best long range rifle?
Whats the best long range rifle for hunting bear,elk,moose?
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looking for a long range (500-1000 yards) shooter for less than $1500 not counting the optics. would a yugo 308 AK with 20" barrel do the trick? any other sugestions would be appreciated. how about the ammo?
thanks - V0 -
Hunting what?????
Gophers or Elk?
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depends on what you're hunting. Deer, coyote, elk, bear? 0 -
All depends on what you are plan on hunting, and just how long of a range are you talking about? 300 yards, 800 yards, a mile? There are many knowledgeable hunters out there that subscribe to the notion that 500 yards is the absolute longest range to fire any caliber rifle at any game, and I hold that as gospel as well. Any further than that, and you are just guessing, and will probably wound more game than you cleanly kill, and that is a bad thing.
With that in mind, there are many great 300 caliber rifles that will suit you well, within that range, for most North American big game hunting. The most important thing to remember when planing a hunt, know what game animal you are stalking, and the terrain you will be hunting in, and then decide what caliber you want to hunt with.
Once you have that information, write back to this forum, and these experts will be able to help you pin down you best choice for a rifle.
Good luck!
BigBarn[:o)]
"Respect the land, and it will respect you"0 -
If you are proficient past 500yds,..then hunting at that range is acceptable. Shooting from a mechaincal rest and rear bags with a proven rifle makes that acceptable. I'll hold no apologies for shooting past that range. If I can go 3" for 5 shots at 600yds,..then I'm good to 1000yds (FROM THE BENCH).
next,..for the game you are choosing,..anything under a 30cal magnum would be unwise (considering Long range means to me 500yds at the closest) You will need heavy bullets with High BC and jacket/core integrity to handle the flight as well as the impact. Breaks are quite often employed on LR hunting rigs due to caliber as well as to maintain a better ride in the bags, That gives a much better picture of impact through the glass during recoil to spot hits at longer ranges.
I am going to suggest these calibers:
300win mag
300wsm
300wthby
300RUM
338RUM
338-378wthby
338/416 rigby improved
338 Lapua
338 Yogi
many of these are wildcats,..therefore if you are looking for a factory rig,..I consider the remington 700 Sendero SF to be the benchmark out of the box LR rifle. These can be had in 300win mag, 300wthby mag, 7mmRUM, 300RUM, 338RUM. (all plenty capable) The stock is an HS Precision 2000 series and the hammer forged contour #6 fluted barrels really perform. A trigger job and skim bedding and you are off and running.
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?0 -
I would suggest considering the Sako/Lazzeroni .308 Warbird. It is the fastest .30 caliber with 180 grain bullets. It has more speed and energy at 400 yards with a 150 grain bullet than a 30.06 does at the muzzle. That in mind I would think if you stuck a 30.06 in anythings ribcage at point blank it would do damage. Check out the www.lazzeroni.com website and read about the lazerhead bullet. The Sako TRG-S is discontinued but there is a new one up for sale on this site that expires in a few days. Just go to the home page and search for Lazzeroni to find it.
I also agree with JustC that if you have a gun and scope that is capable of making a 600 yard shot, with perfect conditions it should be OK to shoot.
Mad Dog0 -
50bmg? 0 -
338 to 300yds - wouldnt shoot a bear further
make sure you know where it hits at different yardage0 -
The 264 Win Mag. at one time held the records at 1000 yards. It is hard to find any more.
Your mileage may vary.
"If you ain't got pictures, I wasn't there."0 -
I would consider the following very carefully before shooting past 500 yds at game...particularly if your hunt is a 'guided' hunt or involves significant expense for travel, out-of-state tags, time away from work/family.
1) Let your guide work to find you a better shooting problem. Giving a client the opportunity for a shot of beyond 350 yds is not a successful hunt, in my opinion. Wait for a better shot...you may get no better shot...be a better sportsman.
2) Consider how you shoot off a bench at 500 yds or more. Is your first shot on target? Or do you need one sighter to get your wind dope right. If you cannot read wind on the first shot on a range. You will not read it well under field conditions that are harsher (probably) than you will encounter deer hunting in your stands near home.
I'll agree with Big Barn, and respectfully disagree with JustC and Travis....shooting 400 yard distant deer over a beanfield that you have shot over dozens of times before is not equivalent to taking a shot at game in terrain/weather that the shooter is not intimately familiar with.
"They're in front of us, they're behind us, they're to our left and to our right...they can't get away now."
Chesty Puller, Chosin Reservoir, Korea
SEMPER FI0 -
easygo6,..a leica 1200 laser and a palm pilot with weather station and balistics software can make a shot at 500yds no problem. That being said,..I carry the shooting bench in the back of the truck along with a bald eagle rest with 2 tops,..a 15" Bull Bag, 2 rear bags, range finders, spotting scopes etc. As long as you have a good dope log worked out and proven,..wind is the only variable. The palm pilot with balistcis software and a handheld windmeter (neither of which are very expensive) the calculations can be made and corrections taken in mere seconds.
These tools are the necessary products to be an efficient shooter at game at long range. The summer weather here,..often only yields a max of ~3mph in the afternoons,..so wind changes can be negated out to much past 500yds before they become an issue
My guide was able to get me within 407yds for my antelope,..but the buck was awful nervous. I was able to lay in the sage brush earlier that day and get a nice buck within ~250yds,..but the angle I had didn't allow a great shot.
One has a responsibility to become proficient at the ranges they wish to shoot before they pursue game. Once the equipment and loads have been proven,..then verifying range to target and making any adjustments for wind/elevation is all that is needed. That "holdover" game simply is the unethical way to do it. LR hunting requires far more practice,..far more patience,..and most of all,..to do it right, far more $$ in the equipment to eliminate variables.
why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
Got Balistics?0 -
i have no problem w/ "long range hunting"- if you can get the job done(meat in the freezer)...but i think if you can shoot this well already and know the quarry you seek, you wouldn't be asking for advice- you'd be giving it(justc comes to mind). i'd be damned sure about myself before setting sail at an elk +500 yards away w/ any "rifle" or round, because i've heard too many horror stories tracking the wounded. good luck to you... 0
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