another question for you all long range guys

C

champ198

New member
so been tossing around the idea of getting into a little long range shooting.
been trying to decide on what type of gun and caliber i want to try and get. when i was looking around online at some of the forums like Snipershide and a was seeing a lot of people talking about a 6mm (243) for long range. i liked that idea since they are so much easier to find than a 308.

also been tossing the idea of getting a Savage since the barrels are easier to swap out than say a Remington 700.

whats you alls take on this setup to start with?
 
What experience level are you now? Do you have any rifles right now? You might be surprised that what you've got is good enough to get started.

However, .308 will be the easiest caliber to find match grade ammo in and just about every manufacturer has a long range/varmint/tactical rifle in .308. .243 is a great round, but it will cost more and I don't know of much commercially available match ammo.

But to try to answer your questions, I would definitely recommend a Savage. 12FVSS or 12BVSS would be great rifles. They are varmint rifles with a thicker barrel, but basically anything they offer will be at least reasonably accurate.

Oh, and what range do you consider long range? 300 yards? 600 yards? These are some pretty important questions for us to know to get you the best info we can for your exact situation.

And finally, be sure to plan for the scope. Don't skimp out on the scope. A general rule of thumb is spend at least half on the scope as you do as the rifle. But again, if we can get more information on what you want to do, we can help with that.
 
If you handload then any caliber is great. If you want to wring long range performance out of the 6mm bore then you NEED to handload. Not a whole lot of commercial ammo loaded with 115gr DTACs.

However, since you are just starting long range shooting, please take my advice and stick with a 223 or 308. I have a Savage 10 in 308, love it. I also have my slapped together match AR that shoots great and I love it too.

You will also be able to compete in F Class with 223 or 308. If you want to shoot at 100 yards you will need a 1:8 or faster twist barrel on a 223 and you will want to load 80 or even 90 gr bullets. If you choose the 308 then you'll need to shoot 175 gr or heavier match bullets (some folks are getting good results with the 178 AMAX).

If you are going to use a scope, you need a scope that will have enough elevation adjustment to get to 1000 with a 308. To be safe you will want 40 to 45 MOA of "up" adjustment, and this may require the use of a canted scope base. Quality canted bases are available from EGW for a lot less than some of the more "premium" brands.

If it were me, I would start with an AR. The recoil is a lot less, the ammo is a lot cheaper, and it will allow you to compete in High Power as a service rifle (which will also allow you to compete in EIC matches). You can go the bolt gun route if you want, but save your money to get a good reloading setup.

Jimro
 
thanks for all the info fellas any will help a lot.
i do reload so know what is envilved with all of that.
as far as my experience level, Im not new to rifles by any means but dont really have anything now that can be used for anything like this. i have shot a little out to 300 but thats about as far as i have gone and would like to do more.
i have no doubt that the 308 is a better round to go with but they are hard to find around here in anything decent thats a used gun. dont really want to buy new unless i have to really.
i have thought about an AR platform system and have always wanted an AR and have been tossing the idea around about building one from scratch i just cant make up my mind on what i would like to do...go with an AR build or go with a bolt gun
 
You wont go wrong with a 6mm/243. There are some nice target bullets out there, and since you are reloading, the cost of feeding a 243 wont eat you out of house and home.

Just about any modern bolt gun will be more then satisfactory so pick one that fits.

Start shooting F-Class and have fun.
 
If you can't decide what to do, go ahead and build the AR. Using the iron sights saves you the cost of a scope/rings/base and you can start shooting right away.

And then if you don't like it, you can sell the rifle you built (often with a modest profit) and buy a bolt gun.

Jimro
 
Problem with the .243 for long range if using a factory rifle is the 1:10 twist rate the manufacturers use. Sierra recommends a 1:8 for the 107 MK bullets, and you'll need at least that to run the DTAC and Berger 115 grain bullets. There are some decent bullets in the 100 grain and less, but if you want the really high BC you have to go heavier. That is why when I built a LR .243 Win I used a 1:7 McGowen barrel for my rifle, just in case I wanted to run the 115's. Make sure if you go that route to have them throat the barrel for the 115's as well.
 
Also recommend Savage. Mine is a model 10FP-LE1 heavy barrel (pre-accu trigger). Put in a timney trigger and did a full custom stock. Hand load .308 with RL22 and 168gr SMK's and 175 Nosler J4's. Does 1000 very nice. Jeff
 
Was at one of our local gun/pawn shops earlier today lookin around and they had a pretty slick Howa 1500 in 243 there for 450. asked him if they had anything in a savage in 243 or 308 and not a one. he said the 308s go pretty quick as well as the 243s for smaller hunters buying them but the Howa felt pretty damn nice..was bare gun but looked pretty good and the action felt damn good
 
If you are going to optimize the round, the 6mm Remington has a hair more accuracy potential because of the longer neck. BUT, shooting any 6mm bullet at long range pretty much means heavier bullets like a 100 to 115 gr. If you want to optimize the rifle, it will have a 1:8" twist....and I doubt you'll find that new in the box regardless of maker. The standard 308 on the other hand will stabilize accurately a 168 gr match bullet all day long. Unless you think the 308 has too much recoil, the 308 is the best of the ones listed. And if you are considering having a rifle built, consider the 6.5x 284 TNT.
 
kraigwy said:
You wont go wrong with a 6mm/243. There are some nice target bullets out there, and since you are reloading, the cost of feeding a 243 wont eat you out of house and home.
Click to expand...

That's true, but if you want to run heavy bullets, you'll need a faster twist barrel than mine. I have a 1:9.25 Savage that won't stabilize 107gr Matchkings. I'm currently using 105 grain A-Max bullets. I think they're stable, but one buddy of mine has looked at my targets and thinks that they're yawing. I haven't had a chance to shoot them past 200 yards, but I plan to get out soon and stretch them out to 300 and see if they keyhole.

I really like the 6mm bore, but if I ever build one, it'll have a 1:8 twist barrel.
 
thanks a lot for the info everyone.
one of the main reasons i have been looking at the Savage is the ability to swap barrels easier than a Rem 700. and when i can i could get a 1:8 twist barrel and put it on so i could shoot the heavier bullets that is one thing that i really do like about the savage is the ease of barrel swaps.
i dont have a problem with the Recoil on the 308 at all...couldnt be any worse than the 25-06 i had or the 30-06 or 35 Rem i have now so that dosent worry me much its jsut finding one that is the problem. and if i can dont want to have to buy new if i can keep from it...that was one of the reasons i was looking at the 243
 
I can't believe I am trying to talk someone out of buying a 243. It is my favorite caliber. I do have a Savage 243 with the Accutrigger, and love it. In the 6mm group the 243 will be the easyest ammo to find, I do reload the Hornady 105 grain A-Max for that rifle, but use Nosler 85 grain as well.

The issue is that unless you will be shooting 600 meters most of the time, the 75 grain 223 Hornady A-max will do as well at a cheaper cost per round.

To give an idea the Savage 243 is a 1:9.25 twist and the Savage 223 is a 1:9 twist and stablizes the heavier for caliber bullets extreemly well.

Choices, choices. Here is a picture of the Savage 223:

SAM_0245.jpg


Both would be excelent for shooting yotes or long range, but once you get out past 600 yards that is an animal of a different color and the 243 would be best, but a 22-250 (flatter shooting or a 25-06 or even a 270 might be better.(heavier bullet).

Just depends on what you will be doing with it. (target or hunting)

Jim
 
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