Whats the most accurate .30-06 bolt action for under 1000? Does anyone make one with a heavy barrel? Im interested in long range shooting out to 600 yards. I would consider going to a .308. I would like a 30-06 because thats what i have hunted with all my life. I know there are flatter shooting calibers out there but it doesnt matter because i have a range finder. Is there any guns in my price range that will shoot half inch at 100 yards? I went out shooting at water jugs at 500 yards with my ruger m77 mark 2 .30-06 today. Its a great hunting rifle but i only hit 35% of the time i can out shoot my rifle i want something better for long range target shooting.
600 yard rifle
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.300 Weatherby Mag
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If you want a heavy barreled 30-06... You're going to either have to order it from someone like Savage Arms or find an action and have a custom rifle built. Something like this would suit your purposes but its a 308 and not a 30-06...
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=437228
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=437228
What size water jugs are you talking about. An average 1 gal jug is what, about 6-8 inches in diameter?
I don't think there is anything wrong with the rifle you have. Whats the wind? If you are set for center, it don't take much wind to move a bullet over 3-4 inchss at 500 yards.
Nothing wrong with your set up.
It has been a while ago,20+ years,but I helped some friends develop handloads for their Ruger 77's.At least one was a 30-06.I was very impressed by the accuracy .They all shot groups the size of pocket change at 100 yds.
And,you know,with a rifle that keeps them all at 1 inch,the worst shots are only 1/2 inch from center,which would be about 2 1/2 at 500.That is closer than I can hold,unless I'm on a sandbag on a good day.
I have a book,its loaned out to a young woman,called "Position Rifle Shooting"
To teach something about mirage,the author suggests taking a riflescope to the range early in the morning,while all is still cool.Put a target out at 600 yds,and sandbag that scope on a bench with the crosshairs centered on the target.Then leave it alone,go shoot a few hours.When the sun has climbed up,and warmed the air above the ground,look again.You might be surprised how much the crosshairs "moved"(feet).
That kraigwy guy has forgot more about shooting than I'll ever know,I'd have to agree shooting $1000 worth of ammunition will probably make more difference on whacking those jugs than a different $1000 rifle.
Sure is fun!
You know,also,it could possibly be that a scope just fine for 300 yd heartshots on a deer might contribute a little to groupsize at 600.
It may help to pay close attention to spotweld.Have your eyeball look at the scope the same each shot.You may notice the crosshairs move a little on a target if you move your head around.That is parallax.You can spend money to fix it with a real nice scope,or use a good spotweld will help
And,you know,with a rifle that keeps them all at 1 inch,the worst shots are only 1/2 inch from center,which would be about 2 1/2 at 500.That is closer than I can hold,unless I'm on a sandbag on a good day.
I have a book,its loaned out to a young woman,called "Position Rifle Shooting"
To teach something about mirage,the author suggests taking a riflescope to the range early in the morning,while all is still cool.Put a target out at 600 yds,and sandbag that scope on a bench with the crosshairs centered on the target.Then leave it alone,go shoot a few hours.When the sun has climbed up,and warmed the air above the ground,look again.You might be surprised how much the crosshairs "moved"(feet).
That kraigwy guy has forgot more about shooting than I'll ever know,I'd have to agree shooting $1000 worth of ammunition will probably make more difference on whacking those jugs than a different $1000 rifle.
Sure is fun!
You know,also,it could possibly be that a scope just fine for 300 yd heartshots on a deer might contribute a little to groupsize at 600.
It may help to pay close attention to spotweld.Have your eyeball look at the scope the same each shot.You may notice the crosshairs move a little on a target if you move your head around.That is parallax.You can spend money to fix it with a real nice scope,or use a good spotweld will help
pabuckslayer08
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What kind of scope is on your Ruger, If its a cheaper deer hunting scope just keep your rifle and set a Nikon Monarch 4x12 or even a 6x18 if your really wanting to get into it then if you reload get yourself the best load you can, if not your going to have to spend 60 bucks a box to get ammo that is capable of shooting accuratly at those ranges everytime.
billnourse
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Tikka is going to be super accurate as is Savage. My son's Tikka shoots under 3/4",and usually under 1/2" at 100 yards all the time.
Available in 30/06 or.308.
Bill
Available in 30/06 or.308.
Bill
All of the above posts are good advice. While I like the 30-06, I think it is questionable for shooting long range all the time. You would be better served with one of the 6mm rounds, 243, 257, 260 and even the old stand by the 270. However, since you want a hunting round I would suggest you look at the 7mm Rem Mag. These are flatter shooting calibers that would sevice you well at that range.
Jim
My personal choice would be a Savage.
Jim
My personal choice would be a Savage.
An excuse to get another gun is one thing, but to say a 30-06 is questionable for long range shooting is way out in left field. It might have a disadvantage in the recoil department, but every Ruger I've fired handled recoil very well.
500-600 is considered Mid-Range. 800-900-1000 yards is considered long rang. The '06 is more the capable for long range. There are probably more match quality 308 bullets out there then any other caliber.
I use to use a 300 WM for 1000 yard shooting. I then built a Model 70 Vietnam Era Sniper Rifle Clone to and found do to the lack of recoil of the '06, I could get better scores. The '06 WILL WORK at long range.
I'm not saying the other calibers you mentioned wont, they in fact will but there are some damn nice heavy match 30 cal bullets that buck the wind pretty damn good. It will be the environment that gets you at long range more then anything else.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Personal opinions, YMMV: My father used a sporterized Springfield, and was seen by witnesses to call neck shots on deer to 500 yards. 150-grain Hornady Spire Points loaded to GI specs with 4895. He did that halfway-regularly over some 30 years of hunting.
Back in about 1970 I bought a Wby Mark V with a 26" barrel, in .30-'06. I had to do some tweaking with the forearm and I installed a Canjar trigger. With handloads, that rifle was always sub-MOA. I messed around with some newish handloading data and tried the rig out on my 500-yard range, maybe ten years back. Sub-MOA with a 10X setting on the scope. At the time, the rifle had had around 4,000 rounds through it.
I guess where I'm headed with this is that folks seem to over-think what's needed. I tend to believe that experience is a large part of the deal, along with a tuned-up version of nearly any brand of rifle and tailored handloads.
Back in about 1970 I bought a Wby Mark V with a 26" barrel, in .30-'06. I had to do some tweaking with the forearm and I installed a Canjar trigger. With handloads, that rifle was always sub-MOA. I messed around with some newish handloading data and tried the rig out on my 500-yard range, maybe ten years back. Sub-MOA with a 10X setting on the scope. At the time, the rifle had had around 4,000 rounds through it.
I guess where I'm headed with this is that folks seem to over-think what's needed. I tend to believe that experience is a large part of the deal, along with a tuned-up version of nearly any brand of rifle and tailored handloads.
mapsjanhere
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1/2 inch at 100 yards will require match, or better, reloaded ammunition. Were you shooting custom loads you picked after trying 20 different ones or Wichester white box from Wallyworld? As people have pointed out, you need to shoot close to 1 MOA to reliably hit water jugs at 500 yards, even without wind. I do have a long distance rig, but even that gun went from 1 MOA with factory loads to 1/2 MOA (that's the limit right now of what I can do shooting wise). Since you like your gun otherwise, try optimizing it first before investing $3000 in a target rifle with nightforce scope.
The water jugs were milk and hi c jugs the wind was about 3 mph. I want another rifle because my dad got me the ruger and it means alot to me i dont want to wear it out with alot of shooting. I just want it to be my hunting rifle. My scope is a bushnell elite 3200 3 9 40. I havent shot a whole lot at long range but i want to start. I had alot of fun so now im thinking about trying to master it. Another thing is my ruger is light and it hurts pretty bad shooting from prone. I figure i spend a 1000 on a gun and a 1000 on the scope. The gun is mostly just for fun not so much for hunting because i hunt in the woods mostly and i like to get close. I do hunt a clear cut a few times a year thats about the only time i would use it for hunting.
As for your Ruger I'd clean the barrel well & clean it again. Next be sure it's in the stock correctly. Bedding is everything. If it's in the stock well & your scope/mounting system is up to the chore & it should perform with loads crafted for it.
If not it may need a better trigger to make it more shootable or a barrel. The same could be said for most any rifle.
You can find many, many used long action, standard bolt face rifles for very good prices. It is easy to purchase one & build a rifle to do what you wish. It doesn't have to cost big bucks but it does take attention to detail.
If not it may need a better trigger to make it more shootable or a barrel. The same could be said for most any rifle.
You can find many, many used long action, standard bolt face rifles for very good prices. It is easy to purchase one & build a rifle to do what you wish. It doesn't have to cost big bucks but it does take attention to detail.
Old age must be setting in. I am getting really upset with people that can't take the time to buy or or lookup the ballistics that they proport to know something about. Go out and purchase the "Fourth Edition of Ammo & Ballistics for Hunters, Shooters, and Collectors." Then come back and spill your knowledge.
For a 150 grain Hornady SST 30-06 bullet drop at 600 yards is 75.6 inches. For a Remington 150 grain Core-Lokt Ultra Bonded 30-06 the drop at 600 yards is 87.7 inches. For a rifle zeroed at 200 yards.
Now shooting at low flying air planes to hit a target 600 yards out is "questionable".
First I doubt that your rifle scope has that many inches of adjustment. And Second, I doubt that you have purchased a 20 or 30 degree rail to insure that you are not shooting into the ground.
Jim
If you want to hunt at that distance then just get a 300 win mag.
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mapsjanhere
New member
Jim, at 600 yards 90 inches is 15 MOA. Even Tasco scopes have that much adjustments from center. And any scope with any kind of ballistic recticle gets there without even touching the dial.
mapsjanhere
New member
In 30 cal I would suggest a 308 Win up to 800 yards, and a 300 RUM after that. But that's not the question.
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