Long range hunting rifle - what do you use?

[COBrad]

For big-game I'm using a custom .300 Jarrett. Rem 700, McMillan stock, #4 Pacnor barrel w/brake, 2.5-10 IOR scope in Talley mounts, at 8.5 lb. Its' not a true light weight, but light enough to carry comfortably, and enough heft to make a steady and solid shooting, .5 MOA rifle. I'm pushing 200 gr. bullets to 3045 fps. I'm currently waiting delivery on a Kimber Montana in .243, to use as a walking varminter. I've opted for a 17.5 oz Zeiss 4.5-14 instead of a compact, but with Talley aluminum mounts I expect to see a total weight of no more that 6 1/4 lb.

 

[sscoyote]

I'm into the specialty pistols , and currently use a Gre'-Tan Rifles XP-100 16" Shilen in 6.5-284 for big game. I'm putting together a match neck .243 WSSM Broughton 17" #10 Hunter on a Savage Striker for long-range varmints (coyotes).

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I figured that a Sendero weight rifle was as big and heavy as I would like to carry afield. Started with a Sendero and a magnum action and built from there.

26" Hart barrel in 7STW
blueprinted action
Tubb recoil lug
titanium bedded into Sendero stock
trigger pull reduced to 2lbs
leupold 6.5x20 scope

Currently shooting Nosler 160gr Accubonds with very good accuracy.

VH

 

[ryan m]

The stock was made that way, from richard's microfit in CA. The Ferrel mount would mean re drilling and tapping the reciever, which I might consider, but the holes would not be spaced correctly now.
To me 10 lbs is pushing it for something that I will carry, 8lbs is better, hence the howa.

 

[jon12]

Winchester model 70 coyote in 270 WSM. Ive just had alittle bedding work done and the trigger done. Its got a medium heavy 24" barrel, probably not quite as heavy as the sendero contour, and it weights about 9 lbs. Plus ive got a a zeiss 4.5-14x44 and harris bipod that adds alittle weight. Accuracy is wroth the weight to me.

 

[m14dan]

I guess I'm the oddball of the bunch. I carry a 20+ pound sniper version of an M-14 in the field. It's equipped with a bedded heavy walnut stock, Heavy douglas 1-10 6 groove barrel, Arms 18 scope mount and a simmons pro 50 scope. Soon to be a leupold M1 tac scope. I love this rifle and have been carrying it for a long time. I built it myself too so it makes it that much better when I get something with it! Last weekend I got a 1000 yard jackrabbit. That was fun. I regularly go prairie dog hunting with it too at ranges out to about 700 yards or so. I use my kid for my spotter and ranger. We make a good team. Hog hunting is my favorite with it. Using a coated barnes 168 grain x bullet at 2600 fps if I can see them they're BBQ.

 

[Swamplord]

My long range rig is a .300 AAHS Magnum,

Blueprinted, trued, squared, leveled, plumbed, scrubbed and etc., etc.,
A 29" #7 Varmint Contour Hart Heavy Bbl, fluted, braked, target crowned, cryo-ed, tri-laxed, polished etc.,
Jewel target trigger, HS Precision Stock,
On top sits a scope I really like!!
A 30mm tube Burris Black Diamond 4-16X 50mm posi/lock with ballistic plex reticle.

The rifle groups 1/4"- 3/8" groups @ 100 yards and 1"- 1 1/4" groups @ 300 yards consistently with Hornady 178 Grn. A-Max bullets coated with tungsten disulfide... Velocity chronographed @ 3530- 3560 fps (20 rnd Average) loaded with 98 grn. of RL 25 ..

Will be working up a load with 200 grn. Accubonds, hopefully 3300 fps with good accuracy..
Haven't hunted with it yet , but will test it on moose this season and hopefully a nice brown bear...

 

[Swamplord]

Forgot to indicate weight of rifle.
My Rapala Digital fish scale reads 13 lbs. 5 oz. empty w/scope on..
Recoil is similar to .308 Win., .30-06, very pleasant to shoot although somewhat noisy!
The only drawback is I can't use factory .300 RUM ammo since it has a modified .300 RUM case (a-la Ackley),tight .333 ND and case necks are turned.

 

[GEG]

I shoot a true long range hunter but its only good for any deer size animals out to 1500 yds. Its a 6.5-300 Weatherby. I shoot the 142 grain SMK's at 3550fps out
of a 30" Mike Rock flutted barrel, Remington 700 action, Jewell trigger, NF 8x32x56 BR with the NP2DD reticle, Badger bases and rings with a H S Precision tactical stock. Its a little less than 17 lbs and the recoil is just right without a muzzle brake.
Its perfect for stand hunting a south Texas pipeline right away where you can see further than you can shoot.
Don't forget to dope the wind! GEG

 

[Michael Eichele]

I prefer the heavy accurate tpye. I like em heavy for cold bore shots and I like em accurate because I like to hit 8" kill zones at 800 yards.

Here are some pix of my rifle and groups fired with that rifle. The first group is a 3.5" 3 shot at 1000 yards. The second is a 3 shot at 300 and the 3rd pic is 3 shots at 100 yards. All bullets were AMAX type. The 1000 yard group was 155 and the other 2 were the 178. Game taken with this rifle was:

1st Dall ram 763 yards, 1 shot.
2nd Caribou 306 yards 1 shot.
3rd Caribou 25 yards, 1 shot.
4th Black bear 65 yards. 1 shot incapacitation.
5th Black bear 157 yards 2 shots required.
6th Dall ram, 600 yards.
7th Dall ram 323 yards.

Cartridge is 308. Bullets used on game were 168 SMK and 190 SMK. No game has been lost by my hands while using a 308 win.

Also have taken other game with other 308's These include 2 more dall rams and 1500+ pound bull moose. Still no losses with those rifles either.

I also am now using a custom 300 RUM and look forward to seeing some results on long range harvests this year.

 

[mike464]

I am using a GA Precision built 700 in 300wsm, 26 " fluted Rock barrel, 1/2 moa rifle with 175 SMKs or 178 Amaxs at 3150 fps, it is an antelope murderer. I just pulled a Mark 4 M3 off it and put on a new USO ST10. I am also shooting a GAP built 700 in 338 lapua mag with an H25 Horus reticled Schmidt and Bender 4X16, with 300gr SMKs. My walking around rifle is a Dakota 97 in 300 Dakota shooting 180 Sciroccos, this bullet has worked great on elk, deer and antelope. Mike

 

[Magnumdude]

338-378 Weatherby Accumark. Re-bedded by Bruce Baer, plus I had Baer install 3 mercury recoil reducers. Baer bases and rings, Schmidt & Bender 2.5-10x56, Harris Bi-Pod.

185 grain Lazerheads at 3550 fps - around .5 moa consistently; smaller if the wind blows all the shots together.

16.5 lbs.

 

[specweldtom]

I BARRELED A .338 X .378 WBY ON A MK. V ACTION W/ A SHILEN SELECT MATCH #7 TAPER. I INLETTED AND BEDDED IT INTO A DISCARDED 40X REPEATER STOCK; NOT AS HARD AS I EXPECTED. S.A. 6.5 X 20 3rd GEN SCOPE. RIFLE WEIGHS 17 LBS. SHOOTS 225 GR. BARNES X INTO .5 MOA; 200 GR. BALL. TIP @ 3500 FPS INSTRUMENTAL; 300 GR SIERRA MKHP RETAINS 1000 FT LBS. @ 1800 YDS. I LIKE IT.<LI>.338 X .378 WBY[/LIST][/LIST]

 

[sniper2]

I use 300RUM case necked up to .338, mk10 action 30" match S.S Pac-Nor Barrel with
free bore.The 300 grainer and 250's are excellent for long range, very devastating!!