model 70 at 600 yds

[Bruce Mc]

I have never shot at targets at 600yds off a bench. Until this morning. It was a very intersting session and I have made several observations.

1. A Leupold VX-II 3x-9x while being an excellent hunting glass, is totally inadequate for shooting paper at 600 yds.
2. 600yds is a long, long, long way downrange. Any of the guys that consistantly take game in the field shooting at those ranges are understatedly "$%!# hot shooters".
3. My Winchester Model 70 Sporter in 7mm Rem mag, even with the somewhat light contour barrel can shoot at 600yds.

The load is the 160 AccuBond in front of H-1000.
I don't claim any credit for being close to the bull, I used the point of the heavy wire for my aiming point and aimed two feet above the center. Thats a total of about 4 feet of holdover, give or take. I tried to just dial up the elevation but I found I only had 4 minutes of adjustment left. I needed eight. But I am very pleased with the group. It measured out 0.625 moa.

 

[DrMike]

The 7mm RM is more than capable of shooting that far, and much farther. It is a loooooong way. You need good glass to increase consistency. Very good, Bruce.

 

[SJB358]

Very nice shooting Bruce. That is some excellent shooting with a 3x9! Scotty

 

[Guy Miner]

A decent group to be sure! Those light-barrel sporters are capable of better accuracy at long range than most shooters believe.

The 3-9x isn't all that bad for longer range shooting - it just takes a little "attitude adjustment" because you're right - the first time at 600 can be intimidating! Remember that for a couple of decades USMC snipers used a fixed 10x scope for all their shooting, out to 1000 yards. Think that 600 yard target looks small and far away? :grin:

Typically I've used a fixed 12x or a 4.5-14x for most of my 600 and beyond shooting. Some guys dote on 24x and even 36x scopes, but I prefer a less powerful scope for most of my long-range shooting. That could be due to me being primarily a prone shooter, instead of a bench shooter. The ol' trembling muscles just aren't as steady as a bench I guess.

If you have a one-piece scope base, it's a simple thing to add a slim brass shim between the rear of the mount and the receiver to provide you with some additional vertical adjustment. Or... You could buy a tapered base with say 20 MOA of vertical built in. This is a good way to go with a longer range rifle.

Congrats on taking the plunge and giving it a try! Once tried, it's easy to go back and do it again, and again, getting better and better at it as you go along.

Regards, Guy

 

[Too Tall]

Guy, how thick of brass shim do you need?

 

[Guest]

I'm not guy, but the rule of thumb I've always used is .001"=1moa. I don't use shims, though. I use the Burris signature series rings with offset inserts. These are relatively inexpensive, easily swappable, and allow you the capability of experimenting to find just the right elevation adjustments for your particular needs. You can actually put as little as 5moa elevation into the setup (or just use the zero inserts to stay right where you are), and you can add as much as 40moa of adjustment via a .020" offset in each ring (for a total of .040" offset).

 

[JD338]

Nice Shooting!

JD338

 

[Ridge_Runner]

congrats bruce, keep it up you'll only get better, I remember years ago I killed a nice buck at 408 yards, thought I was really something, that buck just prodded me into learning the ropes, now 800 is close.
RR
edited to add,
mount a level on your scope tube or your base to help keep those flyers in check.

 

[usmc 89]

Good shooting, its pretty amazing to see what a stock rifle is capable of at distance. I have a range at my house that has steel targets out to 2k. The core of my shooting is done out to about 1350. Its always fun to see a guy shoot a steel target at 800 plus for the first time. You guys are welcome to come out and shoot if your ever in the billings area.

 

[SJB358]

Count me in! Scotty

 

[Desert Fox]

Good shooting, its pretty amazing to see what a stock rifle is capable of at distance. I have a range at my house that has steel targets out to 2k. The core of my shooting is done out to about 1350. Its always fun to see a guy shoot a steel target at 800 plus for the first time. You guys are welcome to come out and shoot if your ever in the billings area.

Wow usmc. I wish I have that luxury. I'll keep that in mind if I'm in your neck of the wood.

 

[Bruce Mc]

Thanks for the encourgement.
I'm definately gonna be shooting at distance regularly. The range I use is just across the highway and my friend has built backstops at 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 yds.
I'm gonna have to take a look at those rings with offset inserts. Might just be the ticket to get me some more elevation.

 

[Desert Fox]

Congrats Bruce. You have about 2.5" of bullet drift. That lone bullet hole farther right could be from trigger pull. Nevertheless that's one hell of a group for a sporter rifle. That's a killing shot for any animal as small as Bobcat. Get a scope with higher magnification and you can extend the range of that 7Mag for a lot more. Welcome to Long Range Shooting.

 

[usmc 89]

What were the conditions you shot in, assuming it was pretty calm if you were holding center? I will take some pics. And see if scott will be kind enough to post some pictures of my range. I have about 60 targets from 200-1350 groups of three and relative size in moa to distance. Nothing fancy 3/8 steel and rebar pounded in the ground. No bench just lay on the ground and shoot prone.

 

[Bruce Mc]

usmc, I had a very slight breeze from around 7 o'clock that accounts for the right windage. I shot early in morning before mirage and wind became an issue. By 10am its already into the 90s.

 

[FOTIS]

Not too shabby brother!

 

[jmad_81]

That is some very good shooting!

 

[257 Ackley]

Good shooting, its pretty amazing to see what a stock rifle is capable of at distance. I have a range at my house that has steel targets out to 2k. The core of my shooting is done out to about 1350. Its always fun to see a guy shoot a steel target at 800 plus for the first time. You guys are welcome to come out and shoot if your ever in the billings area.

Scott and I might scare you and show up sooner than you expect. I have an elk hunting buddy that lives in Billings and hunt North of Glendive every year with another buddy for deer. That many old jarheads together would be fun!!

 

[usmc 89]

Good shooting, its pretty amazing to see what a stock rifle is capable of at distance. I have a range at my house that has steel targets out to 2k. The core of my shooting is done out to about 1350. Its always fun to see a guy shoot a steel target at 800 plus for the first time. You guys are welcome to come out and shoot if your ever in the billings area.

Scott and I might scare you and show up sooner than you expect. I have an elk hunting buddy that lives in Billings and hunt North of Glendive every year with another buddy for deer. That many old jarheads together would be fun!!

Looking forward to it! We could take my english pointer out and shoot some pheasants as well if you like!

 

[SJB358]

Man, I would be in for that. Not much of a shotgunner, but I could give it a helluva try! Scotty