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> Long range rifle ammo
Long range rifle ammo
@ 10:05 pm (GMT) |
Ian DingoHey Everyone,Firstly thanks for you comments in my earlier post. After carefull consideration I have decided to purchase a Savage Long Range Hunter in 300 Win Mag. The scope will be a Sightron III 6-24 x 50 with a MOA-2 reticle. The base will be a warne picatinny rail. The rings will be Nightforce Unimounts. My question is what factory ammo would you recommend for this rig. ( at some point I will be hand-loading but until then...) The target species include Goats and Deer at extended (500+++) ranges. I am booking myself into a long range shooting course in OZ to sharpen my skill level. Thanks in advance Ian. |
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@ 12:21 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Long range rifle ammoHi Ian, I definitely recommend either the Hornady 180gr SST in standard factory ammo form- or the 180gr SST Hornady Superformance load. Choose based on what you can afford or which is the most accurate.This will cover everything you want to do from goats to Red deer from bush hunting to 1000 yards or so. The BC is not as high as the A-Max but you would need to hand load if you want to utilize the A-Max. Steer clear of other match type loads as they will not expand on game, resulting in lost animals. Just learn how to use the SST and if others tell you that you are being handicapped by a lower than optimal BC, be aware that BC is only one part of the equation. Be careful when selecting a long range shooting course. many course tutors around the world use muzzle brakes if shooting magnums and therefore do not actually have the skill level required to either shoot an unbraked magnum or teach others how to do so. If you see the crossed arm method being used- forget it. A lot of the courses I am seeing are all very cool and showy but when it comes down to the line- are worthless. Below is an excerpt from the book ‘Marine Sniper’ written by Charles Henderson (http://www.charleshenderson.net/Novels/MarineSniper.htm ). This gives a description of legendary sniper Carlos Hathcock’s preparation during his victorious 1965 Wimbledon cup match. Hathcock was using a .300 Winchester Magnum… He laid his rifle on its side and began counting clicks as he turned the windage knob on the side of his rifle’s telescopic sight. After noting the change in his data book, he checked his leather sling, making sure that it was adjusted to the proper length and wrapped around his upper arm at the exact spot where he had looped it each time he fired. With the sling making a half twist around his forearm, he slid his left hand, shielded by a thick leather shooting glove, up the hand guard of his rifle’s stock and jammed it tightly against the D-ring and swivel that held the sling to the rifle. Slowly, Hathcock leaned his weight on his left elbow and began working the rifle’s butt tightly into his right shoulder. “Got to be tight. No room for it to slip, not here.” As the sling tightened and stretched to accommodate the tight fit of the rifle into his shoulder, he felt the strap bite painfully into his upper arm and trap the blood in his left hand and fingers. He looked at their tips protruding from the shooting glove and watched them turn red and deepen to purple. NF- Note, Hathcock did not adjust his baseball cap backwards and his sunglasses in a way that reflected his cool mood while he casually looked at the horizon with his arms crossed like a five year old guarding his action figures while he thought about how awesome he looked with his tactical rifle. Get your head in the right place and everything else will follow. |
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@ 03:34 pm (GMT) |
faulknerRe: Long range rifle ammoNathan & IanNot sure if its available in New Zealand or Australia but I have shot close to two boxes of Hornady Match 300 win mag 178 grain A-Max (product#8203) during break in of my 300. Velocity was much higher than the 2860ft/sec listed on the box, chrony maybe at fault! Groups when I did my part were .4 to .6 MOA. Good luck, Aj |
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@ 04:00 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: Long range rifle ammoYes, availability is the problem in both of our countries. If you can get the A-Max load Ian, go for it. It would be ideal for long range hunting. If you can't which I suspect may be the case, one of the SST loads will be the go. |
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@ 04:03 pm (GMT) |
Ian DingoRe: Long range rifle ammoNathan,You are a Champion!!! Thanks for the detailed info. If I was in NZ I would gladly attend one of your courses. Thanks mate, Ian. |
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@ 06:25 am (GMT) |
Jim MoseleyRe: Long range rifle ammoIf you can't get the Hornady, try the Remington Accu-Tip. It's the SST loaded with Remington's powder. Neither one of my rifles would shoot the Hornady's load, but both would shoot the Rem load @.5 MOA. Just the difference in the powder choice by the two manufactures. Keep your brass for when you begin reloading.Good luck! |
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@ 10:22 am (GMT) |
Ian DingoRe: Long range rifle ammoJim,Thanks for that. The Hornady A-Max ammo is not available in OZ. And the SST Super-performance is scarce. Ian |
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@ 02:16 pm (GMT) |
Jim MoseleyRe: Long range rifle ammoIan,Here's another tip for using manufacture ammo. I did test with the Rem Accu-tip 154 gr in my Sendero 7 mag. 3 boxes same lot. I weighed each round, wrote the weight on the case with a Sharpie and sorted the rounds into 3 groups by weight- high, medium, low. The rounds varied in weight by as much as 5 grains. Of the four variations in the round would be bullet, case, primer, and powder. The greatest variations in the process would be the powder, due to the high speed of the assembly line process. I shot 3 groups using one round from the 3 weights. Groups averaged 2 inches @200 yds. Then I chose 3 rounds out of highs of similar weight. Groups shrunk to 8/10 of an inch. The medium and the lows all average the same size groups @200 yds. Hope this made sense. |
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@ 01:06 pm (GMT) |
Ian DingoRe: Long range rifle ammoJim / NathanThanks for the info, Upon reflection I think I will start reloading for the 300win mag from the get go. So now it will a hunt for the right ingredients/recipe. Cheers all, Ian |
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@ 11:24 am (GMT) |
Ian DingoRe: Long range rifle ammo300 Win Mag UPDATE.Hey everyone, Just to let you know that in the end I didn't get the Savage, no stock in OZ and a 3month + wait from the importer. So went with a Remington 700 5R Mil Spec picked it up yesterday. Any comments/ advise on the rifle or ammo always welcome. Ian |
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@ 07:01 pm (GMT) |
jason brownRe: Long range rifle ammoi brought a new remington not so long ago.like its said, factory rifles are luck of the draw. to cut a long story short, mine wasnt in good condition. luckly mine is getting fixed under warranty. id advise you to take it to a gun smith to be checked that everything is as good as it should be. for piece of mind and cheap insurance. especially if you plan on bedding, trigger work or shooting handloads. because if you read the warranty, remington may not repair any factory faults if you have done any of the things just listed. good luck with your new rifle. |
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