Long Range Hunting

EasternPredHunter

EasternPredHunter

New member
If you were told you had to make a 1000 yard shot on an elk or a whitetail but you got to pick what caliber you used, what would it be? Not looking for extreme answers either such as a 50 BMG or a hand held 20mm rifle.

Along with caliber, what "brand" and "model" would you go with?

I AM NOT SAYING IT IS ETHICAL, NOR AM I SAYING ITS MY INTENDED GOAL, ITS JUST A QUESTION

Thanks
 
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I just built a 338AX pistol(338Lapua Mag IMP). Its whole life being is for a 1000Yd Elk kill. That is when I know I ready.

IM also haveing a 7MM Dakota Pistol being built for a back up.
 
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I'd have GAP build me a 300wm

Though something like a remmy 5r in 300wm or the savage 10fcp hs precision in 300 would probably do it as well.
 
Thanks for the replies thus far. If i can make another restriction, id like to keep it withing the factory ammo relm.

Considering making a long range hunting setup. Probably will never shoot 1000 in my life. Looking at a remington 700 sps in 300 win mag for a base and then see how it goes from there. Dont want to spend $3000 for putting some meat in the freezer either.
 
I am building a tight budget 300WM long range rifle of that type currently, but doubt I'd take a 1000 yard shot at game (varmint maybe). I'm using a Steven's 200 action, it already has a well tuned Rifle Basix trigger and an EGW rail, Nikon Glass. Heavy magnum contour barrel came today and it along with my Titan brake and action is all packaged up and ready to ship to my gunsmith buddy this week.
 
Any 7 mag with a good 160 for a minimum...

300 mags with 180 and 200s are also good.

Big 338s with 250-300s are also great.

I've shot elk with all of them at longer range up and out to 1125 yards. They all do the job if you do yours in the long run.

Id go with a custom barreled 700 or 70 and work up good consistent loads and do a bunch of practicing out to at least the maximum distance you intend to try shooting animals.

I run Leupold vx3 LR 6.5-20s for optics.

Bottom line is to get something that fits you and shoots well, then start practicing.
 
Thanks guys!


When using a 300 win mag, that has a good quality barrel on it and is properly setup in the necessary areas, what type of groups are we talking about? 10" @1000?

How are the 300 win mags past that?
Barrel life?

I would like a .338 Lapua, but its just to darn expensive
 
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I'd go 7mm. Any of them are pretty good long range rifles and have better ballistics than the same cartridge in 30 cal. I'd go rem mag or ultra mag with a 168-180 bullet.
 
Originally Posted By: EasternPredHunter

"When using a 300 win mag, that has a good quality barrel on it and is properly setup in the necessary areas, what type of groups are we talking about? 10" @1000?




Easily - the 300 WM has won more 1,000 yard matchs than all other cartridges combined... but 99.99999% of shooters can't cut it at 1,000 yards.

Quote:

"I would like a .338 Lapua, but its just to darn expensive."



If you are worrying about expense in the 1,000 yard hunting game, then you are playing with a pair of deuces.

To hit even a moose at 1,000, you are going to have to spend a ton of time on your rifle, shooting at targets at 1,000 (and more) yards, and the cost of the rounds is the smallest parts of the equation.


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Originally Posted By: EasternPredHunterThanks guys!


When using a 300 win mag, that has a good quality barrel on it and is properly setup in the necessary areas, what type of groups are we talking about? 10" @1000?

How are the 300 win mags past that?
Barrel life?

I would like a .338 Lapua, but its just to darn expensive

If you're thinking 1000 yard hunting you cannot get by with factory ammo. An economical way to do it would be building a rifle off a Stevens 200. Match barrel, new trigger, new stock bedded of course. Good glass a must, perhaps a Leupold mk 4, Sightron would be a great option for economy.

Lots of reloading and lots of practice and you might get 10" groups in perfect conditions. On a good day I might hit a 12" gong 8 out of 10 times at 1000 using a TRG-42 w/ a S&B PM II and 300 grain SMKs (up here this is a $8500 setup, not cheap!). I wouldn't take it out to 1000 on a animal with my level of ability. It really takes a lot of money and practice to shoot a big game at that distance. If you're serious I wouldn't worry about the cost of .300 win vs..338 lap.
 
When I first started shooting long range, the guys that were helping me said it this way: Don't plan to shoot well at 1000yrds for your first rifle/barrel. By the time you've shoot enough rounds to get there, you'll wear out a barrel. At the time I thought they were exaggerating. A barrel later, I realized they weren't joking.

For Elk at 1000yrds, the simple answer is, if you have to ask, you'll never know. The more you shoot, go play at that range with a few different rifles and you'll see how these other guys have came up with the rounds they've suggested. Sure, there are certain characteristics of different cartridges that make them suitable, but knowing how to do a 3-step drop doesn't make you Peyton Manning. There's no way to fake 1,000yrds, or cheat your way there. Not saying you don't have the ability, I don't know your experience level, but a rifle and round does not a shooter make.

I'd personally consider a 6.5-284 as a minimum, probably favor a .300WSM. The .338/.375's are a little big for my tastes (read heavy recoiling, and/or heavy to tote around), but it's hard to argue with slugs over 200grns.
 
1000yd shooting game is not for the weak of heart or check book.

Been building up to it over the last year. 600 is getting comfortable 1000 is still some time away.
 
Originally Posted By: EasternPredHunterThanks guys!


When using a 300 win mag, that has a good quality barrel on it and is properly setup in the necessary areas, what type of groups are we talking about? 10" @1000? Hand loads

How are the 300 win mags past that?What is the longest you have ever shot at?
Barrel life? Why does it matter?

I would like a .338 Lapua, but its just to darn expensive You wanna play you gotta pay!

If your not wanting to spend $3000 for meat then stick to the short range game! You have to crawl before you can walk.

Me I would go for the .338LM!
 
Quote: 1000yd shooting game is not for the weak of heart or check book.



+1. Weather its big game or targets.

Personally, I would go with a 338RUM or Lapua. To me, at that distance with that big of an animal, it's all about FPE, and accuracy.
 


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