long distance shooting

[cobra jake]

Hi, I am getting a weatherby mark v lazermark this summer because I want to shoot long distance. I have talked to some people, and they are saying that 340 wby mag has the best nock down at long distance over the 300 wby mag. If you have a different caliber in mind give me your thoughts. I will be shooting target for a while till I have everything shooting good, but I really want to do a elk hunt. Thanks Jake

[justashooter]

338 lapua is the gold standard today. it is used by both military and civilian shooters for work up to 1600 yards. guns and ammo for this cartridge are expensive, and handloading is the only way to make shooting them affordable. you can start with a 308 and become good to 800-1200 yards, but the lapua is the schnizz.

long range shooting really got a boost in the 70's when the 1000 Yard Benchrest Club in Williamsport drew in experimenters like Drummond, with their necked down 7mm and 30 caliber wildcats derived from the 378 weatherby in 20 pound sled guns. if you wanna become a proficient long range shooter there is no better group of guys to shoot with in the entire country. you can prolly find a tried and true sled gun thru one of their members.

http://www.pa1000yard.com/

[ray h]

A few months ago I developed an interest in putting together a long range rifle without spending a fortune. I wanted to stick with your basic bolt action with fiber stock, my caliber of choice was a 30.06. I chose 3006 because I like the weight of a .30 caliber bullet and the relatively flat trajectory (compared to a 308) but not a huge kick and not something that's going to be real expensive or burn the barrel out. I also considered the 270 and 7mm.
I traded for a used Browning A-bolt 3006 that already had a bipod, I just picked up a used Nikon 3.3-10X44. I haven't shot it yet but I think it should be a sub MOA set up and the 3006 should be able to reach out pretty far.

[Lycanthrope]

I've worked a couple Weatherby's (the .300 and the .240), but I would never start there as a long range shooter. A long range hunter for elk, yes. The .30-.378 has the speed and knock down for going very deep and bringing home a freezer full. The Weatherby line also doesn't have the aftermarket support as a platform to build off of that others do.....

The real problem is that the Weatherby calibers have more freebore and aren't as easy to get to shoot tight (although you can get there with some experimentation). Brass is also hella-expensive.

The .338 Lapua is the ticket for over 1000, but up to that the .300 Win mag is a great long range hunter. For accuracy, other calibers such as the .260., .308, .243, 6mm-.284 and 6PPC may be better depending on your appilcation.

If you're all about speed. it's Lazzeroni, but their specs can be inflated.

Lycaninputthrope

[customloaded]

1,000 yard matches, .243.

Elk hunting....30-06, 257 Roberts, 300 savage etc...If you get a shot further than 300 yards, I don't suggest you take it. Harvesting an animal is not a game and shouldn't be treated like one. Make a solid, for sure shot to ensure a quick, clean kill of the animal you've been blessed to harvest.

I myself use a .300 win mag and 06 for elk and deer.

CL

[hog45]

Its going to come down to you doung yourjob. There are scores of calibers that will drop an elk at 300to 500 yards but you have to be good enough to hit them. Get the gun that feels.best and then.PRACTICE. Anything above 308 and the elk wont know the difference. Just do your job.

[ALS]

Me I would go with the .338 Lapua over that odd ball .340 Weatherby cartridge.

Second take the advice that others before me who told you start with a .308 or .3006 and work your way out in distance. I have a Blaser LRS2 in .300 Win Mag with a muzzle brake and it is brutal to shoot more than 20 or so rounds out of that gun even though it weighs in at 14lbs.

You will not be doing much long range practicing with that large caliber gun between the ammunition costs and the beating you will be taking physically and financially each time you go to the range.

My .300 Win-Mags are costing me about .55 cents to reload with Sierra Match King 190gn bullets. 20 rounds are $11.00 so it sounds cheap right? Wrong because 20 rounds of Match grade loaded ammunition is selling for around $2.25 per round or $45 a box of 20. That is where I got most of my brass in the first place. Oh you will pick up the brass separately to save money? One piece of brass for my .300 Win Mag .64-.68 each, .308 .24 each, 338 Lapua $2.89 each and the .340 Weatherby Magnum is $1.99 each.

The .340 Mag you're asking about, ammunition is selling for $4.40-$5.00 per round and a 200 round case is $865 or $4.32 per round.

The on the other hand .338 Lapua is $5.75-$7.50 a round or $115 to $150 for a box of 20.

.308 match ammunition 168-175 gn is $32 a box of 20 or $1.65 a round, reload cost with match specs around .45 a round or $9.00 a box.

My point is learn distance shooting with a lower cost .308 or .3006 and when you get proficient move up to the .338 Lapua and while you're on this learning curve on distance shooting also learn to reload. Your wallet and shoulder will thank you over the long run.

A good book to get is Precision-Shooting-at-Yards-by-Dave-Brennan It is a book of articles by the top shooters and builders of long distance guns and their insights into long distance shooting.

[cobra jake]

What would be a good tight shooting name brand gun that you would recommend, and don't say a damn Remington 770! lol

[NathanB]

Off the rack remington 700 and savage 10s or 110s. Theres alot more to it than just a rifle though

[cobra jake]

After I get a rifle what should be the first thing to do to the gun?