Recommended rifle for 500 - 1000 yards shooter.

[357Max]

I bought that same barreled action a few years ago. No regrets. 1400 on it now and still shoots fantastic (accept for RDF’s).

A little inspiration for you. Me shooting that rifle at the Major Land match in Oct. first to shots are at 1260 yards, second 2 are 1560 yards. This was blind stage, find, range, engage. My partner bailed after day 1 so I was flying solo here & one of the Geissele guys was spotting for me.

 

[ToolAA]

I bought that same barreled action a few years ago. No regrets. 1400 on it now and still shoots fantastic (accept for RDF’s).

View attachment 389229 View attachment 389230

A little inspiration for you. Me shooting that rifle at the Major Land match in Oct. first to shots are at 1260 yards, second 2 are 1560 yards. This was blind stage, find, range, engage. My partner bailed after day 1 so I was flying solo here & one of the Geissele guys was spotting for me.

Interesting difference between the RDF’s and the Bergers. Any idea why?

Also, I tried ti watch your video but the link is Private.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[4g64loser]

I would also fully endorse a Nucleus barreled action and the xylo chassis pictured above. Excellent components from a top shelf company. I say this as someone who has considered replacing my MPA with a xylo. My KRG whiskey three, however, will be buried with me!

357 max, video didn't want to play but is that drew walter on the left in the thumbnail?

 

[357Max]

Interesting difference between the RDF’s and the Bergers. Any idea why?

Also, I tried ti watch your video but the link is Private.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I edited the video link. Should be visible now.

RDF’s are just finicky sometimes. Just when you think you’ve got a load you go back to verify and no. My Valkyrie loves 77 RDF’s I’ll try them in my other 6.5 that has a CIP chamber.
The berger loads are extremely consistent 130’s & 140 Hybrids. Also 147 eldm’s & 135 Atips.
This is 135 Atip initial load shot in PA & verification load a couple weeks later on the eastern shore. Great consistency.

 

[357Max]

I would also fully endorse a Nucleus barreled action and the xylo chassis pictured above. Excellent components from a top shelf company. I say this as someone who has considered replacing my MPA with a xylo. My KRG whiskey three, however, will be buried with me!

357 max, video didn't want to play but is that drew walter on the left in the thumbnail?

Yes it is Drew. He was in my squad & the link should work now.

 

[4g64loser]

Rdfs do seem twitchier than Berger hybrids but less twitchy than Berger VLDs.

My one 260 (actually built by war rifles, Drews shop) hammers 140 rdf. Didn't like the 130rdf much but did well with 130 hybrid.

130 hybrid is the bullet I suggest to guys starting out loading for any of the mid size .264 cases as they seem to tune easily in almost every chamber I've seen.

 

[calicojack]

I would also fully endorse a Nucleus barreled action and the xylo chassis pictured above. Excellent components from a top shelf company. I say this as someone who has considered replacing my MPA with a xylo. My KRG whiskey three, however, will be buried with me!

357 max, video didn't want to play but is that drew walter on the left in the thumbnail?

What is your go to for a spotting scope?

 

[calicojack]

And what scope rings do you guys use? I have been using Warne.

 

[4g64loser]

What is your go to for a spotting scope?

I am not a big fan of spotting scopes,to be honest. When I shot in paper games (across the course, etc) they were needed as the rifles had no optics and you needed to be able to see the "pin" that the scorer put in the target downrange. I had a kowa and a couple of others. I currently do not own one. I prefer to spot with a rifle so that I have a reticle available. If it's a steel plate match or a dmr/2gun type thing, a pair or high quality 10-15 power binos work well. They also allow you to jump targets and "chase" the shooter so that you don't need multiple spotters. Maybe it's just me, but I find the straight body spotters much easier to jump targets with.

If I were to purchase, I would try to dig up a US Optics FOS. I still kick myself for not buying one when I had the chance some years back. If I had unlimited money, I would own a hensoldt spotter45. I have used several and they are awesome.

 

[4g64loser]

And what scope rings do you guys use? I have been using Warne.

I own rings and mounts from a lot of companies. I could list them all but I'll save you the shit filtering and just say that I love the ARC M10/MBrace rings and mounts. They make mount and level work a LOT easier. And they are of absolutely top quality.

One step down (I own more than a couple) are seekins precision (the vortex PMR rings are just rebranded seekins). These work great but are of the conventional four screw cap type. I find that any ring of this type rotates the scope slightly during the tightening process. I have to run a torque plan that keeps the rotation to a quarter turn per screw per iteration and it's annoying. Otherwise they are great.

If you like a unimount with levers, bobro and american defense recon mounts both work well. The bobro costs more because they automatically "load" the mount against the 1913 rail section by means of an s spring. If you just push the AD forward with one hand while you close the levers with the other hand you get the same results but it does require that you remember.

 

[357Max]

Completely agree with 4g64loser.

I prefer uniblock mounts & don’t run many rings. When I do run rings ARC M10 rings are my #1 go too!

For mounts there are a lot of good ones. I typically look for 7075 as a baseline.
ARC Mbrace, Spuhr ISMS & Hunter/athetic, RRS, Cadex, & Niteforce are all in my rotation.

I don’t shoot any bench rest comps so I don’t own a spotter and have no desire to get one. For the type of shooting I do a good set of Bino’s is really all I need. Current set up is Kowa Genesis Prominar’s 10.5 x 44. Glass is amazing in them. With a RRS ARCA adapter & mounted on a tripod I have no trouble watching bullet trace all the way to target @1000y.

As I get older bench rest may be in my future & if I ever do get a spotter I’d want one with mil sub-tension reticle.

This is the Spuhr Hunter mount on my 22. Great mount if you want something a little lighter.

 

[4g64loser]

Completely agree with 4g64loser.

I prefer uniblock mounts & don’t run many rings. When I do run rings ARC M10 rings are my #1 go too!

For mounts there are a lot of good ones. I typically look for 7075 as a baseline.
ARC Mbrace, Spuhr ISMS & Hunter/athetic, RRS, Cadex, & Niteforce are all in my rotation.

I don’t shoot any bench rest comps so I don’t own a spotter and have no desire to get one. For the type of shooting I do a good set of Bino’s is really all I need. Current set up is Kowa Genesis Prominar’s 10.5 x 44. Glass is amazing in them. With a RRS ARCA adapter & mounted on a tripod I have no trouble watching bullet trace all the way to target @1000y.

As I get older bench rest may be in my future & if I ever do get a spotter I’d want one with mil sub-tension reticle.

This is the Spuhr Hunter mount on my 22. Great mount if you want something a little lighter.
View attachment 389416

Dammit. How did I forget hakan spuhr?

Thanks for keeping me straight, 357max.

 

[calicojack]

4G and 357, thanks for the info. I never thought of using a uniblock mount on a bolt gun but that does make sense. Using a crap mount probably negates the effectiveness of the scope.

 

[4g64loser]

4G and 357, thanks for the info. I never thought of using a uniblock mount on a bolt gun but that does make sense. Using a crap mount probably negates the effectiveness of the scope.

I use rings and unimounts both. I tend to use the unimounts on all gasguns. Got a few on boltguns.

If you are using high quality bases and rings, everything should be straight. If you have any doubts, running a quality unimount will be good insurance. Another reason is to get the specific amount of can't you want if the rifle is not readily adaptable (e.g. can't source a quality 20, 30, etc moa base).

 

[Garet Jax]

So I went a completely different way. I had trouble justifying the cost of the zermatt action with a barrel, stock and trigger on my first rifle. I ended up getting the BF deal from BassPro on the Savage Arms AXIS II XP TrueTimber VSX Bolt-Action Rifle in Creedmoor 6.5.

I don't think I will get it by the time I do the training at peacemaker so will have to rent their rifle. I also expect that the caliber will carry me much more than my skill or the rifle. If I enjoy it and find the time to visit longer ranges more than a time or two in the year, then I will be more inclined to invest more money in a custom rifle.

All - please do not take my going a different direction than your advice suggested as an insult. It was much more me applying my value to the rifle and the expected ROI than anything else. If I find I can't shoot 1000 yards (or anywhere close) with the savage arms, then so be it and I will shoot the distance that works. I very much appreciate all the expertise shared in this thread and will revisit it to learn more and more.

 

[Russ D]

Dammit. How did I forget hakan spuhr?

Thanks for keeping me straight, 357max.

Not to sidetrack but I think Spuhr just sold out to a big company. I expect quality control to suffer.

 

[4g64loser]

Can't speak for the others but I don't consider people making value judgements based on their own assigned values to be insulting.

Buy the tool that serves your needs. The important thing is to have as much information, preferably of the less biased sort, as possible prior to making decisions.

I have seen guys shoot "cheap" guns with great results. Ask Squaregrouper for details. And he is just one example. A friend regularly shoots his (bought used) savage 10 in 6.5 creed to 1000+ running a load I worked up with berger 130s. He got a used vortex viper pst (from me) and he is plenty happy. He hunts to 500 on white tail and coyotes with it. He spent under a grand and has no regrets.

 

[4g64loser]

Not to sidetrack but I think Spuhr just sold out to a big company. I expect quality control to suffer.

Oh well. Fun while it lasted. I will go to all ARC and be happy. Ted, take my money!!!

 

[Garet Jax]

So I went a completely different way. I had trouble justifying the cost of the zermatt action with a barrel, stock and trigger on my first rifle. I ended up getting the BF deal from BassPro on the Savage Arms AXIS II XP TrueTimber VSX Bolt-Action Rifle in Creedmoor 6.5.

I don't think I will get it by the time I do the training at peacemaker so will have to rent their rifle. I also expect that the caliber will carry me much more than my skill or the rifle. If I enjoy it and find the time to visit longer ranges more than a time or two in the year, then I will be more inclined to invest more money in a custom rifle.

All - please do not take my going a different direction than your advice suggested as an insult. It was much more me applying my value to the rifle and the expected ROI than anything else. If I find I can't shoot 1000 yards (or anywhere close) with the savage arms, then so be it and I will shoot the distance that works. I very much appreciate all the expertise shared in this thread and will revisit it to learn more and more.

Slight update.

Everything above is wrong.

I met 4g64loser at Peacemaker last weekend. I rented the Seekins Havak and fired Berger match grade. I was able to hit 100% of my shots. It's very easy when I am aiming at the ground. Every once in a while I was able to hit a steel target too.

I returned the Savage (by not picking it up) and decided to go the direction that was recommended to me initially. That is a Zermatt Origin short action. I got the pre-matched Criterion shouldered barrel. I was debating between 26", 28" and 30" inches. The decision was made easy for me since the only one they had in stock was 28". Wait time for other lengths was a long time (22 weeks). I paired it with a KRG Bravo and a TriggerTech trigger.

I plan to match it up with this scope: Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 MOA EBR-2C Riflescope PST-43127.

I know the hardware will clearly be responsible for all missed shots, but that is OK.

I now need to find a way to attach the scope to the rifle. Was thinking of bringing my wife or one of my daughters to have them just hold it in on top of the rifle. Don't think that would work too well though since their constant chatter would be distracting.

I also need to find a bipod.

I also need to find a range finder. Thinking of going with binos so it could double as a spotter.

That is all.

 

[gwchem]

Nice setup!

I strongly recommend separate binos and rangefinder. They're not great at either, because they're heavy and rangefinders seem to break all the time.