Best long distance rifle?

Question

What is the best long distance, readly avalible, rifle

Answer 1

In the world? I'd have to go with this one:

http://www.anzioironworks.com/20MM-TAKE-DOWN-RIFLE.htm

It's a 20mm (.787 cal) rifle that launches a 1600 gr bullet at 3300 ft/sec, at targets up to 3000 yards away.

In the US, however, the largest legal size is .50 cal, so I'd have to go with the M107:

http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/infantry/rifle/M107.html

This is based on the Barrett M82, which is available to any American who wants it, except those living in California.

http://www.barrettrifles.com/rifle_82.aspx

With a 660 gr bullet, it has an effective range of 2000 yards.

Answer 2

So you have a lot of info here, don't you? To add my two cents - I'd say check with HS Precision. They make a great entry level, heavy barrel rifle and you could have one in a couple weeks. They may not make the 'best' rifle, but I doubt you would be disappointed. A scope I would go with anything from Nightforce. A round - well again there are a lot of options, and most base around the .30 or .338 size. I've done some ballistic research and one round I'm very interested in is the Remington 300 Ultra Mag. As a handload with the right bullet, it seems to be very capable of long range power and accuracy. Of course, this is all just data and it may be different in the real world. Many long-gun shooters use the 6.5-284 for the long shots.
The two main things for you to consider 1)How much will you spend?...........2)Fit the rifle and caliber to what you need it for.

Answer 3

While the question is a bit vague, I'm going to assume that you mean long shooting, namely, shooting at targets exceeding 1000 meters. Many people would suggest a .50 BMG sniper rifle (ie the Barrett), but there are some inherent flaws. The .50 was not made as a sniping round, it was made as a heavy machine gun round. It was meant to chew through whatever happenend to be unfortunate enough to come into contact with it. It was first used as a sniper round after Marine GySgt. Carlos Hatchcock used it effectively in Vietnam. The longest distance sniper kills have been made with .50s, but that does not mean that they are the most accurate at long ranges. As has been stated, the .338 Lapua round is an option, given that it will hold true at distanced exceeding those of the .50. There are other rounds that one could use, I believe the 7mm was mentioned, but the 7mm is a very flat shooting caliber. When shooting at extreme long distances, every factor comes into play. This includes condensation, temperature, wind, humidity, even the motion of the earth plays a very small role in these calculations. A good shooter has to be able to conduct this mental math in order to hit a good shot. My top 5 rounds (that is, those that are at least moderately easy to come by) for this type of shooting would be, in this order
1- .338 Lapua
2- .50 BMG
3- .300 Winchester Magnum (or H&H Magnum, an older version)
4- .30-06 (Preferably out of an M1903a4 Springfield)
5- .308 (Ideally out of a Remington 700, though it would be a very difficult shot)

I hope that this helps.

Answer 4

I will weigh in here.

Pertinent questions are as someone else said, How much do you wnat to spend? Both on the rifle and the scope. At extreme ranges, these start to become critical. If you woant pinpoint accuracy way out there, custom rifles become the norm. That menas $$$$$$$$$$. If we are talking stock rifle, then you still will not be buying the cheapest rifle out there. Get a good rifle, with a good trigger and practice ractice practice. remington M-700, Browning A-bolts, Winchester, weatherby, etc

I will offer teh .22-250 as a good long range flat shooting round. Probably lacks real knockdown power at 300 yard shots if you are shooting anything bigger than a coyote. the .30 caliber guns really start to shine here. The .30-06, .308. and the .300 magnums (long and short). There are reasily available bullet drop charts out there on the web to look at. Bullet weight and shape have a great deal of influence here. You can decide for yourself which one suits your shooting style.

Best regards. shoot safely and responsibly.

Answer 5

Firstly I'll address all the wrong answers for you so you can discard them.

The 30-06 and 308 are great rounds and the 308 has been used for long distance sniping etc but they are no where near considered long distance cartrdiges compared to a lot of others.

In the US the 50BMg is not the largest legal size. 15mm, 600cal, 700 cal, 8 bore, 4bore are legal in most states. Even bigger and more powerful cartridges like 20mm and 30mm etc are also legal in some states as long as you have the correct paperwork.


The 50BMg does not rule the roost in long distance or power. It is in fact at the lower end of the scale for its type of firearm. that being man portable anti-material guns, the biggest being the 20mm's.

The 1800's sharps buffalo guns were used for some amazing shots in the old days but they are far and away worse than about any modern choice you could find now, since they run at old blackpowder velocities.
Those who cleanly shot a buffalo with one at 600 yards were extremely skilful and extremely lucky on a day with perfect sunlight and no wind blowing whatsoever I can guarantee you.

The varmint calibres, 22-250, 223 etc. while great for the job they do, are not really true long range since their bullets lose velocity too quickly and are not much good past 400 yards.

Your question on could either relate to hunting, sniping or target shooting.

For hunting the prices are-
Cheap/regular around a $500-2000. Any calibre like 7mm STW, 30-378 wby, 338-378wby, the skinnier ultra mags, 338 lapua etc in factory offerings you can pick up at most gunstores will have you picking off large game at 500 yards and playing target shooting to any range you want within reason.

After that you can get into special custom offerings of even more power like the 416PGW, 408 chey tac, 338 teppo jutsu etc which are based off the massive 505 gibbs elephant gun case or of course the 50BMg itself, and its other versions suhc as the MachV, 338 talbot. They can be used for targets or sniping past 1000 yards. (Many regular calibres like 300win and 308 can do this also but the advantage of the super fast ones are the bullet drops less of course, plus they have special loooong sharp nosed bullets made for them which hold velocity better.

Prices for these will generally start at $3000 and up through $10,000 and more.

My choice if you just wanted to play around shooting targets and varmints at real long range without spending too much cash would be an entry level tactical/sniper rifle like the sako TRG in 338 lapua for a couple of grand.

The 338 lapua is based off the 416 rigby elephant gun cartrdige and was designed as a sniping round. It has the advantage of being able to use its special super long range bullets and also all the regular .338 hunting bullets on the market like the 338 winchester uses.

The best site to see the ultra long range cartrdiges discussed is www.longrangehunting.com

Answer 6

I agree with the Barrett answer for range but readily available? You find in most walmarts - Weatherby Vanguard in .300 Weatherby excellent for range and power at a reasonable cost. I'd recommend a Nikon 3 x 10 x 50 far and away the best scope I've ever owned. Of course the rifle is only as good as the shooter no matter what the cost.

Answer 7

The United States Target Shooting team use the 300. Win Mag for shooting out to 1000 yard's an precise accuracy so I'd say that would be the best ...... that or a 338. 308. 22-250 or 30-06 accelerator. When buying a Rifle make sure it has a free float barrel

Answer 8

There is no "best rifle" unless its a fully custom job. Remington and Winchester are great though and affordable.

If your asking about a particular caliber, probably the best 1000 yard + round (that is still somewhat affordable) would be a .338 Lapua. Also, the .300 Win Mag is good, and at the very least, a .308.

Answer 9

If you want class and style, that would be the Sharps m1874 target model. Such a rifle is capable of cleanly killing a buffalo from 400-600 yards (depending on the person!) without a scope! It's a single shot, breechloading rifle from the civil war period (m1863) but is still a match for most modern rifles! Also, due to the massive weight of the rifle, (13 lbs.) recoil is minimal, thus improving auccracy!

Answer 10

I believe most of the 1,000 yard records were set by riflemen using rifles chambered in .308 Winchestedr (7.62 NATO) or .300 Winchester Magnum.

A Winchester Model 70, with a good scope (I'd buy a Leupold), with a tuned trigger, and a glass-bedded action would make a good 1,000 yard rifle.

Bear in mind, shooting at ranges like that should be limited to paper targets. I consider such long range shooting at game animals to be unethical and unsportsmanlike.

BTW, some years ago, Ross Seyfried built a custom rifle in a .30-.378 wildcat caliber similar to the .30-.378 Weatherby and used it to shoot targets a a range of 1 mile.

Doc Hudson

Answer 11

The best long distance rifle? Possible the bolt-action, Armalite AR-30 .338 Lapua Magnum. The best long distance readily availble rife? Take your pick: Ruger #1 in your choice of calibers; Remington 700 again in your choice of calibers, Browning A-bolt, Steyr Mannlicher Pro Hunter, Savage, Weatherby, etc...

They are all great shooters.

H