The makings of a 1000yd game rifle
 

Here are the specs for the gun used in the "Beyond Belief" video in which game animals, as small as coyotes, are taken at ranges up to and over 1000yds........

Long Range Precision (LRP) Shooting System

This system weighs 10.5 Lbs. This is heavier than the standard sporter but offers much greater capability. I can carry it all day but I will admit it does get to feel heavy at the end of a long day. The pay off is when the shot is a difficult one. The combination of the comfortable stock and extra weight really help when your heart is beating and the position is less than ideal. I guess if the extra few pounds are an issue I could diet for a week. Fat chance.

The effective range of this system varies with conditions, of course, but it will effectively take big game out to 800 yds if the shooter does everything perfectly. Rarely does the shooter do everything perfectly and I am much more comfortable inside 650 yds. This system will dial on to ranges in excess of 1500 yds for shooting practice at inanimate targets. One of my favorite activities is rock shooting at extreme ranges.

Components of the LRP:

The action is a Remington 700 BDL. The threads were cut true to the bolt raceway and all other machine work was then trued to the threads. This includes the bolt face and action face with the lugs lapped to full contact. The feed rails and feed ramp are polished and the magazine box is fitted to the cartridge for reliable feeding.

An aftermarket trigger was installed to provide a perfect trigger release. A great trigger is large step in the right direction to making a system as easy to shoot as possible.
Leupold QD bases were then installed and were drilled and reamed for precision dowel pins to prevent movement of the base on the receiver. This is the major area of movement when a rifle loses its zero. The bases are only held in position on the action by friction. Some Gunsmiths replace the small 6 gauge screws with larger 8 gauge screws but this really does not do much. The mount can still be moved on the action by a sharp blow. Physically attaching the mounts make for a much stronger set up. The QD mounts have a great strength to weight ratio and give some added flexibility to the system.
An oversize hardened steel recoil lug is fitted to the action. The factory mild steel lug will not allow enough axial preload to be applied to the barrel to positively prevent movement of the action/barrel joint.
A stainless steel match grade, stress relieved, hand lapped barrel was then installed using a proprietary thread form to positively stabilize the action/barrel joint. The barrel was fluted to speed cooling time for summer practice sessions. The chamber was cut for a proprietary round called the .284 WRP. The finished length is 26 inches.
The cartridge is called the .284 WRP and is VERY similar to the commercial 7mm STW. The only difference is in the throat geometry. I change the length of freebore and leade angle to make it shoot better. 7mm STW factory throats are not the best design for good accuracy. Standard brass and loading dies work perfectly and I suppose so would factory ammunition if I wanted to increase ammo costs and decrease performance levels. This combination will shoot a 150gr bullet at 3400 fps in the 26 inch barrel. I use both Barnes XBTs and Swift Sciroccos and still can't figure out which one I really prefer.
Next item is a McMillan A-3 stock. The system most seen on TV is black but I prefer the molded in marble patterns. The action is pillar bedded with the barrel free floating. This stock is somewhat unconventional in appearance but very functional. It handles recoil very well and the vertical pistol grip positions the firing hand much better than a conventional sporter stock. This is a large stock and requires a special saddle scabbard for use on horseback. A stud is installed in the forend to mount a quick release bipod.
The scope is a Leupold 4.5 X 14 Long Range Side Focus 30mm tube with a 50mm objective. Try saying that 5 times fast. I had Premier Reticles install my custom reticle and replace the tall windage turret with a coin click turret to make it better for a saddle scabbard. The reticle has windage dots for wind holds and vertical lines for quick range finding. This scope will dial on to ranges over 1700 yds on warm days.
A custom Bullet Drop Compensator was then installed exactly matching the drop of the .284 WRP in this rifle. This enables us to range the animal and then dial the exact amount of elevation in to the scope to allow a dead on hold at that range. The development of the extremely accurate drop data takes a large amount of time and knowledge and is one of the most important aspects of long range shooting.

RE: The makings of a 1000yd game rifle
 

"A stainless steel match grade, stress relieved, hand lapped barrel was then installed using a proprietary thread form to positively stabilize the action/barrel joint."


JC Chartboy - thanks for all the info. This all sounds like a very well thought-out long range hunting rifle. I have also had my 7 STW reamer ground to alter the throat to a shorter lead with a shallower throat angle - which helped accuracy as well. Only part of this whole description that has me shaking my head is the "proprietary thread form to postively . . . " - is this just an esoteric account of a radiused shoulder at the thread juncture? Also - although the thicker aftermarket recoil lugs (Tubb, Holland) are often used in these sort of projects, the stock Remington lug is made of quality steel and is often used, after surface grinding, for accurate rifles - particularly if the barrel profile is not real heavy and the caliber is not a violent one.

Great description - where did you get all this detailed info? I've been wondering for quite awhile what caliber/bullet they were using.

RE: The makings of a 1000yd game rifle
 

Sounds like it comes with everything but brains and judgement.;)

RE: The makings of a 1000yd game rifle
 

I believe he is referring to Spiral Lok technology.

James they do some shooting at some very long ranges on all kinds of animals and always have a successful shot. How much is true or not is anyones guess

RE: The makings of a 1000yd game rifle
 

You know, I've been thinking about this whole deal most of the day . . . . and I wonder how many shots that missed or wounded were edited out of the film. I sponsor a shooter who competes in a lot of long range/sniper matches around the country. There is one in New Mexico called the Steel Safari (formerly the Kenyatholon) that he has won a couple of times - and the setup of the match is a lot like the kind of hunting shown in this video. 12" steel targets, some difficult to find, placed at varying unknown distances, some of it long range, over a long course under field conditions in the canyon country of eastern New Mexico. Snipers from all over the country compete in this event. His comment on this video was something to the effect that "Beyond Belief" was an particularly appropriate title.

And then there is skeptical side of me that wonders about the authenticity of a video in which a gunsmith who builds long range rifles produces and stars in his own video - which is an elaborate infomercial on the effectiveness of his rifles.

RE: The makings of a 1000yd game rifle
 

Yeah, They show the successful shots anyway. Just like the fishin shows.:D, big old whoppers every week.

RE: The makings of a 1000yd game rifle
 

sounds like high tech way to take the hunt out of hunting

RE: The makings of a 1000yd game rifle
 

no joke..................... in this case the only skill needed is to be a very good long range shot.

RE: The makings of a 1000yd game rifle
 

Sounds like the perfect rifle for someone who has never shot at 1,000 yards and is totally clueless as to what is involved in doing so.

Don

RE: The makings of a 1000yd game rifle
 

not only that, but below 1800 fps, the sp will not expand, and now that cripple has a half a mile head start on you, and you can't hope to hit it again as it flees.

All rifle bullets need at least 1.5 seconds to cover 1000 yds, and most need 2 full seconds. It's very easy to take a step in .5 second, and now you've gut shot the critter (if aiming from its side). Bad news all around.