Lynx Defense

I want to get into long range... HELP

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Texas

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • JColumbus

    TGT Addict
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jun 28, 2012
    2,808
    96
    I'll try to keep this simple.

    Purpose: Hunting and SHTF or the like. Also for fun/sport.

    I have been wanting to get a long range rifle. Something can can do 500 yards EASY and 6-800 yards with skill. 1000 yards if I'm ever good enough.

    My first question is; which caliber is best? I want a common and cheaper caliber.

    Second is; should I just build an AR10, or go the bolt action route?

    I have narrowed it down to 2 beginner long range rifles that, judging by the reviews, seem to be damned good rifles.

    Mossberg Patriot





    Ruger American Predator




    Thanks for the help fellas. Looking forward to learning more about this.


    Lynx Defense
     

    jrbfishn

    TGT Addict
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    3   0   0
    Aug 9, 2013
    28,317
    96
    south of killeen
    That Mossberg in 6.5 Creedmoor looks pretty good. The guys that I sold the Patriots to when I worked at Wally World were all very pleased. Budget rifle but not budget performance.
    The Savage Axis II HB in 6.5, I had one by the way, is a nice shooter for the money as well. Comes with the Accutrigger too. The guy I sold mine to is shooting 1/2" groups at 100 yards with factory ammo. Either would be a good start out to at least 500-600 yards.
    Add a good FFP scope with mils on it and you have a nice setup for budget. If it turns out you don't want to or for some reason don't get into 500-1000 yard shooting you did not break the bank. And still have a better than decent hunting rifle.
    A lot depends on how much you want to spend to start and what your end goals are. Whatever they are now, for various reasons they may change later.

    Sent by an idjit coffeeholic from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
     

    dee

    Well-Known
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 22, 2008
    2,468
    66
    Red River Way
    A fast twist 223 will meet your criteria. It won't be super ideal past 700-800 with most factory ammo offerings but will work.

    Downside is theres not a ton of fast twist options in bolt guns which are more accurate than semi.

    Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
     

    Dawico

    Uncoiled
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    14   0   0
    Oct 15, 2009
    38,009
    96
    Lampasas, Texas
    A 223 is a great place to start. Ammo is cheaper and available and you can always upgrade later if you really get serious.

    Fast twists are hard to find but a 1:9 will shoot heavy enough bullets well for 600+ yards.

    Get a Savage.
     

    Wiliamr

    Well-Known
    TGT Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Apr 15, 2011
    1,807
    96
    Austin
    The rifle is just a minor part of long range.... Your sights are almost more important than the rifle. You will need a very good spotting scope and someone who can spot for you, read wind etc. You will have to learn a fair amount about ballistics as it pertains to your round. I used to shoot long range silhouette, my eyes, are not what they used to be with aperture sights and did fairly well BUT the key was spotter and spotting scope. It is not as simple as buying a good gun and throwing bullets in the direction of the target.
     

    robertc1024

    Moderator
    Staff member
    Moderator
    TGT Supporter
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    20   0   0
    Jan 22, 2013
    20,781
    96
    San Marcos
    For common calibers, a .223 would be the least expensive way to do it, but starts getting difficult at the 6-800 yard point. I think a 6.5 CM would be a better choice. Having both, and having shot them both at those distances, that's my experience. I'd second Dawico's Savage recommendation. I got two of these at Cabelas - they have them on sale periodically for ~$300. https://www.cabelas.com/product/SAVAGE-FV-VARMINT-RIFLE/1994604.uts One in .223, one in 6.5 CM. Both are easily sub MOA guns. The tricky part is the scope & mount. You'll have to look at the ballistics of the cartridge you settle on, and make sure your scope has enough elevation change to see if you need a base with built in elevation. You can easily hit a target at those distances with a 10x scope, but if you want to see what you're doing, you're going to want more magnification.
     

    Younggun

    Certified Jackass
    TGT Supporter
    Local Business Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Jul 31, 2011
    53,619
    96
    hill co.
    There will be lots of opinions and likely disagreements in this thread, without anybody necessarily being wrong.

    The right answer for you will depend on your real needs and budget.

    Do you just want to hit a silhouette at 1000 yards or shoot groups under 10”?

    Is ammo cost a big factor? What is your limit on price per round?

    Do you want to pick out a deer in the brush at 800 in low light, or see a painted 10” gong at 1000?

    Do you plan on hand loading?

    Do you want every advantage you can get when it comes to beating the wind?

    Recently I was hitting a silhouette at 560 yards using mixed ammo in a heavy barrel budget AR using an X-sight with a bad zero in a heavy crosswind.

    I’ve shot out to 1600 yards using a $300 SWFA fixed 10X scope.

    Those cases were less than ideal, but you can do a lot learning to work with the tools you have. If you have a larger budget you can make things easier to a certain point.

    Once you have your real needs figured out you can see how much of you budget can go towards making those needs easier to achieve and how much is really required to meet the basic needs. You don’t need a $2,000 scope to shoot 1k, but it’s nice. You don’t need a $2k rifle to shoot that far at silhouettes, but you might if you want to shoot 5” groups at 1k.




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    zackmars

    Free 1911 refinishing
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Nov 4, 2015
    5,609
    96
    Texas
    An AR15 in 5.56 will get you past 500 easy, 7-8 is pushing it, but doable. You can easily find fast twist rates (1/8, 1/7) that will work well with heavy bullets, though if you reload, and plan on stretching it out, you will be limited by the AR mag itself.

    An ar10 will make 600-800 a bit easier, and will be better suited to hunting at distance, but if you just want to hit paper, a 5.56 AR would make a good starting point.

    If you want a bolt action, id personally stay away from mossberg.
     

    Wiliamr

    Well-Known
    TGT Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Apr 15, 2011
    1,807
    96
    Austin
    Younggun made very good points. My long rangeg shooting mostly is with a Sharps in 45-70 out to 1000 meters using vernier apeture sights. You jusdt have to hit the steel mostly centerish to score a hit. 1000 yard Palma matches with an M1 was done for years without scopes. To shoot i minute targets that far out....for most people you need good scope. 10X might work if you have great eye sight. 30X makes it much easier. You still have to learn to dope wind, mirage and ballistics...
     

    FireInTheWire

    Caprock Crusader
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    I'm just going to be honest. Stay out of the water if ya cant swim.

    Once you start ringing steel @ 7-800, 1200yrds. The addiction is stronger than any mfg drug on the black market. You think you'll start cheap, then 3 yrs down the road you'll realize you have sold your soul to the devil, living in a cardboard box, as you go farther and more precise. Sound fun?
     

    robertc1024

    Moderator
    Staff member
    Moderator
    TGT Supporter
    Lifetime Member
    Rating - 100%
    20   0   0
    Jan 22, 2013
    20,781
    96
    San Marcos
    I'm just going to be honest. Stay out of the water if ya cant swim.

    Once you start ringing steel @ 7-800, 1200yrds. The addiction is stronger than any mfg drug on the black market. You think you'll start cheap, then 3 yrs down the road you'll realize you have sold your soul to the devil, living in a cardboard box, as you go farther and more precise. Sound fun?
    LOL. I got sucked in, and haven't come close to being satisfied. It's only money though. Right?
     

    ROGER4314

    Been Called "Flash" Since I Was A Kid!
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Jul 11, 2009
    10,444
    66
    East Houston
    I shot the club monthly 600 yard NRA matches for a long time and tried the .30 rifles, but always returned to the 5.56 AR's, all with iron sights. Lots of rifles will shoot well at distance, but this can get a winning combination started for less money.

    The best results were from a Bushmaster 20" heavy barrel with 1:8 twist. Ammunition used was 69 grain Sierra Match King bullets and IMR 4895 powder. I shot the best scores of my life with that combination! Use a solid A2 buttstock and avoid the telescoping stocks.

    The 55 grain Winchester store bought ammo or handloads using 55 grain Sierra Match King bullets over IMR 4895 worked splendidly from AR's having 20" heavy barrels and 1:9 twist at 600 yards. I won prize money numerous times with that combination!

    Folks will tell you that any twist rate will work and that's true inside of 200 yards. At long range, however, an incorrect match will poop all over you. I shot the worst 600 yard score ever with 55 grain bullets through a 1:8 twist barrel.

    Summed up, success is yours with:
    1:8 twist and 69 grain bullets
    1:9 twist with 55 grain bullets.
    That info comes from the firing line and is not "Internet BS Wisdom!"

    Buy one nice 20" Heavy Barrel AR with the twist of your choice, then stick with the bullet weight for that twist. Stay away from telescoping buttstocks. Stick with that rifle, shoot it until the finish wears off and don't let anyone tell you that Brand xxx is crap.

    Flash
     

    Big Green

    In Christ Alone
    Rating - 100%
    5   0   0
    Mar 5, 2018
    4,641
    96
    College Station
    I'm just going to be honest. Stay out of the water if ya cant swim.

    Once you start ringing steel @ 7-800, 1200yrds. The addiction is stronger than any mfg drug on the black market. You think you'll start cheap, then 3 yrs down the road you'll realize you have sold your soul to the devil, living in a cardboard box, as you go farther and more precise. Sound fun?
    Yes sir, sign me up!!!!

    Maybe I need to just bite the bullet and get a membership over at CCC. I wanna try steel @ 1000yds.
     

    benenglish

    Just Another Boomer
    Staff member
    Lifetime Member
    Admin
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Nov 22, 2011
    23,934
    96
    Spring
    An AR15 in 5.56 will get you past 500 easy, 7-8 is pushing it, but doable. You can easily find fast twist rates (1/8, 1/7) that will work well with heavy bullets, though if you reload, and plan on stretching it out, you will be limited by the AR mag itself.
    Of course, there are workarounds.
     
    Top Bottom