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Post by eddien on Aug 14, 2016 10:57:16 GMT -6
I was at the rifle club last Sunday. Had to put in my work day. They were having a 1,000 yard benchrest competition that I worked. That was a BIG mistake. It made me hungry to join in the fun. Looking at those custom rifles just made me drool. So, next day I placed an order for a Remington 700 in .308 Win. I know this caliber is being used less and less, but I have my reasons for wanting to use this one. Ammo and scope (not the best, but close to what I'm looking for) are also on the way. Anyway, I wish I had got some pics and contact info from the guys shooting. Anybody here have experience with long distances? I used to have to qualify every year out to 500 yards (meters?). Advice, as always, is greatly appreciated. Also thinking of doing a build for later. I know all the parts are available.
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Post by eddien on Aug 14, 2016 12:33:25 GMT -6
Forgot to add that "don't do it" is not an option.
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Post by Luckyn'morbo on Aug 15, 2016 11:43:11 GMT -6
I am far from being a real 'distance shooter' however I have enjoyed a fair level of satisfaction and enjoyment from using my .308 / 700 out to 300 yards (my range max) on my homemade rest or one of the store-bought units. All, very low tech, but I enjoy the "raised eyebrows" that follow the walk to the target line). My rifle is totally stock, with the exception of a phenomenal bit of work performed by my smith on the factory trigger. I feel the .308 is a good choice. There's tons of data on the calibre and (as you mentioned) plenty of after-market parts available.
I always lusted after a .338, but retirement found me. Alas.
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Post by armedandsafe on Aug 15, 2016 14:03:35 GMT -6
I started shooting 1000 yard competitions in 1948. This was not bench-rest precision shooting, but just casual get-togethers of local shooters. I was using my 03A3, with a Canjar trigger, Lyman peep sight rear, Lyman hooded front sight with the peep apertures installed. I was so skinny I had to have somebody stand behind me when sitting, so I didn't roll over from the recoil. Shooting prone, somebody had to stand on my feet to keep the recoil from scooting me back on the mat. I got pretty good at it. After I got out of the service, I did some benchrest precision shooting, but quickly learned that the precision of the rifle means much more than the skill of the shooter. Because I didn't have the resources to buy a rifle of the desired precision, I went back to free-style shooting. The fitting of the rifle, barrel to chamber to bullet to load to stock to action to trigger to sight to rest is the key. If you have a true barrel and chamber, the rest is fine tuning. Bullet and load come next. Then stock fit followed by trigger. Action can be involved in strange ways. I had one friend who increased the accuracy of his 30-06 by removing a few thousandths from the front locking lug of the bolt. We never did figure out that one. He did that to smooth the feel of the action on closing and discovered that he had closed up almost an eighth of a minute in groups. It is a fun sport that can involve you in some very fussy-fussy stuff. You WILL have to improve the precision of your reloading, also. Case size, capacity and length. Bullet weight and length to a tinyth. Powder type, brand, production lot and weight. Primer brand and production lot. Bullet seating, sealing,grip and overall length of the cartridge. That is a start. I could go on. Pops
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Post by Luckyn'York on Aug 17, 2016 17:28:41 GMT -6
Eddien, if you wish I can p/m my best load data for my 700. /.308. I should be with the data sometime next week.
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Post by eddien on Aug 18, 2016 20:38:44 GMT -6
Sounds good, Lucky. I need to get reloading equipment. Also going to try it with my 223s. Just for the heck of it.
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Post by armedandsafe on Aug 18, 2016 23:20:27 GMT -6
When reloading for accuracy, you want a single stage press, as heavy duty as you can afford. The trick for extreme accuracy shooting is that the rifle and ammunition do the same thing EVERY time you fire. 1. All bullets come from the same box, all boxes come from the same production run. (lot) Each bullet has been weighed and micrometer measured for diameter and length. 2. All powder comes from the same container, all containers come from the same production run (lot) Each powder throw has been weighed and adjusted to a tenth of a grain or less. 3. All cases are the same manufacturer, same production run (lot) and once fired in the gun for which you are reloading. All cases have been tested and sorted for capacity. They have been neck sized only. They have been trimmed to the same length. Primer pockets have been reamed to a common size in both diameter and depth. 4. All primers come from the same box, all boxes come from the same production run. (lot) All primers are inspected for diameter and fill. (If a primer has visibly less chemical in it than others, discard.) 5. Primers are seated with the press, using the same pressure on each one. I've seen one fellow use a bathroom scale to measure the seating force. That's a start. Pops
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Post by shooteruk on Aug 21, 2016 21:17:56 GMT -6
What Pops said. I admit to simply not being attracted to long range, but admire those who do it, and recognise sound advice when given.
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Post by Luckyn'morbo on Aug 23, 2016 14:19:49 GMT -6
Sounds good, Lucky. I need to get reloading equipment. Also going to try it with my 223s. Just for the heck of it. Haven't forgotten, Mr E. Just haven't been back at home base to retrieve the info, and I don't want to risk quoting from memory.
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Post by eddien on Aug 24, 2016 21:17:11 GMT -6
The new rifle is here. Scope mounted. Now to find time for the range.
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