First attempt at Long Range

[Hewie]

Gday Everyone,

I thought Id post a couple of pics from my first attempt at long(er) range shooting from the weekend just gone.

We headed down to a friends property to setup some new rifles and do some hunting. While I was there I decided Id have a crack at a couple of longer range shots just to see how it went. This is where we were shooting from.



Range was 735m (800 yards) onto a 8 inch target with a 13km crosswind at sea level. I was shooting a Remington VTR 223 using a factory 69grn Sierra HPBT Match round.

I only shot 5 rounds at that distance as that's all the 69 match ammo I had left over from the day before.

This was the result




Overall I was pretty happy with the result. The first 3 were way off as my wind call was off the mark with the gusts, but I landed one in the end.

More practice is definitely required though.

Cheers

H

 

[Bigchaza]

thats the way mate stick to it

 

[sib1948]

That's great shooting for the scrawny 223 at that range! Beautiful place you're shooting at also.

 

[Rodnoneous]

Looks like the Stirling Ranges?

Nice shooting mate. We took a 7mm Rem Mag and 300WM out Wonky Hills way and shot out to 800 good fun. Trying to sell a few toys now to fund my own precision rifle.

Rod.

 

[Hewie]

Cheers guys. I was pretty happy considering Ive only shot out to about 400m previously.

Close, Denmark way. Yeah its a great place to chill out, relax and get some shooting done. The only issue is the wind where we are shooting is really unpredictable. We were shooting clays in the arvo and they were all over the place.

How do you find the 300WM ? Im thinking about a Sako 42 in either 300WM or 338 if I can get one, for a long range precision platform.

What are you going to build ?

 

[Rodnoneous]

Close! That deck looks great. You weren't with a lawyer from Perth by any chance? (possibly a member here).

300WM I shot was built by Redback Precision in Queensland, Maddco 26" #9 profile (fluted), ACIS DBM, McMillan A5 Adj topped with an S&B PMII 5-25x56 Limited Edition. Rifle belongs to a mate of mine. The 7mm Rem Mag is just a stock T3 fitted with a Vortex. Fair to say the quality of Vortex for the price is amazing. Clarity was up there and definitely better bang for buck than the S&B. The 300wm was a sucker to shoot, felt like a 243 with the propriety brake from Phil Jones at Redback.

I was keen on a Sako 42 until I saw the price tag. Only way to get them for a reasonable price is by grey import. Cheapest I could find them was $5,600 phosphate finish versus about $4,400 if you import yourself. My mates rifle only set him back about $4,500 and that'll be the way I go seeing the quality production rifles attract unreasonable premiums.

No idea on my build yet - toying with 260/6.5x47 Lap. Need to sell my pistol and 870 first to fund it - if I decide to give up pistol shooting.

Good luck with 338LPM in Western Australia. You'd have more fun lighting your money on fire then bothering to deal with SAT. Unless your loaded - I wouldn't bother. There are other cartridges with similar performance that can be licensed without the hassles. Unfortunately the gestapo in our state feel that owning a 338 Lapua Magnum will turn you into some sort of highly skilled sniper hell-bent on shooting police officers......

Rod.

 

[TRAAV]

are they tumbling at that range?

 

[Hewie]

Lol, no .. I was the closest thing to a lawyer in our group.

Do you shoot IPSC ?

The 300WM sounds like a very nice bit of kit. Got any pics ? Why 260/6.5 ? out of curiosity ? is this more for ELR target stuff ?

Yeah the Sako isnt a cheap option thats for sure ... Im just trying to find something thats going to be a shooter straight out of the box rather than something I have to build. A mate of mine has a couple of Sakos (both 22 and 42) and they are awesome. The 338 ammo cost is certainly up there too, I was thinking I might go a 22 and just run 308 to keep ammo costs down a bit.

Im kinda impatient like that Im currently building a heavy barreled 223 for shits and giggles and its taken 4 months to get a barrel so far and its still not here.

Yeah .. the 338 would be a long shot (no pun intended) but it might be worth arguing it out with them. The 300WM should go through easier .. but I really reeeaaaaallllly want a 338 but your right it would be a fight all the way.

 

[Hewie]

Traav, yeah they were tumbling in the conditions we had on the day. Not sure if they would be more stable in better conditions.

 

[Rodnoneous]

Getting some pics of the 300 and I have a video but would rather email you then post them here if you want to PM me your email.

Rod.

 

[Hewie]

No probs mate Ill flick you a PM.

 

[jjrgr21]

you'll be happier with the 75-77gr or the 53gr v-max if you can get them. thats pretty good with an 8 mph wind for sure.

 

[JGorski]

There's 5 shots in that one hole? Or am I missing something, I know my eyes are bad but.....LOL! Great shooting, mate!

 

[Hewie]

jjrgr21 - Cheers. I tried the Hornady 75grn Match rounds .. but my rifle couldnt stabilise them and they went everywhere, (its only 1:9 unfortunately), the 69grn sierras gave me the best results from the weekend. I'll see if I can pick up some v-max and give them a go.

JGorksi, Thanks . No only one round mate, the first three we're well off the mark due to my bad wind calls, but I only shot 5 rounds at that range. Im still pretty happy with 1 in 5, it isnt bad for a first try.

Now I just need to get my zero fine tuned and get some practice in.