I'm thinking of getting a 7MM Mag for long (500 yard) range shooting. But to hit something at 500 yards, it'd need to be very accurate. What rifles are accurate enough to use on deer or antelope at those ranges? It could be an out-of-the box rifle or a semi-custom one. Thx

Hunter308

What's your price range all said and done?

Most middle to upper end factory rifles these days are pretty dang accurate, especially when you pair it with a long range performer like the 7RM.

Check out the one I put together under the (What are you hunting with this year thread?) It is extremely accurate.

I have an old Savage 110 in 7mm Mag. Very accurate.

To shoot long distances you need both accuracy and energy. Most over the counter rifles are capable but some might need some minor tweaks to achieve it.
If I were going to buy one tomorrow it would be a Remington Sendero SF on the high end but I am currently researching the E.R. Shaw Mk II as a budget minded rifle. http://ershawbarrels.com/ The Savage action with a heavy fluted ER Shaw barrel is suppose to be a very reasonably priced rifle and the current reviews are superb.

The load is actually more important than the rifle. Start out with good high BC bullets such as Berger bullets http://www.bergerbullets.com/
These bullets will perform on game and retain their energy beyond 500 yards. Working up a sub minute of angle load is a separate animal altogether.

I am comfortable using Kentucky windage out to 400 yards but 40" drop + 20" wind drift puts the cross hairs off the target at 500 yards. I would opt for what I call a dope scope if I were planning on building a dedicated 500 yard plus rifle. Bullet flight starts really deviating past 300 yards which is difficult to predict with the older fixed scope. Typical scopes can be had with BDC's built into the reticle which dial in the drop out to about 500 yards but its up to you to guess the windage. Scope makers are offering windage and elevation target knobs for hunting scopes. You can have custom turrets built around your custom loading which eliminates the guess work out of bullet drop out to 1000 but you still have to know your windage.

I think that once you gain the confidence at 500 yards you'll want to start pushing the envelope. With all of todays modern equipment it becomes very easy to kill game at very long range. Being a former Marine I can appreciate the marksmanship but I feel as though you lose the hunting aspect of it. Game is not weary of you at those ranges and I feel if bowhunters can get to 50 yards it should be easy for us to stalk within 300 yards.

quote:

Originally posted by Hunter308:
What rifles are accurate enough to use on deer or antelope at those ranges? It could be an out-of-the box rifle or a semi-custom one. Thx

Hunter308

A Savage would get my vote for most accurate affordable factory rifle. Their barrels are button rifled.

As to semi-custom, I'm not sure what criteria meets your definition here. To me, if you are going to have work done to an existing rifle, then I'm not a fan of cutting corners. Blueprint an action, get a good handlapped barrel, a bedding job and a light trigger pull.

remington sendero. I have one in 7mag and it is my go-to rifle when the shots will be long

If I was buying a rifle and accuracy was my main objective id be looking at a 700 rem or a savage. Ive owned probably a 100 bolt action rifles through the years and ive yet to buy a bad rem or savage. Personaly id go with the remington as i just never could warm up to the looks of a savage. If your the type that considers a rifle just a tool and dont care about looks a savage is hard to beat though.

I know someone on this forum has put together some pretty impressive videos of a 7mm WSM GA Precision rifle. He has been shooting it past 1000 yards, I'd talk to him. While I don't want to make a habit of it my plain old Parker Hale .270 is capable of taking deer past 500 yards.

I had one of those old parker Hales in 243 and that bugger was a real shooter too. Just to blasted heavy for a 243 or it would still be in the safe.

Hunter308: What 7mm Mag are you talking about? There are about 20 different ones or are you talking about any 7mm Mag?

Having a 500 yard rifle doesn't make you a 500 yard shooter. With very little tweeking, a 700 7mm Rem mag will generally shoot little, bitty groups at 500 yards.
Range estimation and wind drift are another thing entirely. They take knowledge and practice, practice, practice.

There is generally no reason to shoot that far. Concentrate on being a better hunter instead of seeing how far you can poke at a deer or antelope. Unless you are VERY practiced, those long ranges just equate to wounded animals. I have never felt the necessity to kill a deer or antelope at extended ranges. It is called HUNING for a reason. Most decent quality rifles are 500 yard capable, but 300 yards even makes them better.

Thanks for all the input. I don't prefer 500 yard shots but sometime I hunt pigs and the only shot I get is across a wide canyon. I'll check out the 700 - thx!

Hunter308

quote:

Originally posted by Hunter308:
I don't prefer 500 yard shots but sometime I hunt pigs and the only shot I get is across a wide canyon. ...

My current 7mmRemMag is a S&S M700 which is amazingly accurate with 140gr Partitions. However, from what you just mentioned, I feel sure I'd prefer a Higher B.C. 30cal Bullet(180gr, 190gr or 200gr) in one of the Mags. The S&S M700 300RUMs(with the Brake) are some of the most accurate Out-of-the-Box rifles I've ever shot, and with Factory Ammo to boot. The excellent Brake along with a great Factory Recoil Pad make what Recoil gets to the shoulder very manageable.

Best of luck with whatever you select.

If long-distance hogs are on the menu, I would stay with 160 or 175 grain bullets in the 7 mag. A 139 Hornady is my favorite for deer etc., but hogs can be pretty tough. I have found that 175 grain Hornadys or Partitions over RL 22 or 25 are very accurate and have done great for me on elk for years.

quote:

Originally posted by Hunter308:
I'm thinking of getting a 7MM Mag for long (500 yard) range shooting. But to hit something at 500 yards, it'd need to be very accurate. What rifles are accurate enough to use on deer or antelope at those ranges? It could be an out-of-the box rifle or a semi-custom one. Thx

Hunter308

Several good choices...Rem 700, Savage anything, Vanguard, Win M-70.....more...

Key is the shooter, darn good rangefinder (and to 1500 yards), good shooting rest (sticks help) and Nosler's 160 grain accubond.

The 7mm Rem Mag is a good cartridge with the 175gr bullets, but the cartridge historically has inherently never been known for being the most accurate, as far as the cartridge itself is concerned. I built a long range bolt gun a few years ago and chose the .300H&H, which I highly recommend. With the .300H&H, you can utilize heavier bullets (200-220gr) which will provide more long range stability and still maintain enough energy to take down anything from pigs to elk. The .300H&H has historically been known for superior accuracy as a cartridge.

Then the rifle. Alot of good suggestions already made, but it's all about budget. I really like the Sauer 202 the Steyr Classic Lite but they're not made in the .300H&H, but they are in .300WM. Any good Mauser or
Winchester Model 70 action with a competition grade barrel in .300H&H would make a great long range rifle.

Then the scope. The Burris Eliminator Laserscope is best optics I've seen for long range shooting. It gives you the range, provide you the perfect holdover and illuminate the reticle for the holdover. It looks a little space age, but probably is the most technically designed scope on the market.

Best of luck in your decision, and have fun. Mike

My choice would be a Winchester mod 70 classic as I love those rifles. I also like the Tikka T3s. Nothing wrong with the used rifle market - pick a nice old Sako AV Hunter or a L61R Finbear. I have a Sako L61R in 280 Ackley Imp & it is awesome. It can put 5 shots in 1.8 inches at 200 meters if I can do my job right! The newer Savage 110s have a good reputation for accuracy but I have not shot one. With today's premium bullets like the Barnes TTSX in 120 gr or 140 gr, you are fine out to 600 yards if you practice often.

Remington Sendero.

Winchester mod 70 classic 7mm remington magnum with stainless action and 26 in barrel has been extremely accurate on paper to 600 yards. On game the longest shot has been on A Dall sheep at 170 yards which it did fine. Purchased used like new for 450 dollars and appreciated ever since. For A mountain rifle in the steeps you will appreciate something lighter and shorter, but, for most other applications on the plains or prarrie it can't be beat. Especially for the price. Regardless of the price, great weapon.