Looking to get into long range shooting need help

[Rabidwolf]

I am planning on buying a 30-06 or a 7mm in the near future to use as a elk rifle as well as for shooting out to 600yds. The longest distance I have experience shooting is about 300 and that was years ago. My question is when I go to buy a rifle what would be the best option to start with for a factory rifle? I will have around a $5-600 budget for just the rifle. I was thinking Rem 700 but not sure on what model to get or if there is a better route to go. So I thought I would ask the experts. Please keep in mind I am new to this.

Also on a side note, my wife has a bad shoulder but wants to shoot to 600yds as well. What would be a good caliber for her that wouldn't have a lot of recoil? I was thinking about getting a .243.

 

[Rabidwolf]

Re: Looking to get into long range shooting need help

So I have been doing some reading and it looks like the Rem 700 SPS would be a good place to start, would this be correct? Otherwise I was looking at a Weatherby Vanguard series 2 as they both fall into my price range. The plan is to start off shooting it stock for a while then replace the stock with most likely a B&C Medalist or similar hunting style stock. Then depending on the trigger replace it with a Timney Trigger.

 

[stmcelroy]

Re: Looking to get into long range shooting need help

Anything from .223 on up will make it to 600 yards, it really boils down to what you want to do.

A .30-06 or 7mm won't be fun to shoot much for target practice but it will work.

Remington 700, Savage, Howa, Winchester/FN, etc all make good guns. I'd stay away from the cheap entry level guns like the Remington 770, etc.

.223, .243 or .260 sound like what your wife is wanting, heck i'd get a nice .260 and use it for everything even elk.

 

[Hawk45]

Re: Looking to get into long range shooting need help

Welcome, and glad to see you've been doing some due diligence in reading threads. Continue to do so.

You see most shooting Remy 700's or Savages because of histoy, accuracy and accessory availability. But a Weatherby is a good gun as well. If you are just looking to add a hunting stock you should be fine with any. Before you jump the "gun" on any rifle, make sure you understand ballistics and know what load you plan to shoot and the twist of the barrels. You want to make sure you have enough twist for the weight of bullet you plan to shoot.

A .243 with the right bullet and twist will get you past 1000yds, and a 7mmMag past 2000yds if you have the wind call skills. Do some more reading as there are lots of rounds out there now that do amazing things with very little recoil and cheaper components.

Good luck.

 

[Rabidwolf]

Re: Looking to get into long range shooting need help

I may have to look into the .260 as well as the .243 for my wife. As for Rem vs weatherby and just adding a stock, well I want a rifle tat will be used for hunting but most of the time will be used at the range working my way out to 600 yds. So a new stock, trigger, eventually a new barrel when needed, I'm thinking a 4-16 power scope with AO and resettable turrets. The prices are close so either would work. If I would be better off going with one than the other please let me know.

 

[Rabidwolf]

Re: Looking to get into long range shooting need help

Ok I have read good things about both rifles. From what I gather both would work for what I am wanting but the Remmy would allow more customization. If I was planning on using it for hunting and as a target rifle out to 600 in your opinions which would be the better buy a Rem 700 sps or the Vanguard series 2 both in 30-06? I am not really planning on making this into a dedicated long range gun but do want to be able to shoot to 600 with decent groups. I think I can honestly say I am stuck on this decision at this point. Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.

 

[stmcelroy]

Re: Looking to get into long range shooting need help

Flip a coin, or just pick the one that looks the best to you.

Not really much of a difference for your uses.

 

[Jhnmdahl]

Re: Looking to get into long range shooting need help

You could probably hunt elk with a .260 (or anything else based on a .308, like a 7mm-08), despite a lot of people say a .308 or .270 is a more forgiving or more practical minimum caliber.

If I were planning to do a lot of target shooting, I'd rather be shooting a 7mm-08 than a 30-06 or .300 win mag, but it's a question of what direction you want to take the inevitable tradeoffs.

 

[Rabidwolf]

Re: Looking to get into long range shooting need help

When I was a teen I used to shoot 20+ rounds through a 7mm mag on range trips. I am not really worried about the recoil for myself. From reading and talking with people I was highly recommended the 06 for a hunting cartridge since it will take just about all North American big game. The .260 would be a consideration for a low recoil round for my wife. I have heard that it would be a great caliber for her and if she decided to go elk hunting it would work for that as well. I have thought about a .308 for her but I am not sure what the recoil is like and don't know anyone that has one to let her try it.

 

[Rabidwolf]

Re: Looking to get into long range shooting need help

Would a .308 work for elk hunting in Colorado? I was recommended on a different forum to skip the 06 and either step down to a .308 which would save me money or up to a 300 for. I like the idea of being able to shoot cheaper since 80% of the time it will be a target rifle anyways. Also if the .308 will work what length barrel should I look for? I was looking at the SPS tactical but it has a 20" heavy barrel.