1000yd 6.5x47 Lapua pd gun?

[deadlyswift]

This may be a long post so bare with me guy's. I'm wanting to go on a pd hunt within the next two years. I would like to go next year, but not sure I will be able to make it happen. Currently I have a 220 swift Ruger M77 Mark 2 target grey. This rifle shoots great out to 400yrds even with the factory barrel on it. Shoots good enough to hit a pd at 400yds anyway. I'm currently waiting on my barrel from Broughton to get here so that I can take my action, stock, reamer, and barrel to my smith to be put together. This rifle will be chambered in 6br. Ok my plan is that the 6br will be my high volume shooting and the swift will be for putting some splat and smack down on the pds while the 6br is cooling. I also have a Savage 10fcp in .308 that I may put a good custom match barrel on before I go. I'll just have to see what the factory barrel is going to do with long range and what my Broughton does on the 6br before I decide witch custom barrel maker I go with before hand. I thought I would take the .308 for the heck of it just to have a spare to shoot. Now keep in mind that I don't have any close friends that take shooting or long range varmint hunting as serious as I do. The friends I shoot with and groundhog hunt with don't seek the same desire to go to the length I'm willing to go to, or spend the money to go west and shoot pds, or build the guns capable of shooting the accuracy that I want to shoot.

Here are my thoughts. Providing I do the reaserch to find the right place to go out west. I want to try and hit some pds at 1000yds. I'm not talking about taking pop shots here I'm talking about seriously doing the reaserch necessaery to accomplish a GOAL! Since I may have to go at this alone. I have been racking my brain to try and figure out witch cal. would suit me? Is the .308 capable, yes but there is still the fact of recoil and not being able to spot my hits, or my misses to make the adjustments from shot to shot. Next thought was the 6.5x284. Recoil could be an issue here but not to bad from a 14 to 16lb gun, BUT barrel life is just killing me on the 6.5x284? At this point I'm doing reaserch on the .284 with what I've read barrel life is great, and with the high BC bullets avaiable it seemed Ideal, but then there is more recoil to deal with the .284 than than the 6.5x284. Now I have been looking into the 6.5x47Lapua? Seems there is less recoil great barrel life and some what the same high BC bullets avaiable as the 6.5x284? So to end this post what would be my best choice for a 1000yrd pd gun? I'll list my componets below for this build that I have in mind.

1. BAT ACTION
2. MICMILLAN, OR BILL SHEHANE STOCK
3. BROUGHTON, KRIEGER, BARTLEIN BARREL
4. 12x42 NIGHT FORCE BR, OR NXS


Although this Goal might be in the far future. I'm dead set on accomplishing the Goal!!

Thanks for all thoughts and suggestions you may have!?

 

[sdneil]

Deadlyswift--- I truely admire your enthusiam to shoot PDs at 1000 yards! shooting PDs is a blast even at 100 yards. At 600 yards,with a 6br, you can recover from the recoil and see your hits in the back stop, a PD town is a little different, the wind is almost always blowing, period, just a fact of life,seeing hits is not always easy to do. You will do a whole lot better if you have help spotting! I can not tell you what to build to shoot, some 6br or ? We just shoot them with .223s and 22-250s out to about 4-5 hundred. I would shoot them all day with a .22 or 17HMR if I could get away with it. Go west young man-- Before they are all poisoned out. Neil

 

[GoNavy3]

There is a ton of info on all calibers to narrow your choice down.
If I was joining you it would be the 6.5X47, 123 grain Lapua, 38.5 Varget.
Challenging.
Ben

 

[JRinCo]

You just can't go wrong with any of the components that you have mentioned. For my 1000 yd. light bench rifle, I have both a 6.5x47 and a 6.5x284 barrel, both are capable of 2 in. groups at 1000 yds. The 6.5x47 uses 12 grains less powder to do the same thing, hence more barrel life.

If you want to do this right, build a 1000 yd. light rifle and shoot a few matches. It's not as much fun as shootin P-dogs, but you'll be getting some additional trigger time and gaining some valuable insight into long range shooting.

 

[deadlyswift]

You just can't go wrong with any of the components that you have mentioned. For my 1000 yd. light bench rifle, I have both a 6.5x47 and a 6.5x284 barrel, both are capable of 2 in. groups at 1000 yds. The 6.5x47 uses 12 grains less powder to do the same thing, hence more barrel life.

JRinco I live in NC. about 1hr-15mins away from butner. I am planning on shooting some F class this year to get 1000yrd experiene at shooting at 1000yrd. Currently I have a place that I do shoot at 600yrds on my uncle's land. I understand how much the wind plays a role in long range. I do well with even with factory rifles at 600yrds. I consistinly hit clay piegons at this distance. I also think there is a huge difference in 600yrds and 1000yrds. I belive a lot can happen between the two distances. I even been told that there is a big difference between 800yrds and 1000yrds. So yes I have a lot of homework and practice ahead of me! Like I said tho, I'm committed to getting into the 1000yrd confirmed kill club, or to be someone that has accomplished it anyway! I wouldn't call it a life dream but a very strong burning desire!
Thanks
If you want to do this right, build a 1000 yd. light rifle and shoot a few matches. It's not as much fun as shootin P-dogs, but you'll be getting some additional trigger time and gaining some valuable insight into long range shooting.

 

[alf]

8 twist 6 Dasher 105 a-Max

 

[killahog]

Deadly I cannot comment on the calibers you are considering because I have not used them. However I have been on 4 prairy dog hunting trips and can give you some insight. 1 build you guns heavy very heavy if you are going to spot your own hits. At 1000 yards and I have shot pd's at that distance there is a considerable flight time and you will with practice be able to recover from the recoil and spot your shots thru the scope. The other issues are you may need 2 rest tops for a really heavy rifle vs your lighter ruger. And just as Important you need a really good rangefinder I havent found one yet that don't struggle to range the prairy at 1000 yards.

 

[deadlyswift]

Killahog
yes I am considering the Leica crf 1200. It does work well. A friend of mine has one. I have been able to range what was later found out to be a doghouse at over a 1000yrds with it. It did give a consistnt reading of 1049yrds 5 out of 8 times. There may even be better range finders out there. Then again ranging a dog house at a 1000yrd would probably be a lot easier than ranging a pd mound or a small bush or rock on the praire. I think the key is to find a object that will reflect the laser well enough.

Yes the ruger is only about 10lbs with optics I was thinking with a 1000yrd pd gun I will push the wieght at least around 15lbs but would like to see it 20lbs or better. I like the MBR tooley tracker stock that Bill Shehane makes. Bill has semi inletted me one in the indain obche color for my 6br build. I think it will track in the bags well. I defenitly will have to have a stock that will slide in the bags with recoil. If I want any chance to recover from recoil and spot a hit or miss. I'm still thinking even if the ground is very dry I may still have a very hard time spotting where my bullet hits at a 1000 to make adjusments. The 6.5 bullets have great BC but there still small and not sure they will stir up enough dust at 1000 for me to see. So The jury is still out on the caliber!

 

[deadlyswift]

Alf,
the 6 dasher is interesting. Don't know a lot about that cal. I'll have to look into the info on the home page. After Killahog stating to build heavy. I can't help but wonder if I built a .284 and put a good stock that tracks extremely well, and build it very heavy if I will be able to recover from recoil and spot where my bullet hits? The 180gr vld berger has such an impressive BC Its hard to not consider the round! I have almost eliminated the 6mm's because the 6.5 bullets have better BC. With that said I'm aware of how well some do shoot the 6mm's at 1000yrds and a good shooter should be able to read condition to compensate for the BC difference. The hardest thing to decide is what the best thing to give up from cailber to caliber is. BC, recoil, or a round that isn't complex to work up loads for. If anything this will be a huge learning experience and Exciting journey!

 

[alf]

Remember, no matter the caliber, bullets with the same BC at the same velocity, drop and drift the same.

Bigger is not always better in regards to recoil and cost per shot.

 

[deadlyswift]

Good point alf!! Your point has been noted, and I'll keep that in mind when committing to a caliber.
Thanks

 

[LWolken]

You'll also need to consider proper bullets for decent expansion at those ranges. For this reason I'd suggest the 6.5 it has several very good V-max and Amax bullets which expand much better than any jacketed match bullet. The 6mm has only two choices 105 Amax good at 1000yds and the 87gr vMax decent but not what your looking for at 800+yds.

Lance

 

[deadlyswift]

Lance,
I have never shot the amax bullets yet. I have read that they are very accurate bullets. Also I have read that they are not for hunting! With that said I hear many ppl have had good succuess with the amax on deer, but there is a big difference between a deer's hide and a pd's hide. Would the amax expand enough to kill at 1000yrds? Would it just punch a small hole and the little sucker run down into his whole and become rattlesnake food? I'd rather kill him, confirm the kill and feed a yote rather than feed a rattlesnake! ;D

 

[cliffy]

It ain't the gun, it's the shooter regarding 1000 yard prowess. 1000 yards is a ridiculous range for any type of animule shooting. Stick to paper targets at incredible range, so you don't wound critters unnecessarily. My .243 Winchester can actually reach 1000 yards, but am I good enough, accuracywise, to attempt a shot at this range regarding live creatures? I think not, and I doubt you are either. When considering the diminutive size of a prairie rat, what chance exists of a true killing shot? Get real. I practice three times a week rendering seventy rounds per session, and I'm only positively accurate to 300 yards. I am accurate and well-practiced, yet 1000 yard shooting is not my fort'e. How often do you plan to practice? It had better be more than 300 rounds per week. Even with those rounds expended, you'd better have nerves of steel, because most humans are not that accurate with any amount of practice. Cliffy, merely human.

 

[Nodak7mm]

Clifford,

There are no PD's in West MI, please follow your own advice and continue to shoot 70 rds, at 300yds, three times a week. I applaud your weekly regimen to enhance your shooting prowess!!!

However, unless you have first hand experience & practical knowledge of the said specific subject matter, please refrain from attempting to impose your own beliefs and limitations on others. The repetitive re-posting of your thoughts on the .243 and shooting practice are fastly becoming, annoying. Especially when applied to everypost, regardless of subject matter.

Please???

Rod in Nodak

 

[FatDaddy]

Clifford,

There are no PD's in West MI, please follow your own advice and continue to shoot 70 rds, at 300yds, three times a week. I applaud your weekly regimen to enhance your shooting prowess!!!

However, unless you have first hand experience & practical knowledge of the said specific subject matter, please refrain from attempting to impose your own beliefs and limitations on others. The repetitive re-posting of your thoughts on the .243 and shooting practice are fastly becoming, annoying. Especially when applied to everypost, regardless of subject matter.

Please???

Rod in Nodak

+1... Bill in Kansas

 

[killahog]

Deadly Swift where are you on you choice of calibers?. I have been busy hunting coyotees and Not reading the forum.
Cliffy I missed the portion of your lastpost where you contributed anything postive to Swift's thread.

 

[deadlyswift]

Killahog,
At this point I am really leaning toward the 6.5x47 lapua, and Cliffy is just being cliffy lol. Most likely he is just getting back at me from a crack I made at him on another thread. It's all good Cliffy believes what he believes.

Cliffy,
Myself I do believe that the 1000yrd pdog kill is possible as many have done it. I don't think just shooting 70rds three times a week at any distance is all it takes to make a 1000yrd shot, but doing the necessary research and practicing the right technqunies as well as having the right components to make that shot. I have the confidence in myself to not make the shot today, but the abilty to learn what it takes to do so. At the same time I do share the same respect for the animals that I hunt as you! Witch is 1 of the reasons I am going to the length and money that will be spent in this quest of mind! Anyway good to see you back on track with the usual post.

 

[MATSUBOB]

It ain't the gun, it's the shooter regarding 1000 yard prowess. 1000 yards is a ridiculous range for any type of animule shooting. Cliffy, merely human.

What's an ANIMULE???

 

[deadlyswift]

Well guy's at this point I am almost committed to the 6.5x47 Lapua. I have study a bit about witch Bat Action I would want to go with for this project. As discussed earlier in the thread I want to build this gun heavy. This hopefully allowing me to recover from recoil and spot my shots to make adjustments from shot to shot. I have been looking at the MB on Bat's website. If i'm wrong someone correct me. It looks like the MB is a long action? Ok but wouldn't a long action still work for the 6.5x47? What kinda problems might I run into here? I was thinking with a big heavy action like the MB It would help give me wieght, and help support a heavy 30" 1.25 striaght tube?