BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[Sean W]

If you dont want to read all of what iv'e wrote, here is my main reason for posting this topic:
I like shooting targets from really far away, i know .22s are relatively cheap, but they just dont have the range i want to shoot targets at.
so:
What would be the next best thing as far as price and range over a .22 caliber rifle for shooting targets at long distances ( like... 600 yards )?


I feel like a complete Moron, not knowing anything about guns. but, i guess thats why i joined the forum.. so with that said, heres my story and question.


im 17 years old ( im not sure if that has anything to do with anything, but there it is ), my dad just bought a 9mm semi-automatic smith and wesson hand gun. he and i went out to the local shooting range shortly afterward, and filled a target with over 350 holes ( hehe ). that was exciting, and dare i say, sparked my interest.

last weekend, i visited my grandparents in Arizona, and i knew my grandfather has many guns, so i asked him if i could use a rifle and ( to my amazement ) he said sure. he Handed me a rifle, ( at that time it was just a rifle to me, i didnt know till later ( after i loaded it ) that it was a 22.caliber ) and a box of 400 bullets. i went in their back yard behind a mountain, they live smack dab in the middle of no where, closest town is 22 miles away, closest neighbor is 8 miles away, and traffic on the way into town is 2 burrows and a road runner, so im comfortable when i say, they live in the BEST place to shoot guns. any way ( this is getting to be a long read, sorry ) i found a piece of wood a foot square and an inch thick, drew a target on it with a sharpie and found the best place to shoot, and from there found the(reasonably ) furthest possible place to put the target, which, after placing the target and walking back was 105 yards. i shot 80 rounds and hit the target 7 times ( personaly, i think thats pretty good for being the second gun and first rifle ive ever shot with no training on how to aim ). i only shot 80 rounds because i was getting hot ( it was 124 degreese ) so i called it a day. went and got the target, and went inside.
the next day, i scavenged threw their immediate back yard, and found some old bottles and cans, and went shooting again. shooting from and putting the targets at the same place as the day before, and i shot all 7 targets with only 30 rounds (BTW the rifle has a x6 scope ). then i shot a grasshopper from about 35 yards ( that was cool ). That was fun and all, but, its just not exciting enough for me. After shooting, i looked up the effective range of the.22 round i was shooting, it said between 35 - 40 yards.
I want to shoot targets from really far away, at least 500 yards, i know a .22 just doesn't have the range to make shots like that. What caliber and gun would be a good first rifle for me to shoot targets at that kind of range?


if you read this far, Thank you.
And thanks in advance for any replies


Sean

[fuzzybear]

Welcome to the forum.
It sounds like there's a spark of interest in target shooting.
I would suggest you start with something that is on the low end of recoil in a target round.
The 260 Remington or a 6.5/284, if you can find one, are excellent long range, low recoil rounds for target. Then there's the 264 Win Mag.
From there move up to the 30 calibers. 308 Winchester or a 30-06, 300 Win Mag. The Win Mag is a shoulder thumper if your not careful.
Anything larger than the 300 Win Mag is going to have a heavy recoil.
Get yourself some literature on long range target shooting and read about how these guys go about it. Also, check out the Long Range forum. There are several BGH members that enjoy and participate in the sport.
Good luck on your venture.

[Sean W]

Hows this? would this rifle/caliber bullet give me the range im looking for?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog.....id=5057211

Also, what kind of scope would i need for shooting targets at 500+ yards?

using this as an example:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog.....id=6498025

i dont understand what any of this means...
# Magnification: 3-10X
# Objective Lens Diameter: 1.73"
# Optimum Eye Relief: 3.5"
# Field of View @100 Yds: 27 - 9
# Parallax Setting: 10 to infinity
# Click Adjustment Value: 1/4

[jfrench]

Nothing wrong with the .243, and you'll be able to hunt with it too if you want. The .223 is a good long range round as well. With a lot of patience and practice, you'll be able to comfidently shoot at 500yds.
Have fun and be safe.

[ChesterGolf]

There are lots that fill the bill:

223 rem
22-250
220 swift
243
6mm
any larger than the above.

The ones listed are pretty tame in the recoil category and would be a great place to start. Have fun. :thumbsup1:

[fuzzybear]

The rifle on the link would do just fine. Actually Savage makes some very accurate straight shootin' rifles and the 243 win is an excellent round.
It doesn't sound like you'll be loading your own rounds and I don't know what's available, over the counter, but I would stick with 85 grain to 100 grain bullets for anything over 500 yards.
Good luck on your shooting.

[Don Fischer]

I'm with Fuzzy Bear. 243 would work well. As for a scope, I'd give that some thought. target shooting out to 500yds could be done very well with a 6x scope but, for just target shooting I'd get something with target turrets and paralex adjustment. For the 243 you don't need a real high dollar scope, just a decent one. It'll probably have to be at least 3-12 to get the turrets. The Savage rifle will be fine and fairy inexpensive, spend a bit on the scope. I have a 4 1/2-14 Nikon with turrets and paralex adjustment and it cost $300. I think Bushnell and sightron to name two, make one for less. Check tasco and look at the cabelas catalog.

I'd also encourage you to check into handloading. That doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg either, Lee kit around $100. From there on out there's lots of ways to go. Just bear in mind that spending money won't make you a better long range shooter, learning does that. rifle shooting is a science.

By the way, welcome to BGH.

[Sean W]

Hey thanks guys : )
now i just gotta convince my dad to buy it... ;)