The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: pequin06 on November 05, 2009, 11:19:52 AM
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Howdy folks,
I've been lurking around for a month now and figure I would join.
Enjoy the videos, the podcasts and the forum.
Now that question in the subject,
What is considered short range, medium range, and long range when it comes to shooting rifles?
???
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Personally, I would consider under 200 yards to be "close range" 200 - 400 medium range and over 400 as long range.
I guarantee others will disagree with me ;D
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I'd say that's about right, Tom.
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Agreement ? :o
;D
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Agree...
mb
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Agreement ? :o
;D
Don't let it go to yer head there, fella! ;)
;D
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I'm in agreement
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I'm sorry I must have wandered into the wrong forum? Can someone redirect me to Down Range TV? ;D
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I'm sorry I must have wandered into the wrong forum? Can someone redirect me to Down Range TV? ;D
I know what you mean, every one is agreeing with me, It's like something out of the "Twilight Zone". ;D
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I know what you mean, every one is agreeing with me, It's like something out of the "Twilight Zone". ;D
Now I can't get this stinking song out of my head!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_wFEB4Oxlo
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Agreement ? :o
;D
Well, we can't have that now can we? What would happen to the ratings? Seriously, the question isn't what is long, short or medium with a rifle. The question is what type of rifle, how is it set up and what are you planning to shoot with it? Until we know that we're just being, well, you know, Tom. ;D
FQ13
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Depends on caliber ;D
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I would say when some one says 'rifle' MOST people think .270, 308, 30-06, 300, etc., not 30-30 or other traditional lever guns (yes, I know you can get 308 and 30-06 in a lever but that is not what MOST people think of in lever guns), or pistol cal carbines or such.
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I would say when some one says 'rifle' MOST people think .270, 308, 30-06, 300, etc., not 30-30 or other traditional lever guns (yes, I know you can get 308 and 30-06 in a lever but that is not what MOST people think of in lever guns), or pistol cal carbines or such.
True, if we were Fudds. ;D Seriously, are we talking a .22 for squirels, an AK hitting pie plates at 150 yards or an AR doing the same at 300? Or are we talking about doing violence to bambi with a 30-06 or the afore mentioned 30-30? What about playing whack a mole with praire dogs with the latest Acme Whackinator in whatever caliber is cool this month? Then there is the question of a battle rifle. Most importantly, what are the conditions? Close range at the range, in the woods, and when someone is shooting back are three different animals. Me, if I actually have to stay on topic >:(,, I would call under 100 yards close under deer hunting conditions, 100-250 medium but reasonable, and choose to get closer beyond that. But that is just hunting with a .270 with nice glass. If I were forced to take a shot at a man sized target at say 400 yards with that weapon and could sit down for the shot, it would come down to a question of who God loved best, but I would get his undivded attention. Still some one who knows what they are doing with a well equipped .308 would consider it an ice cream shot at twice that range.
FQ13
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Alright if you want to go that route. I still agree with Tom for the distances. We are simply talking about what is commonly seen as short, medium and long range. Once you start throwing rifles into the mix that's when it all goes fuzzy. For instance, My ideas for range are such 0-300=short range 300-600=medium 600 + =long range. But you must also take into account that where I live we have wide open spaces and a shot on an antelope at 400yds is not considered to be all that spectacular. Obviously no one rifle is going to meet all your needs. Personally I have 2 rifles that meet all my needs out to about 500yds. After that I switch to the big boys. .308 SR-25, for out to 1000, and if I REALLY need to make it a mile I pull out the .338 Lapua Mag. But that doesn't mean that my perception of what constitutes short, medium, or long range has changed. It just means that I have a different tool for the job.
So now that we have you thoroughly confused, what was your question? ::)
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The distances stay the same, the difference is what is a given caliber appropriate for.
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Now I can't get this stinking song out of my head!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_wFEB4Oxlo
BTW Rat, thanks a lot a$$hole! Now I can't get that stupid song out of my head! ;D
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The distances stay the same, the difference is what is a given caliber appropriate for.
I don't know Tom, sometimes if it's all you got, you gotta make due..... ;D ;D ;D
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Alright if you want to go that route.
Not trying to be difficult, just choosing the right tool for the job. Question #1 is what is the job? Then we go from there.
FQ13
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Good one LOL
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Ok ... who the hell are you guys, and what have you done with the real Haz, Tom and MB ???
Thank God FQ chimed in and I knew that the entire forum wasn't screwed up ;)
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Hey! things got pretty heated yesterday so we're being nice. Don't worry, I'm sure it won't last long. ;)
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It seems I worded my question correctly ;D
But I'll give more details. I have a SX-AR and I would like to get a new scope on it. I didn't want to choose a scope that is good for 1000 yards if not needed, but I didn't want to get a 4x scope either for something at 100yards.
I currently have a Leupold Vari-X III scope on it (14x) and it's perfect for my SX-AR but I'm a fan of the Nikons.
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It seems I worded my question correctly ;D
But I'll give more details. I have a SX-AR and I would like to get a new scope on it. I didn't want to choose a scope that is good for 1000 yards if not needed, but I didn't want to get a 4x scope either for something at 100yards.
I currently have a Leupold Vari-X III scope on it (14x) and it's perfect for my SX-AR but I'm a fan of the Nikons.
I think I can safely say that a 1000 yard scope is probably unneccesary on an AR. ;D However, the question is, what do you want to do with it? Me, I set up my M-forgery as a carbine with an Eotech and basically consider it to be a sub, to just over, 200 yard gun for SHTF. On the other hand, an H-bar with nice glass and you're good for two to three times that, if you are lucky enough to have a long range locally or are hunting coyotes. With my AR, short range is across the living room, medium range is across the street and long range is down the block. But that's what I bought it for and how I have it set up and sighted in. You can do pretty much anything you want with the platform. I would though consider anything beyond 500yards to be pushing it if you are shooting at anything bigger than a prarie dog.
FQ13
PS Take a look at the B@L, now Bushnell, Elite series. My B@L Elite, now the Bushnell 3200 3X9 is the brightest and most fog resistent scope I have ever used and could afford. They make tactical models in higher magnification with mil dots as well. They sell for about the same as Nikon and a little cheaper than Leuopold. I've used all three and like the B@L better. That's just my opinion though, and you won't go wrong with any of them. I'd also look at the Burris one piece removable mount for rails. It seems solid, practical and reasonably priced.
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I like what I have read about the Nikon Monarch series, except the price. :o
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I would say beyond 300 is long range because that's almost as far as I ever shot. I guess that leaves 100-300 as medium and 100 as close. Someone had to disagree. ;D
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Personally, I would consider under 200 yards to be "close range" 200 - 400 medium range and over 400 as long range.
I guarantee others will disagree with me ;D
I'd say most everything I've ever seen in print matches those numbers... +1 more ;D
As far as the scope, I'd say it depends entirely on your application. Not just the range your applying it to (paper, ground squirrels, poodles, zombies?). I'd want to say Nikon has a fixed 6X scope that may be a good "general application" choice. :-\
Those poodles run fast! Paper targets & Zombies... Not so much.
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Big thing is caliber and application.
a 22-250 hitting prairie dogs at 250 yds? Medium? Consider size of target (red mist)? ;D
a 338 Lapua at 500? Still Medium? Man size target?
a 50BMG at 250yds. Short? (Waiting for the billt report) ;)
I guess what is the "effective" range depends on caliber and shooter skill.
The pro who hits a metal plate with a Sharp's 45-70, iron sights at 1000 yds, for a round that is considered a "short to medium" range round would have a different view.
I do agree 200yds. or less is "short", but also "long" for a 30-30. A 50BMG at 250yds. is "short", but "medium" at 500yds.
Just wondering,.... :-\
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I think most were all assuming .223 for caliber (default for an AR). BUT...
A very good article anyone should read before choosing their next scope (even if only as a refresher).
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/factors_in_accuracy_one.html
Parallax - one more reason to NOT buy that "latest thing" variable power scope.
Volumes have been written on choosing the right scope. If your seriously interested in making your rifle a long range threat, start with reading "The Ultimate Sniper". It's not as much about which scope to buy, as it is tuning the trigger actuator. ;)
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I worded my question as vague as possible because I knew once I mentioned gun and caliber I would get a different answer.
I just wanted a general guide line on what would be considered short, medium, and long range with a rifle.
The SX-AR is the Winchester SX-AR. It's the "hunting" version of the FNAR with a nice mossy oak brush finish on it.
I saw an article in the American Rifleman stating the FNAR was a short to medium-range rifle and I was like, "What does that mean?".
http://americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=1906&cid=4 (http://americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?id=1906&cid=4)
So I came here after lurking for bit and figure I could get a good answer since the internets didn't have a straight answer for me.
Which brings up another question, what would be short to medium range with a .308 then? Would it be 200-400 yards?
I've owned guns for a long time but I'll be honest, I don't have the practical experience with shooting them over 100 yards.
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I still go with the first answer.
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I worded my question as vague as possible because I knew once I mentioned gun and caliber I would get a different answer.
I just wanted a general guide line on what would be considered short, medium, and long range with a rifle.
You worded your question as vague as possible because you have lurked here long enough to know how to start the entertainment ;)
I agree with Haz. Why first is that if you fight with the cat you get clawed and secondbecause range is range, and sometimes you need a different caliber for a different range. A .22lr will never be a long range gun even though we may say that 100 yards is a "long range" for that caliber.
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I still go with the first answer.
Yep, +1 again. Keeping in mind .308 is only hitting it's 0 at 200 yard range. To be more specific, it could be said medium range starts at 300, and "long range" starts at 600... At least that's what "the books" say. I like Tom's numbers to.
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Exactly, M58. 200 yards is not a long shot. If it is too far for your gun then you are using the wrong caliber/gun. and you are a wise man for not crossing the cat! ;)
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Look at the balistics charts for .308 and they will usually include mid-range trajectory in those charts. Use that as a guideline for what suits you best.
I, like you, have little use for shots outside of 100 yards so this has been an interesting thread but I've looked at enough balistics over the years and I would have to agree with the Marine, aka, Mr. Bogan and Sergeant Hazcat...
Navy guns shoot in MILES, close range for a 16" gun throwing a Volkswagon size round takes on a whole new meaning!
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I think it depends on context... for me, I'd say:
Short range: Inside of a building. (<10 yards)
Medium: Around buildings. (<100 yards)
Long: Open terrain. (>100 yards)
-RJP
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I think it depends on context... for me, I'd say:
Short range: Inside of a building. (<10 yards)
Medium: Around buildings. (<100 yards)
Long: Open terrain. (>100 yards)
-RJP
Yes, but your view of the world is always a little 'different'. ;)
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Yes, but your view of the world is always a little 'different'. ;)
I'd add to your comment, but he could kill me, or worse really hurt me, with that one right hand he shows ;)
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That's a pretty intense look Rob has in his avatar... I'm thinking if he ever tried "staring at goats" he may well take one down! ;D