One Shot, One Kill

Key2America, I suppose that If I had to take a rifle from my small inventory I would use my home made M-21 with ART II optics. Fairly crude but I am very close to it. :) The rig and M118 Ball is very impressive. 650 yd head shots on geese are confirmed. Of course during season and with proper liscence and waterfowl stamps. They are pretty good eating as well.
Why do you ask this question? If a person never spends the time and effort to first become a marksman and second to learn their gear it matters little on what they bring to "the firing line"
If we were talking about a 100 yd shot with time to set up I would consider a Remington 40XBR in .223 to be perfect.
I do not mean to offend you or start a discussion on goose hunting. :D
I sure would like to have a 16 inch cannon from the Navy with a good sighting system :cool:
 
HankL, I am a Marine Sharpshooter, or was. I asked the question for purely selfish reasons. I used the question to do research to find myself a rifle that will do for me what I asked of you. Until lately, I hadn't shot any weapon since Viet Nam, I needed some insight into the latest weapons and such... thanks for your input.
 
Key2America: I think it's obvious from all the posts that most any rifle can be made to be very accurate. Almost any cartridge whose muzzle velocity is above some 2,600 or 2,700 ft/sec will play Ma Bell. There are many good scopes; any with at least 9X or 10X or more maximum magnification will let you see a target "way out there". Reliability of the package is almost a given, with the rifles of the last ten to thirty years.

Sorta up to the shooter, as always...

Art
 
Thanks Art. I may go with the Sendero in a .300 WinMag. Seems the best choice for me so far. I'm finding a WIDE variety of prices for the same rifle however. Leupold scopes are on my list. I have a couple choices for stocks so far. Company called Choate looks interesting.
 
Rob01, no price range. I have not set a price. I figured I'd buy one thing at a time so it doesn't hurt so much. ;) I have seen a variance of about $200 just in the rifle itself.... So far best price is, believe it or not, Wal-Mart. They don't stock it but it can be ordered with 50% down. Next best price was an AZ gun dealer. Why do you ask?
 
I started out with a stock Remington 700 "varmint" rifle.

From there i took it to Gordy Gritters gunshop in Pella, Ia.

I had him.

#1 True the bolt face, lapp the lugs.

#2. Installed a Shilen Select Match 1 & 8 twist #7 countour SS barrel, chamber it in 6mm ackley improved, cut an 11 degree target crown, .273 neck.

#3. Stock used, Remington Laminated, factory.

#4. Trigger. Remington factory, tuned and adjuster to let off at 3 lbs.

#5. Scope and Mounts. Springfield armory 1st generation, 308 reticle 4.5 + 14. Leupold bases and rings. Also , Harris bi-pod with quality nylon sling attached.

Gordy then mated the stock and barreled action by pillar bedding method. The barrel channel was worked, to allow barrel to free float.

This weapon weighs in at just under 15lbs. Differing handloads that i have worked up, bullet weights range from 55 grain thru 107 grains. This weapon averages just under .5moa for @ 500 rounds shot.

I have not come close to the true potential of this weapon, i have two favorite Varmint loads, one with 58 grain V-Max using Varget [47.5 grains] shoots right at 4000fps at @ .4moa. [crow load] The other uses a 107 grain Sierra BTHP match using VV 160. This also shoots in the .4 moa range. [Yotes and fox]

Cost @ 2500.00$
 
Key I was just wondering because I wasn't sure if you had actually 100% set your mind to a rifle but see you have now with the Sendero. It's a great choice and the 300WM is a good all around round for short and long distance. My friend is going to be getting one custom rifle and he said instead of a .308 and having to get a longer range gun later he said he was just going to go with a 300WM. I'd say get it the cheapest place you can.

If you wanted to go the custom route check out www.dennysguns.com and click on the precision rifle icon. George Gardner is the smith there and he does great work. His custom gun will probably run you about $2100 but will come with a custom SS barrel, tuned action and bedded in a very nice McMillan HTG stock, better known as the M40A1 stock. Check it out. If you get this rifle you won't have to worry about do anything to it. His wait time is about 3 months now which is very good for a custom shop. Might be a good Christmas present. ;)

You really shouldn't have to restock that Sendero right away if you didn't want to. It's got a good HS Precision stock on it. That's a personal choice though but you might want to try it out first. If it's the color then sparay paint can do wonders. Walmart has the camo paint there by Krylon and it's pretty good stuff. I know of what I speak. My custom .308 started life in 1993 as a 700VS. Over the years it got a nice McMillan stock and rebarreled and accurized. This is a good route to go for those that don't have the funds at hand like I didn't.

Which Leupold scope are you going to be going with? Make sure to get a good set of rings and base for it. Badger Ordnance makes a great set that won't shoot loose on that 300WM. The best price for them I've seen is at www.premierreticles.com. Check them out for the scope too. Keep us updated. Semper Fi!!
 
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Key, since you specified that everything is riding on my next shot, I'd have to pick something that I was familiar with and that I had already zeroed in. So I would walk to my gun safe and pull out the sporterized Springfield 1903 in .30-'06, and pull out one round of Remington core-lokt 180 gr. I'd set both items very carefully in a padded hard case, and I'm ready to go.

It doesn't have a heavy barrel, just a "new" 1903A3 GI barrel, but I'm shooting it cold, so it doesn't make much difference.

It has a fairly cheap Bushnell scope, but it has worked well so far, and it only has to have survived the last time I shot. This time, well, after the one shot that everything is riding on, it can go ahead and fall apart. There's no second shot in your scenario.

At 100 yds, I'm confident the hole will be within an inch of what I'm aiming at. Depending, of course, on the situational stress and factors like that.:eek: I know that old rifle and that good ammo will do their part of the job.

Regards.
 
Before you buy...

Key2America, you may wish to inquire about price and availablity from Tom Harris at:

http://www.sportingarms.com

He can be contacted at:

Tom@SportingArms.com
972-315-9086

I am preparing to purchase a new Ruger 22/45 and Mini-14 Ranch Rifle from him within a week (I just have to work out the local FFL details). His quoted prices are excellent! :D According to an e-mail from Mr. Harris in response to one of my inquiries, "All of our guns are factory new in the box unless otherwise noted. This gun will be factory fresh new and unhandled."

Disclaimer: While I have not yet made any purchases from Mr. Harris, he seems to be a stand-up guy with great prices. I have no affiliation or financial interest in SportingArms.com and I do not expect to receive any compensation for this endorsement. Please take my advice in the spirit in which it was given.

Good luck with your new purchase and let us know how it works out!
 
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