Long Range Shooting Classes or Startup Instruction?

[chukar hunter]

Awesome information and what I was looking for!  Thank you forum and for the efforts to keep on topic. 

Not to open a can of worms, but all classes seem to require an owner supplied rifle for the class.  I do have a capable firearm(Remington model 700, 7mm mag), lethal to my current abilities ~ 350 yards.  It's harvested +20 large game animals, though purchased in late 90's, I'm not sure it has the sub MOA capabilities so many new rifles tout.  It's topped with a Leupold VX-II with dial scope.  I'm a proficient shooter, took the rifle marksman award home, at every boy scout camp I attended! 

With that said, how do I read through the fluff online and find a hunting rifle capable of hitting 1000 yds, while setting personal ethics limits out to 5 and 600 yards?  I've perused Rbros, Gunwerks, Christiansen arms websites and while I drool at those rifles, I'm hard on equipment given the terrain and effort expelled on hunts.  Will "sub par" rifles without the price tag seen above perform?  I'm hard headed/loyal and will stick with the 7mm mag caliber, so what are the elements to consider when buying a long range rifle?  Precision of barrel, muzzle break, ammunition, ect?

I don't reload yet, so would likely be utilizing factory made ammo.  What would building vs buying an Rbros rifle save? 

Thanks again for all of the information.  I will be utilizing much of it and such great offers by many of the forum members on here. 

[Magnum_Willys]

Get a good solid rest front and rear, bench or bipod, shoot 5 shot group at 300 yards.  See what your current rifle can do.  Try other ammo if possible.   Even customs may not shoot certain factory ammo sub moa.  With reloads your current rifle might be adequate ?

[Bushcraft]

Awesome information and what I was looking for!  Thank you forum and for the efforts to keep on topic. 

Not to open a can of worms, but all classes seem to require an owner supplied rifle for the class.  I do have a capable firearm(Remington model 700, 7mm mag), lethal to my current abilities ~ 350 yards.  It's harvested +20 large game animals, though purchased in late 90's, I'm not sure it has the sub MOA capabilities so many new rifles tout.  It's topped with a Leupold VX-II with dial scope.  I'm a proficient shooter, took the rifle marksman award home, at every boy scout camp I attended! 

With that said, how do I read through the fluff online and find a hunting rifle capable of hitting 1000 yds, while setting personal ethics limits out to 5 and 600 yards?  I've perused Rbros, Gunwerks, Christiansen arms websites and while I drool at those rifles, I'm hard on equipment given the terrain and effort expelled on hunts.  Will "sub par" rifles without the price tag seen above perform?  I'm hard headed/loyal and will stick with the 7mm mag caliber, so what are the elements to consider when buying a long range rifle?  Precision of barrel, muzzle break, ammunition, ect?

I don't reload yet, so would likely be utilizing factory made ammo.  What would building vs buying an Rbros rifle save? 

Thanks again for all of the information.  I will be utilizing much of it and such great offers by many of the forum members on here.

While you may luck out and get good accuracy with factory ammo, you'll invariably get better accuracy with the bullet you'd prefer to use if you reload and spend some time finding the sweet spot for your particular rifle.  That goes for both factory and custom rifles.

As for rifles, you'll find that there is a rapidly diminishing return with respect to the cost vs. accuracy.  For example, you could go buy a decent bone stock rifle, solid rings and bases, a good aftermarket stock and have a muzzle brake installed for about a quarter of the price of some of the rifles you mentioned.  It will likely easily shoot under 1 MOA with it's favorite handload if you do your part. A few thousand dollars into a custom gun might only buy you another 1/4-1/2".  That's all wasted money if you don't understand how to read or shoot in different environmental conditions.

So, at this stage of your interest level, I would encourage you to not dump $4-7K into a custom rifle.  In my opinion cannonballing into the long range pool is a big mistake.  Buy a good starter rifle OTC and put your money into very high quality glass (Nightforce, Schmidt & Bender, Kahles) and reloading gear and components...and classes.  If after sending a few thousand rounds downrange you're still interested, then by all means step up to a an long hammer from RBros, Defensive Edge, Kirby Allen, etc.

There is a difference when you step up to a custom long range rig, but only if you know how to use it.

[CAMPMEAT]

Awesome information and what I was looking for!  Thank you forum and for the efforts to keep on topic. 

Not to open a can of worms, but all classes seem to require an owner supplied rifle for the class.  I do have a capable firearm(Remington model 700, 7mm mag), lethal to my current abilities ~ 350 yards.  It's harvested +20 large game animals, though purchased in late 90's, I'm not sure it has the sub MOA capabilities so many new rifles tout.  It's topped with a Leupold VX-II with dial scope.  I'm a proficient shooter, took the rifle marksman award home, at every boy scout camp I attended! 

With that said, how do I read through the fluff online and find a hunting rifle capable of hitting 1000 yds, while setting personal ethics limits out to 5 and 600 yards?  I've perused Rbros, Gunwerks, Christiansen arms websites and while I drool at those rifles, I'm hard on equipment given the terrain and effort expelled on hunts.  Will "sub par" rifles without the price tag seen above perform?  I'm hard headed/loyal and will stick with the 7mm mag caliber, so what are the elements to consider when buying a long range rifle?  Precision of barrel, muzzle break, ammunition, ect?

I don't reload yet, so would likely be utilizing factory made ammo.  What would building vs buying an Rbros rifle save? 

Thanks again for all of the information.  I will be utilizing much of it and such great offers by many of the forum members on here.

One of GUNWERKS favorite calibers is the 7mm or at least on TV it is..

I started with a store bought Savage Model 10 LE 308 and a Millett scope.

[yorketransport]

Awesome information and what I was looking for!  Thank you forum and for the efforts to keep on topic. 

Not to open a can of worms, but all classes seem to require an owner supplied rifle for the class.  I do have a capable firearm(Remington model 700, 7mm mag), lethal to my current abilities ~ 350 yards.  It's harvested +20 large game animals, though purchased in late 90's, I'm not sure it has the sub MOA capabilities so many new rifles tout.  It's topped with a Leupold VX-II with dial scope.  I'm a proficient shooter, took the rifle marksman award home, at every boy scout camp I attended! 

With that said, how do I read through the fluff online and find a hunting rifle capable of hitting 1000 yds, while setting personal ethics limits out to 5 and 600 yards?  I've perused Rbros, Gunwerks, Christiansen arms websites and while I drool at those rifles, I'm hard on equipment given the terrain and effort expelled on hunts.  Will "sub par" rifles without the price tag seen above perform?  I'm hard headed/loyal and will stick with the 7mm mag caliber, so what are the elements to consider when buying a long range rifle?  Precision of barrel, muzzle break, ammunition, ect?

I don't reload yet, so would likely be utilizing factory made ammo.  What would building vs buying an Rbros rifle save? 

Thanks again for all of the information.  I will be utilizing much of it and such great offers by many of the forum members on here. 

The most accurate rifle I’ve ever shot or owned was a factory Savage LRPV in 22-250 with a Bushnell 4200 scope. The complete package cost me under $1300 and would put 5 shots into sub .25 MOA groups all day every day with groups in the .150” range when I had a good day. Don’t worry too much about the rifle. Likewise, you don’t need a $2000 optic. I’ve seen shooters make consistent hits beyond 1000 yards with everything from $250 Nikons to $5000 Hensoldts with my preference being for optics in the $1000-1500 range.

You could pick up a Savage in 7mm mag, throw a  Leupold VX-3 on there and buy some quality ammo and do just fine shooting game to 600 yards for less than $1200. Take the money you saved one the rifle/scope combo and buy either ammo to practice with or a reloading press.

[W_Ellison2011]

I would recommend leupold, Millet, or Vortex for optics. Not everyone has $2k plus to throw just into optics. If you do then by all means go for it. We have 0 issues with any of the 3 brands I mentioned and their warranties are great! I'm with the other guys on not needing to spend $4-7k on a custom rifle right off the bat. Savage rifles out of the box, from what I have seen and experienced, are some of the most accurate rifles for the money. If you don't want a magnum like some are suggesting then get the model 12 FV in 6.5 cm or .308. I have a buddy that has one in .308 win that he threw a boyds AT-One stock onto and he can nail 4" targets at 600 yards like its nothing... mind you that's a lot of time spent working on hand loads and behind the trigger.

[bigdub257]

Tagging along and wondering if anyone has any thoughts or feedback regarding the Burris Eliminator scopes.

[Bushcraft]

Tagging along and wondering if anyone has any thoughts or feedback regarding the Burris Eliminator scopes.

It's an overpriced gimmicky piece of garbage.

How's that for feedback? 

[Magnum_Willys]

Tagging along and wondering if anyone has any thoughts or feedback regarding the Burris Eliminator scopes.

Seems like an obvious progression from using rangefinder plus dial but idk just having a hard time liking it..... I've heard guys happy with it out to 700 yards though

[bigdub257]

Thanks for the direct response Bushcraft!   Anybody else have any direct experience with this scope?