New Member from Canada (Plus have a couple questions)

[SigSavage]

Hi- I just came across your site recently when researching how I might get into long distance shooting. It looks like a great community here, so I figured I'd join you and say hello.

Now for my questions:

1) As I am new to the sport (don't even own a gun yet), I am thinking of starting out with a Ruger 10/22 Target rifle to get the hang of things in a less costly manner. Could you recommend a good, economical scope for this gun? I realize everybody has their favorite brands, but like this rifle goes, sometimes a particular piece just sets itself apart.

2) The gun I want to eventually get is the Savage 110 BA. I can't really afford to feed it .338 Lapua, so I was going to get the .300 Win Mag because it is a good runner up. I have read that it is less accurate past 1000M, but I don't plan on competing- I want to do this for fun and to be able to do long range hunting out to maybe 700M or so. I believe the .300 Win Mag would kill a deer quite handily at that range, but what about larger game like Elk or Moose?

3) I am noticing an enormous draw back to the 110 BA in .300 Win Mag though- It is almost impossible to find Federal Premium Gold Medal in .300 Win Mag in Canada. This concerns me, because I don't want to get a gun I can't find Match Grade ammo for. Does anybody know if this is a common problem (especially from other members who live in Canada), or could you recommend an easier to acquire alternate ammo?

4) if feeding this rifle .300 Win Mag is going to be a problem, my next option would be to get it in a .308 Win version. I am reluctant to do this, because I am unsure if that smaller round will be accurate at the long ranges, and if it could take down an animal at long range. I am planning on eventually getting a Browning BLR Lightweight lever action .308 Win as a bush/close range gun. There may be a benefit in only having 1 type of ammo, but I still don't think the .308 is great long range. I just don't see how it could be. Am I wrong? Any input on this?

Thx much,
SS

 

[George63]

scoping a .22 - get adjustable objective that will work for shorter distances - when first moving up, go to a used 308 that you witness the performance / see being shot - no loss to sell it/ move to a higher performance / price chambering

 

[SigSavage]

Good advice- thank you

 

[Graham]

New Member from Canada (Plus have a couple questions)

If you're in Canada, and don't have a gun yet, it's going to take you a year or two to get one. Take your FAC course and get started on your firearms education and related paperwork.

You don't need a magnum. And you don't want one, either. A .308 is an excellent all-around caliber for sporting purposes and hunting in Canada. Get a quality bolt gun.

 

[SigSavage]

If you're in Canada, and don't have a gun yet, it's going to take you a year or two to get one. Take your FAC course and get started on your firearms education and related paperwork.

You don't need a magnum. And you don't want one, either. A .308 is an excellent all-around caliber for sporting purposes and hunting in Canada. Get a quality bolt gun.

I have my RPAL/hunter's safety already. I used to target shoot and hunt when I was young but haven't for over 20 years. Just decided to get back into t now.

Why would it take me a year or two to get a gun? Are you referring to all the courses? I could walk into Cabelas today and buy that Savage.

Why would I not want a larger gun than the .308 for long range shooting and hunting? I plan on getting a .308 lever for close range- would a .308 tactical style rifle bring down game at long range? I didn't think the round would have enough energy that far out. If a .308 is good for long distance target shooting, why are people getting .300 and .338's?

Thanks for the input- it's all appreciated.

 

[CF_Smith]

I have my RPAL/hunter's safety already. I used to target shoot and hunt when I was young but haven't for over 20 years. Just decided to get back into t now.

Why would it take me a year or two to get a gun? Are you referring to all the courses? I could walk into Cabelas today and buy that Savage.

Why would I not want a larger gun than the .308 for long range shooting and hunting? I plan on getting a .308 lever for close range- would a .308 tactical style rifle bring down game at long range? I didn't think the round would have enough energy that far out. If a .308 is good for long distance target shooting, why are people getting .300 and .338's?

Thanks for the input- it's all appreciated.

Welcome! Where a bouts in Canada are you from?

The .308 is used for long ranges of up to 1000+ yards. .338 is used for upwards of 2700 yards (crazy, I know, check it out on youtube). A .308 will drop anything you hunt in Canada. Also, unless you're in the prairies I doubt you'll have anywhere close to 1000 yards to hunt from. I also want a .338 but can't afford it, I think it would be used mostly as a target gun as I wouldn't need a .338 to hunt with (here anyway). Anyway, you'll find that once you start pushing out long distances (even 1000 yards with the .308), there's a lot more to it then point and shoot, you need to account for wind, pressure, sight height, angle, temperature, bullet weight, bullet ballistics etc.

The path I am going (for long range) is I'm starting with .308, I'm going to push it out to 1000 yards at a local range here. Then as time goes by and I have more room I'll move up to my dream of .338 LM. I would suggest you do the same if you want to be able to hunt long distances.

Just my .02

James

 

[SigSavage]

Welcome! Where a bouts in Canada are you from?

The .308 is used for long ranges of up to 1000+ yards. .338 is used for upwards of 2700 yards (crazy, I know, check it out on youtube). A .308 will drop anything you hunt in Canada. Also, unless you're in the prairies I doubt you'll have anywhere close to 1000 yards to hunt from. I also want a .338 but can't afford it, I think it would be used mostly as a target gun as I wouldn't need a .338 to hunt with (here anyway). Anyway, you'll find that once you start pushing out long distances (even 1000 yards with the .308), there's a lot more to it then point and shoot, you need to account for wind, pressure, sight height, angle, temperature, bullet weight, bullet ballistics etc.

The path I am going (for long range) is I'm starting with .308, I'm going to push it out to 1000 yards at a local range here. Then as time goes by and I have more room I'll move up to my dream of .338 LM. I would suggest you do the same if you want to be able to hunt long distances.

Just my .02

James

Hey James! Thanks for the ideas. I'm in Manitoba, so you might be surprised on how far you can watch your dog run away for! heh heh.

I think I will go with the advice here and start with a 308. Actually, I'm starting with a 22. I'll get some of the technique down then start moving up. I know a 308 will bring a deer down, but I'm not sure if it will bring a Moose down as reliably- do you hunt them out east? It's really the only big game I'd be shooting, but they are notoriously hard to get close to. I've never shot one, and it's been years since I've known someone who has so I'm not sure what they're using for rifles. I think my dad used to hunt them with a 30-06.

 

[CF_Smith]

Hey James! Thanks for the ideas. I'm in Manitoba, so you might be surprised on how far you can watch your dog run away for! heh heh.

I think I will go with the advice here and start with a 308. Actually, I'm starting with a 22. I'll get some of the technique down then start moving up. I know a 308 will bring a deer down, but I'm not sure if it will bring a Moose down as reliably- do you hunt them out east? It's really the only big game I'd be shooting, but they are notoriously hard to get close to. I've never shot one, and it's been years since I've known someone who has so I'm not sure what they're using for rifles. I think my dad used to hunt them with a 30-06.

Personally, I have never been lucky enough to get a tag or deemed a hunter. I do know though, that the boys use .308's here on the east side and drop the moose in a shot. People tend to have a common miss-conception that calibers aren't strong enough or "are only good for" certain animals. I know of some natives who have taken out moose with 22's. It's all about shot placement. You put a .308 into the vital zone of a moose and you won't be tracking it too far. The benefit of using larger calibers is the 'knockdown' effect. That is, the animal drops as soon as you hit it. Again, shot placement will fix this. Also - look into hornady SST bullets. They'll probably knock down a moose in .308.

Your father most likely hunted with 30-06, its a very common moose round across the country, you'll find that .308's have VERY similar ballistics to 30-06's. So I wouldn't worry too much about using a .308 for moose, all the boys around here do.

A .338 LM will have a lot better knock down capabilities then the .308, but the .338 is known to kick fairly roughly, thus making it hard to shoot as accurate at distance. There NO shame in shooting 22. I have one because I can get ammo at .04 a round and its fun - I also use it to hunt. Work your way up. You'll find that if you get a gun that has or you can put a muzzle break on it it will reduce the recoil drastically

James

 

[SigSavage]

Personally, I have never been lucky enough to get a tag or deemed a hunter. I do know though, that the boys use .308's here on the east side and drop the moose in a shot. People tend to have a common miss-conception that calibers aren't strong enough or "are only good for" certain animals. I know of some natives who have taken out moose with 22's. It's all about shot placement. You put a .308 into the vital zone of a moose and you won't be tracking it too far. The benefit of using larger calibers is the 'knockdown' effect. That is, the animal drops as soon as you hit it. Again, shot placement will fix this. Also - look into hornady SST bullets. They'll probably knock down a moose in .308.

Your father most likely hunted with 30-06, its a very common moose round across the country, you'll find that .308's have VERY similar ballistics to 30-06's. So I wouldn't worry too much about using a .308 for moose, all the boys around here do.

A .338 LM will have a lot better knock down capabilities then the .308, but the .338 is known to kick fairly roughly, thus making it hard to shoot as accurate at distance. There NO shame in shooting 22. I have one because I can get ammo at .04 a round and its fun - I also use it to hunt. Work your way up. You'll find that if you get a gun that has or you can put a muzzle break on it it will reduce the recoil drastically

James

Good to know- thx very much.