Thread: Long range rifle

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

For context

Im about 6 months away from having hunted the kawekas for 50 years, almost all our shots in the last 26 years have started at 550 yards and topped out at about 1200 yards. Since the contorta spread you can’t see that many close ones. I can easily see and shoot 1 or 2 sika a day if I look from sub alpine scrub across to the same vegetation on another ridge. To consistently shoot sika day after day in the kawekas you need long range capability, or be named Nimrod and have a great dog.

The OP asked about a long range rifle to harvest animals at 700 metres.

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Do you miss/lose many? Honestly keen to know what kind of percentage get away when shooting those distances.

It took a long time learning on targets out to and past 1200 yards to find out what wind values at what distances prevented a first shot kill.

The further away the target the less full value wind you can shoot in and guarantee a hit in the kill zone

For example a rem mag pushing a 162eldm at 3050fps shooting a target at 800 yards has 5.9 inches of drift in a 2 mph full value wind ( from the shots 3 or 9 o’clock)


So that’s a wind drift the length of a Sikas ear in only 2 mph

Learn the wind or shoot in zero breeze(very rare) and your well on your way

We have learnt not to shoot when the breeze creates uncertainty.


I cannot remember the last deer I lost at distance but Id say it was a jap stag shot by a friend, it was hit in the liver at 940 yards 19 degrees uphill angle. It was facing right into the 3 mph breeze and the 180g Berger VLD had a closed meplat and it pencilled straight through. Never found it

But I do remember all the deer I have missed under 100 yards and they haunt me

Sounds like this will be your long range rifle ?
It doesn't need to be small.
I would go for a 26" or 28" barrel and a full magnum like 300PRC.
Let the ballistics work for you.

I use a 20” 300 wsm. My limit is 500 yards tho, on a good day. And thats still a bloody long way. Sure you could go further no prob tho if you wanted too. If shooting bigger bodied animals the 300 does a great job.

Well for what it's worth GC have the bergara extreme hunters on special untill the end of the day for $1199 in 223 and 7 rem mag(which would be applicable to the OP).

I think your on the right track with 300wsm, also consider 7 PRC, 7 Rem mag and 284win.

The point Tentman makes is a very valid point of getting closer which I completely agree with. However I equally understand that sometimes it's just not possible to get closer hence why the op is asking.

Perhaps having a chat to some of the other Cantabrian based members might be worth a go?

6.5 PRC plenty of SA options available, good BC bullets, wont beat you up

Originally Posted by McNotty

Do you miss/lose many? Honestly keen to know what kind of percentage get away when shooting those distances.

None when ya dream big mate

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Have a sako a7 roughtech 7mmrm 24inch barrel 20moa base threaded and fluted. Load development done if interested could do dies etc

Gundocs range rifle would tick the accuracy box, don't know about weight though.
Anyway it's in an unfashionable 119 year old cartridge that's only doing 2950 or so with a 168 grain eldm. The deer would fall over laughing

Unless the OP is extremely patient, I think they may have already made a decision.

Originally Posted by country cuts

Have a sako a7 roughtech 7mmrm 24inch barrel 20moa base threaded and fluted. Load development done if interested could do dies etc

Thanks for the offer but have a rifle sorted thanks.

Originally Posted by Cobb

Thanks for the offer but have a rifle sorted thanks.

What did you end up with?

Originally Posted by Shearer

What did you end up with?

After a lot of research I ended up a with a 7mm PRC

Originally Posted by Cobb

After a lot of research I ended up a with a 7mm PRC

What make of rifle be keen to hear how it goes

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Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

What make of rifle be keen to hear how it goes

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Tikka action with 20inch Criterion barrel. Probably use 180 ELD Match as it has a very high BC. Have Kiwi Greg doing a bit of testing for me.