OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc. Homepage SWFA     SampleList.com
Forum Home Forum Home > Scopes > Rifle Scopes
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Long Range 30-06
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials.

Long Range 30-06

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
dpslusser View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper
Avatar

Joined: September/21/2007
Location: NorthEast, PA
Status: Offline
Points: 16
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dpslusser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Long Range 30-06
    Posted: November/26/2007 at 18:00
Today was the first day of deer hunting for PA. I hunted all field the opening day; the first time in a long time. Unfortunately I wasn't prepared. The average effective range if a deer was in site, was about 200 yards. Which Im pretty dead-on at. There were two spots though, whcih were clear over 300 yards. These yardages were never attempted with my Remington 710 30-06 (shooting High-Point 165gr.).

Can these types (300-500) of yardage be achieved successfully with my type of gun. I only have the scope that came with the 710 when it was released. Whcih is a 4-9x40 bushnell. (Time for an upgrade)

Any suggestions on any thing (Bullet load, gun mod, scope, etc...)
Back to Top
pyro6999 View Drop Down
Optics Retard
Optics Retard
Avatar
OT TITAN

Joined: December/22/2006
Location: North Dakota
Status: Offline
Points: 22034
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/26/2007 at 18:41
take the 710 and get rif of it, i hope you checked to make sure it wasnt in the lot of many with a recall on it. i prefer 150 gr bullets for my 30-06, 50.2 gr of 4064 was a sweet load. if you must keep the 710 i would strongly recommend a better scope, especially given your long shot situation something in a 4.5x14 may be a better choice.
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"
Back to Top
kmad61 View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: December/12/2004
Location: NC
Status: Offline
Points: 64
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kmad61 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/26/2007 at 19:30
I agree,150 gr in the 30-06 and 2 good mid range scopes are the Nikon Buckmaster and the Bushnell elite 3200,4x14x40 would work well.
Back to Top
Corky View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: November/22/2007
Status: Offline
Points: 35
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Corky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/26/2007 at 23:37
I shoot a Rem 700 30-06 with a Nikon Monarch 4-16x42 scope.  It is deadly shooting a 150 gr. Barnes Triple Shock X with IMR4007SC.
Back to Top
dpslusser View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper
Avatar

Joined: September/21/2007
Location: NorthEast, PA
Status: Offline
Points: 16
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dpslusser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/26/2007 at 23:56
Im a noob when it comes to this stuff...but why should I knock my loads back to 150gr?

And why such negativity on the 710?

Is the 700 the best remington out there?

What caliber in the 700 would you go with?
Back to Top
8shots View Drop Down
Optics Jedi Knight
Optics Jedi Knight
Avatar
Lord Of The Flies

Joined: March/14/2007
Location: South Africa
Status: Offline
Points: 6253
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2007 at 01:27
Not knocking the above responses, but I have hunted with my 30-06 for many years and have accounted for a fair amount of game. The 30-06 can handle a wide variety of bullet weights. If you need the speed, in other words shooting at fast moving game such as in driven hunts, the 150gr is the bullet. If the game is more stationary, go to 165 or better still 180gr for better knockdown effect.
The 30-06 is capable of taking game down at 400yds+ if the shooter does his part.
This past hunting season I took two kudu with 165gr at over 400yds.
Back to Top
Acenturian View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman
Avatar

Joined: September/07/2004
Status: Offline
Points: 543
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Acenturian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2007 at 01:33
I would also recommend a good 4-12 or 4-16 powered scope for shooting out to 300 yards.   The 150 gr. bullet will give you a bit better trajectory at longer ranges.
 
Perhaps 400 yards with lots of practice or unless someone is an ex-military sniper.
 
500 yards ... get closer no matter what your using.  Sorry, at that range and maybe this is the bow hunter coming out but that is not hunting that is sniping.  Yes, they make some Whiz Bang Uber magnums that fly flatter then a laser beam and they will reach out there but part of hunting is learning to get close enough to make a good clean kill at acceptable ranges that does not result in injured animals getting away.
 
K nuff of my soap box.  I think the 710 is fine (Like the 700 better) .30/06 is a fine cartridge and has done the job and done it well for over a 100 years.  If its the scope it came with then I would definitly up-grade.
Depending on your price range I'd look at the Nikon Buckmaster, Nikon Monarch, Burris FullField, Burris Signature, Sightron SII or the Weaver GrandSlam.
 
 
If You're In A Fair Fight, You Didn't Plan It Properly

- Anonymous

Back to Top
Top Cat View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: May/26/2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 7
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Top Cat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2007 at 05:34
I would use a smaller optic with less magnification for big game at that range... A 200-300 yard shot is within iron sight range for me, and a fixed 4x is easily competent to 400 yards on a target as large as a deer.
 
There is no need to overscope that rifle, when a smaller scope with less magnification is lighter and easier to carry, and has a better field of view for moving targets...like deer in Pa are likely to be doing after the first hour on opening day...:)
 
A Sightron S-1 3-9  would be a good scope for that rifle and I would stay with the 3-9x40, and practice shooting at longer range to gain confidence in your rifle and load, and in your shooting. Sighting in your rifle to hit about 3" high at 100 yards will allow a center of the chest hold out to 300 yards. A 165gr bullet strikes about 5" low at that range, depending on the particular brand of ammo, but is still in the heart lung area. If you put in a little range time you will see where the bullets land.
 
150, 165...0r 180 grain bullets are fine and will knock any deer down, but the 165 is a very good overall choice.
 
Not that this has anything to do with the discussion, but I did grow up in Pa, and my Cousin was a DFW in York county...one of the country's best deer areas...at that time. I spent a lot of time walking around that county.
 
TC
Back to Top
pyro6999 View Drop Down
Optics Retard
Optics Retard
Avatar
OT TITAN

Joined: December/22/2006
Location: North Dakota
Status: Offline
Points: 22034
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2007 at 06:23
Originally posted by dpslusser dpslusser wrote:

Im a noob when it comes to this stuff...but why should I knock my loads back to 150gr?

And why such negativity on the 710?

Is the 700 the best remington out there?

What caliber in the 700 would you go with?
 
the 710 is like a geo metro, its not if but when its going to break, the model 7 and the model 700 are so much better, your caliber is fine, 30-06 is plenty, the reason i like 150's is because i have had really good luck in the accuracy dept with them
They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead"

343 we will never forget

God Bless Chris Ledoux
"good ride cowboy"
Back to Top
Pooreyes-2 View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: September/02/2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 79
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pooreyes-2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2007 at 06:49
 If you are thinking of a new gun.Here are afew I would look at. My first choice would be the 308, I love the alround bullet,from 150 out to 185 I think. But I use 168gr,I might go back to a 155 or 165. Another choiceyou have is the big 7mm. also I am hearing alot about the 280.
 I also likemy270 shooting 130gr.and it shoots pretty flat, But alot of guys on here dont likethe 270 because the limit in bullets.
 
   I think the 300 is a over kill for deer, good forelk or bear.
Just afew things to think about.
First find the right gun then match it with the right scope. 
Back to Top
Bigdaddy0381 View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Georgia peach

Joined: February/27/2007
Location: Georgia
Status: Offline
Points: 13682
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bigdaddy0381 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2007 at 07:39
Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

Originally posted by dpslusser dpslusser wrote:

Im a noob when it comes to this stuff...but why should I knock my loads back to 150gr?

And why such negativity on the 710?

Is the 700 the best remington out there?

What caliber in the 700 would you go with?
 
the 710 is like a geo metro, its not if but when its going to break, the model 7 and the model 700 are so much better, your caliber is fine, 30-06 is plenty, the reason i like 150's is because i have had really good luck in the accuracy dept with them
 
 The 710 is not a bad gun at all.i have in 300 win mag and it shoots very well.i have actually posted some shot groups with it.As for a good bullet out to 300 yards with a 30-06 i would go with a 165 gr.this will do the trick but the 150 are not a bad chocie at all.
 
i honestly don't get wht the 710 get suck a bad name.I have shot well over 500 rounds thru mine and can still place 5 in the berries.The only thing i know the 710 needed work on was the trigger.but a good smith can fix that with no problem but most any other rifle has a trgger job done when new also.
thats my thoughts anyways.
 
P&Z Firearms , Pro gun cleanings and gun repair and wood refinishing.

Ecclesiastes 10:2
Back to Top
jonbravado View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master
Avatar

Joined: October/05/2006
Status: Offline
Points: 1131
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonbravado Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2007 at 08:40
the ole marine snipers, for the most part, used the 165-168 grn BTSP in the 30.06's for long range shooting.  There have been confirmed kills out to 900yrds or so w/ the 30.06 as LATE as desert storm. while not near as popular as the .308, it's still a great weapon at longer ranges.  of course, i saw all this on history channel or discovery channel. Wink some of the ole marines should chime in.
 
in MY 30.06, by far the most dependable accurate bullet was the 165 grn BTSP by hornady.
 
my 2 cents.
 
get a good scope and even better mounts.
 
J
Back to Top
jonbravado View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master
Avatar

Joined: October/05/2006
Status: Offline
Points: 1131
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonbravado Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2007 at 08:42
my reasoning:
 
with the 165 grn BTSP, you can acheive the 'baseball bat effect' on deer out to 300+ yards.
 
i have seen it, and it's awesome.
 
J
Back to Top
cyborg View Drop Down
Optics God
Optics God
Avatar
Gaseous Clay

Joined: August/24/2007
Location: North Georgia
Status: Offline
Points: 12288
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cyborg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2007 at 09:06
In the 30-06 for the longer ranges I'd opt for the 168 or even the 180, the weight helps the bullet to retain energy, of course there are always trade offs.
Scope wise 2.5-10, or 4-16, 3-12, any thing along those lines should be just fine for out to 400 yrds, Get the best glass for your budget. 
With Freedom comes great responsibility, you cannot have one without the other

An armed public are citizens. A disarmed public are subjects.

OATH KEEPER #8233 Support us, and join our cause.

Cyborg
Back to Top
dpslusser View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper
Avatar

Joined: September/21/2007
Location: NorthEast, PA
Status: Offline
Points: 16
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dpslusser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2007 at 09:48
Can somone exlain why you would drop back to a 150gr? Isn't it, the higher the grain, the faster, the harder, the less bullet drop at a lesser grain?

Why would i want to go to a smaller scope if I want to shoot at farther yardage? I want to be able to shoot at any size animal, down to a groundhog size.
Back to Top
dpslusser View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper
Avatar

Joined: September/21/2007
Location: NorthEast, PA
Status: Offline
Points: 16
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dpslusser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2007 at 09:58
Originally posted by Acenturian Acenturian wrote:

I would also recommend a good 4-12 or 4-16 powered scope for shooting out to 300 yards.   The 150 gr. bullet will give you a bit better trajectory at longer ranges.
 
Perhaps 400 yards with lots of practice or unless someone is an ex-military sniper.
 
500 yards ... get closer no matter what your using.  Sorry, at that range and maybe this is the bow hunter coming out but that is not hunting that is sniping.  Yes, they make some Whiz Bang Uber magnums that fly flatter then a laser beam and they will reach out there but part of hunting is learning to get close enough to make a good clean kill at acceptable ranges that does not result in injured animals getting away.
 
K nuff of my soap box.  I think the 710 is fine (Like the 700 better) .30/06 is a fine cartridge and has done the job and done it well for over a 100 years.  If its the scope it came with then I would definitly up-grade.
Depending on your price range I'd look at the Nikon Buckmaster, Nikon Monarch, Burris FullField, Burris Signature, Sightron SII or the Weaver GrandSlam.
 
 


I respect  your thoughts on getting closer. And that too is also how I think. But if you read my original post. The average yardage how I was set up, would of been around 200 yards. here were only 2-3 spots  were it would of been 300-500 yards. And if a monster buck showed it self in those areas (rumor had it there was one), I would love to have that sense of feeling, that I could take those yardages without second thought. I hardly ever hunt those ranges for deer. But other animals;smaller animals, such as fox, coyote, groundhog, even beer once in a while.
Back to Top
dpslusser View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper
Avatar

Joined: September/21/2007
Location: NorthEast, PA
Status: Offline
Points: 16
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dpslusser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/27/2007 at 10:07
Whats the best load to be shooting. I see here thats its a wash out between the 150 and 165. Ive always stuck with the 165gr. I use lighter loads for smaller game. Like 130's or something lke that. But im not talking about that. Im talking about bigger game. So...one guy suggested Hornady ammo.
Back to Top
8shots View Drop Down
Optics Jedi Knight
Optics Jedi Knight
Avatar
Lord Of The Flies

Joined: March/14/2007
Location: South Africa
Status: Offline
Points: 6253
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/29/2007 at 03:02
Originally posted by dpslusser dpslusser wrote:

Can somone exlain why you would drop back to a 150gr? Isn't it, the higher the grain, the faster, the harder, the less bullet drop at a lesser grain?

Why would i want to go to a smaller scope if I want to shoot at farther yardage? I want to be able to shoot at any size animal, down to a groundhog size.
 
It is actually the other way round. Gr is a measurement of weight, so the higher the grain the heavier the bullet is. The heavier an object is, the more difficult it is to throw it at a longer distance. So a light bullet, say 150 gr will travel faster and more horizontally then a heavy bullet, say a 180 gr. The flight path in relationship to the horisontal line is called the trajectory. The flatter the trajectory, the easier it becomes to hit a target at further distances, as you need not aim much above the target. however, before you rush out and buy the lightest bullet you can find, the trade off's. A light bullet is easily effected by wind. Most importantly it does not carry the kinetic energy for the "baseball effect". In other words heavier bullets has more off a knockdown effect and are less effeceted by cross-winds. So the trade off is a light bullet that travels fast and has a flat trajectory, or a heavy bullet that travels slower, has a high trajectory but good knockdown effect.
In this regard the 165 gr is good middle ground for a 30-06.
I would go for a scope of 3-10x40 or 50, unless you want to do target shooting, then a 14 or 20x can be handy.
Back to Top
Focus View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master
Avatar
Conquistador!!

Joined: June/05/2007
Location: Maine
Status: Offline
Points: 1006
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Focus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/29/2007 at 06:17
I believe you will find the 165 grain bullet to be the best bet for longer range in your caliber. 10X will be enough power for longer shots on deer and won't complicate your life with things like adjustable objectives. If you want a dual purpose rig for ground hogs and other varmints at longer range than the aforementioned 4x14 or 4x16 power will be better. Hornady inner locs, nosler ballistic tips and paritions, and sierra game kings are all good bullet choices. The new innerbonds and accubonds are great choices that do well close and way out there. Keep the rifle if it shoots good and upgrade the optics, spend some time really shooting at the longer distances and you will be more confidant and know where your shot is really going way out there. Shot my first deer in Potter co. Pa. nice country. You'll find the most important thing on those long shots is making use of anything around you for a good solid and steady rest. Good Hunting.....

   Focus
I Can See Clearly Now......<><

If Accurate rifles Are Interesting.....I've Got Some Savages That Are Getting Mighty Interesting......
Back to Top
dpslusser View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper
Avatar

Joined: September/21/2007
Location: NorthEast, PA
Status: Offline
Points: 16
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dpslusser Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November/29/2007 at 08:51
Wow guys, thanks for the help. I do use a Harris Bi-pod when ever I get the chance. That sure does make a difference. Thanks for the info about Bullet Gr. I guess I never really looked into. But it makes prefect sense now. I guess the main thing for me to do, is look into a new scope. 
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.383 seconds.