Cartridge Fun vs Appropriatness

[Phil3]

I am wrestling with something for which I hope to get some opinions.

I live in the San Francisco bay area, home to various gun ranges, none longer than 200 yards. As just a fun, non-competitor shooter, a 223 Remington easily covers that, and if I shot at the far more common 100 yard distances, even a 22 rimfire would do. Those practical arguments collide with a burning desire to own various calibers, even if they are complete overkill for the job at hand. I want three more rifles, a 6mmBR, a 6.5x47, and 338 Lapua Mag. For 100 - 200 yards, these cartridges range from definite overkill (6mmBR) to the absurd (338 Lapua Mag).

Ironically, I had the opportunity to shoot a 338 LM at my local 100 yard range. It WAS fun, even if I was less accurate than with my AR15 223. It was fun feeling the immense power, the blast, looking at the massive size of the gun, even handling the relatively giant cartridge. Shooting this thing at 100 yards is a waste of the round's capabilities to be sure, but I enjoyed it. Somehow, despite that fun, it somehow felt "wrong", inappropriate, wasteful. It feels similar to using my sports car to get groceries. Not the best use of the vehicle, but on the other hand, still fun.

I hesitate on the aforementioned calibers because of limited ranges, yet I still want them. If shooting is supposed to be fun, then why not? And maybe, eventually, I can find some place where I can let these guns stretch their legs. Right now, the closest is two hours away.

Phil

 

[broncman]

6BR is NOT overkill...it is one of the best 100-200 yard guns.... SOOO addictive for accuracy. A 30 BR is next.

 

[navyrad8r]

Phil,
FWIW, get what you can afford and want....shoot when you can, and share the sport. If you can swing the dough and fuel for the car...enjoy the ride. the 338 at 100 yds may be a bit much, but you wont shoot it that often I bet. as for justifying buying them..."because I want to and I can." is good enough.
cheers and good luck.
Doc

 

[BaconFat]

Well Phil, your not alone. My local range is limited to 300yrds and although I have a burning desire to to be able to shoot at much longer distances, I probably never will. So with that in mind I've been thinking about some fun near distance rifles. Currently a Nosin Nagant is pretty high on my list along with a M1 Garand. I also think a Shiloh Sharps in 45-70 would make a fun rifle although a bit pricy. I've thought about a 338LM, but I've read where several people compared it to owning a boat, "The two greatest days of owning a 338 is the day you get it and the day you sold it."

I'm pondering something in 6.5mm with 6.5x47L being at the top. I also have my eye on a 30BR, but that will depend on timing.

 

[Phil3]

Thanks for the comments. Funny comment on the 338 about being like a boat. Factory ammo is hideously expensive ($6/round), but even at today's prices, it can be reloaded for $1.71/round, and that with not buying in larger quantities.

Sierra 250g HPBT: $33.49/50 each. $0.67 each
Vhitavouri N165: $35.99/1 lb. $0.48/shot
Remington 9-1/2 Primers: $39.99/1000. $0.04/each
Lapua Brass: $257.99/100. Used 5x max, $0.52 each.
Total = $1.71 shot.

Not cheap, but after firing the thing, I'd probably be done after 20 rounds.

The big bore 45-70 at close range could be a lot of fun, and glad it was mentioned. I think I will look into some of that stuff. Big bore, bang, and suited for shorter ranges.

Phil

 

[Phil]

Phil,

I go about this a little differently.

I pick the bullet I want to shoot,i know that a rifle doesn't always agree but you have to start some where.

Then I decide what the effective range of that bullet is.

Finally, how much powder is necessary to push it at the velocity I want/need.

This gives me a starting point to decide on what case capacity and case, I will build.

I try my best to not burn more powder than necessary, it doesn't always work out though.

All that being said, I would build the 6BR, but that's just me.

Phil.

 

[Killshot]

Phil3, the drive to Sacramento Valley Shooting Center (1K range for organized practice and matches) is well worth the drive. Range 12 is addictive. Enough so to get this night-owl's butt out of bed at 5am to make the drive to the monthly matches.

And because you don't want to be that guy shooting the .338 on the 100yd line....

 

[Phil3]

I know about being that guy on the 100 yard line. After the 338's muzzle blast kept blowing stuff off the benches next to the gun, people stayed away. The range officer brought a barrier to put up between me and other bench, but the muzzle blast just blew that over as well. I have shot at Range 12 at Sacramento. It is 2 hours away, and one must belong to a club and have at least another club member present to operate targets. I wish there was some open land where I could set out some fun things to shoot, but don't know anyone. Maybe that Sacramento is it.

Phil

 

[slm9s]

sometimes I bring my fifty to our 200 yard range. I shoot a group or two w/ 750 amaxs. I let a couple of interested guys shoot a round of surplus ammo. No matter the range, big guns are FUN. Like you said, anything over a 22lr is overkill at 100 yards, but what fun would that be to shoot nothing but 22s??? A good group is a good group, but some good groups would also be good groups 2000 yards later.

 

[AR Shooter]

Take the drive. And look around. Am guessing that there are other, longer ranges within a reasonable 'day-trip'. Of the ranges I shoot, my club (600yd) is only 20 minutes. But am also shooting BPCR silhouette and that is 4hr & 5.5hr away and I make the trek to each once-a-month from Mar-Oct. For F-Class I shoot at my home range and the other two ranges are 2+ hours. Think the 6BR or 6.5x47L are the 'logical' choices. Considerably less expensive to shoot and enough more enjoyable that you will 'want' to get out to shoot them. Am guessing 'the bloom will be off the roses' with the .338 in short order. Once you shoot a competition you'll be hooked with the calibers that don't beat you up. Also, there are a good number of 6mm rounds that work well in an AR. Check out the 6mmAR website and the White Oak Precision website as two places to start. An upper and a scope will get you started with your existing lower.

 

[dickn52]

Sacramento says they have two types of ranges now.

Public Ranges: No Membership required
Rifle - 300 yard, 11 positions shaded
Rifle - 100 yard, 52 positions covered
Pistol - 50 yard, 24 positions covered
Rim Fire (.22 caliber) - reactive target range, 8 positions covered
Shotgun - 4 Trap, 2 Skeet, 5 Stand Sporting Clays


Member Ranges: Membership required
Action Pistol
Pistol Silhouette
100 Meter Rifle
1000 Yard Rifle
NRA
Rifle Silhouette
200 Yard Rifle

 

[Phil3]

Been to the 300 yard at Sacramento. No range master on that one. Nice benches and shaded. A good distance to play with a 6mmBR. The member range (Range 12) has distances from 200 (I think) to 1000 in increments of 100 yards, except no 700 (I think).

Phil

 

[Phil3]

Take the drive. And look around. Am guessing that there are other, longer ranges within a reasonable 'day-trip'. Of the ranges I shoot, my club (600yd) is only 20 minutes. But am also shooting BPCR silhouette and that is 4hr & 5.5hr away and I make the trek to each once-a-month from Mar-Oct. For F-Class I shoot at my home range and the other two ranges are 2+ hours. Think the 6BR or 6.5x47L are the 'logical' choices. Considerably less expensive to shoot and enough more enjoyable that you will 'want' to get out to shoot them. Am guessing 'the bloom will be off the roses' with the .338 in short order. Once you shoot a competition you'll be hooked with the calibers that don't beat you up. Also, there are a good number of 6mm rounds that work well in an AR. Check out the 6mmAR website and the White Oak Precision website as two places to start. An upper and a scope will get you started with your existing lower.

You make good points. I am thinking now of just the 6mmBR and 6.5x47, using money saved from not having the 338 to make the 6 and 6.5 as good as rifles as possible.

I am well aware of 6mmAR and might get one of those uppers but for now, I want the 6 and 6.5 in bolt action.

Phil

 

[Lapua40X]

Phil3, the drive to Sacramento Valley Shooting Center (1K range for organized practice and matches) is well worth the drive. Range 12 is addictive. Enough so to get this night-owl's butt out of bed at 5am to make the drive to the monthly matches.

And because you don't want to be that guy shooting the .338 on the 100yd line....

Ditto .... http://www.sacvalley.org/calendar.html
Range "12" is the 1K range. Watch the calendar for the NCPPRC practice sessions and show up on time (showing up a little early is nice too so you can help set targets). Great bunch of guys (and gals) for a day of fun.

 

[jonbearman]

Instead of spending all the heavy money on a .338 lapua magplus the cost of any lapua chambered rifle aint cheap,you could take that money and go to benchrest central and buy 3 near new used benchguns in the calibers you want .I have a buddy who bought a trg 42 or 22 whichever in .338 with the factory break.He spent enough money to buy a late model used car,LOL and the end result,sold it do to the abusive recoil.Get the 45/70 in a ruger number 1 and you can load it up to 458 win mag pressures just about and if you don't want the heavy recoil you can download it light enough to fire it off your forehead.The 45/70 is a hoot.Don't be lured by impulsive ideas.No disrespect intended,but don't waste your money unless you are going all in and shooting at 500 yds at the very least to make it interesting.

 

[tonysnoo]

Take the drive. And look around. Am guessing that there are other, longer ranges within a reasonable 'day-trip'. Of the ranges I shoot, my club (600yd) is only 20 minutes. But am also shooting BPCR silhouette and that is 4hr & 5.5hr away and I make the trek to each once-a-month from Mar-Oct. For F-Class I shoot at my home range and the other two ranges are 2+ hours. Think the 6BR or 6.5x47L are the 'logical' choices. Considerably less expensive to shoot and enough more enjoyable that you will 'want' to get out to shoot them. Am guessing 'the bloom will be off the roses' with the .338 in short order. Once you shoot a competition you'll be hooked with the calibers that don't beat you up. Also, there are a good number of 6mm rounds that work well in an AR. Check out the 6mmAR website and the White Oak Precision website as two places to start. An upper and a scope will get you started with your existing lower.

You make good points. I am thinking now of just the 6mmBR and 6.5x47, using money saved from not having the 338 to make the 6 and 6.5 as good as rifles as possible.

I am well aware of 6mmAR and might get one of those uppers but for now, I want the 6 and 6.5 in bolt action.

Phil

Hey Phil,

Come on up to Reno...make nice weekend of it...and play a fun game that those rifles would work great at. We do a long range silhouette once a month. It's a gas! Targets from 200 to 550 and then out to 880 if you handicap.

Lots of variables to this game...density altitude, wind correction, time limits, etc. One more left this season in November.

Schedule:
http://palominovalleygunclub.homestead.com/UpcomingEvents.html

Our local forum thread:
http://www.nevadashooters.com/showthread.php?t=36598&page=6