I am looking to shoot groups on steel targets at longer distances.
What is the best bullet weight and configuration?
Which bullet?
Factory loads?
How far can a good shot make a good rifle such as this shoot? 800 yards plus?
I will be using a NF SHV 4-14x50 Illuminated MOAR reticle scope.
A 16-inch rifle isn't your best bet for shooting a 7.62 for long-range. If you were at a higher elevation (i.e., out west in the Rockies) you'd have the advantage of thinner air (each additional 1,000 feet of elevation giving you a like-equivalent of an extra inch of barrel length).
800 yards, no sweat. After that you'll need experience, finesse, and a good spotting scope (and a spotter-coach perhaps) for doping winds.
Can't speak for all 16" guns, But I've been around and shot a few 1-10 and 1-11 16" guns and most of them have liked the Federal GMM 175gr SMK loads and the Barnes Precision Match 175gr loads. 168s were hit or miss, but 175s did alright.
I just bought a box for the Federal GMM 175 SMK to try. I also bought a box each of the Creedmore 167 and 175 match loads. I hear the 168 SMK bullet, originally designed to optimal for 300 meters, does not do well as the velocity slows below 1400 fps down to the sound barrier.Quote:
Originally Posted by cougar_guy04
Factory 168 Match King Fed Gold Medal Match out of a 24-inch 1-12 barrel starts having trans-sonic stability issues at around 875 yards in the summer at 300 feet above sea level. A 175 will have issues just short of 1,000 if you're using a 1-11 or 12 twist.
For 1,000 yards with a Sierra 175 you generally want 2550 fps muzzle velocity (or better) with a 1-10 twist. A 16-inch tube (even with a tight twist) will be around 2475, and the Lapua 17 and 175s will be around 2485.
A 185 Berger Juggernaut shot from a 20-inch 1-10 is stable to 1,000.
Seconded.Quote:
Originally Posted by sinister
The heavy .308 pills are nice, but I've had the best luck with 155gr class bullets. (bolt guns 20+") The scar 17 I just sold shot berger vld hunters into sub .75 @ 100 but unfortunately I was never able to take it to range. I have a 16" LMT MWS on the way that I plan on doing some pretty in depth comparisons when it comes to 155 vs 175's.
Anyone shot 155gr class bullets at 1000+ yards?
It's a lot like playing roulette.Quote:
Originally Posted by Little Creek
Yep. You want at least a 28-inch barrel kicking them out around 2800-2850 fps. Not gonna make that out of a 16-incher. Tried it with 155 Lapua Scenars out of a 16-incher between 4,500 and 6,500 feet MSL.
There's Lapua, two types of Sierra (Match King and Palma), Hornady, and Nosler.
While they'll definitely fly further they're not going to make a precision hit unless you shoot them from a bolt gun. The old adage, "Sir/Sergeant, 7.62mm tracer burn-out (from an M60 or M240 machinegun) is 1100 Meters" applies -- but that's a beaten zone weapon (vice shooting for a single E-type).