500 yard rifle?

T

thedaddycat

New member
I'm thinking about getting a new rifle to shoot out to around 500 yards. That's about the length of my friend's hay field and here in CT is about the longest range shooting area I know of that's available to me.

I've looked at ballistics of several different calibers and the 7mm seems to be pretty good, with BCs up into the .600+ range. I'm not looking for a small artillery piece that will tear my arm off, but I'm pretty stout and can handle the recoil from a .30-06 without any issues. I have shot CMP/NRA high power matches, sending multiple rounds downrange without a problem.

I would like input from those who have shot at these middle ranges as to what chambering and platform you would recommend. While higher accuracy is better, I'm not looking to set any BR records. Minute of venison at 500-550 yards is the lowest accuracy I'm looking for...

For platforms, I've read decent things about Weatherby, the Remington Sendero and also a Savage, I think it was the 110 LE. I would like to keep the rifle under $1000 if possible.

Chamberings I've looked at are 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm WSM, 7mm SAUM and 7mm STW. The 7mm Rem Mag probably has the most widely available factory ammo as far as loads and availability, but I know that hand loads will give the best accuracy no matter the chambering.

For optics, I'd like to go with a large tube, 50 mm objective, probably at least a 4-12 power but maybe 6-18. The scope will probably cost as much as the rifle....

Any input is appreciated and thanks in advance.
 
Why the 7mm at that range over the .308?
Less felt recoil and much greater selection of commercial ammo.
If you don't handload, the 7mm would definitely not be my choice.

At that range, the .308 will do as well as the 7mm, and do it cheaper...
and there's no need for any more exotic choices at that medium range.

If you hunt, that could change the equation- but you mentioned only punching paper...
 
Out of those I'd go with the 7wsm or 7rem mag. Both will push a 180vld out to a mile and kill deer out to 1000yds. They are the most efficient with powder too so you don't need anything longer than a standard 24" tube. They're both awesome to reload and can achieve remarkable accuracy. The sendero or model 12 savage should do the job. They're both 26". Savage will have the most accurate factory stick out of the two. I'd go with the sendero or 12 for the varmint contour barrels. For optics I would use a vortex viper PST ffp. That'll keep u under $1k for optics and get you out a very long ways. I personally use psts and millett Scopes exclusively for their lifetime warranties.
 
tobnpr, I do hunt, that was the whole "minute of venison" thing... lol Most of my hunting is in the woods where you are going to get maybe a 100-150 yard shot max. I've killed deer out over 250 yds with my 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser (with the iron sights no less) back when my eyes were a lot better.

My most used deer rifle is a Model 94 Winchester .30-30, light, easy to carry, balances at the receiver and fast follow up shots. I've nailed deer as close as about 10 yds and as far as 125 yds. Fastest multiple kills was 3 deer in 3 seconds hunting crop damage.

The thing now is that my eyes are going and my knees are both shot so I can't go out and hump the woods like I used to. If I can anchor a deer in the hay field then I can drive the truck up to it. I have rifles that can easily reach out 500 yds, (6.5X55, 7X57, 7.62X39, .303 British, .30-06) but they are all old military rifles that may not be as accurate, have more wear, and I don't want to drill for a scope.

As to choice of chambering, it has more to do with external ballistics of the 7mm vs. .308 than anything.
 
The M14 type rifle is great for the range you are planning on shooting.

A used one possibly Polytech or Norinco would put you in around and possibly under the 1,000 range.
 
for 500 yards i would look at the 6.5 or 6mm something like the 6.5 greedmoor or 260 or 243 or 6mm benchrest or something along them lines.

or as mentioned the 308 or if your stuck on a 7mm go with the 7-08 :D
 
I think a .30-06 would be good for 500 yards and under or even a .270 if you are hunting deer. Think the .30-06 would even do for some bigger game.
 
Bought a Mark V Wby in '06, back in 1970. 26" barrel. Took some minor tweaking, but it was sub-MOA at 500 with Sierra GameKings.

My father, in front of witnesses, killed more than one buck at 500 yards with his sporterized '03 with Hornady 150-grain Spire Points. My longest was one at 450.

You do your part and the '06 will take care of the rest.
 
.308 is ballistically predictable out to 500m for sure. Quality rifle = hits at that range. You just have to calculate for a whole lotta drop. works fine though.
 
Mosin Nagant: $100
Jmeck scope mount: $80
4-12x scope from WW: $70
440 rnds 7.62x54r (.21 per): $86
1000 yard plinking rifle and all the ammo you can shoot with 30.06 power:
$340ish
 
my favorite rounds for long range deer hunting are the 7mag 264 mag and the 300 mags. I also use the 2506 and 257 wby. If i was pinned down and had to pick one it would be my 264 mag but thats more of a personal thing then it is that it has any great advantage over the others. What i have found though is that although hitting deer with a 308 270 06 and 2506 ect is definately possible out there the mags just seem to hit with more athourity and put deer down faster when the range is really stretched way out there. This advice comes from shooting deer not from reading others post on the internet. Ive shot a truck load of deer out at 400 yards. Not so many at 500 but enough to have some real world experience. Another thing that really needs to be kept in mind when doing it is bullet selection. At 500 yards you dont want a heavily constructed premium bullet. they just dont expand well enough at really long ranges. Stick to bullets like sierras and nos bts and youll be fine. Kind of suprising that all the armchair experts havent jumped all over this post claiming that a 500 yards shot cant be done or isnt ethical. With the right rifle and load, a solid rest and a good shooter 500 yards isnt that tough.
 
I practice at 400yds with my 7mm-08's.. That is about the max (In my opinion) for hunting purpose. For target shooting? Sure, you could take it out another 100yds or so.

For everyday 500yds shots > 325 WSM, 300 Win Mag
 
If your insistent on a 7 mm bullet don't forget 280 rem.
Click to expand...

The 280 would be my choice, it has been for years.
If you are a handloader and like to roll your own and think you need more then what the 280 offers the rifle can easily be rechambered to the 280AI.

As for a good glass, if money is not an issue I would go with a Night Force 6x18 with the 50mm lense.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com
 
You forgot one thing.

Mosin Nagant: $100
Jmeck scope mount: $80
4-12x scope from WW: $70
440 rnds 7.62x54r (.21 per): $86
1000 yard plinking rifle and all the ammo you can shoot with 30.06 power:
$340ish

Add a 10$ recoil pad: $350ish
 
Id say the cheapest round that is more powerful than a .223 or 7.62x39. YOu aren't shooting competition, so you don't need the latest and greatest.
 
I personally love a .308 Id recommend a MM, Federal or Israeli IMI 168gr BTHP. I built a rifle and sold it through this site and it was a sub MOA accurate out to 500 yards. Personally I dont see the issue. Granted its going to be more efficient and cost effective to reload your own shells. Just my opinion.
 
The daddycat:

When I was shooting competition in the 1960's the five hundred and the six hundred yard bullseye was twenty inches indiameter with a ten inch V ring. Since then, the scoring system has changed. I'm not sure of the new target's dimensions but the ten ring shoud be close to ten inches. The main challenge to hitting the bullseys was reading the wind: it could be blowing from different directions and different speeds between the target and the rifle. Because of
variations with the wind, moving the windage sights was mandatory. It's called keeping in step with the wind. It's interresting to note that master shooters can't keep all of their shots in the V ring or the ten ring that are the size of a deers vital area.

I say that five hundred yard shots shouldn't be made at game animals.



Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
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