300 yard or longer shots are mammoth shots

[Buckwheat]

Now that summer is here, shooting is a fun thing to do. Not only will it get you ready for the shots needed this fall it can make you a better shooter. I find that after 200 yards things get harder to hit quickly.   I find my self checking wind after 200 yards on ground hogs and making adjustments from loading programs for adjustments.  I have taken ground hogs out to just over 700 yards but find 500 yards is my real max distance with the guns and scopes I have.  In order for me to shoot farther I need a better gun and better bullets then I currently shoot.  But since I am a fox hunter and most of my shots are under 300 yards I may never get the 1000 yard gun I would like to have for ground hogs. But ya never know!

How many hunters can make a 300 yard shot on a ground hog.  I see the targets people shoot at my gun club and most of targets I see will never get a 300 yard ground hog. I do know we have some shooters in this club that can do the 300 yard shots and thought a summer shooting discussion section on the board could be started.
Anybody interested?  We have ventrillo to talk on if needed. 

[Buckwheat]

Here is a interesting read on MOA,  good starting point.
http://www.shootingillustrated.com/index.php/6227/mil-moa-or-inches/

[bigben]

My gun with a 50 gr v max handload typically shoots one hole 5 shot groups. Some days are better then others.
Here are two three shot groups off a bench


I have a .243 i thought i figured out but something still isnt right.  No matter what i do i couldnt best 2.0 at 100 yds. I took the gun to a smith he looked at the bore and throat and the only suggestion was free float the barrel more.  I put the original scope back on and need to find time to get out and shoot. Since i put the one scope on i have never had good groups and the adjustments are not accurate. If i move 4" on the dial the poi would move 8" downrange i pulled the .223 out and shot a 3 shot group to check my zero and put three shots touching at 100

My tikka has allways been the most accurate gun i own. Getting this .243 running has been a nightmare with two different powders and over 300 bullets i will be upset if it was the one scope i put on it but will be relieved in a way
 If it was the scope its going on a trip back to leupold.

[Buckwheat]

Bigben
Getting that gun to shoot good my never happen at this rate with out having a sound starting point, 300 rounds is a lot.  But the scope already has a problem from what you said. If the point of in pack point is twice what you adjust the clicks for. Are you sure it is not a 1/2 per click and not 1/4 per click scope. You may have to put that scope on your gun that shoots good to find out if it is the scope just to solve one problem. I know you do not want to do that but it is a strating point.

[bigben]

Thats what i did.  I stuck the first scope on. The second scope is a leupold rifleman which isnt high end but still clear. The dial is 12 moa at 100 yds per revolution. I turned the dial 4 moa down and the poi moved 8". Remember we had problems zeroing the day i was down?  The scope is used so its hard to say whats wrong with it. There could be nothing wrong with it in reality. I just havent had time to get to the range since i put the original scope back on.

[longhair]

I found that a "trigger job" helped me alot.  Brought it down to 1.5 lbs and the accuracy improved dramatically at long distances.

[Buckwheat]

Longhair
Yep, good triggers help close groups. But hunting guns should not go to light.  My one trigger job cost me a deer. I like the trigger shooting off a rest but free hand it is just to light.

[bigben]

This gun has a good trigger on it now. I stuck a timney sportsmen on it and adjusted it low. My tikka has a sweet trigger from the factory.

[foxtrot]

A friend of mine just got a heavy barrel Tikka and I must say I am impressed.Three shot group at 100 yds,nickel size with no tinkering.What calibers do you think are effective at 200 yards or more for fox and coyote.

[longhair]

Yep, a good solid rest is a must for the long distance shooters.

[Buckwheat]

Foxtrot
That is a big question not so simply answered.  All centerfire rifles will kill bothcritters at 200 yards. What is the best for a quick clean kill is simple. Any rifle that hits with over 400 foot pounds at 200 yards. But fur damage comes into play. What are you looking for is inportant in picking a rifle. But picking a rifle for some one else is like picking a pet dog for some one else. A little hard to do. So if you give us more information on your average shot distance I am sure there will be sone suggestions.

[bigben]

Its hard to beat the .223

[foxtrot]

150 -200 yard shots.little to no wind.I know a lot of guys use the 17 fireball but the 17 Remington seems to be flatter shooting.I know the 223 is always an option but I feel it has to much energy for fox but that's just my thoughts.A longer shot might be attempted if I felt confident in what I was shooting.

[bigben]

I thought you were looking for both coyote and fox. If you pick your shots and stick with heavier sp bullets the .223 isnt bad

Did you get my pm foxtrot?

[Buckwheat]

Foxtrot
What are you shooting now?