So after reading all the posts here in the forum about long range hunting/shooting, I have gotten the bug. Unfortunately I do not have the best equipment but I want to see if I can at lease make do with what I have for now, at least until I know if I want to really dive into the long range stuff.
To start, I am going to see if my current equipment can get me MOA or better out to 500 yards. I have a standard Remington ADL in 30-06 that I had the sporter .650 barrel threaded and added a little bastard muzzle break, also added a Harris bipod. It has a cheap Vortex Crossfire II 4x12 for glass. My second rifle is a MP sport (original version) with a 1/8 twist 5r barrel with a free float rail. I also added a bipod and Nikon P223 3x9 glass, and Rock River 2 stage trigger. I have shot a couple of 10 shot groups about 1” with the Ar, but never did more that sight in the 30-06 at 100 yards for hunting purposes.
Today was my first range trip to see if I can find factory ammo that the 30-06 may like (I do not reload), if any. I figured if I can get it to do MOA or better than I will continue with it. I also wanted to see if I could find other factory Ammo for my AR as my preferred (AE .223 50gr VT) has been discontinued.
I rotated shooting from AR and 700 as I didn’t want the sporter barrel getting too hot. Work with the AR went quick and the AE 50gr VT was the number one, Gecco 55gr fmj and AE 62gr fmj were very close behind. I shot about 8 different rounds from 50gr-78gr. Best groups posted below.
The 700 started very disappointing. The first 3 goups of different Ammo didn’t do better than 1.5”. I was already thinking this rifle isn’t going to cut it for 500 yard shots. I went through 6 different loads from 125gr-180gr, then the 7th was 165 Hornady Superformance SST. It up a smile on my face to say the least. I wanted to make sure the sub 3/4” group wasn’t a fluke so I shot 2 groups with the Sst. Both were great in my book.
I think I will upgrade the trigger and maybe even the stock on the 700 and try a few other rounds. If anyone has had good experience with the 165sst, please feel free to let me know what else your rifle liked, I will be ordering some more this week.
Next trip I will go out to 200 yards and see if I can keep it under 2”.
Thanks to everyone for Ammo recommendations, it gave me a good mix to start with.
Pics of the Ammo used and some of the best groups.
To start, I am going to see if my current equipment can get me MOA or better out to 500 yards. I have a standard Remington ADL in 30-06 that I had the sporter .650 barrel threaded and added a little bastard muzzle break, also added a Harris bipod. It has a cheap Vortex Crossfire II 4x12 for glass. My second rifle is a MP sport (original version) with a 1/8 twist 5r barrel with a free float rail. I also added a bipod and Nikon P223 3x9 glass, and Rock River 2 stage trigger. I have shot a couple of 10 shot groups about 1” with the Ar, but never did more that sight in the 30-06 at 100 yards for hunting purposes.
Today was my first range trip to see if I can find factory ammo that the 30-06 may like (I do not reload), if any. I figured if I can get it to do MOA or better than I will continue with it. I also wanted to see if I could find other factory Ammo for my AR as my preferred (AE .223 50gr VT) has been discontinued.
I rotated shooting from AR and 700 as I didn’t want the sporter barrel getting too hot. Work with the AR went quick and the AE 50gr VT was the number one, Gecco 55gr fmj and AE 62gr fmj were very close behind. I shot about 8 different rounds from 50gr-78gr. Best groups posted below.
The 700 started very disappointing. The first 3 goups of different Ammo didn’t do better than 1.5”. I was already thinking this rifle isn’t going to cut it for 500 yard shots. I went through 6 different loads from 125gr-180gr, then the 7th was 165 Hornady Superformance SST. It up a smile on my face to say the least. I wanted to make sure the sub 3/4” group wasn’t a fluke so I shot 2 groups with the Sst. Both were great in my book.
I think I will upgrade the trigger and maybe even the stock on the 700 and try a few other rounds. If anyone has had good experience with the 165sst, please feel free to let me know what else your rifle liked, I will be ordering some more this week.
Next trip I will go out to 200 yards and see if I can keep it under 2”.
Thanks to everyone for Ammo recommendations, it gave me a good mix to start with.
Pics of the Ammo used and some of the best groups.
