My Long Range Gun Build

[BuckSnort]

Thanks for all the replies! SO if you guys had to choose, would you go with the 26" or the 20"?

I'd choose 26 over 20...Hands down

 

[Sully2]

Hey guys, the name is Hunter, new to here so sorry if I sound like an idiot. I have been considering building a rifle used for long ranges (500 Yards>) for a while and have decided to finally go through with it...

I would like to keep the rifle to Remington and the scope to Leupold due to the fact that I get their items heavily discounted.

My first idea for the scope/rifle combo was...

-Remington 700 SPS-T (20" Heavy Barrel)
-Leupold VX-II (40mm, 4-12 Power)

Is this a decent start? I am very open to suggestions, just want to keep it around that price range.

I'll end up getting the gun and scope about 35 percent off as well so keep that in mind.

Cheers,

Hunter gun)

Unless you are always shooting out of your pickup truck window....scrap the 20" barrel and go with the VLS ( laminated wood stock model) with a 26" barrel.

Ive got a Leupold VX-II on mine ...the 6-18 X model

 

[WildRose]

I disagree. I read an article where they compared short barrels verses standard length barrels. The short barrel rifles were just as effective to 500 and 600 yards as a standard length barrel. I have played with my own 18" barreled .308 and it shoots just as well as my long barreled .308 (28"). There is a bit of a performance gain with the longer barrel giving me more velocity obviously, but both shoot equally well. .5 MOA is standard with both using 175SMK's and 178 Hornady BTHP's. The 18" is a 1:10 and the 28" is a 1:12.

Tank

Bolding mine. There's your answer. Unless I misread the OP we're talking about building a dedicated "Long range" gun, not one simply suited for short to medium ranges.

If 600 yds is the max, then hell I'd save a ton of money and just buy something off of the rack and do a good free float, pillar bed, and glass it all in.

 

[Bullet bumper]

From what I have gathered you get 30-40 fps per inch of barrel so I would think that 6 in more barrel would be big benefit. Perhaps others with more knowledge than I will weigh in. The extra velocity will help your ballistics and energy. Are you hunting or just targets?

You are correct . It is all about staying super sonic at the longest range possible . If a certain load in a short barrel can give the velocity you need at a certain range then it will shoot ok but if your bullet drops into the transonic zone at that range then it looses accuracy.The longer barrel helps gain every fps you can get out of a certain load which also helps use slower burning powders for heavier bullets for higher BC's .

 

[WildRose]

You are correct . It is all about staying super sonic at the longest range possible . If a certain load in a short barrel can give the velocity you need at a certain range then it will shoot ok but if your bullet drops into the transonic zone at that range then it looses accuracy.The longer barrel helps gain every fps you can get out of a certain load which also helps use slower burning powders for heavier bullets for higher BC's .

Emphasis mine.

It also allows you thus to use lower pressure loads to reach the same velocities increasing barrel life.

I consider 24" to be the miminally acceptable length for a purpose built LR rifle.

 

[SLOAN]

I am new to this forum,but not to shooting long, Buy a 7mm an don:t look back,When you want to go to 700 you""ll be glad you did , wind is the 500 pound gorrilla in the field,from5-7 it can kick your ***. BE safe Sloan....