I know this is a Marlin forum but...I am interested in shooting long range...the longest range locally is 100-600 yards. I want to set up a .30 cal rifle (starter package) to see if I can even shoot and hit over 200-300 yards. Eventually up to the 600 yards and maybe even longer if I can find a range.
What I need is pointers...Remington, Savage, Marlin??? .308 or .30-06? Optics type...scope of peep? I am partial to scopes but...they like to clobber me with a heavier recoiling rifle so I need a longer eye relief.
I just need some general input. I have even considered starting out with an H&R Handy Rifle in .308 just to see if I can handle 30 cal recoil. No sense spending a thousand on a rifle the makes me cry and then having to take a hit reselling it...know what I mean?
h243
Ahhh.....200 - 500 yds with the .308, Iron sight no less. Did it for lot of years. Qual every year and a few competition. The 30-06 was king until the birth of the .308. At first it was laughed at but quickly noticed past 300 yards it kicked butt. Out to 5-600 its still Cock-of-The Walk. Now get past that and the 6 and 6.5mm have taken over. The word is "coefficient"
Something has to be the best and the .308 happens to be within that range. Now not to say other calibers don't do well, they do, and on occasion win some matches. But in the long haul, over the course the .308 is the standard.
Getting a gun to shoot 1" groups at 100 isn't hard anymore. Pick em up at Wally World for around $300. Now move to 200 and to shoot 1 MOA groups (which is about 2.1") and it starts to get a little more challenging. At 300 yard even more so. You have to be able to READ THE WIND, Heat Mirage, That's what spotting scopes are for.....Not for looking at bullet holes....LOL. Also at 300+ equipment quality starts to play a major factor. Barrels, Stocks (bedding for sure), triggers, Ammo. Enviromental conditions start coming into play, Tempature, Humidity.
Go back to 1000 (they do shoot 30 cal at that distance ) and it gets really weird. Along with all the other afore mentioned variables now the EARTHS ROTATION GOES INTO AFFECT. Depending where on the planet you are at it will move the bullet as much at 3.5" in drift on top of the wind.
Your heart beat will effect your hold at the longer distances. If a 1/4 click on a scope moves the POI 1/4" at 100 what will a heart beat that jiggles the sights or crosshairs 1/64 do at 1000...... think about it... its not a straight line calculation......its compounded.
ITS FUN.....GO FOR IT
Oh I forgot....... One of the best and most used platforms for a gun is a Remington 700 action. You should be able to pick up a pretty good one with decent barrel (bull, Varment type) for around $5-600) It should already be bedded and have around a 2 lb or better trigger. Mine would shoot under .4" 100 yards groups with hunting loads and a Nikon 14X. My suggestion is start at 100 till YOU and your gun can get well under .5" don't go back. Of course all depends on how serious you get.... ITS JUST MONEY......
