New to Rifle Shooting: Where to start?

[Curly]

For a long range rifle, you should take a look at rbos: http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,51097.30.html

http://rbrosrifles.com/gallery-rifles.php

Maybe a 7 WSM with a break on it would fit the bill........

There is a forum specifically for long range hunting/shooting that you may want to read thru: http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/

[Nape.257]

I have been doing the long rang hunting thing for about 4 years now because where I hunt most shots are from 300 yards on out to 1000+.

The first step to LRHing is how far do you want to shoot and what are you going to shoot at.

Things u will need.

Reloading equipment for accuracy and consistency.

A ballistic program mine is on a itouch (knight armerment and ballistic FTE to name few)

A weather station kestrel 3500 or better barometric presser is what it needs.

Range finder lica and swaro are good ones.

Scope plan on spending $800+ on a good one, I like MOA one with an MOA reticule and MOA turrets will make thing ez.

Mose guys want a rifle that shoots 1/2moa meaning 3inch  three shot groups at 600yards or 5inches at 1000. Which is why most guys go custom. I wish I had right out of the gate.

LRH.com is a good site search for the thing you want to know.

[jgrimes]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I like the 22 lr approach for working on the parts of shooting that I can control since I have very little experience behind the scope. I've checked out a number of the long range forums that you guys have suggested and they are loaded with tins of great info. I'd like to get a system that will put me back about $2500. Is that a reasonable budget? Anyone here put together a rig for around that?

[Curly]

You could always try a Savage http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/  long range hunter series and get a good scope with Turrets for it and see how you like that.  Then later down the road you could go the custom route.   You'll want to get setup with reloading too.

[huntnphool]

I'd like to get a system that will put me back about $2500. Is that a reasonable budget? Anyone here put together a rig for around that?

 

[Bofire]

  First.. shoot.   then shoot, a 22 rifle is mandatory, then shoot, then shoot other stuff different ways, then shoot some more. Then shoot with iron sights then with a scope then shoot and shoot a bit more. shoot some shotguns too. then get an 06 or 308 and shoot. above all else shoot. along here you will learn how or not.
Carl

[Helix]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I like the 22 lr approach for working on the parts of shooting that I can control since I have very little experience behind the scope. I've checked out a number of the long range forums that you guys have suggested and they are loaded with tins of great info. I'd like to get a system that will put me back about $2500. Is that a reasonable budget? Anyone here put together a rig for around that?

You can do well with this size budget.  you should check out http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/

The savage law enforcement series especially will get you in a Very accurate heavy contour barrel without breaking the bank and then you will have $$$ to spend on glass.  For this type of build consider spending as much on glass as the rifle... Unless you go custom rifle then more for the rifle...  you might consider a fluted barrel as well, not for accuracy advantage but to speed cooling.  if you are spending the kind of range time you need to to get these skills it will be more fun if your rifle can cool more efficiently.  I like the savage 10 FCP Mcmillan and 10 FCP HS precision, and the 10 precision carbine.  I've shot the 10 BA which is very accurate but way too heavy for a hunting rifle. 

For glass consider first: Nightforce NSX,  then maybe vortex razor HD, then a Vortex viper PST if you want to spend a little less.  you could also look at balistics compensating custom turrets but they are not needed.  you can actually dope your own turets and mark the range on them in a piece of masking tape.

For a scope of this quality and to do this job, expect to spend $1K or more and make sure you get turrets that match the substentions in your reticle (MOA/MOA or MIL/MIL)  I like MIL/Mil in my Vortex.  this will allow you to measure the difference between point of aim and point of impact and make real time adjustments to your turrets.  I also recomend getting a first focal plane reticle meaning the substentions in the reticle will work for ranging at any magnification without a conversion formula. 

At a thousand yards+ the quality of your glass will make the difference between not being able to see your target and hitting it.  Also I would look for a scope with at least a 4:1 power factor like a 6-24x50mm.  this will allow you to spot your target on a lower power then zoom in to a higher power.  If you don't have that low power end you will not be happy as you will see something in the spotting scope then never be able to find it in the rifle scope because your field of view will be too small.  you should also consider getting a spotting scope with substentions that match your rifle scope. This way if you work with a spotter they can call corrections to you that you can read in your reticle without converting anything. 

[Helix]

The one thing I would add to the novel I just posted above, is don't expect a $2500 rifle and scope package to jump you ahead in shooting skill any.  You still need to start with a minor caliber and develop sound fundamental shooting skills before you make the jump to trying to shoot uber long range.  It won't be any fun if you skip step one.  You will buy all this crap in a high end rifle and accessories and try it for 6 months and sell it all for half what you paid for it disgusted and confused as to why you started. Missing at 1000 yards is less fun than it might seem.  if all you are looking for is a big boom and making something dissapear shoot at 100 yards and get yourself a 45/70.  you'll have a blast even if you miss.   

[rgalanti21]

The key is just get to the range with a mid-cal load, if you don't want to start out at a .22. A .270 would be a great transition to the world of rifle shooting