How To Choose Your Long Range Rifle There are many different factors to consider before making your choice on which rifle to purchase. If you are starting out and are deciding for the first time it is advisable to contact a professional that will be able to impart valuable knowledge and help you decide which rifle is best for your unique needs. Hunting The first thing to remember is that going hunting means walking, jogging, standing and sometimes even running. These may be easily achieved under normal circumstances however when carrying a rifle, ammunition, extra clothing, food, and knives etc it is a different story. Keeping the weight down as much a possible is the object with choosing a hunting rifle. A lightweight rifle option will still give optimal performance for long range shooting. Precision Many people enjoy competitive shooting events, in this instance, it would be a good choice to have a heavier barrel and a lightweight chassis. This would be the best combination to be able to make the precision shots and run between obstacles without carrying too much weight. This mix of light and heavy components gives the shooter the best of both speed and accuracy. Calibre Depending on what the rifle will be used for and what the target is this is one of the most important decisions in choosing a long range rifle. There are different and appropriate ammunitions and calibres for hunting, target practice or competitions. The most popular and readily available cartridges are the .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. Barrels For precision shooting a shorter heavy barrel is suitable because it will not ‘whip’ that is vibrate as much as a long thin barrel. The steadier the barrel when shooting the more accurate the shot will be. The thicker the barrel the more heat resistant it is and therefore adds to the lifespan of the barrel. Fluting a barrel is to decrease the weight of the long range rifle it will slightly compromise the precision but the fluting if down with reservation can still provide a more precise shot than a thinner longer barrel that is more likely to ‘whip’. Free floating barrels A free-floating barrel is the best for precision rifles because there is nothing to interfere with the vibrations when a cartridge is discharged. Most gun companies will sell the rifle with the correct twist ratio and barrel length to ensure the bullet is correctly stabilized in flight. The key to precision shooting is consistency use the same ammunition, the same suppressor etc everything needs to be consistent to know what to expect each time you squeeze the trigger. Scopes Choosing the correct scope is twofold, the shooters needs are considered and the quality of the scope. Do not make a mistake and choose a cheap scope for a $5000 rifle the quality of the scope needs to match that of the rifle to continue to receive peak performance from the long range rifle.
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