up on light weight and moving to mid weight. This needs to be for mountain hunting to elk to the occasional griz. I need to feel comfortable shooting (and killing humanly) out to 600yd.

Thinking 300win mag, 300 Norma, 300RUM, with 180gr bullet pushing atleast 3000fps. Reason for .30 cal and magnum is for the big bears here in AK but don't want to pass up a 500yd shot for a sheep or goat.

Suggestions?

 

[HARPERC]

What would you consider mid-weight?

Any of the .30's you mentioned are good places to start. In my opinion the best .30 caliber bullets start at 200 grains, and go up. Especially with big bears in the mix.

 

[Rick Richard]

What was said. any of the 300s mentioned and 215 Berger for long range.

 

[J E Custom]

This is a long shot (haha)...

I've spent waaaay too much money on building lightweight packages without finding acceptable accuracy. Acceptable is less than .75"@100yd.

This is only for hunting. I'm giving up on light weight and moving to mid weight. This needs to be for mountain hunting to elk to the occasional griz. I need to feel comfortable shooting (and killing humanly) out to 600yd.

Thinking 300win mag, 300 Norma, 300RUM, with 180gr bullet pushing atleast 3000fps. Reason for .30 cal and magnum is for the big bears here in AK but don't want to pass up a 500yd shot for a sheep or goat.

Suggestions?

Most Lightweight rigs come in at 6 to 7.5 fully dressed. what I consider to be a compromise is
8 to 11 pounds I have packed 12 to 14 pound and found them ok (BUT JUST).

You should be able to build a .30 cal (I like the 300 rum for what you want) around 10.5 to 11.0
pounds total and with a good brake recoil will be very good. I would recommend a #5 or #6 contour
(Using the Lilja barrel contour chart for reference).

Hear is Mine, like the one I am talking about.

J E CUSTOM

 

[fmajor]

Maybe the 300WSM could be a nice selection for mountain hunting while remaining in the .30cal range?

Actually, I believe any of the cartridges you mention are adequate for elk/goats/sheep at the ranges and conditions you're talking about - with one caveat - BIG ALASKAN BEARS!!!

I have ZERO - 0 - experience hunting Alaskan bears. However, given their massive size, thick hide and muscular, "built-for-power" bodies I'd honestly be a bit nervous to go after one with anything less than a big, *fast* 338. Really, for bears to +/- 400yds, I'd be choosing a 375 Ruger or 375 H&H with excellent bullets (Swift A-Frame et al), a 24" barrel mated to a "quick handling" synthetic (to mitigate the affect of moisture) stock.

For game that has the proven and documented ability and disposition to kill me, I'm inclined to grab the largest, fastest, quickest handling cartridge/rifle I can shoot accurately and comfortably.

I've read (meaning no 1st-hand experience) a number of hunting accounts of successful hunts with the 30-06, 300WSM, 300 Win Mag and similar cartridges proving these rounds are certainly capable. However, I tend to hope for the best and plan for the worst. To me a big bear at semi-close distances (<400yds) means I want as much instant lethality as I can bring to the hunt.

Otherwise, any of the 300 mags you list would be adequate for the non-bear animals.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

....

Any of the .30's you mentioned are good places to start. In my opinion the best .30 caliber bullets start at 200 grains, and go up. Especially with big bears in the mix.

Ditto, especially when talking 300 Norma & RUM. If staying inside 600yds & with bears in the mix, i'd be looking at Barnes bullets very hard. The 200grn LRX comes to mind.


I think JE was also spot on. The vast majority of my rifles start @ 10lbs & go up from there. I'm not a big dude by any means & I find them manageable, just gotta get used to it.


t

 

[Bravo 4]

What was said. any of the 300s mentioned and 215 Berger for long range.

I have no experience with large bears, but would like some clarity on what you meant by this post? Are you saying carry two loads? One (the Berger) for LR and then another for close bear encounter? Or use the Berger for everything?

 

[tenth1]

Thanks, and yes the bears thrown in make it a bit tough. (Un?)Fortunately the big bears are around most of the smaller critters up here and have had to shoot them for my safety. I have been using a .325 but the accuracy is not there at speeds that I want.

Agree with JE Custom about weights. I would like to keep the outfit under 10lb (I may put on 500 miles a year walking). For the scope, I don't want extra knobs to get hung up in the brush and need the capability to atleast dial it down to 2-4x for close encounters, yet be able to reach out and touch a 600yd goat.

It would have to be stainless/synthetic due to the inclement weather up here.

 

[mrb1982]

I shoot a Remington Sendero which I believe falls in the "middle class" for weight as discussed here. I was a little nervous about something heavier than a sporter barrel before I bought it. I figured the difference is only 2 to 3 pounds and if that much made that much difference te, then I need to go on a diet and lose that weight. I don't regret it one bit. You will love the feel and accuracy, and get used to the weight

 

[bigngreen]

I just chambered a rifle that would fit what your doing very well, I was against it at first but once done and once it was shooting I got on board!!
A Stiller Predator action was used, a #5 Kreiger cut at 26 and a brake installed, McMillan Rem Classic stock, and a heavy 5.5x22-56 NXS, chambered in 338 RUM it all comes in at 10.2 lbs hunt ready but the kicker is it's shooting .5-.75 inch groups at 300 yards with 250 Berger OTM's and easy 1/2 moa at long range. It a precision rifle with some horse power and range yet it retains a very good balance and swing for close encounters.
I'm going to make myself one but go with a Nightforce 2.5-10x42 and ADL bottom which should put it at a 9.5 lb which ain't bad for a HAMMER!! Roll with some 285 Barnes in the pipe and mag and switch out a long range bullet when needed.

 

[zfastmalibu]

I bedded the rifle above and witnessed the groups. Weight of a gun and barrel do not really effect accuracy. It comes down to barrel and bullet quality.

 

[tenth1]

Interesting build

Who was the builder?

 

[zfastmalibu]

Interesting build

Who was the builder?

BignGreen did the barrel work, I did the stock work.

 

[sp6x6]

I have a 338 Norma that is 8 3/4 ready to roll w/26''.I have shot 1 1/8 @ 400 and 6'' @ 1000.Has a 5.5-20 leo.Which I would like something down to three because I hunt in alot of grizz country in NWMT.Been very happy with rifle and it is a hammer with the 300 gr.Its a full custom.I shot quite a bit of game with my stock 325 SSAbolt out to the 600 range.