Long range rifles

Mv is common for muzzle velocity. I’m NOT talking about whats on the box.

Eh. It could but…and it wouldn’t hurt to try if you already have an adjustable gas block but all it will do is effect the cycle of the bolt. The issue is high pressure in the chamber. It has nothing to do with gas impingement.

If you’re insistent on wanting to mess with the gas on your rifle, you can try adjusting the bolt so it has less dwell time and see how that goes. But this is a common issue, and IMO a smaller diameter firing pin hole will be your primary fix.

 

Dipped my toes into longer range earlier this year running my AR 5.56 out at 500.
Then I dove headfirst into it and picked up a Tikka tac a1 in 6.5 creedmoor. Athlon Ares ETR 4.5x30 atlas bipod and mountain tactical rear bag slider(not mounted in pic)


Got a new load zeroed and 200/300/500 dope last weekend. Get to stretch it out to 1080 yards next weekend which I'm pumped for.

 

Nice setup. Not to burst your bubble but the average Marine qualifies with a m4/m16 to 500m. It’s not long range.

But, this isn’t to talk shit. Actually, just a friendly warning, at about 600y is generally when long range starts because this is the point of most centerfire cartridges on average where the environment starts to effect the trajectory in some absolute ways.

So, expect some hiccups on your 1000y range day. Depending how you’re dope was collected and how you implement your ballistic solving, you COULD face a few issues, specifically with a .223.

1) Will be a severe BC degradation.
2) You’ll be somewhere around Subsonic at that distance. How your bullet comes out of Transonic will be dependent on the type of bullet profile you are using and the remaining velocity.
3) If shooting steel, bullet splash is hard to see. If you have a spotter with a spotting scope, don’t be surprise if they call no impact, no idea.

 

Anyone have issues with Kestrel Link ballistic data before? I have Strelok, Hornady and Link ballistics on my phone and using the exact same rifle and load data, the link software shows an extra .4 mil drop on my 77gr SMK at 250 yards. Hornady and Strelok are within a penny of each other.

Looks like my Kestrel 2700 pressure unit is going bad as well. Shows 25.56 inHG when the local airport shows 30.17 inHG so unless I'm facing an end of world hurricane right now, I'd say that's prob not accurate.

 

What is your verified dope?


You’ll have to post up screen shots of your data on link. It’s just easier to sort out that way. I’ve only got the elite so I don’t know what link doesn’t come with. I don’t want to be telling you something like switch to a custom drag and it not even be an option.

 

Oh I forgot.
Did you just get the kestrel? The airport should be not important unless you live right on the airport as it measures where you are immediately. That said, make sure you’re reference baro and reference altitude are correct.

I’m not saying you’re wrong, but if for whatever reason your reference is off, it would build in the error that is similar to what you’re saying..

 

New rifle (or new combo of parts that is) so actual rifle dope is basically just zero data. Perhaps I was getting ahead of myself, and def needs to be tested in reality to see what is "true" but it just seemed strange to me that strelok and 4dof can be quite close (.1 mil) and Link is substantially different (.4-.6 more adj across ranges vs other two). I'll have to go stretch its legs once i get a free moment.

My 2700 doesnt have reference altitude/baro, but today playing with Hornady 4DOF, the baro drops to the same ballpark once I enter in the altitude. I guess the kestrel is showing nominal baro and my thinking was in airport baro that I now recall is adjusted to sea level. (Just a few miles from KSLC) That explains my ridiculous margin of error on that input.

 

I haven't had any issues with my setup as of yet (same setup)

 

I need some knowledge from y'all....
I'm making a rifle for my wife's elk hunt which is a 30-06 Ruger M77, topped with a Maven RS.3 scope. Rounds for this hunt are Nosler Accubond Trophy Grade. Based on this I get the following charts
My understanding to create a dope chart is two multiply the drop in MOA by 4 to result in how many clicks up. For example 150 would be two clicks, since 0.4x4 =1.6, so nearest whole would be 2.
Is this the right thinking?

 

For your example, yes, dial 2 clicks up then hold on or just under since you rounded up. Realistically, I don't know anyone that can hold the difference accurately under field conditions, so just stick with 2 for hunting ranges.

That said, your math obviously only works if your scope is 1/4 MOA per click. For example, some of my optics are half MOA so I'd have to do a different set of math to get your same result.

Really though, I wouldn't start dialing until WAY out there. Just know your drops and hold high. I can think of one total instance in my hunting career that I would have had time to dial a solution vs hold over and send it.

 

Sounds good! Yeah my scope is 1/4 MOA and I thought it would be easier for her to click up and hold center, but in the heat of the moment we'll see what happens haha! Thanks again!!

 

Biggest part of dialing for shots in UNDIALING back to zero at the end of the shot.

Seen many a match stage ruined by leaving the dope from the prior stage still cranked. It's worse when hunting because a bad dial has consequences and could turn a clean shot into a gutpunch or sending one over the back.

 

Good point, we're going to the range today so I'll throw in a various of ranges to practice dialing up and down. The Maven system is pretty tops to lock the zero stop too.

 

A second opinion, don’t go by clicks. Just go by what it is. .25 moa is a .25 moa. 7.2 moa is 7.2 moa. If you get a weird solution like 4.38 moa, do 4.25 moa and split the difference in the reticle.

If you’re in such a rush that you can’t take a second and dial, then after you pull your rifle from your truck, dial 200y and use max PBR.
Having a zero stop helps keep you from getting lost in your revs, however, if it’s not a well tested reputable brand know for quality tracking, I’d run a talk target test. If we are worried about splitting moa…


Verify all data. These calculators are highly dependent on correct information. The saying goes: garbage in, garbage out.

 

Sound advice, I appreciate it!

 

many will go with max knock down power

few with accuracy

308s adequate all around

338 lapua or 416 barrett will out perform any 50 cal

varmint hunting ( prairie dogs ) a good 243 / 270 will get it done

 

New personal longest for me 2nd round hit @ 1375 with multiple repeat follow ups. With the data from last trip here I was able to land multiple first round hits at 800-1000 shooting from a different platform so slightly different yardages. I was also testing the bdc accuracy on my AR15 lpvo and got 2nd rd 5.56 hit at 880

 

My 2 rifles for reaching out there more. a 308WIN for F-TR and a 6.5x47 for tagging deer. Neither have seen much use in the last few years. Took them out today to reestablish 100 yard zeros since I couldn't remember if I had reset them the last time I shot

 

Out to 600 for the first time in like 6 years. nice to be out shooting again and didn't do too horrible