Newbee Needs help

[BD precision]

I want to get into long range shooting but don't know where to start.

I'm recently getting in to shooting again and currently have quarter sized groupings with my remington 597hb at 100-125yds but it is stock and I need a better trigger and probably should upgrade my scope. Cant recall what I was at at 150 but was told it was really good.

First Questions:
What is the effective range of the 22lr?
What should I be shooting for as far as improvement?



On to long range...
I have shot a 30-06 a few times and consistently hit within a few inches at about 400yds when a buddy helped w windage.

I havent shot much at distance but want to work up to 800-1000 yards if I can. I also want to be able to hunt with the gun as well.

I love the Remington 700 and really like what I have read about it. But there are so many caliber options and variations that I don't know where to start.

I was thinking the 5R milspec in 308 (If I can get it) because it seems like a good starting point but might want to move up to a 7WSM of some sort in a couple years if I out grow it.

All that being said I want a gun I can both grow into and can upgrade as I go along. And I do want to keep things as inexpensive as possible... Sooo...

Where do I start?
Is the 5R a good option?
Is 308 a good place to start?
I seem to progress fairly quickly (or so I'm told) What types of upgrades should I do/goals should I set?
Also what should I get for a scope?


Basically any help would be great
Especially fromOrkan as I've read a few of your posts and you seem to really know your stuff

[Ttwwaack]

What is the effective range of the 22lr?

Generally about 75-125 but is really dependant on the accurracy of your rifle. If the best it can so is 2" @ 50m then headshits on squirrels @ 35 is a hope and a prayer. It sounds as if your rig is running pretty well.(

What should I be shooting for as far as improvement?*

Alot of folks are using 22s as training rifles set up simularly to there precision rigs to get cheaper trigger time. The additional bennies is a slower velocity and wind. The 22LR SV runs about 1050-1080 FPS which equals about 2.5-3 X as long in the barrel to reinforce solid fundementals/positions. Wind really starts to play havoc about 150 when it gently swirls and g
ets sporting farther out forcing you to read the wind better.

As far as bettering your skills or doing a self analysis of your skills, check out the rimfire monthly web matches @ Primal Rights, Snipers Hide or Rimfire Central. The one @ the Hide I plan on shooting this summer and has tables for 50, 100, 200, 250 ( steel only) and 300 either bench or prone.

A word of advise/caution: Your going to get humbled. Take it in stride and learn from your mistakes. Alot of guys shooting these are shooting a couple of times a week and have been doing it awhile. This will be your base line score with room to improve at your pace. There is plenty of info out on these sites you just have to sift through it and dump the bs and keep the gems. Welcome to the journey and don't forget to enjoy the trip. If you really get hung up somewhere you can always come here to get your chops bisted and some good info.

As far as an entry level centerfire, I'd have to say a 308 and your looking pretty well with your choices. You'll have a longer barrel life with the 308 and quality ammo and components are readly available. If you plan to reload you can also save alittle coin.

As far as optics go starting out you need to do alittle reading. Orkin posted a nice article over on Primal Rights about optics which is a good read and should turn some lights on for you. You can then do some research to fill in the blanks and gray areas.

The only thing that I could really say about optics is they have come a long way in 30 years. There are a lot more manufacturers out there offerring a myrid of options. Figure out what options you want and buy quality product that will take the abuse with a good guarentee/warrenty service. Oh and european glass will spoil you.

Welcome to the quest.

[Guns-up.50]

I agree, from what your plans sounds like a 20" 5r would fit your bill. Much more that that you will be humping a lot of weight.

[markm]

A 5R is a good starter gun. Get it skim bedded and buy a timney and you're off to a good start.

I honestly will probably never buy a custom bolt gun or action. I appreciate the quality and the difference, but I don't compete, hunt, or kill for a living.

Unless I have a lot more disposable income in the future, I'm fine with handloading for a factory gun that's Sub MOA.

[Doc. Holiday]

A 5R is a good gun. You don't need a 'match' gun yet. Most guns will out shoot the shooter for awhile even if you progress quickly.

[orkan]

A 5R is a good gun. You don't need a 'match' gun yet. Most guns will out shoot the shooter for awhile even if you progress quickly.

Can be true, but isn't a rule.

I've seen lots of new shooters struggling with confidence problems as a result of a rifle that shot like a shotgun.

Find someone that is an exceptional shot. Ask him to shoot your rifle. Ask a couple other qualified people to do the same. Then you'll get an idea of how well it should shoot, and have a baseline on which to judge your own performance. If your rifle doesn't shoot as well as you think it should, then you can start working to improve it's performance with changes in equipment, configuration, or ammo until it does perform as well as you want.

If all the other shooters can get it to perform better than you can, then you can shoot it until you consistently have it shooting as good as they had it shooting.

The more accurate your rifle is, the more it can teach you in regard to your form. It's hard to learn much about your form from a 1moa rifle. A 1/4 moa rifle on the other hand, will illuminate every deficiency you've got!

[Doc. Holiday]

Can be true, but isn't a rule.

I've seen lots of new shooters struggling with confidence problems as a result of a rifle that shot like a shotgun.

Very true, obviously if he's shooting a scatter gun, then it's prob not going to work. The point I was getting at with him was as long as he gets a "name brand" gun, then he really shouldn't have to worry about immediately upgrading it too much.

[orkan]

It's very perceptual. By rights, a 1 moa gun is considered by many to be an "accurate" rifle.

I don't consider anything to be accurate until it can consistently print half that.

If a guy is taking a 1 moa rifle and printing 3 moa groups... I know he needs work. Yet you cannot identify a 1/4 moa shooter, if he's using a 1 moa rifle.

[markm]

Can be true, but isn't a rule.

This is true. Pappabear had one of his 300WMs that's a complete turd. Only a small section less than half way down the bore had good barrel diameter.

At a thowie, you'd get two hits and then fling one 3 feet off to nowhere land.

[Doc. Holiday]

. . .you cannot identify a 1/4 moa shooter, if he's using a 1 moa rifle.

Very true.