Purpose built practice rifle

[3006Sprng]

I currently have the idea that I need a purpose built rifle to practice long range shooting. Hunting weight barrels heat up fast making it take along time to get a ton of rounds on a target at distance while still being smart about heating up the barrel.

I am not interested in PRS builds or competing, but I did have the idea of just throwing together a cheap heavy barrel predator rifle with a bipod. Was thinking a Ruger American Predator in .308 since I already load for it, bipod, and a decent scope with an exposed turret. And yes, I know the barrel on a varmint rifle like that is no where near as durable as a custom job, but at least it wouldn’t be my go to rifle for hunting.

Is there any value in doing this for long range practice purposes, or should I just practice with the rifles I have. Let me know if my rational is off on this one.

Thanks.

 

[BAKPAKR]

What yardages are you talking about?

 

[3006Sprng]

500+
I have enough access to public land I can set up steel at whatever distance I would like.

 

[Potsie]

Point could be made a .223 practice rifle that’s the same set up as your hunting rifle provides a ton of practice opportunity.

Long range shooting is all about making a wind call. Practicing that isn’t caliber specific - what you dial/hold off the wind call is.

So get good at ringing steel at 400 with a .223 as your main practice rifle, and burn a couple rounds through your hunting rifle each trip.

 

[3006Sprng]

Point could be made a .223 practice rifle that’s the same set up as your hunting rifle provides a ton of practice opportunity.

Long range shooting is all about making a wind call. Practicing that isn’t caliber specific - what you dial/hold off the wind call is.

So get good at ringing steel at 400 with a .223 as your main practice rifle, and burn a couple rounds through your hunting rifle each trip.

I did consider a .223. The only reason I figured 308 is I already re-load for that caliber for one of my hunting rifles and figured it would be cheap to keep using those components. I know off the shelf .223 is cheap.

Is there any merit to using 308 as the recoil level would be similar to my hunting rigs?

 

[BAKPAKR]

500+
I have enough access to public land I can set up steel at whatever distance I would like.

Like @BackofBeyond suggested, a fast twist 223 with 73-77 gr bullets would be great for practice to 500 yards or a bit farther.

 

[np307]

I did consider a .223. The only reason I figured 308 is I already re-load for that caliber for one of my hunting rifles and figured it would be cheap to keep using those components. I know off the shelf .223 is cheap.

Is there any merit to using 308 as the recoil level would be similar to my hunting rigs?

Keeping recoil level consistent is a mistake in my opinion. You'll fatigue a lot quicker shooting .308 for a day than .223. You can do it, obviously, but I started noticing my groups opening up around the 75 round mark with my '06. I could usually switch over to a .22 and reset myself for another box or 2, but when I got my .223 bolt gun I can pretty much shoot it the whole day without getting recoil fatigue.

 

[std7mag]

I shot a 600 yard F-Open match with my hunting rifle. Sporter barrel 7mm-08AI.
After the 40ish round, I was ready to get out from behind that rifle!
Still had another 20 rounds to shoot.

I've done 60 rounds with my wife's heavy barrel 223 Rem, with no problem.

Add 60gr Partitions to the mix to and you have a deer rifle.

 

[Salmonchaser]

A full day with a 308 can start to get old. I generally take my .22-250, shoot it a bunch and then shoot bigger stuff between sessions. If you’re consistently banging steel, from sitting or kneeling, with your 223 or 22-250 at 3 or 400 and you’re not able to do so with a larger caliber it’s time to evaluate your training methods and your choice of weapons. Bipods or sticks can mask a lot of bad habits but from sitting or kneeling those bad habits will start to show up at middle distances.

 

[3006Sprng]

I shot a 600 yard F-Open match with my hunting rifle. Sporter barrel 7mm-08AI.
After the 40ish round, I was ready to get out from behind that rifle!
Still had another 20 rounds to shoot.

I've done 60 rounds with my wife's heavy barrel 223 Rem, with no problem.

Add 60gr Partitions to the mix to and you have a deer rifle.

I’m in Canada so .243 minimum for big game, but still I can use .223 for coyotes. I would have to figure out the most cost effective path for ammo for the 223 since I don’t currently reload for it.

 

[3006Sprng]

A full day with a 308 can start to get old. I generally take my .22-250, shoot it a bunch and then shoot bigger stuff between sessions. If you’re consistently banging steel, from sitting or kneeling, with your 223 or 22-250 at 3 or 400 and you’re not able to do so with a larger caliber it’s time to evaluate your training methods and your choice of weapons. Bipods or sticks can mask a lot of bad habits but from sitting or kneeling those bad habits will start to show up at middle distances.

Good point, I understand the wear and tear on oneself from larger calibers during load development sessions. I guess I’ll start looking at .223s as well lol.

 

[Potsie]

Good point, I understand the wear and tear on oneself from larger calibers during load development sessions. I guess I’ll start looking at .223s as well lol.

Get yourself some dies, and buy some inexpensive off the shelf ammo. Use that to build brass and get yourself set up to reload.

I don’t think you’ll regret it.

 

[mtmuley]

A bunch of shooting behind a .222 Remington hasn't made me worse behind a rifle. mtmuley

 

[3006Sprng]

Get yourself some dies, and buy some inexpensive off the shelf ammo. Use that to build brass and get yourself set up to reload.

I don’t think you’ll regret it.

Yeah that’s a good point, that’s actually how I got into reloading was keeping all my old factory brass. Thanks.

 

[Sheltowee]

Point could be made a .223 practice rifle that’s the same set up as your hunting rifle provides a ton of practice opportunity.

Long range shooting is all about making a wind call. Practicing that isn’t caliber specific - what you dial/hold off the wind call is.

So get good at ringing steel at 400 with a .223 as your main practice rifle, and burn a couple rounds through your hunting rifle each trip.

This is the way.

Very seriously considering this with a Tikka but curious as to whether a factory-spec .223 chamber will tolerate 73gr. ELD-Ms or 77gr. SMKs. Anyone know?

 

[Potsie]

This is the way.

Very seriously considering this with a Tikka but curious as to whether a factory-spec .223 chamber will tolerate 73gr. ELD-Ms or 77gr. SMKs. Anyone know?

My tikka compact .223 handles 77 gr TMK just fine. Load them over ~ 24-ish grains of Benchmark (do your own development of course) and you’re off and running.

 

[kodiakisland]

For practice I’d go either fast twist .223 or fast twist small case 6mm. Recoil and barrel life are important if you really use it.

 

[Gravelyctry]

This is the way.

Very seriously considering this with a Tikka but curious as to whether a factory-spec .223 chamber will tolerate 73gr. ELD-Ms or 77gr. SMKs. Anyone know?

77 SMKs can be loaded to magazine length. That’s one of the reasons it’s a popular bullet for NRA ‘across the course’ matches, and are shot at 200, 300, and 600 yards.

On a side note, those matches used to be shot with iron sights (now with lowly 4x scopes) on service rifles. Good shooters could hold some ridiculous groups with those sight limitations.

 

[3006Sprng]

Varmint/heavy barrel mandatory for 223? Spotter barrel going to get too hot too fast?

 

[Potsie]

Heavy barrels do take longer to heat up, but they also stay hot longer once they get there.

You’re a horse a piece either way.