Who says you need to spend $5K for long(er) range?

Road_Clam · October 31, 2015, 06:21 PM

Well, I say not really ! (At least reaching out to 600 yds and spent $189 LOL) :
So finally had enough confidence in my scout scoped 91/30 to attempt 600 yds and I must say my Mosin did pretty dam respectable. I chose to shoot PPU 182gr Match ammo rather than my handloads as I have not yet done a lot of testing with x54R loads. I also did not have any FPS velocities on mu handloads, but I did get some chrono data on the PPU match back about a year ago which tested at about 2630 FPS. I loaded all the info into my Strelok and I got a dope of 13.64 MOA from my 200 meter zero. My first shot was excellent I scored an 8 ring , my windage was near perfect (there was almost no breeze) and my elevation was about 2 moa high. Ended up only dropping about 1 moa and Over a string of about 14 shots I averaged about 3 MOA at a standard 600 yd MR target. The long, creepy and heavy pull of the stock Mosin trigger really is a limiting factor , i'm betting with a nice trigger I could get some better consistency. The only other issue I had was the uncomfortable position your right wrist is with the stock Mosin stock. I don't notice it as bad shooting benchrest , but shooting 600 prone really started cramping up my wrist. It was a fun day as all my club shooting buddy's with their $6K GAP's and tatci-cool .30 cals started breaking my balls when I un-cased my trusty/rusty 91/30 and all's I kept hearing "we didn't know today was a musket shoot" or "where's your Mosin's pig skewer " LOL

drobs · November 1, 2015, 01:37 AM

Man you need to add a Cheek Rest to that rifle.
http://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Che.../dp/B00G9PN4G2

turtlehead · November 1, 2015, 01:55 AM

It frightens me.

Road_Clam · November 1, 2015, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drobs

Man you need to add a Cheek Rest to that rifle.

Tried one, still was not a good sight picture and cheek weld. What does work is a very "unconventional" style of cheek weld. I'm a RH shooter , so I use my left eye to sight down the scope and I get a perfect cheek weld. It feels very strange until you get used to it. I also use this method on my scoped K98 Mauser which also has a very high mounted scope.

TXAZ · November 1, 2015, 09:06 AM

The technical term for that is "impressive".
Your 'cost per yard' for such a straight shooter is real low.
Congrats.

wpsdlrg · November 2, 2015, 12:31 AM

Your premise of not needing to (necessarily) spend piles of $$ in order to get a good long range rig is quite correct.

I have a Savage 110, long action, in .308, that I picked up not long ago. Used....a bit more than $400. 26" heavy barrel. It is marked "tactical", so I assume it is some variant of the 110 FP. No idea how old the rifle might be, but I am guessing early 80's.

Anyway, the barreled action is in excellent condition. It is a great shooter, even in the original plastic stock. I am not finished with the project, as of yet, but so far, it will do a little over 2" at 300 yards. It wears a Weaver T-36 target scope.....and I have a laminated stock on order for it. Of course, the action will be glass-bedded into the stock and the barrel fully free-floated. I will install an aftermarket trigger, as well.

In the end, I expect that it will be a pretty terrific 500 yard rifle, after it is finished and I work up the best loads for it.

The cost breaks down as follows:

$424 for the rifle, as it was. This happened to include a 1970's vintage Redfield 4 - 12 x 44 scope, which happens to be a very good scope. Made in the days when Redfield was in business as the original company, based in Denver, Co. The scope is worth $200 -$300 to fanciers of these. So, I will sell it on E-bay.....which will make the net cost of the barreled action and original stock roughly $124 to $224.

$439 for the Weaver T-36 scope.

$49 for the DNZ one pc. scope bases & integral rings.

$100 to $200 for an aftermarket trigger (once I decide which one).

$146 for a laminated target stock from Boyd's.

Some "elbow grease" on my part.

Total: A bit less than $1000, altogether, give or take.

For that, a rifle that should be good for 500 yards or better.....and possibly competitive in the sporter class. (Possibly. I won't know for sure until it is finished and thoroughly tested).

However, the rifle (as is) is already a heck of a rifle.....so I expect it will be much better when completed. That is, I think, a reasonable assumption. In any case, it will be well worth the modest investment, IMO.

FrankenMauser · November 2, 2015, 01:27 AM

Very cool.

I bet the guys had a little more respect for you and your Mosin when you were done.

kraigwy · November 2, 2015, 09:56 AM

I totally agree. Its not how much money you spend, its about how you use the equipment you get.

When I started HP in the Mid 70s, there were a lot of shooters shooting surplus M1903s & A3s, They were cheap back then, and they were shooting quite well.

A 3 MOA rifle will keep the shots in the 9-10-X ring of the 600 yard NRA MR target. A 2 MOA rifle is capable of cleaning the target. Its the shooter that's the week link.

I have a $500 Model 70 I shot in a precision rifle match a while back. In three stages I screwed up and off a full revolution on my elevation dial (15 Minutes) and got no hits. 15 MOA is a lot on 6 inch targets at 800 - 1200 yards. But I still came in the middle of the pack of 60 shooters.

My rifle was older then most of the shooters, using their $3000 + rifles, plus the 308 Win isn't the best round for PRS matches. But few had as much fun as I did.

To the OP, I'd like to see you take off the scope, and have someone work with you on your position. If any part of your body hurts as you shoot, you need to work on the position, it should be totally relaxed.

The Mosin (with a good barrel) is more then capable of shooting good 600 yards scores with iron sights, and its easier to get a good position without the high mounted scope.

As a CMP MI I conduct CMP GSM matches. When I first started I had a guy go out the night before the match, buy a Mosin, and some cheap surplus ammo. First time he shot it was at the match. He won, beating the Garands and Springfields as well as other surplus rifles. Granted, that was the exception, its hard to beat the Springfields in such matches, but if one learns to shoot the Mosin, it can be done.

The CMP allows the sling set up on the Mosin and similar rifles to be modified so the sling can be used as with our US Military rifles and that helps a lot.

Such reports as yours, and such shooting, proves what I've been saying for years, Shooting Sports doesn't have to be a rich man's sport.

Just about everyone can afford a Mosin, and if they learn to use it, can be competitive.

Congrats.

g.willikers · November 2, 2015, 10:49 AM

I whole heartedly agree.
There's no need to spend a fortune to have a long range shooter.
If the one ya' have isn't quite up to the job, just use a larger target.

Road_Clam · November 2, 2015, 11:22 AM

Thanks for all the encouraging feedback. Im up for the challenge of getting some better accuracy from my Mosin. No doubt its all me. I plan on taking a high power instructional class next spring as I need to learn how to properly shoot with a sling. As for kraigwv's use of irons comment, unfortunately that's not an option for be beyond 300 yds. I can shoot my ar-15 service rifle out to 300 but its tough as I'm extremely nearsighted. I tried irons at 600 but I can't verify my lane # board. I woul be cross shooting target for sure. (Thank god for the CMP allowing a scope for 2016

kilimanjaro · November 2, 2015, 11:37 AM

For this, Comrade, you get Order of the Red Star, presented by grandson of Vasily Zietsev. Wodka and music to follow.

October 31, 2015, 06:21 PM	#1
Road_Clam Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2013 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 1,719	Who says you need to spend $5K for long(er) range? Well, I say not really ! (At least reaching out to 600 yds and spent $189 LOL) : So finally had enough confidence in my scout scoped 91/30 to attempt 600 yds and I must say my Mosin did pretty dam respectable. I chose to shoot PPU 182gr Match ammo rather than my handloads as I have not yet done a lot of testing with x54R loads. I also did not have any FPS velocities on mu handloads, but I did get some chrono data on the PPU match back about a year ago which tested at about 2630 FPS. I loaded all the info into my Strelok and I got a dope of 13.64 MOA from my 200 meter zero. My first shot was excellent I scored an 8 ring , my windage was near perfect (there was almost no breeze) and my elevation was about 2 moa high. Ended up only dropping about 1 moa and Over a string of about 14 shots I averaged about 3 MOA at a standard 600 yd MR target. The long, creepy and heavy pull of the stock Mosin trigger really is a limiting factor , i'm betting with a nice trigger I could get some better consistency. The only other issue I had was the uncomfortable position your right wrist is with the stock Mosin stock. I don't notice it as bad shooting benchrest , but shooting 600 prone really started cramping up my wrist. It was a fun day as all my club shooting buddy's with their $6K GAP's and tatci-cool .30 cals started breaking my balls when I un-cased my trusty/rusty 91/30 and all's I kept hearing "we didn't know today was a musket shoot" or "where's your Mosin's pig skewer " LOL __________________ "To be old an wise you must have been young and stupid"

November 1, 2015, 09:06 AM	#5
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	The technical term for that is "impressive". Your 'cost per yard' for such a straight shooter is real low. Congrats. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

November 2, 2015, 01:27 AM	#7
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,776	Very cool. I bet the guys had a little more respect for you and your Mosin when you were done. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

November 2, 2015, 11:22 AM	#10
Road_Clam Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2013 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 1,719	Thanks for all the encouraging feedback. Im up for the challenge of getting some better accuracy from my Mosin. No doubt its all me. I plan on taking a high power instructional class next spring as I need to learn how to properly shoot with a sling. As for kraigwv's use of irons comment, unfortunately that's not an option for be beyond 300 yds. I can shoot my ar-15 service rifle out to 300 but its tough as I'm extremely nearsighted. I tried irons at 600 but I can't verify my lane # board. I woul be cross shooting target for sure. (Thank god for the CMP allowing a scope for 2016 __________________ "To be old an wise you must have been young and stupid"

November 1, 2015, 01:37 AM	#2
drobs Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2015 Location: South Central MO / Africa Posts: 1,111	Man you need to add a Cheek Rest to that rifle. http://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Che.../dp/B00G9PN4G2

November 1, 2015, 01:55 AM	#3
turtlehead Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,203	It frightens me.

November 2, 2015, 12:31 AM	#6
wpsdlrg Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2009 Posts: 826	Your premise of not needing to (necessarily) spend piles of $$ in order to get a good long range rig is quite correct. I have a Savage 110, long action, in .308, that I picked up not long ago. Used....a bit more than $400. 26" heavy barrel. It is marked "tactical", so I assume it is some variant of the 110 FP. No idea how old the rifle might be, but I am guessing early 80's. Anyway, the barreled action is in excellent condition. It is a great shooter, even in the original plastic stock. I am not finished with the project, as of yet, but so far, it will do a little over 2" at 300 yards. It wears a Weaver T-36 target scope.....and I have a laminated stock on order for it. Of course, the action will be glass-bedded into the stock and the barrel fully free-floated. I will install an aftermarket trigger, as well. In the end, I expect that it will be a pretty terrific 500 yard rifle, after it is finished and I work up the best loads for it. The cost breaks down as follows: $424 for the rifle, as it was. This happened to include a 1970's vintage Redfield 4 - 12 x 44 scope, which happens to be a very good scope. Made in the days when Redfield was in business as the original company, based in Denver, Co. The scope is worth $200 -$300 to fanciers of these. So, I will sell it on E-bay.....which will make the net cost of the barreled action and original stock roughly $124 to $224. $439 for the Weaver T-36 scope. $49 for the DNZ one pc. scope bases & integral rings. $100 to $200 for an aftermarket trigger (once I decide which one). $146 for a laminated target stock from Boyd's. Some "elbow grease" on my part. Total: A bit less than $1000, altogether, give or take. For that, a rifle that should be good for 500 yards or better.....and possibly competitive in the sporter class. (Possibly. I won't know for sure until it is finished and thoroughly tested). However, the rifle (as is) is already a heck of a rifle.....so I expect it will be much better when completed. That is, I think, a reasonable assumption. In any case, it will be well worth the modest investment, IMO.

November 2, 2015, 09:56 AM	#8
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,060	I totally agree. Its not how much money you spend, its about how you use the equipment you get. When I started HP in the Mid 70s, there were a lot of shooters shooting surplus M1903s & A3s, They were cheap back then, and they were shooting quite well. A 3 MOA rifle will keep the shots in the 9-10-X ring of the 600 yard NRA MR target. A 2 MOA rifle is capable of cleaning the target. Its the shooter that's the week link. I have a $500 Model 70 I shot in a precision rifle match a while back. In three stages I screwed up and off a full revolution on my elevation dial (15 Minutes) and got no hits. 15 MOA is a lot on 6 inch targets at 800 - 1200 yards. But I still came in the middle of the pack of 60 shooters. My rifle was older then most of the shooters, using their $3000 + rifles, plus the 308 Win isn't the best round for PRS matches. But few had as much fun as I did. To the OP, I'd like to see you take off the scope, and have someone work with you on your position. If any part of your body hurts as you shoot, you need to work on the position, it should be totally relaxed. The Mosin (with a good barrel) is more then capable of shooting good 600 yards scores with iron sights, and its easier to get a good position without the high mounted scope. As a CMP MI I conduct CMP GSM matches. When I first started I had a guy go out the night before the match, buy a Mosin, and some cheap surplus ammo. First time he shot it was at the match. He won, beating the Garands and Springfields as well as other surplus rifles. Granted, that was the exception, its hard to beat the Springfields in such matches, but if one learns to shoot the Mosin, it can be done. The CMP allows the sling set up on the Mosin and similar rifles to be modified so the sling can be used as with our US Military rifles and that helps a lot. Such reports as yours, and such shooting, proves what I've been saying for years, Shooting Sports doesn't have to be a rich man's sport. Just about everyone can afford a Mosin, and if they learn to use it, can be competitive. Congrats.

November 2, 2015, 10:49 AM	#9
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	I whole heartedly agree. There's no need to spend a fortune to have a long range shooter. If the one ya' have isn't quite up to the job, just use a larger target.

November 2, 2015, 11:37 AM	#11
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	For this, Comrade, you get Order of the Red Star, presented by grandson of Vasily Zietsev. Wodka and music to follow.