n00b help

sectshun8 · July 23, 2007, 11:47 AM

I've owned a Marlin 882SS .22MAG for a few years, go the range to shoot monthly. Other than some ARs 5.56 and 308, I have not worked with much else.

Recently, I've really been interested in getting something new, a little bigger. For whatever reason I've had the notion in my head that I want a 7mm sniper system of sorts. Not sure why, but I do. There is a rifle I'm looking at, manufacturer isn't really important for this question.

I'm looking at something more long range oriented, likke 200yds+. My options are 7mm, 300, 308, 30-06 and 270.

Being relatively new to the whole scene, I really have no clue what to expect when it comes to these five types, can somone maybe give me a little rundown on the comparison between each?

Oh, this is for distance target shooting.

Thanks in advance!

FirstFreedom · July 23, 2007, 12:31 PM

Chambering: Well, I think you want to look realistically at the ranges you're going to shoot at because .223 is great to 200 or 250, 300 even, .243 or 6mm is great to 300 or 400, and only past that do you need something that punches your shoulder. And the .308 win is very good out to 600 or more, and comes economically in several off the shelf precision rifles, such as Remington 700 PSS and Savage 10 LE series.

BUT, if your heart is just set on something in 7mm, then I'd look at 7mm-08 or 7x57 or .280 remington if shooting out to 300-500 yards. I'd look at .280 remington if shooting out to 500-800 yards. I'd look at 7mm STW or 7mm RUM if trying to go looooong range, up to 1000 yard. That's if you reload. If you don't reload, then 7mm remmag for the really long range.

If going with a caliber other than 7mm, then .30-'06 is a good choice, as is .270 or even .25-06. If you get a .25-'06 with a 1 in 9" twist barrel that stabilizes crazy-long bullets, then it's a heck of a long-range caliber. The 6.5mm family of cartridges is well-known for being THE caliber to shoot at very long ranges (over 600 yards), due to the excellent BCs of bullets for them. Only problem is, except for the .260 rem & 6.5x55 swede, most of the the chamberings are wildcat or semi-wildcat affairs. 6.5x55 swede, with a 1 in 8" twist bbl, is an outstanding long range choice.

Rifle: In a 7mm, you might look at an EABCO accuracy barrel in .280 rem for a T/C Encore, if on a budget. If not, find one of many custom makers to assemble your gun, after you decide which barrel you want, which stock you want, etc.

Bottom line, we need to know first the realistic MAX range you might try to shoot at - 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 800, 1K, or more?

sectshun8 · July 23, 2007, 12:37 PM

Thanks for that reply, it helped quite a bit. My local range goes up to 200yds, however I have access to 300yd up to 2mile ranges... and really want something that is not a .50 to work on some long range stuff.

Again, thanks!

FirstFreedom · July 23, 2007, 12:54 PM

Ok, no problem, but again, until we know how far away YOUR targets are going to be sitting on that 2-mile range, then it's nearly impossible to recommend the "perfect" caliber or rifle. What is the maximum range at which you will honestly, realistically being trying to shoot at? Keeping in mind that 400 yards is a very long ways, and 600 yards is a very, very long ways, to me. Heck, 200 yards is a long ways for that matter. And how windy is it typically where you live? That can make a difference too.

And, we MUST also know the budget that you're working with here. Do you have thousands and thousands to spend, or not?

If you don't, and if shooting "only" to 600 yards or so, there's a good reason why people in that situation choose a rifle in .308 win most of the time. It's an accurate round, has quality bullets and ammo manufactured for it, and perhaps most importantly, has very accurate rifles chambered in it, available from multiple manufacters, some at quite reasonable prices.

So need the max range & budget.

USMCG_HMX1 · July 23, 2007, 01:13 PM

If you're going to be shooting mainly under 500 yards, I would go with a decent AR-15 like Rock River, CMT, or LMT. Ammo will be cheaper unless you plan on reloading, and a decent flat top can server double duty with a nice QD mount for the scope and some pop-up BUIS.

While in the Marines the 500 yard/meter line was my "icing on the cake", scoring 95% of my hits in the black out of the 5 times I went to qualify. Normally I left the 300 yard line as an expert and everything on the 500 was "I'll bet you a bottle of tequila I can shoot better than you" bragging rights.

Kris

sectshun8 · July 23, 2007, 01:16 PM

Yeah, I'd say up to 600yds is a fair assumption. I've never done any shooting past 300yds before, and that was with a .308, and a 5.56. But given that I have access to something longer, I figured why the hell not. The local shop has a Barret .50 (the little one) for a little over $3k, which would be my max to spend.

A .243 or a .308 does sound to be the better choice for my situation. Mostly 200 yds, with the occasionay play time at longer range.

Let's say a .308.... I mean, does manufacturer really matter? I know anywhere from $350+ I can get something decent. Though that ArmaLite AL-30 is a sic weapon, especially with the muzzle break, but $1500!!

FirstFreedom · July 23, 2007, 02:35 PM

NOW we're getting somewhere. Modest budget, 600 yards or less.

I'd probably go .308 win - almost definitely, and on that budget, I'd look at one of the Savage "LE" models - actually, either in .308 win or .25-'06:

http://www.savagearms.com/le_home.htm

http://www.savagearms.com/10fp.htm

http://www.savagearms.com/110fp.htm (long action in .25-06 or .300 win mag)

http://www.savagearms.com/10fpchoate.htm

http://www.savagearms.com/10fpfoldingchoate.htm

http://www.savagearms.com/10fpmcmillan.htm

http://www.savagearms.com/10fphsprecision.htm

http://www.savagearms.com/10fpxp-hsprec.htm

Only "problem" there is that the .25-06 barrel from Savage, if you go that route, is 1 in 10, not 1 in 9. So it would do well with hunting bullets up to 117 grain, but it likely would not shoot well with very long bullets such as the 90 or 100 gr copper-nickel bullets which used to be made by Lost River, or long lead/copper 120-125 grainers. You need a 1 in 9 for that (most likely). Otherwise that Savage 100 in .25-06 would be just the ticket. It still is for long ranges out to 400 yards or so.

That 10 FP Savage in .308 win with the HS precision stock is a good value I think, and probably your best bet. Definitely get a better stock than the standard one found on the basic 10FP.

July 23, 2007, 11:47 AM	#1
sectshun8 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2007 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 237	n00b help I've owned a Marlin 882SS .22MAG for a few years, go the range to shoot monthly. Other than some ARs 5.56 and 308, I have not worked with much else. Recently, I've really been interested in getting something new, a little bigger. For whatever reason I've had the notion in my head that I want a 7mm sniper system of sorts. Not sure why, but I do. There is a rifle I'm looking at, manufacturer isn't really important for this question. I'm looking at something more long range oriented, likke 200yds+. My options are 7mm, 300, 308, 30-06 and 270. Being relatively new to the whole scene, I really have no clue what to expect when it comes to these five types, can somone maybe give me a little rundown on the comparison between each? Oh, this is for distance target shooting. Thanks in advance!

July 23, 2007, 12:31 PM	#2
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Chambering: Well, I think you want to look realistically at the ranges you're going to shoot at because .223 is great to 200 or 250, 300 even, .243 or 6mm is great to 300 or 400, and only past that do you need something that punches your shoulder. And the .308 win is very good out to 600 or more, and comes economically in several off the shelf precision rifles, such as Remington 700 PSS and Savage 10 LE series. BUT, if your heart is just set on something in 7mm, then I'd look at 7mm-08 or 7x57 or .280 remington if shooting out to 300-500 yards. I'd look at .280 remington if shooting out to 500-800 yards. I'd look at 7mm STW or 7mm RUM if trying to go looooong range, up to 1000 yard. That's if you reload. If you don't reload, then 7mm remmag for the really long range. If going with a caliber other than 7mm, then .30-'06 is a good choice, as is .270 or even .25-06. If you get a .25-'06 with a 1 in 9" twist barrel that stabilizes crazy-long bullets, then it's a heck of a long-range caliber. The 6.5mm family of cartridges is well-known for being THE caliber to shoot at very long ranges (over 600 yards), due to the excellent BCs of bullets for them. Only problem is, except for the .260 rem & 6.5x55 swede, most of the the chamberings are wildcat or semi-wildcat affairs. 6.5x55 swede, with a 1 in 8" twist bbl, is an outstanding long range choice. Rifle: In a 7mm, you might look at an EABCO accuracy barrel in .280 rem for a T/C Encore, if on a budget. If not, find one of many custom makers to assemble your gun, after you decide which barrel you want, which stock you want, etc. Bottom line, we need to know first the realistic MAX range you might try to shoot at - 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 800, 1K, or more? Last edited by FirstFreedom; July 23, 2007 at 01:02 PM.

July 23, 2007, 12:37 PM	#3
sectshun8 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2007 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 237	Thanks for that reply, it helped quite a bit. My local range goes up to 200yds, however I have access to 300yd up to 2mile ranges... and really want something that is not a .50 to work on some long range stuff. Again, thanks!

July 23, 2007, 12:54 PM	#4
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Ok, no problem, but again, until we know how far away YOUR targets are going to be sitting on that 2-mile range, then it's nearly impossible to recommend the "perfect" caliber or rifle. What is the maximum range at which you will honestly, realistically being trying to shoot at? Keeping in mind that 400 yards is a very long ways, and 600 yards is a very, very long ways, to me. Heck, 200 yards is a long ways for that matter. And how windy is it typically where you live? That can make a difference too. And, we MUST also know the budget that you're working with here. Do you have thousands and thousands to spend, or not? If you don't, and if shooting "only" to 600 yards or so, there's a good reason why people in that situation choose a rifle in .308 win most of the time. It's an accurate round, has quality bullets and ammo manufactured for it, and perhaps most importantly, has very accurate rifles chambered in it, available from multiple manufacters, some at quite reasonable prices. So need the max range & budget.

July 23, 2007, 01:13 PM	#5
USMCG_HMX1 Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2006 Posts: 507	If you're going to be shooting mainly under 500 yards, I would go with a decent AR-15 like Rock River, CMT, or LMT. Ammo will be cheaper unless you plan on reloading, and a decent flat top can server double duty with a nice QD mount for the scope and some pop-up BUIS. While in the Marines the 500 yard/meter line was my "icing on the cake", scoring 95% of my hits in the black out of the 5 times I went to qualify. Normally I left the 300 yard line as an expert and everything on the 500 was "I'll bet you a bottle of tequila I can shoot better than you" bragging rights. Kris

July 23, 2007, 01:16 PM	#6
sectshun8 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2007 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 237	Yeah, I'd say up to 600yds is a fair assumption. I've never done any shooting past 300yds before, and that was with a .308, and a 5.56. But given that I have access to something longer, I figured why the hell not. The local shop has a Barret .50 (the little one) for a little over $3k, which would be my max to spend. A .243 or a .308 does sound to be the better choice for my situation. Mostly 200 yds, with the occasionay play time at longer range. Let's say a .308.... I mean, does manufacturer really matter? I know anywhere from $350+ I can get something decent. Though that ArmaLite AL-30 is a sic weapon, especially with the muzzle break, but $1500!!

July 23, 2007, 02:35 PM	#7
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	NOW we're getting somewhere. Modest budget, 600 yards or less. I'd probably go .308 win - almost definitely, and on that budget, I'd look at one of the Savage "LE" models - actually, either in .308 win or .25-'06: http://www.savagearms.com/le_home.htm http://www.savagearms.com/10fp.htm http://www.savagearms.com/110fp.htm (long action in .25-06 or .300 win mag) http://www.savagearms.com/10fpchoate.htm http://www.savagearms.com/10fpfoldingchoate.htm http://www.savagearms.com/10fpmcmillan.htm http://www.savagearms.com/10fphsprecision.htm http://www.savagearms.com/10fpxp-hsprec.htm Only "problem" there is that the .25-06 barrel from Savage, if you go that route, is 1 in 10, not 1 in 9. So it would do well with hunting bullets up to 117 grain, but it likely would not shoot well with very long bullets such as the 90 or 100 gr copper-nickel bullets which used to be made by Lost River, or long lead/copper 120-125 grainers. You need a 1 in 9 for that (most likely). Otherwise that Savage 100 in .25-06 would be just the ticket. It still is for long ranges out to 400 yards or so. That 10 FP Savage in .308 win with the HS precision stock is a good value I think, and probably your best bet. Definitely get a better stock than the standard one found on the basic 10FP.