308Nut

Thank you all for your replies. I’m actually encouraged after reading these. I got my tag in the mail today. It’s been a LONG time coming. I grew up hunting coyotes, rabbits, dove, quail and deer in unit 21. I killed my first big game animal/mule deer on New River Mesa when I was 18. Bowhunted summer, fall and winter for years and prayed that someday AZGFD would offer a few December permits for mule deer after seeing so many great bucks during the winter season but never the October/November seasons. Now at 43, I have a tag that has my name, mule deer and December printed on it. While there are better hunts in AZ, the nostalgia of this just has a grip on me. Thanks again, M

Ive had good success regarding accuracy in some rifles and not others. Ive also had good luck with weight and dimension uniformity. Yes the BCs are inflated. In all reality theyre still respectable and any self respecting long range hunter would verify its BC out of their rifle anyway. I ran the 210 in my last 300 Win. Accuracy was often in the .2s and .3s. Sometimes .4-.5. I took a mature bull elk at 600 yards through both scapulae and the middle of his spine. I retrieved the bullet from the offside hide at 100 grains. I currently run the 142 in my 6.5-284 which is currently burned out. Its the only bullet I can shoot with any reasonable accuracy in what was a phenomenal shooting barrel. Itll only do .5.-7 but all other choices offer well over a MOA. I also have used the 168 in my 280AI with great accuracy. Consistent .3-.4 I havent taken game with the 142 but I have taken a caribou and moose with the 7mm 168. Both were pass throughs but the apparent performance was more than acceptable. I havent had much luck getting sub moa in my 308s with the 190 or 168. That said efforts there havent been extensive. All in all, its one of my favorite hunting bullets. I often get criticized by other long range shooters like Im somehow a traitor to the sport because I dont support their opinions about the ABLR or their favorite almighty bullets. Like I care. Down range is all I care about.

Anchorage

Looking to downsize and simplify. The 280 is on the list. Not interested in any trades. Please don't ask. Again, I am drying to downsize and simplify. Specs, Action: Rem 700LA right hand stainless Bolt: Sako style extractor, Badger knob Rail: Nightforce Picatinny style bedded to the action (it IS removable). Bedded NOT bonded. Trigger: Jewell trigger w/safety Bottom Metal: HS Detachable magazine assembly w/one magazine Barrel: Brux, Sendero contour, 9 twist 28" long, fluted, bead blasted Stock: HS Precision. I can't remember the model but its the same model as what is on the 700 5R Gen II rifles. Tan w/black spider web pattern. Shot count is 258. Excels with 162 AMAX's, ELDM's and the 168 ABLR's. Very accurate and consistent. She prefers a stiff dose of H4831SC. Does OK with the 175 variety but is exceptional with the 162-168. A solid sub 1/2MOA rifle if you do your part. .2-.35 is not uncommon. .4s are common place. .5 on a bad day. Extras, Brass: Nosler. 252 once fired. 245 new unfired Dies: Redding Type S Match bushing Bullets: 162 AMAX (600), 175 ELDX (90), 175 ABLR (390) I can sell the bare rifle for $1,500.00 Looking at over $3,900 worth of goods new. Asking $2,500 USD for everything listed. Buyer pays 50% standard shipping and 100% of insurance if you want it. Will ship to an FFL only. PayPal is acceptable if you cover any fees that are associated with the transaction. USPS money order is also acceptable. Personal checks are OK but won't ship until it clears.

Alaska

Thinning out the herd some more. Downsizing and simplifying. Honestly, I have one too many 308s and while I love this one, its a bit light for my taste so it is the one to go. Up for grabs is one Remington 700 XCR Compact Tactical. 20" barrel (sendero contour with 3 large flutes. Action and barrel are black TriNyte coated. Both are also stainless steel. The only modifications are: 1: Bolt handle is threaded for Badger knobs. 2: The stock has been upgraded to the HS Precision PSV 096 (Equal value as the HS Precision green stock installed from the factory). Extras: 1: Badger mini knob (threads are the same as the original badger knobs) 2: Extreme Hardcore Gear Picatinny rail w/integral bubble level. Bedded to the action. It IS removable. Bedded to the action NOT bonded to the action. Round count is very low. Just under 190 shots. I have only shot Federal Gold Medal Match, 155 TMK handloads and 178 ELDX handloads and a handful of 168VLD handloads. It has done excellent with all of them. The 178s have done the best and have done GREAT at the 1000 yard line. Best new price plus (internet) the handle threading, knob and rail would total $1,365.00 plus shipping and FFL fees. I'm letting it go for $1,000.00 USD. USPS Priority shipping to your FFL. If you need expedited shipping or insurance, please plan on covering those fees. It is in excellent shape. Stock is mint. Barrel is mint. Action is 99% blemish free. PayPal is OK if you cover any PP fees. USPS money order is OK. Personal checks are OK but the check will have to clear before it ships.

No.

Bump.

Up for sale. Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x50mm with Zero Stop. Reticle is MLR. Turrets are 0.1 MRAD. Love the scope but downsizing due to the bulk. Glass is perfect. A few minor blemished on the exterior body from normal use. Excludes the rings that are pictured. I do have the sunshade and is included. $1,500.00 USD. Includes shipping and insurance (USPS Priority). Anywhere in the USA. USA only. PayPal is OK if you cover the fees. USPS Money Order is OK. Personal check is OK but check will clear before it ships. Not interested in any trades unless it is a Leupold Mark 4 (4.5-14x40 Target) in new or close to new condition plus cash.

Bump.

Bump. $950.00

Are you accounting for barometric pressure? Temperature? If you're not factoring those (among other factors), then that is likely why you're high at 800. Out to 500, these matter much less. At 800, air density matters in a very large way. Hornady's BC values for their ELD line are incredibly accurate.

I've used many amaxs on a variety of game. I also have had great results on deer size game. I've had bad experiences with them on moose. I wouldn't trust them on elk either unless it was the 208. Even then, I'd try extra hard to keep it out of bone. With that, I don't know how much better the eldx will be. If you want an elk load, consider an accubond or similar?

RL-15, 4064 and 4895 are also great choices. I've had good results with the 178 eldx.

Nothing wrong with either but I prefer the 280AI. 280AI only has a little more recoil than the 6.5 and has much better barrel life and a bit more energy. It's hard to find a better balance than the 280 AI.

My 700 5R Gen II.

Those are sweet. Custom rifle accuracy for a fraction of the cost. I had one of those years ago and recently picked up the Gen II which have 3 wide flutes, are ceracoated, threaded barrel and the bolt has a target knobReplaced the trigger with a Calvin Elite and replaced the stock with a McMillan A3 woodland cammo. Both are super sweet. The Gen IIs are a lot of rifle for a stupid low price and you can get them in 260 rem, 308 (20" or 24") and 300 win. It's not that often you can get a rifle that nice that shoots that good for < 1200 bucks. Granted, it needs an aftermarket trigger but they're worthwhile investments on any rifle anyway.

Huh interesting!! I need to read up on that more. I was also told to use magnums primers instead of my 210m. My groups went from 1" to 2". Switch backed to 210m federals and it tighten back up. I don't know if it will work out for me in the long run. I've had my best success with 210m with H1000 in the 300 win myself. Warm or cold temps.

I've got 500 140 6.5mm AMAXs and 400 155 30 cal AMAXs. PM me if you're interested. I'll let them go for an attractive price. M

500: 6.5mm 140 VLD Hunting $210.00 TYD 500: 7mm 180 VLD Hunting $255.00 TYD 500: 30 cal 190 VLD hunting $240.00 TYD Also have a 500 count box of 190 SMKs. $165.00 TYD All are unopened.

Ttt

Due the small size of their vitals and the distances they often present themselves at, whichever one of my rifles is the most accurate. Fortunately I have several that are awesome. Flavor of the week I guess. With that, I've only taken one coues. I used a 308 win. My choice was because it was scary accurate to 900 yards and I knew the rifle and load intimately. My bullet of choice at that time was the 168 amax because of their rapid expansion and ability to expand at low velocities. Plus I had them screaming out of the 26" barrel. If I had to go today, I'd grab my 280AI simply because I've had more trigger time with it this fall than any others. It's also a solid performer. Using the 162 ELDM. After I dial my latest 308 in and validate it's load, I'll likely be inclined to take it in the future.

Amaxs do so great even at slower velocity. I really hope the ELD-m will react the same The only difference between the amax and ELDM is the tip materials are slightly different. They should react the same.

It appears that most of if not all of the serious long range guys here have steered clear of this thread. I've been watching it for a while. It is quite entertaining and there have been some very good points made. I think most of the guys that are really dedicated to the sport are hesitant to reply simply because we typically get nailed to the stake naked and lit on fire. With that in mind, I'll offer a few cents but will tread lightly. I agree that too many hunters have the "good to 1k" mentality when in reality, they have no business attempting a 1k yard shot in field conditions under pressure. The rifle may be capable and the ammo might also be capable but as we all know, the shooter is often the weak link. That said, it is not all about the shooter or all about the rifle or all about the ammo. All three have to be capable. It doesn't matter how accurate a shooter is if his rifle wont make a consistent hit and it doesn't matter how consistent the rifle will hit if the shooter cant squeeze off a consistent shot. To further exacerbate the problem, will the bullet expand at reduced velocities found at long range? A little about the shooter. I know first hand how practice or a lack of practice plays into accurate, consistent shots. There was about two years there where shooting for me was minimal. Then this year I was frustrated that I couldn't hit as well as I liked whether it was 300 yards or 800 yards and beyond. This was very frustrating having been used to making good hits past 1/2 mile on a very consistent basis. After really analyzing the situation, it became clear that not having had consistent time behind the trigger for a couple of years really lent to me not being consistent. It felt like I should be shooting great but the other end of the range does not lie. After thousands of dry fires at the kitchen table and just under 1000 rounds of live fire so far this year, I am shooting as well as ever both from the bench and prone of the bi-pod. My hunting bipod too not just my FTR bipod. I spent a lot of time this year at the 1000 range shooting between 100-1007 yards both from the bench and prone. I also shot a couple of our 600 yard rifle matches. Also I spent time away from the organized range and shot in the field out to 750 yards. By the time hunting season came along I felt confident that anything between 0 and 800 yards was dead but it took time, money and dedication to get there. Now the caveat to this is of course if the conditions are right. Just because I felt reasonably comfortable at a grand and deadly at 800 didn't mean I would have taken any shot. Often times, good clean shots taken in good conditions happen. Sometimes good conditions happen and sometimes they don't. They key here is know your limitations not only in distance and equipment, but the conditions you're in. There have been times I have passed on 550 yard shots when I normally feel deadly at well beyond that because the wind wasn't right or the position and rest wasn't right or a combination of things. Sometimes I can live with a less than perfect rest if the lighting is good and the wind is calm. Or if the wind is a little out of my comfort zone but the range isn't bad and my rest and form is solid, I can live with that but when more than one thing is less than desirable, its best to pass. At least in my opinion. Fortunately this year, both of my kills (one moose and one caribou) were under 400 yards. One at 290 and another at 380. Both were in less than ideal conditions but having spent so much time behind the trigger this year were one shot kills. Neither allowed me to get prone and use the bipod. Both forced me to use an improvised field rests but were solid enough to keep the crosshairs on a killable spot. Bottom line. It takes good equipment, good ammo and good shot execution to make this work reliably and consistently. Then it also takes the right conditions. You might even hear me say "good to 1000". But I also know that this statement does have limitations with terms, conditions and exclusions. I am hoping that most hunters saying "good to 1000" understand those same terms and conditions. I also understand that there are those even more dedicated than I am in this sport and far be it for me to judge him or her for taking any given shot. Besides, we all have to stick together. Arguing about ethics within our own community is more destructive than anything the anti hunters and animal rights activists can stir up. The worst thing that can happen is for us to be executed with our own weapons. Regards, M

Going with the straight 284 Win (if you're stuck on the 284 case), your barrel life will increase dramatically. Offers more guilt free practice. Practice is key for hitting coues size targets at 700 yards plus. Windage and energy numbers are even better than the 6.5-284 and the recoils is still very manageable. Don't get me wrong, the 6.5 version is an excellent cartridge but it's hard to watch the life drain out of a $750 barrel job on a screaming accurate barrel. There are better options IMHO. If you're stuck on it, go for it. It has great qualities.