Best Long range rifle

[Biggerhammer]

It's a reverse engineering thing. Look at the bullet diameter and BC you prefer, crunch the numbers for your velocity window. Then decide on what case or parent case for that matter will meet your requirements. I have always looked at what distances I will be shooting and what game I will be taking, decided on my bullet then chose the cartridge/ case to push it.

[Biggerhammer]

I'm starting now looking for a long range shooter. I know I want good power out to 900 yards or so, I'm not sure what calaber to go with or how to figure out what shoots best at long range. I know I don't need or really want a 50 cal and the wife would kill me when I went to buy ammo. Anyway what would you all say is the best rifle?

But just think how much fun it would be to play around with a 50. 

I'll take a big .338 over a .50 any day when it comes to big game hunting.

[bearpaw]

I have been watching that topic about the 375 RUM Improved.... sounded interesting, probably tough going through the process to make brass though. 

[BullMagnet76]

The 300 RUM is sweet and will do anything that you want it too.  You can buy a Rem 700 BDL just for the action, buy a Krieger barrel, get a custom stock and a Jewell trigger, blue print the action.  It is a cheaper way to build your own custom long range gun.  And if you want to go a little bit further you could get a poor mans Lapua, with the 338 RUM, it is only a little slower than the Lapua and it uses the same action as the 300 RUM.

[Biggerhammer]

The 300 RUM is sweet and will do anything that you want it too.  You can buy a Rem 700 BDL just for the action, buy a Krieger barrel, get a custom stock and a Jewell trigger, blue print the action.  It is a cheaper way to build your own custom long range gun.  And if you want to go a little bit further you could get a poor mans Lapua, with the 338 RUM, it is only a little slower than the Lapua and it uses the same action as the 300 RUM.

Poor mans Lapua my hindend! The .338 Ultra is faster than the Lapua and the edge is slightly faster than the Ultra with the 300 gr bullets. All the Lapua has is the factory brass by Lapua, the Lapua is not faster than the .338 Ultra Magnum. A guy who has the dedication to match prep factory Remington brass for his .338 Ultra doesn't need a "Lapua" head stamp. I learned that years ago with several heavy .300 Win Mags I had built. My match prepped Winchester brass shot side by side in my .300 Win Mags with a " Lapua " headstamp.

[JimmyHoffa]

.338 has lots of great bullet options for long range.  Usually higher BC than you can get for 7mm or .30 cal.  As the bullet cal increases, the weight of the bullet/volume can increase faster than the increase in cross-sectional area which is a factor in drag (biggest is velocity).  So the bigger bullets overcome the drag forces better to retain velocity--and wind drift too.  A .50 cal will demonstrate this well especially with the A-max.  But the .50s are usually a pain to carry around.  The .338s are usually the balance of portability and range/energy.  There are also the .408/.416 long range rounds, but I haven't got to play with them......yet.

[BullMagnet76]

The 300 RUM is sweet and will do anything that you want it too.  You can buy a Rem 700 BDL just for the action, buy a Krieger barrel, get a custom stock and a Jewell trigger, blue print the action.  It is a cheaper way to build your own custom long range gun.  And if you want to go a little bit further you could get a poor mans Lapua, with the 338 RUM, it is only a little slower than the Lapua and it uses the same action as the 300 RUM.

Poor mans Lapua my hindend! The .338 Ultra is faster than the Lapua and the edge is slightly faster than the Ultra with the 300 gr bullets. All the Lapua has is the factory brass by Lapua, the Lapua is not faster than the .338 Ultra Magnum. A guy who has the dedication to match prep factory Remington brass for his .338 Ultra doesn't need a "Lapua" head stamp. I learned that years ago with several heavy .300 Win Mags I had built. My match prepped Winchester brass shot side by side in my .300 Win Mags with a " Lapua " headstamp.

My bad, I was always told that the 338 RUM was about 200 fps slower, I do not have any experience with the Lapua.  My long range gun is a custom Rem 700 in the 300 Win mag. caliber.  I just say that the 338 RUM is the poor mans Lapua because the ammo and rifles are a bit cheaper.

[Biggerhammer]

The 300 RUM is sweet and will do anything that you want it too.  You can buy a Rem 700 BDL just for the action, buy a Krieger barrel, get a custom stock and a Jewell trigger, blue print the action.  It is a cheaper way to build your own custom long range gun.  And if you want to go a little bit further you could get a poor mans Lapua, with the 338 RUM, it is only a little slower than the Lapua and it uses the same action as the 300 RUM.

Poor mans Lapua my hindend! The .338 Ultra is faster than the Lapua and the edge is slightly faster than the Ultra with the 300 gr bullets. All the Lapua has is the factory brass by Lapua, the Lapua is not faster than the .338 Ultra Magnum. A guy who has the dedication to match prep factory Remington brass for his .338 Ultra doesn't need a "Lapua" head stamp. I learned that years ago with several heavy .300 Win Mags I had built. My match prepped Winchester brass shot side by side in my .300 Win Mags with a " Lapua " headstamp.

My bad, I was always told that the 338 RUM was about 200 fps slower, I do not have any experience with the Lapua.  My long range gun is a custom Rem 700 in the 300 Win mag. caliber.  I just say that the 338 RUM is the poor mans Lapua because the ammo and rifles are a bit cheaper.

A rifle build is a rifle build nothing cheaper about one or the other with the same components. Cost exactly the same to load for when your running Nosler Custom .338 RUM brass at 2.24 a piece, not counting the shipping. So if you sit down and do the math let's say at a 1500 round barrel life the .338 Lapua or the Ultra Magnum Are going to cost you close to 2200.00-2500.00 in components powder, bullet, brass  and primers to shoot out that first chambering. Thats using a Berger 300 gr Hybrid and figuring 5 firings per piece of brass.

Bargain shooting the big magnums is almost non existent unless a guy scores a smoking deal on bulk components.

Also when it comes to guys shooting the Nosler Accubond 250's it would be better to shooting the Nosler 225's. With their BC and the added velocity. Shooting a 250 is taking a step back.

[rebal69972]

I want to use it for hunting i could use my other rifles for shooting steel. Probable hunting yote at first till I'm confident with my ability then to larger game. I have rem 700 in 308 but 600 yards is pushing it. I do plan on loading my own brass. I do have the time and a decent range to use well it's not a range but it is over 1000 yards. For the last 10 years my long range shooting has been 60 yards I bow hunt and even went to hunting yotes with a shotgun. Before I went to bow hunting I love to push my 06 to the max. I would like to build my own weapon. I have been leaning to the 338. But not real sure yet. The 50 cal would be a blast for steel but damn shot an elk with 1 and it's killed, cleaned and cooked.

Sorry this is so random I tried to answer in order

[carpsniperg2]

You would be supprised by how little damage a 50 has on game animals. If you just shoot them threw the lungs it's not that bad. If you shoot them threw the shoulder you will have a mess!

[demontang]

I own a 338 win and can tell you the 225gr accubonds do hold an edge over the 250gr like hammer said. Im one of the guys that can hit steel well but if you throw a heart beat in the target you can call it dead. Im not saying that steel isnt great for practic but if you always shoot in perfect conditions youll never perform in the field. Find a cal that you can handle has the energy needed and start shooting. Know your limits, learn to read the wind and other conditions because at that range it can make a wounded animal over a dead one. The big 30-338 cals would be the best bet form what Ive learned. Longest shot ive taken on a living target was a coyote at over 500yds with a 223. Know your gun bullet and ability.

[kentrek]

why 900 yards ? sounds like you have a place already in mind to hunt..either way if you want a hunting gun,a real death stick, i would get somthing in the 8 pound range in a reg magnum size caliber,put a break on there and a jewell triger(very important)..then do your best to shoot out the barrel..have your 2nd barrel be the krieger..the rifle is prolly the least of your worries when making those longer shots..just my 

[h20hunter]

Your bow shooting may come in handy for your long range shooting. The importance of form carries over.

[Biggerhammer]

I own a 338 win and can tell you the 225gr accubonds do hold an edge over the 250gr like hammer said. Im one of the guys that can hit steel well but if you throw a heart beat in the target you can call it dead. Im not saying that steel isnt great for practic but if you always shoot in perfect conditions youll never perform in the field. Find a cal that you can handle has the energy needed and start shooting. Know your limits, learn to read the wind and other conditions because at that range it can make a wounded animal over a dead one. The big 30-338 cals would be the best bet form what Ive learned. Longest shot ive taken on a living target was a coyote at over 500yds with a 223. Know your gun bullet and ability.

Here's a sexy box of 225gr .338 Nosler Accubonds that showed up from Shootersproshop yesterday. Now that's what I call, one fun box!!!! 

[wraithen]

Bigger, I love you.

P.S. I hate you!