Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting 500-600 Yd. hunting rifle

Bob,

One interesting thing I learned when doing an article on Chuck Mawhinney, the Vietnam-era sniper with the most confirmed kills by any Marine, was that he's been hunting elk for several decades with a tang-safety Ruger 77 in 7mm Remington Magnum his wife bought him as a birthday present, because she thought it might work better than the .308 Winchester he'd used successfully before then. All he'd done to the rifle was epoxy-bed the action, free-float the barrel and have the barrel Magna-Ported to reduce muzzle jump.

Talked to Chuck several times and when I asked him about how far he'd shoot at elk, the only comment he made was on that year's elk, which he'd taken at 645 yards.

More interesting to me was that he used factory ammo, and not some special long-range brand. He quit handloading years ago, apparently because it took too much time away from his shooting. Instead he'd look for 7mm mag ammo with relatively heavy spitzers in local stores. He'd buy a box and if his rifle shot it well he'd buy a bunch. At that time, maybe four years ago, he was using Federals with 175-grain Power-Shoks, which grouped into three inches at 500 yards. He used one to take the elk at 645, but said they worked fine at much closer ranges as well.

So essentially he's shooting a handloaded 270

I'd not hesitate on a bull at 600 with a 270 (or a 308), provided time and conditions allowed the shot. Can't fathom the "advantage" of a 7 SAUM inside 600 yards. Beyond that, sure I get it. But if I already had a 7SAUM, that's what I'd concentrate on. I'd sell the 338 WM and scope/stock the 7SAUM properly.

But this year I passed on a 450 yard shot because I knew I could get closer. Snuck to 80 yards and dumped the bull. Was far more fun.

John when I hear those kinds of stories I'm not surprised. I believe that round count and practice, and experience count for more than gear. Not that all stuff is the "same", but I swear some good game shots could use a handful of rocks and be successful.

A guy like Mawhinney simply knows what he's doing.

Yep, and he'd been hunting and shooting a lot since he was a kid. The Marines refined his skills, but he did the main work.

I don't know if making the misses happy is the key point here or killing a bull at 600. Of the cartridges you have, all can do the job. However the .338WM will be most challenging due to its "best trajectory".
I value the stalk as much more sporting and satisfying than being a weekend "sniper".
I'd sell the .338WM and take my chances with the wifes' reaction.
Good luck.

What Bob said.. A good 7 that you can get brass for, and good bullets..

But the OP has a 7 SAUM. It's a good, capable cartridge even if brass is problematic.

As you might have guessed, ask a question and then count the "best" ways to skin a cat.

Any of these rifles are more than capable at 600 yds, as would be any new rifle choice. I have friends that successfully shoot all of these rounds at ranges past 600 yds...mostly.

All one really needs is just one rifle in just about any caliber available today that a shooter likes enough to tune it up and shoot it enough to be comfortable with it. From 243 to 338 Lapua, the fundamentals are the same.

If a shooter is not comfortable with any rifle he owns, then he has probably not shot it enough... that's the difference between a shooter and a rifleman.

If I had limited means, I would prefer to own just one rifle that I knew well, and a range finder. Owning a range finder can be as important to Long Range success as a chronograph is to the reloading process.

One can also learn mildot ranging...that requires a mil-dot scope, and is a whole 'nother level of dedication that seems to rapidly be becoming a lost art.

Back when neither were available, ranging was still a necessary fundamental skill that was done with a Duplex reticle.

An LRF will make this more convenient for the average joe, by giving the casual shooter the capability to range it, dial it and shoot, but however you do it, accurate ranging is essential and makes all calibers a lot more powerful.

Brass isn't so much "problematic" as it is expensive!

Midway has Norma 100ct right now for $80...

Thus the problem.

That's not expensive at all for premium brass these days.

It really isn't... only about $15 more than "non-premium."

These days you drop $200-$300 bucks and leave the store with a little paper bag.

Both the 270 and 338 would be more than capable for the job with the right bullets. If they shoot well with the right bullets there is no need to look anywhere else for 600 yards.

Pieter

A military sniper doesn't need to retrieve the enemy he kills.

I wonder how many 600 yard hunting game kills can be found and recovered? What say you guys?

Uhhh... Every one that I've ever been apart of... Of course I don't walk slow or linger either.

Tanner

Read? Much? $1.52ea

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/13...-7mm-remington-short-action-ultra-magnum

Tanner - you don't count, you spine shoot like John Burns

This schit is always funny and it's never not difficult to cypher who shoots and who don't.

REALLY enjoyed the 175gr Federal PowerShock 7mmRemmie Mag "endorsement". Laughing!

That POS has a .429BC and a 2860fps launch. A 22" 7-08 with a 162 zero'd same at 2700fps,drifts a halfa foot less at the 500yd line,arrives 134fps faster and of course makes more "energy".

If only for fhuqking starters.

Hint.

The ShamWow stoked with same,will of course kick the schit out of it even more and yet retaining a S/A.

'Nother hint.

Hint....................................

I have a Kimber I'm gonna re-barrel to the SAUM, it's a shame I missed that smoking deal at Midway for brass, LOL.