oh yeah i was also a marine sniper who raa

30:06 is fine. Dont get the cheap ammo, though. 500 yards is for bino's. Stalk up to within 200, and do your job. Will make a beautiful mount!

Your setup is definitely up to the task. I'd recommend a 180-200 gr loading and lot's and lot's of practice. If you can't hit at 300 yds consistantly you have no business shooting farther.

Trophyhunter made a good point with using a table for bot wind and distance. This should be broken down into 10 yd increments. With distance all you need is a good rangefinder and know your rifle/loads ballistics to make the shot. The hard part comes in from the wind. Wind direction, wind speed are hard to judge except with a lot of practice. I won't take a shot over 300 yds with any kind of noticable cross wind. I've have taken whitetail, mulies and antelope at over 400 yds with a .270 on calm days and two other antelope at just under 300 yds on very windy days. The first time I got lucky and didn't allow for the wind and almost missed the animal completely. The second one I allowed an estimated 1 foot for wind drift and hit very close to where I wanted. Of course the 130 gr .270 bullet does not buck the wind as well as a 180 - .30 cal bullet will. But wind drift could be signifcant.

Dwood if if can't get any closer than 500yrds, your either to lazy or lousy hunter.