Time to get back into the LR game...

jakfrost

jakfrost

Regular
Rating - 100%
109   0   0
Location
Eastern Ontario
So...I though I would try a new approach for me, ask questions first rather than after spending a bunch of $$$. Like the title says, 'Time to get back into LR shooting', I am 72 and the 'runnin and gunnin' fun ( IPSC and USPSA ) is getting tiresome, besides the guys ( and gals ) are running like deer these days! Soooo, back to the bench for some rest, small joke.

Looking in my gun closet, there are a bunch of different calibers, all of which I reload, and some might be quite suitable for my intended purpose which is to go to my neighbours range on a Sat/Sun afternoon and embarrass the young hot shots with their 'hot flavour' caliber of the month all tactical-ed up in some skeletonized fold-up stock. We shoot steel at 300, 600 and 1,000yds over a slight valley.

I have: Tikka T3 varmint in .204 Ruger
Rem 700 BDL HB in 22-250 ( bought new by me in 1978 fired maybe 50rds ) 24"
Tikka T3 in .260 Rem ( few mods, bottom steel, SS bolts, bolt shroud, etc, used primarily for hunting...) 22"
Cooper M52 in .280AI ( NF 5-20 SVH ) 24"

So my question is: is there one caliber here worth investing in for a new gun? Or should I just use the 22-250 with the bull barrel out to 300rds and the 280AI after that?
It would be nice to have just one gun for all ranges, I love shooting the 280 but if I want to upgrade or exchange the platform should I keep the same caliber just to avoid a new set of dies? The 260 seems to have pretty good potential as well...maybe just sell the .280AI and invest in a Tikka T3X in 260 and tune it up a little?
I don't read anything about the 280AI in the 'precision forums'...but the 260 is around...
 
If I can spend your money for you - if paper punching, rebarrel any of your short action rigs to a 8 twist 6mmBR. Wish I did that first, would have saved me thousands....
One of the best paper pouching rounds around, good for long distance (1000 no problem), a pleasure to shoot, and no recoil. Easiest round to load for of my entire arsenal.
It will keep up accuracy wise (or beat) anything out there. 105-107 over 29.5-30 grs Varget is one of the more popular loads.
 
If running cost is a concern, build a 223 with a longer throat and fast twist. Launch 80gr bullets at moderate speeds out to 1000yds with ease.

If you want more horsepower, the 22 Creedmoor or a 22-250 at low pressure, fast twist, pushing 95gr MK's is a wonderful option and easily shoot beyond 1000yds. I have taken my 22CM to 1450yds with ease.

If you prefer a larger bullet, there are SO many awesome 6mm and 6.5's today. 6 BR and 6.5 Creedmoor are two of my faves but there are plenty more good stuff to choose from. Decide if you are going to single feed or mag feed... that will narrow what is best.

Modern bullets fly crazy well at distances long considered the realm of the big boys.... in fact, the good ole 308 win is now plenty capable of reaching 1 mile.

Just rebarrel, maybe a different stock to suit your rests better and away you go. Optics is likely a place to spend more time researching vs a chamber/bullet combo

If I can help, please pm or email.

For simple, put that NF on the Tikka in 260Rem, load up some 139 to 142 gr bullets over H4350 or H4831SC. Tune for 1/2 MOA or better and enjoy reaching out to 1000yds easily... 1500yds is no problem

Jerry
 
Mystic Precision said:
If running cost is a concern, build a 223 with a longer throat and fast twist. Launch 80gr bullets at moderate speeds out to 1000yds with ease.

If you want more horsepower, the 22 Creedmoor or a 22-250 at low pressure, fast twist, pushing 95gr MK's is a wonderful option and easily shoot beyond 1000yds. I have taken my 22CM to 1450yds with ease.

If you prefer a larger bullet, there are SO many awesome 6mm and 6.5's today. 6 BR and 6.5 Creedmoor are two of my faves but there are plenty more good stuff to choose from. Decide if you are going to single feed or mag feed... that will narrow what is best.

Modern bullets fly crazy well at distances long considered the realm of the big boys.... in fact, the good ole 308 win is now plenty capable of reaching 1 mile.

Just rebarrel, maybe a different stock to suit your rests better and away you go. Optics is likely a place to spend more time researching vs a chamber/bullet combo

If I can help, please pm or email.

For simple, put that NF on the Tikka in 260Rem, load up some 139 to 142 gr bullets over H4350 or H4831SC. Tune for 1/2 MOA or better and enjoy reaching out to 1000yds easily... 1500yds is no problem

Jerry
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply Jerry...running cost isn't a overriding concern. My 'old school' thinking for this project runs along the lines of my high school days when it was so much fun to take my rather ratty looking old 55 Chev to the A&W on Saturday night and embarrass the senior class social elite at the green light, in their parents shinny new car. Plus, I grew up behind an FN-C2 and have always been comfortable using a wooden (hunting style...or thumbhole ) stock. I'm just looking for a way to illustrate my point to the young guys I shoot with that you don't always have to have the latest and greatest, (whatever is trending on the internet kinda thing ), to shoot well. Having good basic tools, and KNOWING how to use them effectively is more important. So many time I have heard, "ah, its cause I don't have a 6.5CM in a Cadex chassis with $5,000.00 scope that I can't hit the target, consistently".
Anyway, maybe I'll just work with what I have for now, I was just looking for opinion on the 260Rem vs the 280AI actually, so that hopefully whatever money I end up spending was in the right direction...

Cheers,
Jim
 
jakfrost said:
Thanks for the reply Jerry...running cost isn't a overriding concern. My 'old school' thinking for this project runs along the lines of my high school days when it was so much fun to take my rather ratty looking old 55 Chev to the A&W on Saturday night and embarrass the senior class social elite at the green light, in their parents shinny new car. Plus, I grew up behind an FN-C2 and have always been comfortable using a wooden (hunting style...or thumbhole ) stock. I'm just looking for a way to illustrate my point to the young guys I shoot with that you don't always have to have the latest and greatest, (whatever is trending on the internet kinda thing ), to shoot well. Having good basic tools, and KNOWING how to use them effectively is more important. So many time I have heard, "ah, its cause I don't have a 6.5CM in a Cadex chassis with $5,000.00 scope that I can't hit the target, consistently".
Anyway, maybe I'll just work with what I have for now, I was just looking for opinion on the 260Rem vs the 280AI actually, so that hopefully whatever money I end up spending was in the right direction...

Cheers,
Jim
Click to expand...

So true.... enjoy your rifles

Let me know if you would like to do some upgrades

Jerry
 
Well, further to my post above - my buddy's all have/had Magnumitis and its all about big BOOM and fancy stuff.... After watching them shoot, I was left scratching my head - I got into debates about calibers, etc, and then the challenges came out - their claims a 223 is for close range, get a 250 - and when I saw how poorly their rifles shot at 300+ yards, the challenge was on - my little 223W outshot ALL three fast twist 250's, outshot meaning more accurate and same or less drop at longer distance, period. We went to 700yds that day, and loaded exactly like Jerry mentions above - a 80gr moderate load. Money! Needless to say, my winning the challenge made the single barrel Bourbon taste much better.
Next, on another day was a 1000yd shoot. Buddy with his 7RM and 300WM went first. we were each given 10 shots. Buddy has nice $$$ rifles, but choose not to reload - issue#1 imho... His 10 shots netted 3 hits on a MOA gong (10") at 1000 - this was a breezy day - had to walk shots onto target....anyhow, as expected, the 6mmBR came out on top again, with 6/10 hits - best was the first shot - dial up to set distance, add wind, and cold bore shot was a direct hit.
Next up was rimfire tannerite at 800yds - 1 shot 6mmBR, BOOM. Buddy stopped after 8 shots (went thru all his ammo) and shot the last remaining tannerite with my 6BR.
I have many many stories like this with my plinking buddies. Altho none have switched rifles/calibers to the 223 or 6BR (cause they're broke spending on $5-7000 rifles), they don't diss the smaller calibers anymore! Plus both my 223w and 6BR were on the inexpensive side - m700 actions with good barrels, Both rifles scoped together cost less than one of theirs.

So the comments above from Jerry and Dan are bang on.
 
chrismc said:
Well, further to my post above - my buddy's all have/had Magnumitis and its all about big BOOM and fancy stuff.... After watching them shoot, I was left scratching my head - I got into debates about calibers, etc, and then the challenges came out - their claims a 223 is for close range, get a 250 - and when I saw how poorly their rifles shot at 300+ yards, the challenge was on - my little 223W outshot ALL three fast twist 250's, outshot meaning more accurate and same or less drop at longer distance, period. We went to 700yds that day, and loaded exactly like Jerry mentions above - a 80gr moderate load. Money! Needless to say, my winning the challenge made the single barrel Bourbon taste much better.
Next, on another day was a 1000yd shoot. Buddy with his 7RM and 300WM went first. we were each given 10 shots. Buddy has nice $$$ rifles, but choose not to reload - issue#1 imho... His 10 shots netted 3 hits on a MOA gong (10") at 1000 - this was a breezy day - had to walk shots onto target....anyhow, as expected, the 6mmBR came out on top again, with 6/10 hits - best was the first shot - dial up to set distance, add wind, and cold bore shot was a direct hit.
Next up was rimfire tannerite at 800yds - 1 shot 6mmBR, BOOM. Buddy stopped after 8 shots (went thru all his ammo) and shot the last remaining tannerite with my 6BR.
I have many many stories like this with my plinking buddies. Altho none have switched rifles/calibers to the 223 or 6BR (cause they're broke spending on $5-7000 rifles), they don't diss the smaller calibers anymore! Plus both my 223w and 6BR were on the inexpensive side - m700 actions with good barrels, Both rifles scoped together cost less than one of theirs.

So the comments above from Jerry and Dan are bang on.
Click to expand...

Smaller cartridges are much more effective then most give them credit for. Hell, some on here still think a 168 SMK from a .308 hits some sort of invisible wall 800M and it's not effective at any further range.

g1zhi854ihcy.jpg


Professional training is some of the best money you can spend on the sport. Some spend big $$$ on equipment, but neglect the most important part - themselves as the trigger puller. Generally, professional training & competitions will pay dividends compared to spending big $$$ on gear.
 
Correction - I said fast twist 250's in my post above - meant SLOW twist, 1-12. A fast twist 250 would be a hummer with the new bullets out there - slow twist, not so much...
 
IMG_2793.jpg

1450yds...

IMG_2795.jpg

The 3 options we were shooting that day... one costs almost 10 times the other per bang. All put hits on the target.

Jerry
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2793.jpg
    IMG_2793.jpg
    124.4 KB · Views: 152
  • IMG_2795.jpg
    IMG_2795.jpg
    147.7 KB · Views: 152
Thanks to all who aided in my quest to better my junior shooting friends, and their fancy ( no excuse $$$ rigs ) 'black' rifles. with my old school boring calibre relics. I have decided to go with my '78 vintage, 1-14 twist, 22" HEAVY barrel Remington 700 BDL in 22-250...and...my 'not vintage' Cooper 52, 1-9 twist, 24" hunting barrel in .280AI.

Looking forward to the 600yd and 1000yd 'gong fest' in a month! Time to work up some sweet spot loads for each, and post my bragging rights in future posts. Of course if you never hear from me again you will know what happened, LOL.

Jim
 
I have shot LR for a long time now. As a young fellow started with 300 WBY Mag and worked my way down to the present 6mm Dasher.
The advantage of dasher, gives the velocity needed to 1000mtrs and very little recoil. This and the 105 Berger are hard combo to beat.
Enjoy
 
b72471 said:
I have shot LR for a long time now. As a young fellow started with 300 WBY Mag and worked my way down to the present 6mm Dasher.
The advantage of dasher, gives the velocity needed to 1000mtrs and very little recoil. This and the 105 Berger are hard combo to beat.
Enjoy
Click to expand...


Guess I've been away for longer than I thought, what the heck is a 6mm 'Dasher'...? Cousin to 'Prancer', hahaha, sorry couldn't help myself. Seriously, I thought ( according to my hotshot shooting buddies...) it HAD to be 6.5CM, or go home? I have a lot to catch up on, haha.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom