Long range all around western rifle

Having bought a 28 Nosler X-bolt hells canyon speed a little less than a year ago I would recommend the 7mm Rem mag X-bolt max and keep shots 800 and under. The 28 is a great gun for western hunting. The biggest negative for it for me anyway is the cost of ammo. I reload and presently there seems to be only 2 brass case options that are actually available, Nosler and Hornady. Nosler cases are terriably expensive in the 28 and Hornady are only a little less and not quite as good. The 7mm Rem mag can be reloaded much cheaper and will have a longer barrel life. Again, I really think you are on the right track with your origional first option of the X-bolt Long range max in 7mm Rem mag. But if you are dead set on 1000 yards the 28 should do the job. The hells canyon X-bolt speed if you gotta have light weight but again if you are determined to go 1000 I would get the LR hells canyon for about the same price but a little more weight. If you want all the velocity you can get out of your gun make sure the model you buy has a 26" barrel.
 
People talk about "28 Nosler having terrible barrel life". If it is a hunting rifle, a new one could easily last a lifetime, and maybe even get handed down to the next generation. 100 rounds for load development on the outside. Even @ 25 rounds a year, should last you 30-40 years. But if you plan on shooting it 100 rounds a year, plan on 8-10 years.

As for cost over a 7RM, brass investment is really not THAT much higher. 100 pieces will run you $250-300. Depending on your load, should last you between 4-8 firings.
Powder consumption is about 120-130% of a 7RM.
Bullets and primers are a wash.

All these arguments are moot for me though. I own a 7RM and a .280AI. And have killed quite a ways out with them. 662 is my personal longest shot on elk with my 7RM. But the bull went 40-50ish yards before nose diving hard. Shot placement was within 1" of POA. Can't do much better than that draped over a tree root ball at sunset.
 
Last edited:
Hey everybody. So I'm looking to buy a rifle that is a good all around long range hunting rifle. Something that can reach out 1000 yards and kill am elk with confidence. But also a gun I would mind taking a pronghorn with. I'm looking to buy one stock, not build. Right now I'm looking at the browning x bolt max long range in 7mm mag. I'm looking to spend around 1100 on rifle, not including scope. I'm just looking for input on what you guys think about the browning and caliber I'm looking at, or what gun and caliber choice youd search. Also I'm thinking about a savage 110 high country in 280 Ackley. Thanks guys

The issue is enough energy at 1000 for a clean kill. I recommend 338 300g Berger bullet out of a 338 EDGE (338 Lapua or 338/378 Weatherby too) to have around 2000 ft-lbs of energy remaining at 1000yds. A rifle like that for $1100 is going to be hard to find. Savage 110 action, 30" Shilen bull barrel and a good stock. Build it yourself, Barrel nut wrench and a go/nogo gauge set will get you there with a rail and rings.
 
I'm in the 7MMrm group.
Consistent 1000 yard rifle is tough.
Only under very ideal conditions hunting could a shot be taken.

I have fired out to 1144 yards range, kills to 528yds 180 grain berger VLD.
Custom built Long Range Precision Hunting Rifle 7MMrm rifle 27 1/2" barrel including muzzle brake & NightForce. Hand loads
Shooting the 7MMrm since 1988
Taken elk @362 yards with 7MMrm Weatherby Vangard 3x9 fine plex
Kentucky Windage using 160gr nosler partition hand loads

DITTO Dosh statements >> wrong reference
Pennsylvania_Jackson
Nosler builds some good rifles although most probably not under $1000.00 and 1000 yard consistent accuracy.

CVCOBRA1
Statement - I have seen moose taken at 879 yards with the berger 180gr 7MMrm

Tidus56
Nosler rifle model 28 or others. Nosler builds a good rifle most probably not $1000.00 or less – concerned with long ranges over 750yds but these are all tough shots.

Good luck with a $1000.00 consistent 1000yd rifle.
Bring your project into scope…
 
Last edited:
I've been following this and have the same questions although my ranges will probably not exceed 600 yds. The Hells Canyon Speed is interesting. I have a custom chambered in .300 Weatherby. Besides just wanting another gun, if the Browning becomes the choice, what caliber? I have a chance for elk in Wyoming later this year. I would say that I am an average to better than average shooter, maybe a 6 or 7 on a 10 scale.
 
I shoot a custom 7 mag. Killed several elk out to 600 yds. Browning is a good choice. If you also want something for pronghorn, 7 mag is a great choice. Fast, flat with good BC. I shoot Berger 168 Hunting VLD. Everyone likes different rounds and what you choose will depend on what your gun likes to eat.

The only problem I see is that if you're serious about 1000 yards for elk, the remaining energy starts to be questionable/reliable to kill a 500-750lb animal unless you're one heck of a shot.

I agree with Elkeater. 0.4MOA with a .30WM @ 800 yards is a good limit. If you want to go 1000 yards, 0.25MOA is close to what you need with a smaller bullet.

IMHO
The 168 Berger VLD is very accurate out of my Ruger Mk.II 7 Rem. Mag.
 
You definitely won't go wrong with X-bolt. I own one, a fantastic rifle, that far exceeds my abilities. Good luck with whatever you choose.
 
I'm in the 7MMrm group.
Consistent 1000 yard rifle is tough.
Only under very ideal conditions hunting could a shot be taken.

I have fired out to 1144 yards range, kills to 528yds 180 grain berger.
Custom built Long Range Precision Hunting Rifle 7MMrm rifle 27 1/2" barrel including muzzle brake & NightForce. Hand loads

DITTO Dosh statements

Nosler builds some good rifles although most probably not under $1000.00 and 1000 yard consistent accuracy.

CVCOBRA1
Statement - I have seen moose taken at 879 yards with the berger 180gr 7MMrm

Tidus56
Nosler rifle model 28 or others. Nosler builds a good rifle most probably not $1000.00 or less – concerned with long ranges over 750yds but these are all tough shots.

Good luck with a $1000.00 consistent 1000yd rifle

bring your project into scope…
I honestly have no idea what you're talking about in your reference to me.
 
You need to look at bullet: (1) velocity, (2) energy and (3) bullet of choice performance at those two for the farthest range you would take a shot. Also where you plan to shoot. If your shooting in fields, flat, or Rockies across small canyons "winds" might be your limiting factor once you worked out the first three. I believe 338 Lapua 270 gr hunting bullet with 5 mph (constant) cross wind would 24" off aiming point at 1000 yards and 48" off at ~1200/1250 yards. To accurately take one shot game kills at 1000 yards in various conditions you definitely need to spend time shooting in practice to know your rifle and on equipment to make the shot. Seems most game kills are inside of 300 yards, pushing past to 1000 yards would required an investment in electronics to range and ballistics app to confirm. Scopes are big factor when going out to distances, elevation adjustments and accuracy at 1000 yards. I hunt in Rockiest when I get a chance, not offen as I would like, have taken 6 bull Elk of which 5 were inside of 300 yards, one at 650 yards and that one was with 338 Lapua. One caliber... 338 Lapua can shoot down 225 gr or less as well as up to 300 gr, seems like it can do it all. I have killed bull elk with 7mm, 300, 338wm but when I wanted to take shots past 500 yards I went to 338 Lapua and a lot of money into scope and electronics. It is A lot cheaper to shoot inside of 500 yards. (4) Shot placement is your final factor. If you can shoot a 270 through the heart, it's much better than a gut shot with a 338. Best of luck, hope you get a chance to elk hunt.
 
Last edited:
Hey everybody. So I'm looking to buy a rifle that is a good all around long range hunting rifle. Something that can reach out 1000 yards and kill am elk with confidence. But also a gun I would mind taking a pronghorn with. I'm looking to buy one stock, not build. Right now I'm looking at the browning x bolt max long range in 7mm mag. I'm looking to spend around 1100 on rifle, not including scope.

I think you are approaching elk hunting the wrong way, and right now I'd say you've seen too many LR elk hunting videos. Elk hunting has very little to do with your rifle or cartridge choice in the long run, but I see so many attack it that way. So let's have a serious talk about elk hunting out West.

First you need to be honest with yourself about a few things, what kind of shape mentally and physically are you in? I live in Colorado and looks like you live in Pennsylvania, my states lowest elevation is 3,300 ft your states highest is 3,200 ft. Most of the time you're going to hunt around 7,000+ ft ASL. So even if you spent a full summer hiking your tallest peak in PA you are still going to get your butt kicked by elevation when you come out west. So you not only need to be physically tough you need to be mentally tough to handle the elevation.

Have you been applying for an elk hunt out west and how do you intend to do the hunt? Really the challenge will be drawing a tag, sure you can hunt bulls OTC here in Colorado but if you're trying to get a trophy bull they may not be the most productive units. I'd say unless you're prepared to spend a lot of years eating expensive non-resident tag soup learning a unit you want to hunt DIY, hire a guide. A good guide service will save you money elk hunting in the long run if all you want is a trophy bull. I think if you hire a guide service you'll find the average range of shots are far less than 1,000 yards.

Optics are more important than any rifle IMO. You're going to spend more time behind glass looking for and judging animals. A good pair of binoculars and a spotting scope is a must. So you've found elk at 1,000 yards with your binos, now is your spotting scope good enough to judge the animals you've found? Do you have a scope with good enough optics to single out your bull and repeatable adjustments to dial in at 1,000 yards.

You should be really thinking about how confident in your ability to shoot 1,000 yards on an elk you are. There are a lot of rifle and cartridge combinations capable of delivering a bullet with lethality at 1,000 yards on elk, shooter error is the largest uncontrollable factor in the equation. Are you confident in your ability to kill an elk at 1,000 yards, or are you going to give that wounded elk a 1,000 yard and 30 minute or more head start on a long tracking job?

A lot of things are out of your control in any kind of hunting. About the only things you're guaranteed to be able to control is where you'll hunt, you physical conditioning, your gear, and your confidence in your abilities. After that just realize you're pretty much at the mercy of Murphy's Law.
 
Last edited:
I just bought a Howa HS Precision I. .300 win mag. One option comes from the factory 26" threaded and ready for a brake. The other is a 24" no threads. Both come with a HS Precision stock, the threaded can be found for around 980.00, the non threaded for about 100.00 less. I'd say get the threaded 26" 7mag, have it glass bedded, and put the 100.00 you saved into the scope and rings.

I have a 300 win mag, which I havent shot yet, but it feels amazing. The bolt feels as tight and precise as the Fierce Fury I handled.
 
Warning! This thread is more than 6 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.
Top