any ideas on an affordable rifle??

I used an online ballistic calculator to make up an imaginary load. Cartridge 300 RUM, 200 grain Nosler Accubond (bc .588), muzzle vel 3000, sea level.

Range Velocity Impact Drop ToF Energy Drift
0 3000 -1.5 0 0 3997 0
100 2833 0 2.22 0.11 3564 0.93
200 2676 -2.85 8.79 0.21 3180 2.45
300 2526 -10.58 20.24 0.33 2834 5.07
400 2380 -23.79 37.17 0.45 2516 8.88
500 2241 -43.17 60.26 0.58 2230 13.96
600 2105 -69.48 90.29 0.72 1968 20.45
700 1975 -103.66 128.19 0.87 1732 28.47

The energy is acceptable at 700. Punching in the numbers for the 300 WM (2800 fps) using the same bullet it still remains a valid choice but bullet drop is 120 inches and energy drops to 1473 ftlbs.

The 7mm RM at 2900 fps with 160 gr Accubond (bc .531) drops 116 inches and energy drops to 1156 ftlbs. Energy is acceptable for deer but lacking for elk (this is of course if you buy into the energy arguement). Bullet drop is roughly 10 inches per 25 yards of range between 600 and 700 yards.

Please understand I am not trying to dissuade you from your goal but trying to point out the inherent difficulties in shooting that far.



No mention of caliber.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6rKgL75POo&feature=related

338 wildcat



Again no caliber mention.

I found a link to the guy doing the shooting above and here is his evolution to long range shooting. I am not plugging his product, just paints a pic of what we are talking about.
http://www.thompsonlongrange.com/thompson_story.pdf
 
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A lot of good info above. I personally am one of those who have a negative view of 'sniping' (I don't see it as hunting) big game at those kinds of distances. Too easy to wound an animal and not realize it. Misses, of course, are harmless.

All I can say is first learn to be a long-range precision shooter (that is, a GOOD one) on paper or steel before you go out after game. Join a club with a known-distance range out to 1000 yards if you can. Look for an affordable .308 'tactical' rifle or something like that, and learn to shoot it well as far out as your known-distance range goes. Especially learn to read the wind. And come up with some kind of reliable range-finding scheme. Long-range laser, mil-dot scope, military surplus optical, really long tape measure, whatever. Get very good with it. And perfect your shooting fundamentals: consistent placement and pressure of buttstock in your shoulder, consistent placement and pressure of cheek on stock, consistent placement of eye behind scope (vertically, horizontally, and fore-and aft), consistent grip and grip pressure, and perfect trigger management (consistent finger positioning, not pressing against the stock, and gentle surprise break).

Once you are a tack-driver on the kd range, go out to some public land and try target shooting at unknown ranges across a valley or whatever (with a safe backstop!), using whatever range-finding scheme you have adopted. It will be a real eye-opener. Once you get confident in your high-percentage (90%) first-shot hit distance on a paper plate sized target you can decide if hunting elk at that range is for you, and you can maybe step up to a bigger caliber.

Expect to spend lots and lots of time and more than a little money. A .308 at least will not be too expensive to shoot and has moderate recoil. Also go check out longrangehunting.com. Lots of good articles. As you can see this is not something to take lightly. Time and money are two things, a perfectionist's discipline is another!

Good luck!
 
7MM STW with 168 Berger VLD bullets will do what you want to accomplish, in a gun that will shoot .5 MOA. All you have to do is make it do what you want, that takes practice,practice, practice. Good Luck.
 
I don't know of anybody who is even a fair long range shooter who has not shot long range competition for at least a few years. It is something that takes serious dedication and the willingness to spend as much money as needed. It is not something you approach on a fixed budget.

Jack
 
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I don't know of anybody who is even a fair long range shooter who has not shot long range competition for at least a few years. It is something that takes serious dedication and the willingness to spend as much money as needed. It is not something you approach on a fixed budget.

Jack





AMEN
 
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