Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Need help deciding on Long Range Rifle

I have a friend at work that hunts deer and elk every chance he can. He shoots a 7mm Mag right now and says he is comfortable taking shots out to 1000 yards. He is looking for something that will be legal in Idaho (under 16 pounds) and carry more knock down at long range. What recommendations does anyone have on rifle and bullet combinations?

I disagree with him on shooting at the ranges at which he has collected game but to him rifle hunting is more about getting meat for his family, his real hunting is archery. I am just hoping to help him find the best tools for shooting in certain areas he hunts.

He did not really set any other limits, just under 16 pounds and be effective at long range on deer and elk. One gun dealer is trying to get him to buy a 50 BMG that has had every spare ounce removed and it is still not quite below the weight limit.

thanks for your help,
Boodude

there is no reason to try to pare all the weight off a 50bmg. look at idaho's own shawn carlock, he puts together 338 supermags that will get you out to a 1000 if you can do the work. I would think a 338-378, 338RUM or 338 lapua and a big bullet ought to get you there.

Sako TRG42 in .338 Lapua. Well that's on the top of my want list anyway.

250gr Matchking @ 2900fps with a bc of .587
Still supersonic at 1000 yards with almost 3/4 ton of energy left

Shawn Carlock or Kirby Allen are a couple of sub 16 pound riflesmith specialists that could easily hook you up with some 1000 yard medicine. In a factory rifle a Sendero in 300 Ultra or 338 Ultra or any of the Weatherby Accumarks from 300Wby on up will do it. You will need practice a lot to get proficient out there. Any wind at all and it's game over from 500 on out.

Shawm Carlock built a 338 Laupa for me that wieghs 11.6 pounds including scope (Nightforce 5.5X22X50) My rifle hax a 30" ABS carbon weapped barrel in A Sendero stock.....Shawn Shot a .8" group at 300 yards with the 325 grain Wildcat rebated boattail with no load work up when he test fired the rifle...This was the first load that Shawn had ever tried with this bullet..I believe that this attests to the quality of Shawns work..........

Here is a picture of the rig

Where is Shawn located, and do you have his contact information?

Sweet,
I am pretty sold on the lapua. I better get one soon before the government starts to get its fingers in regulating that one also.

http://www.defensiveedge.net

shawn and kirby both build a sub 16 pound 338 Allen Mag (338/408 chey-tac with the kirby improvement) flattest shooter out there I believe
RR

Dang shame that the 338 AM won't fit in my 300 Rem action!

Jeff, the 338 Laupa or Edge shooting a 300 or 325grain SMK or a Wildcat bullet with a bc in the .720 to .8+ range at a muzzle velocity of 2850+ is a pretty decent long range rig on game......

I really want the AM.....but you are saying I can go Edge or Lapua in a standard Remmy action, that might reconvince me... I was wanting 338 caliber... have a 338-378 spied thats sentimental to me but it won't be LR capable...

Thanks, Jeff

My 338 Laupa is built on a Rem 700 action.........

yup, my 338 LM based 7mm is built on a LH rem 700, not sure if its like this with all makers but kirby will only build 338 LM based rifles on a blue 700 action. Don't know why
RR

Shawn built mine on a Stainless Action.........

Here's a good way to start.

Just get a standard 300 Rem Ultra and shoot the livin daylights out of it. It will do well for long range and teach you a lot in the meantime.

When that barrel is worn out send it to Shawn or Kirby and then have the reciever and bolt squared and trued and barreled with 338 EDGE round.

This is the practical way to shoot and get EDGE brass. All that 300 brass will be used to neck up to 338 and use in the new EDGE.

In all honesty the 300 ultra is on heck of a long range cartridge in its own right with bullet over 200 gr.

IMO the 338 EDGE and 300 ULTRA mag are the most practical and affordable longrange units that are offered. The 338 Allen mag is cool and I've witnessed it in a shooting session. But it involves lots more work, cost, and it will only be good in a large heavy rifle.

It's just cheaper and easier for a guy to play with the ultra or the EDGE.

Over on LRH, Kirby Allen brought up an interesting point on the 338 Ruger dreams. He said that you could put one in a Remington magnum (ultra) action and should be able to use the big 265 wildcats and still have a working repeater that would be equivalent to the 338 RUM.

Thanks everyone for your great advice. I brought your recommendations to him and he also really appreciated it. Looks like he is going with the 300 RUM. We found a friend who started with a stock 700 and had quite a bit of professional work done to it. He wants only $900 for it and it comes with everything except the scope. I will also let him know about that great option of moving up to .338 after he wears out the .300.

Thanks again everyone, you really came through for me.
BooDude

Retained energy doesn't mean better penetration. Shaking head - when will some learn. Bullet construction is more important then all this energy crap when it comes to penetration. We have only proved this for years.

With the right bullet the 300 win mag will bring down elk at 1000 yards. Sure the 300 RUM is a great long range cartridge. Just don't sell yourself short on using heavy lead filled bullets.

Use a solid copper bullet design and obtain better penetration.

When I see a mushroomed bullet I shudder and say: Why?

Don

Oh heck yes retained energy means better penetration, use the same bullet in each caliber, the one with more energy will utilize it better...

What you are saying is a good 06 with the right bullet is better than a 300 with the wrong one. Very much correct. But the 300 with the right bullet will better the 06 every time.

Dealing with recoil is a simplistic issue, a 300 RUM or 338 RUM simply does not recoil enough to be an issue.

Jeff