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Need some "Long Range" advice to keep up with my buddies....

2K views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  Jim Clarke 
#1 ·
Heading to South Dakota this year the last week of May/first week of June, and I am "outgunned."

One of my buddies bid on a Savage LRP rifle on GB in .243, and when he won it, found out the guy had another in 6.5 Creedmore and bought both, then sold the .243 to my OTHER P-dog buddy who then had it bored by JD Jones to .243 AI, and then BOTH of them put "Discontinued" ($1800!!!!) Mil dot 8-32x50mm Nightforce scopes on them and are vowing 600-800 yd shots on P-dogs this year....

They are shooting the heavy pencil like 129-140 buddits with the best BCs out there, and if they guees the wind no reason they cant reach out to 800-1000...


While I struggle to hit 400 with the Swift....


While I put a new Leupold scope on the Swift this year, I am not near them in BC or and definitely not in range any more.


Now while I have met another local Swift shooter doing marvelous long range work rebarreling "shot out" Swifts with 1-8 twist Shilen and Green Mountain barrels and shooting 90 granin .224 bullets...


I think if I get a bonus next year I might get my own LR Vamint rifle.... Since we now know 6.5mm/26 cal is the flattest and most accurate Long Range round period, but knowing I do NOT want to just show up with a rifle like everyone else has....

What can I build or buy like an LRP in and be "different," but still give me 600-800 yd P-dog accuracy...considering that whether I could afford it or not (prolly NOT) I will have at best a decent Leupold on it and NOT a Nightforce....

I'm thinking a fast twist LRP (1-8"?) fluted bull in .260 Remington.

Since they're surprisingly affordable if you don't mind the long wait, I have also thought a custom ER Shaw rifle with a fast twist in .260, or maybe something wierd like the 6.5x54 M-S or 6.5 x 55 Swede...


The third option is either rebarreling my Ruger M77 wth a fast twist new barrel, or trying to find a Savage or Remingon 700 or Ruger with a 'shot out" barrel and get it rebarreled and keep mine as a 4000 fps burner with light bullets...


Advice?
 
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#2 ·
I've built two rifles using Savage actions, the last was a 6.5 Creedmoor. The Savage actions make it easy to build a custom long range tack driver. Criterion makes match grade barrels at a reasonable price. For your first build you'll need to acquire an action wrench. The rest is easy. You can look for a donor rifle for the action (least expensive) or get a new one, I've done it both ways.

The source for everything you need (action, Criterion or Shilen barrels, tools and actions) to build the Rifle of your dreams is here http://northlandshooterssupply.com/. Talk to Jim, he's a nice guy and will guide you through the process.

Take a look at the Vortex line of scopes, good stuff. You'll be overwhelmed with stock choices. I'd go with the 6.5 Creedmoor, but that's just me.

That's the way I would go, But let me warn you if you build one it probably won't be your last. If you decide to go this route and you have questions just let me know.
 
#3 ·
Bring a good scope and I'll let you use my Savage 7mm. I've got some 139's loaded to 3100fps and accuracy is pretty darned good. My Vortex 3-9x40 on it is done for my eyes at 600. Seriously, stop by on your way and give it a try. If nothing else, you'll get the "Ironman Award"
 
#4 ·
I did a similar project a few years back. I took my .220 Swift (my fourth one) and re-barreled it to 6.5x55 with a 1:8 twist Douglas air gauge barrel with a Vais style muzzle brake.. About the time this happened my job that had regular hours disappeared, and it sits in the safe waiting for me to retire. It's on a single shot Savage long action with a Sharp Shooter trigger and barrel lug. I thought about the 6.5x284 but it's a barrel burner, or possibly the 6.5-06 but cases have to be formed for that one. So I went with simplicity and Lapua makes ammo and brass for the 6.5x55, this stuff is without peer. All that and load it to the same pressures as the two aforementioned cartridges and it's capable of about 95% of what they'll do.
 
#5 ·
I bought a Mosin Nagant and that steel butt plate put me in a soft neck brace for several days. I modified it w/ muzzle brake and different stock so now it's ok. So when I wanted a rifle that could be more efficient at distance, recoil was a major consideration. I would prefer to not use a muzzle brake. I recently ordered the 7mm-08 that can shoot the 1000 yard paper. The recoil energy charts show the 7-08 slightly below the Mosin but not by much but many say the recoil isn't that bad. But the chart has me thinking I may end up with another muzzle brake but I don't know. There are different articles that say the perceived recoil of the 7-08 is just a bit more than the 243 and not even near the 270. I'm hoping it is much close to the 243. I just don't know at this time. I did order the Vortex Viper PST 6-24X50 FFP EBR-2C a few months ago and am excited to place it on the new 7-08 rifle whenever Buds Gun Shop gets the rifle mailed out. The scope looks bodacious on my Mosin perched up on the jmeck mount with it's shade tube. The only real issue is the parallax. I find using a gps eliminates the errors a bunch. Cheaper than a spendy range finder ( some future toy I imagine).
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The 7-08 is cheap to reload and I have all kinds of 308 cases. But that Weatherby 6.5 Creedmore looks interesting on Buds (they are out of stock at this time).
 
#6 ·
Ok, I re-read your post and I think I see what you're saying. My offer still stands though.

Imagine this; 300 win mag brass necked down to 6.5 or even 6mm pushing all copper slugs through a custom barrel.
https://cuttingedgebullets.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=MTH_F05
or
https://cuttingedgebullets.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=MTH_G06

You'd probably have to shorten the case and stretch the neck to hold those bullets and the leade would be about a mile long

granted, it would be expensive to build and shoot along with it being single shot but that would get your buddies' attention
 
#7 ·
The rifle type is up for your preference, my .02 would be to go "old school" with the 6.5x55 or even 7x57 as these older rounds have a lot of good qualities that can be made even better with the newer bullet designs and variety now available. I feel that the availability and cost of the brass is a factor to add to your decision and that the mentioned calibers can be loaded to almost any power factor and hold their own with any new short/fat/necked ect cartridge.
I have shot a m38 Swedish carbine well @ 200 yds with a very mild load, I would take the same gun for hunting deer with no concerns at all. Recoil and barrel life would scarcely be a concern and your rifle would be the type that others will remember.
Just my opinion.
I talked a friend out of "short magnum" calibers and into a .308 for a hunting caliber; he is pleased with the lack of recoil and has made 400+ yard shots with great confidence, he likes the lower ammo cost and does not flinch from either recoil or price when he pulls the trigger.
 
#8 ·
Buy a Savage with a .06/308 bolt,re-barrel(very easy with Savages)to 6.5x.06-plenty of brass,not a barrel burner,very accurate-I love 6.5s,for a standard chambering the 6.5x55 is a good round,I just think the wildcats are more accurate at longer ranges.Both of my 6.5x.06s group at 3/4" at 200yds with Berger 130s,an inch with 120grs.
 
#9 ·
HEY POLISH,

Have you decided on which course you're gonna take? We'd like to know.
If you would like to know more about the suggestions I gave (Savage-Stevens build, 6.5 caliber) you can go to these two sites and peruse their forums and find a world of knowledge:http://www.savageshooters.com/content.php?s=70089e60ea3c74082863335ec190babd

http://www.65creedmoor.com/index.php

The savage shooters site will give you info on anything Savage and examples of builds.
The Creedmoor site is filled with serious long range competition shooters that have chosen the 6.5 Creedmoor to compete with. They shoot from 600 yds. and beyond.

BTW the 6.5 Creed is a short action round that uses the same bolt face as the .308 which makes life easier.

One more course to consider; most people don't know it but Savage has a custom shop they will build you anything you want from stock parts. Just call 'em and they will make a build sheet of your wants, go to your FFL and have him order it. From what I've been told they don't charge much more than their stock rifles.

Let us know what you decide... Inquiring minds want to know.
 
#11 ·
Have you considered a 6.5 Grendel platform? Not hard hitting at extreme range on large game but brutal on small game . I consistently shoot mine out to 800yds + and barring any tornado force winds, its a tack driver. No mistake though. It is not in the same realm as the 6.5 creedmore. That's a beast.
 
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