The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“Antifa posers with fantasies of a Civil War II need to worry more. ATF says more than half of all rifles sold were scary semiauto carbines. Combine these so-called “assault rifles” with the current Big Thing for traditional bolt action rifles: shooting very small targets at very long distances, and with more powerful ammo. Then explain to the campus commandos they do this as a hobby, for fun.” – Ol’ Remus, in his Yer Ol’ Woodpile Report blog.


5 Comments

  1. Old Remus concurs with Bracken’s assessment, and as a long time advocate, so do I!. A small number of riflemen capable of accurate long distance fire, combined with tactics that take advantage of this kind of ‘fire superiority’, can easily wreak havoc on a larger force. Long distance shooting is a huge ‘force multiplier’ that can also be used at night. It is now relatively inexpensive to purchase mass produced modern high tech precision rifles, and easy to shoot out to 500 meters and beyond with modern optics designed for that job. It can be done for less than $1,000.00, and factory match grade ammunition. Now anyone, and everyone can get into this game. And they are…

    6.5 Creedmore is popular for good reason, and can take the shooter beyond 1000 meters. It is essentially a duplication, or a modern version of the sensible 6.5×55 cartridge that has been popular for over a hundred years. With the 140 grain bullet, it is superior to .308 Winchester ballistically, as it retains its energy at great distances, and is not affected by the wind, that more often than not, is the most difficult to compensate for at longer ranges. The 140 grain Amax bullet is the ideal balance of accuracy, devastating effect out to 800 meters, and cost. I have a lifetime supply of Amax to feed an old Swede (Swedish Mauser in 6.5 x 55) :O) However rapid is the growing popularity of the 6.5CM is, .30 caliber bullets and cases and rifles chambered in .308 or .30-06, that will dominate the ammunition supply, in the high power cartridge realm. What is one possible answer to this dilemma? Get one of each! Yet, if one cannot afford to run out and buy a lifetime supply of 6.5CM, I would stick with .308 Winchester, and as a second, .30-06.

    To further this analysis, the .30-06 can match the ballistic performance of the 6.5 CM, and outperform it in terms of superior energy on target at extreme long distances. It can also shoot much flatter within 500 meters, with as much as 10 inches less drop at 500 than either the 6.5 CM, or 7.62 Nato (.308 Win is a tad flatter shooting). It is superior for DMR work inside 500 meters. These facts are usually under-appreciated. However, the much higher recoil of the .30-06 with heavy bullets needed for extreme long range, or for flatter trajectories, is often a detractor to accuracy. The recoil can induce a flinch if the rifle is not heavy enough to counterbalance. Yet because few will be able to shoot accurately passed 500 yards, and will not need the heaviest bullets that better buck the wind, that are also the heaviest recoiling loads. A heavy recoiling rifle will not be needed most of the time for most of the folks out there. And .308 ammunition and components is now the second most available ammunition after 5.56×45. Therefore, all things considered, one can conclude that .308 Winchester is the best overall choice for most people and situations. In some parts of country, generally the ‘inter-mountain west’, ammunition and components for .30-06 are a close second in term of availability. My ‘ought six’ is purposefully heavy to offset the heavier recoil, yet most insist on the fashionable lightweight versions.

    And the rest of the news, is that one can make .308 cases from .30-06 cases, and use the same bullet and primers and powders, and you’ll never run out, if you have both. Reloaders can be found all throughout the American Redoubt, so you will be in good supply, no doubt, yet it will not be any cheaper to buy that at the present time. I recently ‘lucked out’ with a purchase at the Kalsipell Gun Show of 900 once fired vintage M2 .30-06 cases in minty, yet opened original cardboard boxes intended for European Allies for only 20 bucks. The young vendor quickly offered the price, and no haggling was involved. No, I did not steal candy from a child. Another ‘secret’ of the ’06 is that is it lying around everywhere in heavy dusty old boxes, and is currently less fashionable. I’ve found it be less expensive to buy .30-06 cases than .308 cases, and have found match grade for my price, or next to nothing.

    To get started, here is the best and free to all, instruction about long range shooting on You Tube.
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqymwlCbVwpMnSLrd-NAQJQ

  3. Precision long range shooting is only half of this equation.

    Fieldcraft is the other half. Are your fieldcraft skills up to the task?

    No?

    Then get after it.

    Otherwise one is just another Fudd with a scoped rifle.

    Just saying…..

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