Project - 1 mile for $1000?

[sigstroker]

From the youtube channel that brought you 1000 yards for $500, which ended up being more like $700 because the original scope was crap. That project started with a Savage Axis, so the finished project was still kind of crappy, even though it was shootable at 1000. This project starts with much better components, like a 26 inch heavy barrel, and the varmint version of the Accutrigger that's 2 pounds out of the box. The finished project should be much more usable than the Axis.

I have two of these Savages, one in 6.5, one in .308, so I will be following the project with great interest.

[Switchbarrel]

1 Mile shooting

My thoughts after watching:

If you/he is including optics in that $1000 budget, that video is a lot misleading. Can it be done, sure with the rifle in it's original configuration (ie, factory stock & bottom metal). That 3-15x scope he mentions
is like $700 by itself isn't it? Add another $200+ for the stock & then more for the bottom metal on top of that. If he sticks with the 12x scope at $300 then that's more realistic. It isn't 'til the end of the video
he tells you that most of that stuff was donated by manufacturer's or sellers.

Rude awakening #1, Unless you're shooting at a plywood sized target...I've shot 1800 yards with my buddies Nightforce SHV 4-14x and the target looks REALLY TINY at that distance at 14x.
The evening conditions were really good so I had been using my Nightforce Competition set around 40x. 20~30x is probably more common.

I don't shoot a Creedmoor, but looking around, it seems like velocities with the 140 gr. bullet class vary from low 2700's to high 2800's. Does that seem about right?

Rude awakening #2. Giving him the benefit of the handloading doubt, using a Berger 140 VLD or the Hornady 147 ELD-M, guessing 2830 & 2800 respectively, he'll need about 75 +/- MOA of elevation.
The 12x scope he mentions has 100 MOA total, add in the 20 MOA base and in a perfect world, he has 70ish MOA to come up (not using any reticle hold-overs). I'd be willing to bet a dollar
he won't make it with the slower factory loads he intends to test. Most likely won't make it with the handloads either. Maybe he will, who knows.
I'm talking about his set-up here, not whether or not the cartridge will make it.
I know it will. Hit percentage is another story altogether as well though.

He has a much better chance/should be making it with the 3-15x scope with 140 MOA adjustment. But that blows the $1K budget out of the water. Personally, I would get a base with more
built in MOA (30 or 40 vs. 20 MOA) or use the Burris XTR Signature Zee rings. With the offset inserts, use them to gain up to another 40 MOA elevation for the scope.
Better to keep it optically centered anyway.

Always fun to connect with your target at 1 mile though. I'm sure Lynn or some of the other URSA guys can shed more, better light on the subject.


-Rick

Where I'm coming from:

My "budget" one mile set up consisted of buying a Magnum bolt for my BAT action ($700). Having a low mileage 7mm barrel I had rechambered to
28 Nosler and adding a muzzle brake to it (about $500 in all). Muzzle brakes for 1.750" barrels don't grow on trees. Using the aforementioned Nightforce Competition I had collecting dust
on a shelf & mounting it in the Burris Signature Zee rings (also had on hand). I just play at the one fixed distance, so I don't need an adjustable base/mount
for multiple extreme distances. My buddies shoot .338's, I didn't want the add'l expense to go that route which is why I chose the 28 Nosler shooting 195 Bergers at ~3180 fps.

[sigstroker]

He says right in the video that he's going to start with the fixed SWFA 12x, a $300 scope. From other reports, the fixed SWFA has a big adjustment range, like around 120-130 moa. Obviously that will be the $1000 version of the project. Velocities, I don't know. That Savage comes with a 26 inch barrel.

From his other videos, he has shot a mile with a 6.5 CM before. He's got a good idea of how much vertical he needs.

[MongooseV8]

Yeah I think the 12x42 has 43 mil total elevation, plus the reticle.

[audiophil2]

I did 1 mile with my rap over a year ago. My 12 yr old got close. He was hitting around our 18 inch gong so I would say he was around 2-3 moa which is about what that massive plate is in the video. I cherry pick my wind. Only sub 10mph. Otherwise under $900 into the build including rifle, optic, rings, canted mount, bipod, jbweld for stock. Factory Hornady ammo.

1 mile at 14x is not that bad. I was shooting 1250 with 10x and with my cheap scope i was at maybe 18x at 1 mile.

[sigstroker]

He's got a big plate to shoot at, something like 30x40 inches. I think he got it because his earlier try at a mile showed how hard it was to spot misses, and even hits. Basically they were launching bullets and then waiting till later to find out if they had any hits. He said his plan down the road was to place a spotter downrange with a walkie. With a big plate you can always paint a smaller "bullseye" on it, and at least can tell where near misses are going.

[newbutold]

Nice project.

[LynnJr]

The Savage 338 Lapua for $900 works well at a mile but it doesn't come with a scope rings or base.
As SwitchBarrel has pointed out the Burris signature Zee rings are the way to go for the price.
Spotting your misses is the key to success. If your shooting in sand and can easily spot the misses making corrections is a lot easier.
If you can't see the bullet splash it is extremely frustrating and you will put a lot of shots downrange.
The cheapest solution is the T1000 target spotter that flashes when you hit the gong.
We have a few shooters using the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge at 2054 yards and spotting the misses is the biggest obstacle they face.

[sigstroker]

Yeah, but that would make it pretty hard to come in under budget. A $100 scope will make it pretty hard to make hits at a mile with any cartridge.

His point with these projects is so that other shooters can replicate part, or all, of the project with their rifles. His target audience can't afford the ammo, much less a .338 Lapua rifle. He's got some quality gear, like a Bushnell XRS II scope as well, but most of his videos are aimed at budget conscious shooters.

The cheapest solution is the T1000 target spotter that flashes when you hit the gong.

Not as cheap as putting a spotter downrange with a walkie.

[kevins750]

I enjoy his (social regressive) videos and I do believe they are geared towards "budget builds" which is probably a big market....if he can get to a mile with any kind of regularity on hits, I think he served his viewers well.

BTW---if he gets numerous hits at 1 mile with a "budget build" I will certainly be jealous.

[Relativist]

Yeah, but that would make it pretty hard to come in under budget. A $100 scope will make it pretty hard to make hits at a mile with any cartridge.

His point with these projects is so that other shooters can replicate part, or all, of the project with their rifles. His target audience can't afford the ammo, much less a .338 Lapua rifle. He's got some quality gear, like a Bushnell XRS II scope as well, but most of his videos are aimed at budget conscious shooters.



Not as cheap as putting a spotter downrange with a walkie.

[audiophil2]

I had no problem with my $370 athlon argos btr. A cheaper fixed power 15x could do it. The weak link is the round itself. By 1300 yards it gets wiggly as it goes transonic and gets pushed by the wind. Blurry cheap glass still works. Bad mechanics in cheap glass wont work well at any distance.

[sigstroker]

Watch the video. He talks about 3 or 4 different ones.

[audiophil2]

i would like to build that cabelas gun up if i could get it for $250-350. i would just get a scope, rings, mount, and bipod at first. I just wish it had a threaded barrel but 6.5 is not really bothersome.

[sigstroker]

I got my two last year when Cabela's ran a $100 discount off the $419 normal price. They seem to run that once or twice a year. I also got a Savage promo of $100, for a total of $219 plus tax. Just have to keep your eyes open.

That stock didn't seem too bad at all, but it has a blind magazine, which is kind of a pain. Especially because I think the magazine is single feed position. Need some nimble fingers to load it. Or just say eff it and shoot it single shot.