Long range shooting.....what do I need?

[N80]

I'd want a powerful enough spotting scope to be able to see the hole in whatever target from 300 yards away so I could sight in and correct for windage. Otherwise, you're in for a lot of walking.

Or swimming in my case.

As for safety concerns with the water, it is a potential issue but again, there is a very steep hillside across the pond. In that direction there are no houses for about a 1/2 mile and none in the direct line of fire. So a bullet would have to skip over the ridgeline and over or through the trees (dense hardwoods and pines for 1/2 mile) and carry sufficient momentum to do harm which I do not think is possible.

I think my BIL also has a range of sorts in one of his pastures 'next door' but I'm not sure if it is 300 yards.

 

[N80]

You definitely have the right base;.270 Remington.Better choices of bullets in 7MM(.284) or .30 calibers.

I've got a Husqvarna .308 which is the one I shot this weekend. It is in a very pretty wood stock and I would not want to take it out but if it could stay in that stock I could use it as well. It is also very accurate at 100 yards with factory ammo.

 

[gsganzer]

Unfortunately it is across a pond. I have to take a canoe to get the target across! The spotting scope helps a lot especially if I get some of those shoot and see targets vtsnowedin mentioned.

For regular long range shooting, get some AR500 steel plates in 4", 8" and 12" diameter. This will save you a lot of back and forth. You'll know if you hit the target by the "ping". The 8" will approximate the vitals of big game and you could practice hitting it using multiple techniques (shooting sticks, kneeling, sitting, shooting rest). You can still set up a target and shoot for groups too.

 

[N80]

Where would one find such a thing? Scrap yard?

 

[RobertN]

The 308 would be cheaper to shoot. And less recoil. Also very accurate. Lots of nice target bullets available too.

I find the P.O. Ackley improvements interesting. 30-06 Ackley really shines in it's improvement. interestingly though, 308 was well developed and from my limited searches, was hard to improve on.

I've got a Husqvarna .308 which is the one I shot this weekend. It is in a very pretty wood stock and I would not want to take it out but if it could stay in that stock I could use it as well. It is also very accurate at 100 yards with factory ammo.

 

[N80]

Well, maybe I'll look at the .308. And I guess the pretty stock would be better suited to fair weather target shooting than hard time as a hunting gun. But I have to say, the model 700 .270 looks the part. Smooth, crude, fibergalss stock painted in olive drab auto paint, matte black finish on all metal parts.

 

[RobertN]

308 was developed from 300 Savage with lengthened neck and slightly altered shoulder so it would feed in machine guns. in doing so, they gained a little powder capacity, so the 308 is just a tad faster than it's parent cartridge.

Until the advent of the 308, 300 Savage was the best commercial approximation to the 30-06 in lighter bullets, with 150gr range bullets.

If you want some fun with 30-06, have your chamber reamed for 30-06 Ackley Improved... Can still shoot factory 30-06 ammo, but when fireformed and reloaded, they get a nice safe boost in performance.

The 308 is a shortened 30-06 case.

 

[Bwana64]

You can get the AR500 targets here: AR500 Steel Targets | ShootSteel.com
Couple T-Posts, some chain, and you are ready. When you hit the target you get that "ding" down range and see the gong move. No need to swim across the pond.

 

[MossRoad]

Spinning targets are fun, too.

spinning targets - Google Search

 

[Egon]

When the skill portion gets fully developed will there be an add saying. "Have Gun, Will Shoot"