What do you recommend for a long range target shooter?

[Member 53328]

Body position will dictate a lot of felt recoil as well as help with follow up shots. If you are new to shooting a precision gun I would suggest spending a decent amount of time on a trainer if possible (.223/.224/etc. ). Get the fundamentals and then move to your chosen rifle. If you start with something to big you may create bad habits and a flinch. Try to avoid that. Spending time behind the rifle will be key.

 

[Member 53328]

You could also look into a brake or even better a suppressor.

 

[Stomper]

I used a M21 and a M24 in the Army at up to those ranges...
One can get a civilian version of those by Springfield Armory and the Remington 700 series .
Of the two I preferred the M21 as there was less movement involved for secondary targets or shots.
Both are quite capable of making shots at those ranges , provided that one practices with them.

A fun rifle to do this type of shooting with is a 03A3 or a M1...this can be done , with iron sights no less , if one has the eye sight and again practice.
Alas...I no longer have that eyesight....
Andy

It's actually not the impact that bothers me as much as the length of time it takes to reaquire the target after each shot.

Ahhh....that is one of the reasons why I liked my M21 over my M24.
( Mentioned in my first post here in the thread )

Stock fit can help with this issue too...as well as "cycling" the bolt of the rifle , while the rifle is still on your shoulder...practice is your friend here.
Andy

Push-ups. pull-ups, and "butterflies" with a couple dumbbells laying on a bench are your friends for this as well...

 

[Andy54Hawken]

with a couple dumbbells laying on a bench are your friends

Those are some lazy friends....just laying around there...they don't do anything...
Wait...maybe we are talkin' bout two different kinds of dumbells...
Andy

 

[rickysays]

The end of your barrel looks to be threaded, try a nice muzzle brake, they can work wonders.

Good idea.
So assuming that takes care of enough felt recoil, Will the 30-06 reach out to 1000 yards or is that going to be a stretch for it?

 

[Andy54Hawken]

A .30-06 will do fine for 1000 yards....all it takes is practice on your part.
Andy

 

[rickysays]

Push-ups. pull-ups, and "butterflies" with a couple dumbbells laying on a bench are your friends for this as well...

my son and I started working out 2 weeks ago. It'll take a little more time to build up strength than it did when I was his age (19) but I'm looking forward to shedding this dad bod ASAP.

 

[Stomper]

Good idea.
So assuming that takes care of enough felt recoil, Will the 30-06 reach out to 1000 yards or is that going to be a stretch for it?

A .30-06 will do fine for 1000 yards....all it takes is practice on your part.
Andy

you'll need about a 72" holdover at 1k yds....

 

[deadeye]

Looking for opinions and recommendations for long range target shooting rifles, up to 1000 yards. Please also provide a little commentary on why.

I currently have a 30-06 Sako S20 bolt action. Sweet rifle, but kicks hard.

Also not sure I picked the best tool for the job, as I don't plan on shooting large animals. I currently have it sighted in for 100 yards and it's very accurate at that range.

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Spend a few bucks and have someone put a brake on the Sako. I reload so it isnt that much of an issue to dial in a lighter round to fit the 1,000yrd mark. If you dont reload just go with a 308 and find the right ammo for the rifle you choose. Right now it may be somewhat hard to find a varied supply of ammo though.

 

[Lennie]

6.5 is a very high pressure round. I believe other high pressure rounds like the 270 and others have the same problem.

Lots of rounds operate the same pressure ranges. If you look at loads on Hodgdon's reloading site, there many other cartridges, when loaded to the max, that are in the same pressure range. Including 22-250, 243 win, 6 mm creed, 270 win, 270 win short, 7 mm mag,

Barrel failure has many factors among which are gas erosion from both gas velocity and quantity of gas, powder burn temperature, cleaning techniques, bullet jacket design, type of barrel steel, how the barrel was rifled and more.

Most hunting rifles fire fewer than 10 rounds per year and never see a shot out a barrel. By contrast, some long range shooters that I know, will shoot over 3000 rounds per year. And those shooters consider replacing barrels a part of what they do. One of the selling points, companies like Ruger expound, is the ease of replacing their products barrels.

 

[patrikky]

Lots of rounds operate the same pressure ranges. If you look at loads on Hodgdon's reloading site, there many other cartridges, when loaded to the max, that are in the same pressure range. Including 22-250, 243 win, 6 mm creed, 270 win, 270 win short, 7 mm mag,

Barrel failure has many factors among which are gas erosion from both gas velocity and quantity of gas, powder burn temperature, cleaning techniques, bullet jacket design, type of barrel steel, how the barrel was rifled and more.

Most hunting rifles fire fewer than 10 rounds per year and never see a shot out a barrel. By contrast, some long range shooters that I know, will shoot over 3000 rounds per year. And those shooters consider replacing barrels a part of what they do. One of the selling points, companies like Ruger expound, is the ease of replacing their products barrels.

You're right. I decided to stay away from the scar 20s in 6.5 because of the replacement barrel issue.

 

[Used To Hunt]

Your Sako is a great rifle but like you already acknowledged the 30-06 may not have been the "best" choice for what you are doing. I personally do not own one but nobody can deny that the 6.5 Creed fits your requirements perfectly. It is in fact, exactly what they designed the cartridge to do. If you buy any cartridge that Federal loads it's Gold Medal Match for you will always have accurate ammo at a reasonable price (hopefully). Someday if you start reloading a Savage Benchrest in 6br Norma would be an amazing option. Very light recoil and acceptable barrel life, especially when compared to a 6 Creed, those things burn out throats FAST.

 

[AlaskinAssasin]

Look at YouTube for terminator muzzle brakes. They compare them next to all the other good brands on video.

 

[pharmseller]

Tikka T3 Varmint in .223 Rem. 75 grain ELD-M bullets at 2977 fps MV. Plenty of velocity out to 1000 yards. Low recoil and economical to shoot.

I'm having a blast with mine.

 

[Kruel J]

.243 still holds some records for distance, including shots past 2000. Plenty of quality manufacturers make them, the choices are plentiful. Some I would look at in no particular order:

Tikka T3 series
Savage
Older Remington 700
Christensen Arms
Bergara B14


There's also choices that will take you close to that new car smell price but for the general population those are my thoughts.

 

[Member 53328]

.243 still holds some records for distance, including shots past 2000. Plenty of quality manufacturers make them, the choices are plentiful. Some I would look at in no particular order:

Tikka T3 series
Savage
Older Remington 700
Christensen Arms
Bergara B14


There's also choices that will take you close to that new car smell price but for the general population those are my thoughts.

I vote tikka. But I am biased.

 

[Kruel J]

I vote tikka. But I am biased.

There was a time I would have not voted for Tikka, but spite is never subjective.

 

[rickysays]

Know anyone who wants to buy a Sako S20 in 30-06? and 300 rounds of ammo and an extra 5-round magazine? ;-)

 

[3MTA3]

I like Tikka better than Savage for it's overall excellence and smoothness, but the ability to replace a shot out barrel at my kitchen table makes my vote Savage especially if I'm shooting a cartridge that is known for barrel wear. Both can shoot at competition levels.

If I went with a rifle that required a gunsmith for barrels, then I'd go with something that has a long bore life like the 308.

 

[Member 53328]

Know anyone who wants to buy a Sako S20 in 30-06? and 300 rounds of ammo and an extra 5-round magazine? ;-)

You can always throw it up in the classifieds. Although if I were you I'd sell the rifle and ammo separately. You'll get more money that way. .30-06 is a very common and good round that a lot of people will want.