Building 1000 yard rifles with no place to shoot them. Why?

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There's always a place to shoot,It may take alittle extra effort but you can make it happen if you really want to. My 1000 yard shooting makes for a day trip.
A truck full of gear lots of ammo,range finder ,spotting scope,bench etc.
Touching something way out there makes it worth it.& a 300WM does it for me.:D Cant wait to go next time!!
 
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I didn't get the impression anybody was suggesting people can't/shouldn't buy what they want, or spend money as they see fit. I think the questions raised here is one of people ...

A.) Living beyond their means monetarily -
B.) Being unrealistic in a purchase -
C.) Not thinking about their requirements before sinking large cash into something.

This is not specific to guns, it stands for nearly every sphere of consumer culture. I've seen it in everything from real estate, to ebay auctions. People learn by trial and error ... some people need to make the mistake before they realize where they went wrong, some people never learn. It really has little to do with guns ... it's a job for Dr Phil.
 
I didn't get the impression anybody was suggesting people can't/shouldn't buy what they want..............This is not specific to guns
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Oh Really:

You're an "armchair commando" if you have a 1000 yard gun,
You're a Mall Ninja if you have a high quality AR.

Hate to see what I'd be called if I confessed to buying my first metal lathe for ths sole purpose of cutting the belts off 460 Weatherby brass to make brass for my 416 Rigby (prior to Rigby giving the rights to manufactor the brass)

Or buying a Mann Accuracy Device in 223 before I even figured out what to do with it. (Just did that).
 
But Kraig, you differ from the people FrankenMauser was talking about in one important way; you USE that stuff pretty much as intended.
The issue is people buying guns and gear with little thought of how or where they will use it. Tikirocker's B and C. (I don't worry about overspending, most shooters are cheapskates in a penny wise, pound foolish manner.)
 
Kraig,

If that's not you, why take offense? I read every post, and while some broad generalizations might have been made in the service of making a point, I don't think anything was leveled at anybody as an individual. There's always people who sail close to the breeze with their views in any discussion, what I am alluding to is the broader consensus of opinion here. If you're going to get into it with the peanut gallery then I'd say go grab a beer and come back later.

I shoot 1000 yard comp and do it on a cheap rifle ... I have no problem with people spending money as they wish, but I have to laugh when some turn up to a comp with a 3k rifle and get beat by a shooter running a rifle that costs less than $400! It happens and I've seen it happen. I don't find it funny out of spite, I find it funny because the people with the 3k rifles often get upset because they come to the mound with a sense of entitlement - "surely my 3k rifle is superior to anything worth less!"

Spending big doesn't buy you talent, practice time and good form ... it just buys you a gun. There endeth the lesson ...

Here's my 1k rifle ...

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Tiki.
 
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I have to laugh when some turn up to a comp with a 3k rifle and get beat by a shooter running a rifle that costs less than $400! It happens and I've seen it happen.
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I saw a guy pulled from the firing line at one match because he couldn't even get on paper at 1K with a custom rig and high end scope. Sure it happens, and we got a chuckle from it. Regardless, it was his dime and no skin off my butt so I didn't think one way or another. It seems to me that if someone gets bent out of shape over how someone else freely spends their time or $$ then that's their issue to work out on the couch.
 
It seems to me that if someone gets bent out of shape over how someone else freely spends their time or $$ then that's their issue to work out on the couch.
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Roger that ... I don't care either way, if someone wants to get bent out of shape, or not, it's not my concern nor anything that gets me het up. I can see both sides of the argument, perhaps frustration from some people is a little bit of jealousy? Who knows ...
 
FrankenMauser, your posts are usually spot on and I enjoy reading them, but in this case I respectfully ask, and I'm actually curious about this, why do you care? What impact does it have on you?
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That was my first question too. Perhaps these folks have a deep desire to simply stimulate the economy....they do so by buying expensive pieces and parts. :D
 
Maybe the OP will someday ask... Buying 100+ mph cars with no place to drive them. Why?
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This isn't about building a rifle because you want to build a rifle. (I addressed that in the OP.)

This is about building a rifle that is designed and purpose-built for 1,000 yard shooting, while fully intending to shoot it at that range (regardless of the shooter's actual skill); then complaining months later that there is no where to shoot at 1,000 yards in their area, because they were too ignorant to look into the subject.

I'm not ragging on people for building expensive rifles. Build all the rifles you want.
I'm asking for more opinions on what drives these fools to build rifles they really WANT to use, only to find out that a little forethought and looking into 1,000 yard ranges would have saved them a lot of heartache after the build.

My bottom line: Don't complain that you can't use it, if you didn't look into the idea before hand.


As for "100+ mph cars"... I know of plenty of places to drive them. From private roads, to drag strips, to race tracks, to AutoCross events, there are enough local options to keep a speed junkie busy. (Lately, I've been considering running an AutoCross event with my motorhome. ;))
 
I may have a couple of different takes on it.

All of us have our own way to try to keep from going crazy in this world.

There is a value to the "Happy Place" in the movie "Happy Gilmore"

A person might be able to use the idea of a Sage flyrod as a doorway to creating a fishing trip.

My boat introduced me to a guy who introduced me to near four sections of ranch with antelope.

I zen'd up a vision of The Tool.

Two mex mauser actions,two Douglas fwt .257 1 in 10 bbls,two Timneys,and two Garret Accralite stock blanks.Pretty soon,two darn fine .257 AI hunting rifles.They have killed a LOT of meat.

After my AK trip,I zen'd up the idea of a bear rifle.Have no desire to hunt bear,likely will not go to AK again.

But,1952 FN mag action,Douglas #4 contour,timney,Garret Accra Lite,again..I used the M-70 fwt pattern.Its a 375 Taylor

I can go on,I have matched a vision of a tool to do a job to a number of guns,right now it is a 1911 for son in law.

I learn,grow,get better.(1911,I understand timing,linkdown,bbl to slide clearance,etc.This new gun shows slide drag on the bbl.I know how to fix it.)

I have a brother who hunts ducks in Canada.It is what he thinks about during the year.Chesapeakes,custom boats,shotguns,etc.

Give a person room for dreams,creativity,imagination.

William Blake,I believe,in "Proverbs from Hell" wrote "If a fool will persist in his folly,he will become wise"

Actually,I sold a sporterized P-14 action,and I hope I can get it back.I'd like to build a Lapua.

Long range hunting?Well,the fool and his folly thing...I built a wonderful 600 yd elk rifle.Computer matched the 30 cal 200 gr Accubond @2900 fps to the Leupold B=C reticle to 600 with a 300 yd zero,It still has 2000 fps @ 700 yds.HVA smallring magnum action,Canjar trigger,Lilja #3 26 in bbl,Hi-Tec stock,Leu VX-3 2.5-10 X.

Shoots good.Its a 30-338.

Well,along the way,I long range hunted an antelope.430 yds with my .257AI.One shot drop dead.Only problem,aiming heart/lung,I hit neck.Blind luck.Luck works both ways.I "A" kicked myself some.

The fool(me) became a bit wiser.I accept,the variables of long range hunting make the sure thing one shot quick kill more "iffy" as the range gets longer.

I really enjoy long range shooting,but I have backed away from long range hunting.I agree with a gentleman in Wyoming who certainly knows how to shoot,pretty much 300 yds is a good,responsible self limit.

I'm not about being critical of another man's taste in guns,dogs,adult beverages,lovers,pickups,etc.

I'm quite certain many would disagree with my choices.

So what? Enjoy.
 
Not built. But bought by me. I have two 50 BMG rifles. Closest 1ooo yd range is over a hundred miles away. I shoot at a 100yrd range eventhough they can reach out further.
I bought my rifles cause I wanted to and it is really fun to shoot. Don't shoot them much but when I do it puts a smile on my face and on the the people whom I let shot it.
Probably the same reason some people build a 1000 yard rifle.
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AMAC 50

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I recently bought a rifle that will accurately shoot at 1,000 yards without a place to shoot 1,000 yards close by. The reason: My son is interested in doing some 1,000 yard matches. So as in most things I do, I walk before I run.

We started at 400 yards. He has done very, very well, probably to the point I don't think we can expect much more. Next we are moving on to 600, then 800 etc.

When he feels comfortable, we are going to enter him in a 1,000 yard match. This way, will already have the equipment, he is comfortable and learned in steps what it required to shoot at those distances.
 
FrankenMauser, I don't think I'd call anyone who build a "FOOL" because there not building what you think they should or they don't put enough "forethought" into the project.

I've had project build (rifles) and after wish I'd done something different after there finished and it has nothing to do with cost.

You didn't mention if he's a friend but his complaining getting to you if it was me I'd say something to him.
 
I didn't get the idea that anyone was saying that nobody should buy/build expensive guns. And I don't think anyone things that having a nice AR makes you a "mall ninja".
Personally, I would love to have a 1000yd gun and start working on becoming a 1000yd shooter, but that would entail cutting another 900yds of shooting lane through the brush behind my house, so I don't see it happening.:)

It seemed to me that the general direction of the complaints was at people who believe that shooting is equipment driven ("I own a 1000yd. gun therefore I am a 1000yd shooter"), and complain when they find it isn't.
Buying a gun is really the easiest step in becoming a good shooter.
On the same basic track there are the people that spend $2000 on an AR, put it into a safe, and assume that it makes them Rambo. One of my cousins constantly reminds me how much more range the boutique AR that lives under his bed has than my 30-30 - which is apparently why he can't hit anything with the 30-30 when they visit. It can get annoying. One of my friends on the other hand can out shoot me any day of the week with his equally high priced AR.
My cousin I consider a "mall ninja", my buddy not so much - he's just a guy with a really sweet gun.

I don't have a problem with how other guys spend their money, but it does get tiresome listening to their baseless bragging.
On the flip side, if they didn't exist, it would probably be much harder to get killer deals on lightly used high end gear.
 
My gun builder was a 1000 yard shooter and he had a laminated stock sitting in his shop I drooled over every time I saw it. He finally talked me into building a rifle. Quite frankly I suck at 1000 yards. He could castrate a gnat with it at 1000(slight exaggeration but just slight:D)I still have it and it's not for sale but I don't use it. It's too heavy to hunt with and I don't have the means to compete anymore. I swapped the scope with another rifle so it wouldn't be wasted.

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I've done several 1000M rifles--my 6mm Remi is still my favorite, it's just plain scary on the 1000M range. Use to shoot those distances all the time. Since moving to CO a few years ago, finding someplace to stretch out beyond 2-300 yards was a serious challenge. It didn't stop be from working on my Mosin project for 1000M mil-surp. After putting who-knows how much time getting everything dialed, fitted, polished, etc. the way I wanted it and a load tuned that would consistently shoot 3/4 MOA or better out of the ol' girl, I stumbled upon a high meadow while hunting last year that is A: National Forest, B: Accessible in the summer by 4x4 road, and C: has enough secluded open area for me to stretch out well over 1500M without interference.

It seemed to me that the general direction of the complaints was at people who believe that shooting is equipment driven ("I own a 1000yd. gun therefore I am a 1000yd shooter"), and complain when they find it isn't.
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This part, I couldn't have said better---Bravo. Most of the clowns I've seen that fall into this category couldn't paper a 3-MOA 5-shot group if their lives depended on it--much less be able to consistently hold a sub-MOA squeeze required for accurate long range work.

There will always be couch commandos. They will reliably buy or build things because they are tacticool, team-six uses them, or just for the "I'm a bad-@zz" effect they think it gives them. We tolerate them because it's illegal to slap sense into them on most occasions. We love them when they get into "tight spots" and need to part with their high dollar toys that they don't even understand much less use, and are willing to let them go well under cost.

And a final note: anyone who thinks you need a 338 Lapua for 1000M shooting needs to stop watching the Military Channel, set down the "tacticool" gun rags, cancel their Netflix, keep their teeth together when the subject comes up--they just might learn a few things. :D
 
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Hawg---that looks an awful lot like a 26" Remi Sendero barre/action... How about some details?

Here's my two "babies".

6mmRemington
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7mm Remington Mag "Sendero"
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