Years ago I used to get into shooting long distance growing up in the country, then archery came along and consumed a lot of my time. The last couple years I have been pondering getting back into some long distance for fun.
We have a place that a club shoots 300 – 600 – 1000 yard stuff and I was curious if anyone here is in to this stuff also, I am in the process of putting together a little project and hope to have it up and shooting in a few months.
Jeff Heeg
I love long range shooting the most i have ever shot at is about six hundred yards just for fun though im hoping in the next year or so getting a gun that will do the thousand yard mark we will see i guess
Ruger2506 is into this also I believe! 
The little bro and I are in to stretching out the .308
I would go with a 308 supposed to be the most consistent round of all calibers. I read that in a gun magazine talking about long distant shooting. I have also talked to people that know a lot about guns and they looked at me like duh everyone knows that. Don’t know if its true but that’s were I would start.
Jeff,
I’ve just started this myself after getting a chance to shoot out to 1000m.
As far as equipment goes, it really depends what you want to do..if you intend shooting F class or similar, you’ll need some fairly specialised/expesnive kit to be competative.
If you intend shooting just for fun, a number of heavy barrelled factory rifles will do the job. I’m biased andwould recommend a heavy barrelled Howa, but a Rem 700 or Tika would work just as well.
My Howa happens to be in .308win, and while it works, one of the fast 6.5mm or 7mm’s would be better, as would the various .338’s..
Scope wise, I went with a 4-16x50mm S&B with a Mildot reticule and mil turrets as keeping both reticule and turrets in the same units makes life much easier..
Regards,
Peter
I’m shooting the new Savage Model: 10 FLCP-K with a Shepherd 618-V2 Scope, Harris Bi-pod and Burris Mounts.
So far it’s a tack drive, but it’s still being broken in.
My project consists of
Caliber and rifle 338 Lapua from a model 98B
Scope – Vortex Razor HD Tactical 5-20×50 with a EBR-1 MOA Reticle
Looking forward to the day to go shoot some when everything is ready 
One of the cool things about the folks shooting around here is the wide range of guns used, everything from high tech, to your average deer hunting setup. I would say the popular being a lot of the varmint guns used during the winter tend to show up at the ranges to play. The distances they usually setup at are 100, 300, 600 and 900 to 1000 at some of the ranges for what I have been told, everyone throws a $10.00 bill in the kitty and who ever hits closest to the center with one shot takes home a little cash per distance, I was watching these guys shoot last year after finishing a practice round on a nearby 3D course, and these guys were having a blast at the range. It brought back some good memories of my earlier years growing up on a large farm in the country, I always had a wide open safe area to shoot and from young on was always intrigued with making a hit on a target at the extended distances, Note; the targets weren’t live animals when shooting this style.
So far I have only shot at targets out to 600 yards and I am looking forward to testing my skills at 900 to 1000 yards with my new toy when it arrives and spring shows up,
Also for the record even 300 yard shots can be a blast I just have a goal or challenge that I hope to succeed and have fun with.
Jeff Heeg
I know a lot of guys that shoot 1000 most of them are using 7mm Anybody seen that show Best of the West? that is all about long distance shooting and long distance hunting. 
Well with my new job position being so crazy busy I was able to get away last Sunday afternoon to shoot some with my new setup, Barrett Bravo 98 in a 338 Lapua with a Vortex 5x20x50 35mm scope. I have around 40 rounds thru the new gun and it seems to shoot very well,
My last rounds shot at 496 yards last Sunday measured 2” center to center of holes and on the black diamond in the center of the 6” orange spot at that range, this is pretty cool stuff and I think there had to be some luck in such a tight group. But I will say the gun is awesome and consistent in accuracy and the kick is comparable to a 20 gauge with the brake on the B98.
I Just thought I would update my progress. 
On April 24th I will be attending a comp that shoots one round at 600 and one at 880 – one shot only – you need to think about wind and so forth make your adjustments and pull, 
one shot one hit for score – no warm ups.
I like this because it makes you have to think and calculate a little, very similar to say some hunting situations as well as a sniper situation. Note hunting in reference at a lot closer range per say. But the challenge of only having one chance to put it all together and hitting a target in extreme distances is very humbling.
Jeff
That is some good shooting Jeff! 
Thanks for the update and good luck at your next competitive shoot!
I was able to get a few rounds fired Monday night before it got to late in the eve at the 600 yard target, and for the most part I was able to stay on the 6” orange dot well once zeroed, at the 880 yard target I was either nipping the 6” dot or on it. The winds were 5 mph to calm so it was great to see the gun is shooting well. They are talking rain and some wind for Saturday’s event it will be interesting to see how the elements affect the game. I’m looking forward to this and I have to say the 338 Lapua factory loads are shooting very consistent.
At the last event they had 40+ shooters trying the 600 yard target; for the most part everyone had a blast.
Jeff Heeg
Saturdays Long Distance Event
What a awesome day the weather was rain , 13mph winds with gust in the 20 mph range, there was 43 folks shooting the 6” dot at 600 and when everyone was done I finished 8th I was just out of the dot 3” at 7 o’clock.
On the 880 yard target they used a 6” spot again and out of 29 shooters I finished 4th hitting 2” out at 9 o’clock.
That’s pretty good with the winds and shooting a half a mile at a 6” orange dot.
This was done only shooting the one shot for score , no practice rounds it really makes you think about the shot in reference to wind, distance and all the weather conditions one shot one hit, this is really catching on around here, and I had a great time
This was a fun event to attend and I thought I would let you know how it went
Jeff Heeg
I know I need to work on reading the wind better I figure both ranges I should have been a few mph slower on my windage adjustments , only trigger time behind the gun and dry firing will improve my accuracy and consistency.
Even though I felt I shot well, I realize I still had narrow misses on the intended target. But given the weather conditions in this match and having to get it all done in one shot I think I did ok.
Jeff, is it legal to use those little hand held wind meters for the long range contests?
It all depends on the event or match as far the rules, there was a fellow that was using one and a few folks were checking it out.
I depended on calling my wife prior to shooting so she could check the weather report online from the local airport; the things that I check for are temp, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction. I use these and then evaluate the wind conditions at the site as well as when pulling the trigger. I also log each shot in my notes as to the conditions, scope settings, how clean the shot was when fired and the end results.
Good to know. My little brother and I have been trying to decide if we want to go in on a nice one.
Quote:
Saturdays Long Distance Event
What a awesome day the weather was rain , 13mph winds with gust in the 20 mph range, there was 43 folks shooting the 6” dot at 600 and when everyone was done I finished 8th I was just out of the dot 3” at 7 o’clock.
On the 880 yard target they used a 6” spot again and out of 29 shooters I finished 4th hitting 2” out at 9 o’clock.
That’s pretty good with the winds and shooting a half a mile at a 6” orange dot.
This was done only shooting the one shot for score , no practice rounds it really makes you think about the shot in reference to wind, distance and all the weather conditions one shot one hit, this is really catching on around here, and I had a great time
This was a fun event to attend and I thought I would let you know how it went
Jeff Heeg
Here are a few pics of my rifle, 338 Lapua. So far I am very happy with the accuracy with only having 50 rounds through it and shooting factory loads yet! I will be reloading the Lapua brass soon.
A lot of folks have a hard time picturing – someone hitting or nearly missing a grapefruit at a half of mile, 880 yards consistently.
I like the challenge of having to put it all together and do it with one shot no warm ups.
Nice! Someday I’ll have the coin for that grade of rifle. Until then I’ll just admire and drool.
That is a beautiful weapon Jeff!!
wow that thing is awesome!!! just give me an idea what one would stick into a gun like that money wise? thats sounds like mega fun!!!
I’m going to guess $4500 range if not a tad more.
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wow that thing is awesome!!! just give me an idea what one would stick into a gun like that money wise? thats sounds like mega fun!!!
When I was planning on putting something together I checked on what was available I knew for the most part a project gun would average from $1200.00 up to a crazy $6000.00 or more. A lot of folks are shooting custom guns which will float in the 3 to 5 range, many options are the great shooting Savages, Remington 700s, ARs, Armlights and many others. You can have a lot of fun if you start out with a gun that will be repetitive, I would get a good shooting gun and spend the extra on a high quality scope, good optics are what wins.
The average price on the Barrett that I shoot is $4400.00 I did a little better, one of my high priorities was to have a gun that had a high reputation of shooting well right out of the box and with factory ammo a requirement that is depended on by many who use this gun in their daily duties protecting this country in one way or another. With that said I don’t have to spend as much time working up loads to find what shoot consistent at the extended distances.
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I’m going to guess $4500 range if not a tad more.
Good guess! I see there are still a few at the 41 to 44 range and some pushing the new list price which is higher
How’s the Savage shooting?
They are catching on around here – a nice looking gun and they shoot very well also. 
Also how was your seminar that your club or friends put on last month on the 25th
It’s driving tacks. The only way it misses is operater error. My little brother was having fun shooting the string we had bottles tied to for targets at 100 yards. Not too bad for his first time I thought. Got some new 6 inch gongs put out on our land to shoot at also at different distances. So far they’re a blast.
Great looking rifle Jeff! I would love to see that in action someday!
I like the challenge of having to put it all together and do it with one shot no warm ups.
I agree with this. I set up a Howa 1500 in a 22-250 for smacking coyotes at the 500 to 800 yrd range. Couldn’t be any more pleased with a factory barrel then what i am getting with this. I’m still dialing in my loads a little bit, but I have the confidence in 800 yrds – 1 shot – 1 kill
Howa 1500 – 22-250
pillared and bedded in laminate thumbhole
bi-pod
Burris Extreme Tactical XTR-4-16
Barnes bullets
Nice looking setup Randy and a great target to go with it.
Do you get a chance to shoot much at the extended ranges around home?
Jeff
Here by my house, we shoot a lot of coyotes in the 300 to 500yard range. My farm is in Richland county and I have a lot of 800 to 1000 yard opportunities there. We set up a 800 yard range on my neighbors property in an old gravel pit. Fun to pop off a few rounds and those distances to stay sharp!
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