Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Cost efficient rifle for practice?

I'd agree 100% IF:

1. I had the money for ammo and more importantly the range to effectively practice with the real thing.

Example; there's not going to be a whole lot of learning to read conditions going on with a 6.5PRC on a 100yd range. But at 200-300 a .22LR works well for that, extend it some and a .223 does too.

2. IF I already had my basics down. If learning to shoot LR, there's a whole lot of practice to be done shooting from positions, backpack tripod etc. A lot of that can be worked on with a .22LR. I can (and do) spend and afternoon shooting working on just positions. With a .22LR or .223 recoil never becomes an issue. I even do some dryfire practice to work on positions in my basement.


So, IF you can't afford the ammo, or don't have the range, what's the solution? Like we say at work "Excellence is the enemy of good enough." or in the absence of perfection, we do nothing.

He didn't say what length, unless I missed it somewhere.

I am guessing a 20-22 inch length for the sake of guessing...

If you want to shoot a short barrel for portability or to keep your OAL length down because of a suppressor, you just jump case capacity up some and you still get the performance level and accuracy level you want with a shorter package.

Or you can imply go that route because you want to...

Cost efficient would be a chamber in 223 Rem, 6mmARC or 6.5 Grendel on a Howa Mini platform. Plenty of aftermarket upgrades like gunstocks, magazine replacement, bottom metal replacement, etc. But for honing in one’s shooting skills a stock Howa mini rifle in those chambers with 20” or 22” barrel are nice, accurate shooters. They all have correct fast twist rates and offer excellent long range ballistic capability.

If you’re going to buy a new rifle, scope, and ammo for practice, how much factory ammo for your main hunting rifle could you buy?

Maybe just take the money you’d spend and buy ammo.





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I'm not a big man bun guy but in enjoy shooting the 6.5 creedmoor at distance bc it shoots well with factory ammo and available and reasonable.

The .22 is hard to beat. Use a reduced size target at 100 yards. .
Back in my CMP shooting days,, our local club only had a 100 yard range. So we used the reduced targets for phases normally held at longer distances.
If using a scope remember to reduce the magnification as well.

This is what I do, with both 22LR and .223. Cheap effective practice, extend the range and get practice reading conditions.

Back when I was heavily into BPCRs; LR, Buffalo Matches and Silhouette, I conversed with a gentlemen who had one the international BPCR LR match in South Africa I was surprised to learn that he was from my home state of RI. as there's a definite shortage of LR practice opportunities there. His solution was to build a .22LR as the ballistics of the .22LR at 2-300 yds was similar to a .45-90 at distance. Since then I've been hooked on .22LR for practice.

I like that answer pete. I often don't think about all the guys that did not grow up using a 22lr for practice, hunting, and just plain learning marksmanship. What I've been seeing lately is guys getting in to the game later in life, some in their 20's, 30's and even 40's or 50's. No disrespect to them, but they would in fact learn more about shooting, if they also started out with a good accurate 22lr. Start with irons like a lot of us did. I never did dry fire, never will since I shoot a lot of ammo at the range. And as a kid, I slayed a lot of schidt, while also target practicing with my dad just about every weekend. Countless hours of practice is what makes you good. Good instruction and muscle memory are key. And being very consistent is what makes you good at shooting long range.. A good shooting 22lr will tell you when you are making mistakes. Better to make those at the range, rather than on the killing fields.. JMHO..

^^Generally going to be the best solution.

I recently got a custom 6x47 Lapua for a similar role as a truck/practice rifle as the 6x47 Lapua run gently should have great barrel life.

I didn’t like the weight and balance of the 26” m24 barrel. Sent it to Kampfeld for a chop to 22” and spiral fluting which cut a little over 2.5 #’s off.

Much happier now, just waiting for the new scope. The 4-20 monarch was loose and just a place holder for now.

I’ve got a Tikka CTR in 223 that is a lot of fun and man can you whistle some ammo through it. It’s accurate, easy to shoot and just works well.

The 22 LR is likely the best answer for sheer shooting but I don’t mind cranking on the Dillon to make ammo and it is a lot of fun.

22LR, same principles apply.

g

Sounds like the OP wants to buy a rifle...

I personally love practicing with the fast-twist .223AI I built. A fast twist .223 would be almost as good. I also really like that it’s on the same platform as most of my other rifles (M700), so the form factor, trigger, LOP, and so on are the same, or at least similar. My recoil-sensitive youngest daughter loves it too. Pic below is her tormenting some clays we hiked in to the clearing opposite. Range is around 500. It’s always windy in that particular canyon.

At least in terms of factory centerfire ammo, it doesn’t get any cheaper than .223....

Hat tip to Stick for the good advice on the stock, bottom metal, and mags.

Edit to add: if the OP doesn’t have an AR, that would be a great option too. BUT, the trigger will need to be upgraded, they have COAL limitations that directly effect longer-range practice, due to the bullets you can use, and the ergo’s are completely different than bolt guns, like REALLY different. And you can’t have just the one.

I would agree with the sentiment that a 22 is a good place to start. Ruger 10/22 and Marlin Model 60 are classics that are always touted for their quality.

I purchased a used savage anshultz 22 a few years ago. With the Tenex ammo it has shot sub half inch five shot groups at 100. Add a little wind and you have a good teacher rifle. Edk

Don’t lose sight of the OP. This is about an adult gun owner practicing, not so much about teaching a kid. I think an adult would very quickly get past the notion of dialing for elevation/wind at .22RF ranges and want to stretch things out... plus a 10/22 is a poor analogue for a hunting rifle, and I suspect the Anshultz is too.

I still say a .223/.223AI built on a full-size common hunting rifle action.

beretzs had a good suggestion with the CTR. That would be my vote, but I'd be handloading for it to get the most out of the platform/cartridge. That or the Cabela's exclusive Savage 12fv. I keep thinking that rifle, when I see this thread. Since they are a very good deal and generally shoot very well. They used to cost right around $400 and less when on sale. Throw a harris bi-pod on it and a SWFA SS fixed power on it and practice till your hearts content. I will also say that the 223 rem is an excellent tool for shooting and practicing long range, but don't think you are going to go out and do the same exact thing with your super magnum rifle after shooting and getting used to the 223. You might just get disappointed in the real effectiveness of your magnum rifle. Shooting them can be a whole other subject to discuss. Not directed at you Jeff, but to someone who has not shot a lot of magnums.

Wonder what theOP is going to do or what he did.

A lot of guys suggesting the 22lr. I guess if you haven't done a lot of shooting in your lifetime, that is a good approach. Practice bugholing the target at 50 yards. When you have accomplished that, stretch it out further? I grew up with them and they are mind numbingly boring to me. To the point I don't really like shooting them. I recently pulled my 10-22 out and dusted it off to test some different ammo I bought last year. In order to shoot the 22lr, I have to change it up a bit. Speed shoots for precision and that kind of stuff. Check out the day at the range Z challenge. Started doing that a few days ago, that is about the only way I actually enjoy shooting the 22lr, if I'm not shooting head to head matches. Last year I had the opportunity to shoot with some PRS guys running their fancy as fugg 22lr's (vudoo's and such running Nightforce ATACR's and Gen III Razors) set up on big tripods, they were at the local 400 yard range and not hitting schidt. They were returning from a tournament in Idaho. I was shooting my 204 Ruger that day and that rifle was not spectacular at 400 yards, but sufficient enough to make some hits on live targets at 411 yards:


It's getting to be that time of the year again, those critters are running around out there sunning themselves. Dre was wondering what the OP decided on, but I doubt we will hear from him again. Did the OP take some of the good advice given, or is he still practicing minimally with his 6.5 PRC and likely developing bad habits?? I'd also urge the OP to take 2 rifles out and shoot them side by side. His 6.5 PRC being one of them. Shoot it against a precise 223 remington. I don't care if it is an AR15 or bolt action. Practice is practice. The OP will need to know how his hunting rifle (PRC) stacks up against the practice rifle he chooses. Lets say he's shooting 3" groups at 400 with his 223 rem and 6" groups with his magnum rifle. That will tell him that he needs a lot of practice, with both rifles. Hell, shoot at 100 yards if need be until you master your rifle. All the same rules of marksmanship apply at long range as it does for short range. Proficiency is key and practice is the only way you are going to become proficient. To the OP, I would not bare down on a big game animal at 600 yards until you are proficient in your shooting ability. Just how I see it.

^ great post BSA