Long Range Rifle

Looking for suggestions, I have a 7x57 AI with Rem 700 action, 24 in Proof Research carbon fiber barrel, McMillan stock and Timney trigger. What would be needed to make a long range Rifle out of it? No modifications can or will done to the shooter!!!! What would you do to make it shoot out to 800 possibly 1000 yds?

Load a good bullet, put a good optic on it and do work.

Quitshooting? Which bullet, which optic? What about picatinny rail?

What twist rate is your barrel?

Good question but I don't have a clue. Called PR they told me how to check it but have not done it yet.

Good question but I don't have a clue. Called PR they told me how to check it but have not done it yet.

+1

In the event of a 1:9, load a 162 gr Hornady ELD

In the event of a 1:10, load a 150 gr Hornady ELD

If you have a good cleaning rod with bearing, mark it, push down the barrel till 1 rotation, mark it again. Measure the distance between marks. Other than that, as was already said, good optics, find a load and put it to work.

Anytime someone asks me about making their rifle into a long range rifle, I ask more questions. The main one being, are you setting it up for majority of your shots to be 600+ yards, or are you wanting a rifle set up for 300-400 yards and in that is capable of long range, 600+?

If you are wanting to set it up for most shooting done 300-400 yards and in, then I lean towards a lighter bullet with a good BC, like a 150 grain ELD-X or similar weight. Or, set it up for majority of 600 yards plus, for a heavy, high BC bullet to take advantage of less drop and less wind drift.

If your rifle twist rate allows it and in your particular caliber of 7x57 AI, I'd lean towards a 168 Berger VLD-H. You should be able to run a 168 grain about 2700-2750 fps, maybe a little faster. A 180 grain Berger would be a good high BC, but it will lose a little more velocity than I like and run about 2550 or 2650 fps. It's a little slow, IMO.

The big debate was always the 168 vs. the 180 grain. Do you run the 168 faster with slightly less BC vs. the 180 grain going slower but with a higher BC. At the speeds you are looking at, I'd lean towards a 168.

But, also run the estimated speeds with a 150 grain Hornady ELD-X, and see what you get. A 150 ELDX would be good medicine all around, too. It also depends on how much magazine room you have in the rifle. The 7x57 is a medium length round, meaning longer than a short action and shorter than a long action round. So, if you are running a short action, the magazine can also come into play.

Pick one, work up a good load, and go shoot a lot!

Chad, action is a Rem long action.

Questions are already answered. The rifle, itself, doesn't need anything.

My son shoots a 7x57 loaded with the 162 ELD-M at about 2650 fps. His barrel has a 1-9" twist. The rifle is a Interarms MK-X Mauser clone with a Shilen barrel cut to 22" with a Sandman TI. Last time he had it out he was slamming a full size IDPA steel at 1060 yards using a fixed 10X scope.

So basically all you need to do is make sure it has a scope on it that dials repeatably, load a bullet with a good BC that it shoots accurately, and start shooting.

Just checked the twist. Looks like it is a 1:10 so as Fireman said 150's it will be. Now if scope selection would be as simple!!!

What's your budget for the scope?

You can find a Gen 1 Vortex Viper PST, Mil-Mil FFP in either 4-16x50 or 6-24x50 for $500-700.
Gen 2 Viper 5-25 $800-1000
Burris XTR II 4-20 or 5-25 for $800-1000, maybe less
SWFA 5-20 for $700-1000 depending on model and age
SWFA 3-15 $400-600
Athlon has some models in those ranges too.

Skip the Gen I Viper, please.

On the Gen II Viper, keep a watchful eye on the turrets, lest ye dial some elevation and windage while the rifle is slung.

sub 1500 Bushnell DMR2 G3 3.5-21
over 1500 Nightforce ATACR F1 4-16

or Schmidt & Bender 5-25 DT P4f are going for about 2300 which there is NONE better

Just go get a Tangent Theta and be done with it. You only have one decision to make: 3-15 or 5-25.

Sounds like you have what you need. Spend the money on 500 rounds and some time at the range!