New long range shooter - need advice

[jafo]

Hi all,
I am a fairly new shooter and new to long range. I went to the pawn shop and got a really cheap beat up old remy 700 in 30-06 and had a big barrel put on it so I could shoot out to 1000 yards. I LOVE this sport! So now it is time to get a real gun. I would like to do both long range F-class and tactical if possible. Any words of advice and what do you think of these tube guns? Just to keep in mind, I am a typical girl... so shoot left handed If that makes any difference?

 

[ChipEckardt]

Cannot speak to tactical, only shoot F-Class. Savage makes a relatively inexpensive model 12 that I am seeing more of at the line all the time. Another option is to buy a used rifle. Unfortunately I am seeing more and more great rifles going for very reasonable prices. The left-hand models seem to go slightly cheaper.

Chip

 

[Rock Knocker]

If you arent into reloading already, do it. And practice makes the biggest difference of all.

 

[whiskey08]

tactical - .243 does very well, biggest shortcoming would be barrel life. If your concerned about barrel life than perhaps the .308. It also does well and barrel life is hard to beat.

 

[jtaveras]

lots of options...but if you don't reload get .308, 6.5 creedmoor, 6.5 grendel which you can get ammo for about $25-30 per 20. There are others, but you'll pay around $10-15 more per box of 20. If you reload, which you might have to, then its pretty much open (I'll keep it within the 6.5 or 7mm, etc. all other things being equal). Just my opinion.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

jafo,

Were you the one kicking the snot out of target #5 tonight? Sounded like a cannon in the pits.

 

[JohnMill]

You can look at "the list" at Shooters Corner. Lots O used guns you can find about anything. You sound like a pioneering spirit and I just want to warn you that you can make a lot of expensive mistakes. Ask me how I know that. Best way is to go where they are doing the kind of shooting you want to do and when you see what the majority are shooting then your decision is made. After a few years of campaigning that then you can get as experimental as you want. I could have saved a lot of money if I'd had that advice. Had more fun and less frustration too.

JohnMill

 

[Rem06]

get a 6.5x47 Lapua !

 

[spclark]

Shooting lefty is no handicap except when it comes to the available range of equipment. For that matter, neither is shooting a 30-06; just ask German Salazar in Phoenix, a regular contributor here as well as a lefty. He maintains the Rifleman's Journal website http://www.riflemansjournal.com/ too, always makes for interesting & unformative reading. You might want to contact him too as I understand he's looking to find new owners for some of his long range rifles.

There are a number of effective cartridges for long range & as stated earlier you'll have a wider choice range by learning to reload your own cartridges. You also gain a great advantage over factory ammo in that you can tune your loads to your rifle. Good luck & good shooting out past 600 yards!