Build me a rifle.

[wraithen]

Ghost hunter, when you wake up and read this, please understand I'm not trying to bash you, I just don't think you've grasped the entire concept of all the math involved and the expense of shooting that far. There is only one way to shoot long distance. That one way is also the most expensive part of the entire equation. AMMO! And lots of it. TONS and TONS of it! Even if you handload it still won't be a good idea. Join a marksman club somewhere. I still talk to young joes in the army that think a sniper rifle is some gun with a massive scope on it. They can tell me the stats about every sniper system in call of duty, and when I start getting into the long range ballistics their go to response is to mumble something about the coriolis effect. Not a single one can tell me anything about moving turrets. They forget that bullets arc and they aren't laser beams.

[JJB11B]

  BULLETS ARC??!!!!! sorry, couldnt resist

[coyotewallace]

Yea and 800 yard glass grows on trees

[JJB11B]

I thought Glass was made form nuclear ordinance being unleashed on Iran

[wraithen]

On the topic of glass... I've met guys that can iron sight 500 meters with a fully automatic gun. They only hit with the first round of course but that's still amazing to me. and this is 5.56 mind you. I need the magnification, but I would bet that the guys that can make 500 yard iron sight shots can make 800 with cheap ($300ish) glass.

[Miles]

Ghost hunter, when you wake up and read this, please understand I'm not trying to bash you, I just don't think you've grasped the entire concept of all the math involved and the expense of shooting that far. There is only one way to shoot long distance. That one way is also the most expensive part of the entire equation. AMMO! And lots of it. TONS and TONS of it! Even if you handload it still won't be a good idea. Join a marksman club somewhere. I still talk to young joes in the army that think a sniper rifle is some gun with a massive scope on it. They can tell me the stats about every sniper system in call of duty, and when I start getting into the long range ballistics their go to response is to mumble something about the coriolis effect. Not a single one can tell me anything about moving turrets. They forget that bullets arc and they aren't laser beams.

I'm confused... You're bragging about schooling "young joes" in this post, but a couple posts back you posted this:

Shooting a man sized target at 300 meters is enough of a b!tch for me to do consistantly, let alone something I may actually have a use for.

[wraithen]

No confusion miles, I didn't say that I could even dream about making the long shots. That doesn't mean I don't try to be a better marksman. I don't school the younger guys, I just ask questions to make them wonder if it's as easy as a video game. I personally am still a better shot with iron sights than I am with a scope. I'm getting better though. Me not being able to physically do something well doesn't equate to me not understanding what is involved in doing it well.

It took me 1500 rounds through my glock before I was good enough to hit a torso every time at 25 yards with only a second between each round in a magazine. I need more trigger time, and I'm finding out that that is the most expensive part of this whole process.

[JJB11B]

If you dont like recoil thread the barrel and get a muzzle brake. You are not going to be shooting 800 yds with enough energy to take down big game with a small caliber gun Stick with a magnum of .30 cal or bigger. Part of shooting rifles is to learn how to handle recoil. Make sure you are shooting properly and positioning yourself in such a way that your entire body is controlling the recoil...not just your forehead and your shoulder

[Miles]

No confusion miles, I didn't say that I could even dream about making the long shots. That doesn't mean I don't try to be a better marksman. I don't school the younger guys, I just ask questions to make them wonder if it's as easy as a video game. I personally am still a better shot with iron sights than I am with a scope. I'm getting better though. Me not being able to physically do something well doesn't equate to me not understanding what is involved in doing it well.

It took me 1500 rounds through my glock before I was good enough to hit a torso every time at 25 yards with only a second between each round in a magazine. I need more trigger time, and I'm finding out that that is the most expensive part of this whole process.

Ok, I get what you're saying.  Have you thought about getting something like a .22 or .223 where you can get a bunch of ammo really cheap and just try plinking at various distances?   I used to go through a brick of .22's a day, and just  plinking at all different things at different ranges just to see if I could hit things consistently.  I think that all that plinking helps a lot when you pick up a bigger caliber.

I also think that just getting out and trying to shoot a long range will help overcome the "this is hard to do" feeling.   Try to find someplace where you can shoot at your own pace and and where you prefer to shoot, instead of at a range.  Get a buddy and just go out and have some fun. 

[Bean Counter]

Is he talking about cleanly harvesting these animals " deer,elk,caribou,black bear,antelope,wolf,coyote,moose,sheep,goats" out to 800 yards ?

In the interest of qualifying my comment: I did not read his post that way. I dont think you can build a hunting setup to kill from 100-800yards for $700. I DO think you could make a dedicated setup for ranges of 500-650 yards in that budget.

OP was impressed by an article but only said he wants a dedicated gun to shoot out to "longer ranges." So I guess its in the eye of thebeholder. I have a $500 scope+rifle combo that I can nail targets out to 550 yards consistently. Thats the farthest at the 'public' range I can shoot withoutpaying member dues.

OP also admitted to being a bit of a puss as far as recoil goes. Magnums dont really fit well into that. so I would go with .308 or .30-06.

[wraithen]

On the forehead thing, I watched a guy shoot an ar with a scope that was massive (ballpark around 1/3 the length of the entire gun) and he got sliced pretty good on his nose. He asked me if I had a bandaid and seemed shocked when I told him I had a bunch but he'd be better off using the super glue I had instead. Am I the only one that would prefer to use super glue to stop a gushing cut over a band aid?

Miles I use the range at fort lewis. I generally like the atmosphere as it's relaxed compared to what I'm used to. I buy .223 by the 500's. I learned that the fundamentals still apply even with a scope  I am getting better and I found out the last time I was there that I can shoot at the 300+ hanging sandbag or whatever targets I want. I was actually even considering that my issue was the ammo... til the wife shot  I shoot circles around her with irons, she shames me with optics.

[FC]

Back your power range down wraithen, if you are good with irons you are probably just over-correcting with the scope. Anytime I am having a hard time getting settled down when shooting I back the power off and it helps greatly.

[JJB11B]

I dont think stretching an 06 or 308 out to 800 yards in hopes of bringing down deer and elk is ethical. YES it is very do-able for a shot. But at that range, you dont have a whole heck of a lot of energy to penetrate that deep...your not shooting 120 lb Japanese people


Wraithen, Don't take this the wrong way, I am in no way calling you a liar. I just want to know HOW IN THE F*$# a guy scope checks himself with an AR? Even the R-25 doesn't have much recoil. Ok, Just had to put that out there

[Bean Counter]

I would use a bandaid to cover a dried wound, not to stop bleeding. I usually carry a pocket knife or two and would probably cut off a sleeve or something cotton and appied direct pressure.

A while back I got a weeklong EMS training and a kick ass "trauma bag" to go with it. It has this spray can that looks like hair spray and is designed to clot larger open wounds quickly. Havent had a chance to use it yet but im not eager as im assuming its quite toxic.

Im quite curious where the glue idea comes from.

[JJB11B]

My mom always had me put super glue in the huge cracks I got on my feet when they got all dried in the summer. It works great and holds way better than Steri strips. I have super glue tubes all over...truck house shop bathroom boat etc