Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting High power rifle

[PatD]

Looking to start high power rifle shooting next year. Wondering if any of you do this or have any ideas of type of rifle I should start with. looking for something that I will not immediately get bored with and want to trade in. I'm really not the newest whiz bang kind of person but do want something that is competitive.

Thanks for your input.

 

[EBolgiano]

Guns are like everything else. You can spend as much as you want. A nice entry level rifle would be a Remington 700 (bolt action) in what ever caliber you want. Scope it and sight it and you have a very nice rifle for +/-$1000. You can get a Marlin 336 lever action for a little less than the Remington. And if you want to spend a little more a Browning BAR (semi automatic) is a real nice rifle. I have all of these and several others and find myself reaching for the Remington in 30. 06 more than anything else. Good luck. Ed B

 

[GHarman]

Its been many years since I was involved in competition. What type of competition do you plan on getting involved with? Across the course rifles can be bolt action or a gas operated autoloader. First of all, what is the budget? AR-15's that are competition ready are available from various sources. It depends on wether you want to compete in the service rifle class or the match rifle class. Lots to think about and plan for, including Match fees, travel, lodging, food as well as the actual shooting. GregH

 

[GHarman]

H.P. Competition resource

PS, Heres a better source of information, albeit, various disciplines. Post your questions and get answers from active shooters. You do have to register to post. Good LUCK! GregH



Competition Forum (All Calibers)

 

[Chief USA]

These are great starter rifles and I doubt you will get bored with them:



Savage Arms 12FTR Precision Target Rifle Series



Savage Arms 12F Class Precision Target Rifle Series



Savage Arms 12FTR Precision Target Rifle Series



Savage Arms 12FTR Precision Target Rifle Series



Savage Arms Model 12 Long Range Precisison Varminter (Repeater)



or buy a precision action and build your own:



Savage Arms Target Actions

 

[DWordinger]

Gary Anderson did very well with his bolt action rifle, especially considering he is left handed and used a right handed rifle.



I haven't been in any competition for a few years, but I've been thinking about getting active again for the last few years. You didn't say what type of High Power competition you were considering. I'm guessing NRA/DCM. I still have my DCM M1. I had an M1A, but sold it. I think you'll find most competitors use semi-autos. Find a M1 Garand, an M1A, or one of the semi-auto M-16 variants. Starting out, you can be competitive in your class with a stock rifle. As you get better, you can have the rifle accurized by one of the gunsmiths who specialize in this.



Depending where you live there may be matches close by so don't let the possibility of fuel, food, and lodging costs dissuade you. There are many smaller matches shot on reduced courses of 100 or 200 yards.



If you are already shooting, you probably already have earplugs or muffs. I used to buy disposable ear plugs by the box. On the firing line I often used both earplugs and muffs together. I was one of the few to wear earplugs when working the pits. Now I wish I had done more to protect my hearing.

 

[WDaniels]

PatD,

Get involved with your local DCM program. It will open doors for you that no other program can.

WD

 

[AABEN]

I have 223 243 25. 06 270 30. 06 IF i Had to pick one it would be the 243. I live in IN. and we can not hunt dear with hi power guns. I do alot ot target shooting the 243 and 25. 06 is the best if you are going to do a lot of shooting. I reload for all of my guns.

GOOD LUCK

 

[HGreen]

Want to have fun and not get bored with your rifle, get a 50 BMG, good bang for the buck, many good 1000 yard matches around the country. My son has the Armilite AR-50, I have the Barrett M82a1 and 95M. Not just good for rifle matches, they take deer and elk at 1000 yards with no problem. Only issue is hiking to your kill.

 

[TRLRTRSH]

Pat, I'll second post #7.

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) the new DCM is an excellent venue for one just getting started.

CMP Home



A service grade M-1 Garand is available to those who qualify for a fraction of the cost of a "built" match grade target rifle. The CMP also just came up with millions of rounds of surplus 30. 06 for sale

I'm probably going to make it harder on myself releasing that information to more guys looking for ammo but what the heck The new cost for a "can" or ammo has not been released yet, but at the old cost I could hardly reload for the same price. Contact the CMP and get your paperwork in order, some nice Garands will be available early next year at a reasonable price.

The CMP is the only "government" run program that IMHO works the way a government program should. CORRECTLY!!:-laf:-laf



Bill

 

[JGamble]

PatD,



As I tell all my customers (I am shooting coach), it all depends on what you are (excuse the pun), aiming for. If you are looking for competition shooting, as DWordinger said; a good 1903 Springfield in 30-06, M1A1 or M14 in 7. 62x54 NATO or Garand in 30-06 would be good for NRA or national shoots. Please remember, if you do these, in some classes, there is only so much you can do to your weapon to upgrade it before it is time to move to a new class.



Next, if this is not your deal, and you want to make a platform that is custom to you and is what I call a argument piece, you can easily make a platform rifle from the easist Remngton 700 to the more expensive Cheytec rifles and all the niches in between. These will allow you to customize your rifle to your specs to see how far you wanna go. Such as barrel upgrades to harmonizers to scopes. Spme competitions will allow customs rifles (within specs) to shoot within the competition. How far do you wanna go?



Then there is the exotics. I currently own a Barrett 82A1 that I can reach out with for around 1500 yrds. I have invested 9000+ dollars and numerous days on the range with

. 50 to 1. 00 a round to make a watermelon blow up at crazy ranges. That is on you. How about a Russian 12. 5x75mm tank rifle that can reach out beyond the . 50 BMG but will blow the crap out of your shoulder should you decide to fire it without a bench.



These are all your calls, depending how much you wanna invest. Please let us know what you decide and get some pics!!



Regards,

Sgt. G



P. S. These are all my own opinions, by no means, do I mean to claim or sound as a professional.

 

[HSpiering]

If you want some ballistics . Go to Sniper.com. or do a goggle on Lapua 338. Now down more to earth. I have a Rem 700 varmint with a laminated stock. (better platform) Glass bed and crowned. I use a Leopold 16X Mark 4 police/sniper. Hand load what the rife likes. (a must). My rife likes R/P brass, Dupont 3031 Sierra 150. Weigh the slugs first. (another must). Half inch MOA is very easy. (on a good day). The gun smith who did the work for me said if I wanted a better rifle for longer range or larger thing like elk to get a 300 Win Mag. (reloading is cheeper). He would take the barrel off and redo everything. About $1000 + rifle. He builds rifles for some of the swat teems around. Decided I would do just fine with my 308 Win. If you want 1000 yards best step up to a Lapua. From what I read the 50 has some draw backs and the military is looking for something better. All it takes is MONEY:-laf:-laf

 

[kenny61]

Doesn't anybody shoot 500 yards with iron sight's at a 6 - 8" targets and an off the rack rifle anymore?



Anybody interested in starting a very used iron sighted rifle 200 yard thread?



:-laf:-{}Oo.

 

[Skydiver]

PatD, Put your money in your scope. Leupold vari-x III is my choice. At least 50mm

I use a Browning a-bolt 270.

If you do buy a semi-auto always remember the safety must be moved to the safe position after you fire. I once borrowed a semi-auto and after my hunt I climbed down from a elevated stand only to find the safety on the fire position. I had bagged a nice Buck and the adrenalin was pumping. If I were to have dropped the rifle it would have most likely fired. I share this lesson in hopes to save a life.

 

[Flexiheep]

Doesn't anybody shoot 500 yards with iron sight's at a 6 - 8" targets and an off the rack rifle anymore?



Anybody interested in starting a very used iron sighted rifle 200 yard thread?



:-laf:-{}Oo.

I'll join!



In the 1-200 yard standing I hit a lot more with my open sight Marlin 336 in 30-30 than my model 70 or Savage 111. Of course I probably have the most fun with my lever action Henry in . 22...

 

[TRLRTRSH]

Yes Kenny, M-1 Garand at 100 yrds, cause that's as far as our range goes. But use a 200 yard reduced for 100 yrd target. Too damned many snowbirds to go out in the desert this time of year. Ya might shoot some Q-tip. :-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[AABEN]

Yes Kenny, M-1 Garand at 100 yrds, cause that's as far as our range goes. But use a 200 yard reduced for 100 yrd target. Too damned many snowbirds to go out in the desert this time of year. Ya might shoot some Q-tip. :-laf:-laf:-laf

Yes a M-1 Grand is a good gun to shoot it is a gas orparted and the recoil is not that bad but your 30. 06 bolt will work you over if you planed a lot of shooting and the cost on shells has gone way up even for mil. Look at one you will be able to do a lot of shooting with that will not get in to your pocket! And not beat you up! I am a snow bird and I do shoot when I am in AZ. I only shoot at the ranges So you do not need to worry about me. I am the holder of a life time permeant. I also put time in the service.

 

[GCroyle]

Kenny,



I ENJOY my iron sights and get a kick out of shooting a respectable group on NRA targets at 100 and 200 yds. I used to get out to 600 in Memphis at MSSA, but I moved. Shooting XTC and High Power matches were a day well spent behind the Iron Sights and pulling targets for others.



Pat, Get on MYNRA.org (?) and find the local competition range for high power, get their schedule, grab your shooting ears and go watch the match. If they don't pull you in and introduce you to the challenging game of high Power NRA competition they are a sorry bunch. The CMP comment is excellent, they DO NOT disappoint their customers. I visited the Anniston AL store, just didn't have the chance to buy on that company trip, what a sight!



Lobbing a . 223 or a 30-06 into a 3' diameter black bull into the X-Ring at 600 yards with only iron sights is a thrill, for sure. The cool thing is learning iron sights, you can actually let someone scramble your settings and with your dope book, go right back to where you were.



Don't forget Camp Perry, that is the X-Ring of NRA competition.

 

[kenny61]

It's been a long time since I've done it and I'm not so sure I could anymore but there is nothing like the satisfaction of putting em all in the head at 500m after pulling out your dope book, estimating the wind speed, and getting a proper sight picture. I qualified expert everytime except once when my front sight was damaged and my Gunny told me to just compensate. That year I missed expert by a couple of points.....

I think I still have my dope book somewhere.

 

[GCroyle]

Kenny,



Slightly off of Pat's question, but I bet you can do it. Might need some assistance in the form of tuned glasses. At the Memphis range, we had a contact that was an Optometrist and they came to the range and with you in position, they created an Rx for your eye at the distance to the target to tune the front post sight picture. Makes a big difference if your eyes are needing bifocals or worse.



We have a range near Charlotte that does not have pits, but they go to 300 I think, and in January, they will have a fun match, old walnut stocks will rule the day. Time to get my stuff organized and go play.



Pat, find and participate in a Garand Match at a range. Get the certificate of participation, it is part of the formula to open the doors at the CMP.