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 Posted: Wed Nov 4th, 2009 07:54 PM
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Black Jack
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Can someone please share with me in their opinion what is the best sniper round beside the 50 caliber? In what gun would it best be used?

Thank you so very much.

 Black Jack 



 Posted: Wed Nov 4th, 2009 08:48 PM
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GottaGetaGlock
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It would probably depend of how far you want to shoot. The Savage rifle team just came back from England after winning I don't know how many gold, silver, and bronze medals. They were shooting off the shelf Savage rifles in .308 Winchester at 800, 900, and 1000 yards.

If you need to shoot longer distances, you would do better with a larger caliber. Do a Google search for .416 Cheytac.



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 Posted: Wed Nov 4th, 2009 10:11 PM
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OldStuffer
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Yes, it all depends tremendously on range.

It is my understanding (from "advertising" from Lapua of Finland, that they designed the .338 Lapua Magnum for a specific purpose, to "fill in" the range "hole" between the .308/7.62 NATO's efficient maximum of arround 900 yards, and the .50 BMG's effecient minimum of arround 1500 yards.

As much as I love .50BMG, it's not a good 100 yard sniper round, or even 500 yard sniper round. Oh it'll work, it's just not best suited to that range. There are many excelent rifle rounds, IMO there is no "best period" unless you have "best at a certain distance".

Some of the modern varmit rounds would do amazingly at up to 400 yards or so, but, get them into wind, and especially long range wind, and they will make the shooter's job that much harder than a larger, heavier, round will.



 Posted: Wed Nov 4th, 2009 11:36 PM
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lynxpilot
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I'm sort of aching to build a 338 Lapua. I've heard good things about it.



 Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 12:14 AM
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Black Jack wrote: Can someone please share with me in their opinion what is the best sniper round beside the 50 caliber? In what gun would it best be used?

Thank you so very much.

 Black Jack 

Marine snipers started using Rem 700's in 308 during Viet Nam.  Winchester 70's also used in 308.  Different versions of the 700 but they are still using Rem's in 308.  Army also uses Rem 700's as do so many PD's and federal agencies.  My vote for the Rem 700 in 308 in it's sniper and police models as the best sniper rifle.  Going strong after 40+ years.  While the 50 cal is great, not pratical in as many situations as the 308.



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 Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 12:36 AM
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If I could pick I would choose 300 Win mag out to 1000 yards from 1000-1500 .338 Lapua 1500 and beyond 50 Bmg or perhaps Barrett's 416 if it was soft targets only. If one was to be engaging somewhat harder targets and needed penetration to be effective  I would choose the 338 Lapua out to perhaps 700 yards and the 50 from there out to 1200-1300 yards or so with the correct projectiles for such tasks. 



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 Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 01:21 AM
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For 100 to 500 yard range, the Rem 700 in 308 is really great. For 500 to 1,000 yards I would go with the 300 Win Mag, which is also used by the military. The Rem 40X is also a great rifle that the military does use to base their sniper rifles on.

I also remember the M21 which is a M14 that is an Ultra Match version that is worked up with a scope and bipod.

For longer range the 50 BMG is really a tried and true caliber, for way beyond those ranges call the Air Force or the artillery.

Jerry



 Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 02:10 AM
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OldStuffer
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miestro_jerry wrote: For 100 to 500 yard range, the Rem 700 in 308 is really great. For 500 to 1,000 yards I would go with the 300 Win Mag, which is also used by the military. The Rem 40X is also a great rifle that the military does use to base their sniper rifles on.

I also remember the M21 which is a M14 that is an Ultra Match version that is worked up with a scope and bipod.

For longer range the 50 BMG is really a tried and true caliber, for way beyond those ranges call the Air Force or the artillery.

Jerry

That would entail "The world's largest silencer", wouldn't it? :wink::thumbs::cool:



 Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 02:21 AM
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300 win mag worked well for carlos hathcock i hear :) 308s alright for quite aways but i never put it up as high as being a 1000 yard shooter. I think 7.62 X 54 R is pretty dang impressive as a non mag round.



 Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 02:34 PM
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If I remember correctly:troll:didn't the military still use the 30-06 springfield in Vietnam as a sniping round? Also, I think Carlos Hathcock used a Winchester 70 in 30-06 in the field and a 7mm Remington Magnum in competioton. Correct me if I am wrong its been about 15 years since I read a book about him.

Jeff / Slingshot



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 Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 05:58 PM
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DesertMarine
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Slingshot, you are right about the Winchester 70 but I am not sure if in 30-06 or 308.  According to Wikipedia, Carlos used a 30-06.  Looking at my copy of Death from Afar IV by Chandler and Chandler, they talk about the Winchester but do not say what caliber.  They do state that the M24 was used in VietNam by Marine Snipers and in continous use with it's many improvements.  Norm Chandler is a retired Marine Lt. Col (I believe) who was heavily involved in the developement of the Marine Sniper program along with Carlos Hatchcock.  Chandler recommends only the Remington 700 for use as sniper rifle.  Death from Afar IV was written in 1996.

At answers.yahoo, response to question as to what rifle Hathcock used, answer from a Marine Sgt is that Carlos handloaded his ammo, but does not say if for combat or competition, and that led to the development of the 300 WinMag.  True, I don't know.

Side note, there was a Marine LCpl sniper also in VietNam by name of Charles Mawhinney that was credited with 103 comfirmed kills.  Looking at picture, looks like he is using a Remington rifle with Redfield scope.  Caliber? 

Marines used Unertl and Redfield scopes on their rifles.  Carlos used an 8X Unertl. 



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 Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 07:07 PM
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Black Jack
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Yep I think you are right.

 Thanks



 Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 08:31 PM
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From what I saw in Vietnam, the sniper rifles were some time put together quickly and many had scope from the PX in Japan or other places.

I saw a mix of Wins and Rems, mostly in 308.

We had one guy, who wanted a 1903 Springfield so he could snipe at the other side, that is the rifle his grand father used in WW I as per what he told us.

Jerry



 Posted: Thu Nov 5th, 2009 09:44 PM
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sniper55
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Mr. Hathcock did indeed use a Mod. 70 30.06 with heavy barrel shooting the 168 grain Sierra Match that was loaded in the states and shipped to him. his family now has his Mod 70 that was retired and giving to him before his death.



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 Posted: Fri Nov 6th, 2009 12:10 AM
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Hmmmmm, wonder what caliber I would recommend-lol. Been shootin 'em for nigh on to forty years-no need to change to something else now. Don't tell anyone that my 700 is in (shhhh)308 and so is the M1A. But of course I never shoot them since they are such an inferior caliber. Seriously, most any large caliber rifle will outshoot the trigger man. wc



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 Posted: Fri Nov 6th, 2009 12:27 AM
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-6 wrote: Hmmmmm, wonder what caliber I would recommend-lol. Been shootin 'em for nigh on to forty years-no need to change to something else now. Don't tell anyone that my 700 is in (shhhh)308 and so is the M1A. But of course I never shoot them since they are such an inferior caliber. Seriously, most any large caliber rifle will outshoot the trigger man. wc

Generally what happens to me. :sad:



 Posted: Fri Nov 6th, 2009 01:00 PM
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That question cannot be answered because what is good in one situation is not good in another.

The .308, the .338LM and the .50 BMG are good for their intended purpose.  Is there crossover?  Of course in certain situations. 



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 Posted: Fri Nov 6th, 2009 03:42 PM
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there is a good friend of mine who ranks number 5 in the state for 1500 yard competitive shooting who uses a .300 win mag and 190gr sierra mk



 Posted: Fri Nov 6th, 2009 09:35 PM
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Busted
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"..share with me in their opinion what is the best sniper round.."

My goodness.



 Posted: Thu Nov 12th, 2009 11:43 AM
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katorian
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i agree with you ..must be a Alberta thing :)



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