Author Topic: Longest Shot with a surplup?? (Read 1713 times)

1911crazy · « **on:** January 30, 2004, 03:53:08 AM »

Whats the longest shot you have ever taken with a military surplus gun? And with what gun? BigBill

I haven't shot past 100yds yet but I have found that most military guns are pretty good at 100yds. now I'm wondering if their just as good at going the distance. I see some of these rear sites are maked quite a distance like 600 to 1,000 meters?? Can they really shoot that far accurately?

My hunting shots are around 25yds. yes blackbear at 25yds. too.

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2004, 04:15:54 AM »

BigBill - years ago I had a 1917 Enfield in 06 that I sporterized and used for hunting in Colorado. The rifle was dead on accurate and my longest shot was through the chest of a whitetail at an estimated 450 yds (across a canyon). He didn't seem to know that he was hit and simply layed down on the trail. I had hoped he would slide down the slope and make carting him out a bit easier but nope, not this guy. He just layed where he fell and it was a long haul down the slope, across the creek and back up the other slope.

Howya been???? Mikey.

Kirkned · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2004, 05:15:59 AM »

I personally have shot my Molsin 91 at a Coyote a measured 427 yards open sights. Used a Bushnell range finder to get the distance. I saw my grandfather shoot a mule deer at 1030 yards with his 1903 Springfield, that he brought back from WWII. He would ask how far do you reckon that deer is and I'd reply a long way off gramps, he say ya but not too far for Martha, then he would get set and I'd be looking through the spotting scope hear the crack of the rifle and and nearly ever time the deer would go down, in fact if he didn't think he could make the shot or had any doubts he would not take the shot. Gramps always used 180 grain softpoints from Winchester. He was a very good shot with that old 03 Springfield sure wish I had it. :cry:

Kirkned

savageT · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2004, 07:24:23 AM »

Big Bill,
I would say that just about every military power that ever requested bids on bolt-action infantry rifles required 300 yd/meter minimum, 1000yd/meter maximum w/ open sights. If you recall most milsurps don't even have sights adjusted low enough for 100 yd. use. Recalling what the troops and sharpshooter in the Cival War, pre WWI would attempt to do with blackpowder rifled barrels.....1000 yds. was pretty typical. I'd say we are pretty spoiled with the optics and cartridge velocities available today. I guess that's why I'm so darned miffed at those that say a 30-06 isn't enough for 400 yd. knockdowns for large game up to and including Black Bear. It's all in the marksman, son! Just my usual rantings!

Jim

ajj · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2004, 08:15:43 AM »

I don't have anything too impressive to report but the question does give me a chance to talk about a great time I had recently. We drove to Las Cruces between CHRISTmas and New Year's to visit my wife's brother's family. He suggested I bring guns so I threw in a No.4 Enfield and 96 rounds of the good Greek surplus. There is a silhouette range just west of Las Cruces that I think is maintained by the city. They have permanent swinger targets at each of the four distances and the desert to catch the bullets. I mean, it's to die for!
I'm an avid silhouette shooter and had practiced in the off season with this rifle before, but only out to 200 meters. I got to hitting the chicken about every four shots. George and I were spotting each other with binoculars. I held low center on the 300 meter pig and tagged him first shot. Naturally, we started thinking about the 500 meter (547 yard) ram.
I tried a couple of shots at the top of the berm but couldn't get a bullet strike so we gave up. Next day we're back and I've decided I must have been shooting high, over the berm. Genius, huh?
I started aiming right at the animal with the chicken setting and going to school on the dust clouds, raising the sight gradually. You folks who own these rifles know the sights are surprisingly good. Now we're on for elevation and having a ball trying to break the shot on the target, learning about the wind (which was considerable) and just generally having a wonderful shooting experience. Shooting offhand, doncha know? I'm pretty sure I hit the ram toward the end. George saw no dust and heard the clank. I don't know that I've ever had more fun shooting. The rear sight movement necesary to go from 200 meters to 500 was really quite small.
People who enjoy rifles and can find the space need to try something like this. It's too much fun! I keep meaning to take a Swedish Mauser to a 1000 yard match and see if I can get on paper. I've seen another guy do just that so I know it's possible.

His lordship. · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2004, 08:17:14 AM »

Unfortunately it is hard to find a gun range with a distance beyond 100 yards in Minnesota, but I had the opportunity to shoot my Spanish Airforce Mauser in 8 MM routinely at 200 yards, using around an 8" drop correction, with open sites using surplus ammo 10 years ago. The bore was corrosion damaged and worn, but most of the shots went into the black on the typical pattern 25 yard NRA pistol target, I could not see the target, but had to guess where it was using the target holder.

Finland's war hero of the Winter War, Simo Hayha, used a Mosin Nagant model 28 with open sites at ranges of around 400 yards to kill numerous Russians. A 62 year old fellow by the name of Farr, used a match grade Springfield 03' with open sites, and surplus ammo to repeatably hit the 1,000 yard target at Camp Perry in the 1930's. If you know the rifle, have good eyesite, and decent wind conditions, yea, long range is not so hard.

haroldclark · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2004, 10:50:47 PM »

500 Meter (546 yards) sots are the norm of the day at our range. We have a 500 meter Rifle Silhouette setup with 50 targets of each:
500 Meters: Rams
385 Meters: Turkeys
300 Meters: Pigs
200 Meters: Chickens

I have a 96 Swedish Mauser and a French MAS 1936 that I shoot regularly out to 500 meters. I don't even fool with anything closer 'cause it is a gimmie. In the French Mas I shoot a cast bullet from Oregon Trail Bullet Company with a gas check. The accuracy of both rifles is astounding.

I have friends that shoot the match every month and the 96 Swedish Mauser is nearly always the winner. I have seen guys use M-1 Garrands, Springfiled 03-A3, Springfield M1-A, Mosin Nagants, a Swiss that I can't recall the name.

I don't have the eye sight for that competition and getting down on a mat in the prone position is a little out of my age bracket. Getting up requires a Biggy Crane, so I shoot from a bench. I have two buddies that shoot the matches very well. Their worst target hits are at chickens at 200 meters. They will run 10 Rams at 500 meters.

The Swede is the Ballerina of Military Surplus Rifles. They are getting hard to come by in California these days. Parts are readily available for most Military rifles through Nuerich Parts house.

I haven't talked to anyone that shoots an iron sighted Mil Surp at the 1000 yard range, but I'm sure someone does it.

I am fortunate to live 17 miles from my shooting club and it is one hell of a playground for big boys and some girls. I shoot there 2 times a week rain or shine, freezing or hot. My two regular buddies and I made a pack that we would not be threatened by the weather. However, some days like to day, the wind blew the rain in under our firning line cover, we had to vacate, but we did shoot for 3 hours.

Harold Clark

1911crazy · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2004, 02:59:53 AM »

The reason I asked is there is no way I can shoot more than 200yds at the local range here. And years ago in Vermont there was a field that was about 300yds long I would sit in the highest part in the corner out of site every year with a $5 cigar and just enjoy the view of the mountains, the smoke, the hunt and the fresh air. But now many years later its all over grown and its very small now. I had a hunter walk down the dirt road who never seen me from 300yds away at the beginning then at 50yds he went crazy waving his arms showing me he's a man not a deer heck I spotted him at the beginning. Well I'm kind of impressed with the performance/accuracy I'm getting with militray guns at 100yds with open sites I may have to try the 200yd range next and see if the accuracy continues. Of course we must account for the 29" barrels too their great for longer shots and 100yds is a cake walk for them. BigBill

My camp is 1,000ft long thats a 300yd range down the middle Hmmm?? Of course where I'm at there is no one close by me. Every time I see pictures of texas and oklahoma with open land makes me want to pack up and move.

Castaway · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2004, 04:21:15 AM »

The reason why the old rifles had sights out to 1000 yards was for an entire regiment to lay plunging fire down on a target. The extended range was in no way intended for point shooting.

RB Rooson · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2004, 09:54:50 AM »

About 3 weeks ago, I put 4 shots from a K31 7.5 x 55 mm Swiss on a steel plate at 137 yards (rangefinder). All 4 shots could be covered with a silver dollar.

I do not have a range that I can shoot at longer distances, but I was very impressed with the accuracy of the rifle and how smooth it felt.

I am sure that the Swiss could do much better than I did.

A very good post and especially liked the comment about "plunging fire" - (excellent observation).

BobS · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2004, 06:14:09 PM »

I used to routinely shoot an 03A3 at 600 yards, because that was was my XC rifle in the 60's and early 70's. It had a Lyman 48 long slide on the rear and a Redfield globe on the front, so it wasn't "as-issued", but with the original barrel, shooting mostly cast bullets at 200 and 300 yards (and Sierra MK's at 600 and 1000), I got my first Master classification card with that rifle in 1973. I still own the rifle, but it has been much-modified since then. It is still my 1000 yard rifle.

Resp'y,
Bob S.

S.S. · « **Reply #11 on:** February 03, 2004, 08:57:17 AM »

Don't really know how far my longest shot was, I didn't
have a range finder at the time. We were on a spillway/Dam
on a private lake in North Ga, and were shooting snakes
way down the creek below.(That place was infested to say the least)
It was several hundred yards I would guess on some of them.
(They made little wakes in the water,
and we would aim at the front of the wake)
The "near misses" would throw some of the Snakes up in the air.
The hits would create little pieces of turtle food.
We lost count of how many Cotton Mouths we shot that weekend.

I know it is not legal to shoot snakes in Ga, but when your livestock
is getting "Munched on" by them you have to do something!

Mikey · « **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2004, 09:40:23 AM »

We used to do the very same thing in Colorado years ago, only we would sit on the rocks above Horsetooth Reservoir, outside Fort Collins, and shoot rattlers that we either sunning themselves or swimmin' after somethin'.... We could trade in the skins for a dollar apiece and take all the meat that was left and have one of a wicked cookout and beer party. Man, there were more recipes for rattlesnake floating around than you could find snakes. And yes, the impact of the bullet from a couple of hundred yards away will definately toss those snakes wayyyyy up in the air. I even bagged two muskcrats with one shot from a 6.5mm Carcano that way - they were swimming together and the bullet hit right between them, flipping both out of the water and snapping their necks. But, the rattlers were better eatin'. Mikey.

1911crazy · « **Reply #13 on:** February 03, 2004, 03:27:09 PM »

I hate snakes!!! Being I was a logger at one time. When my one ton truck was over 15k loaded I would lockup the rear dual wheels on them when they were in the road sunning themselves. It would split them open making them crow food. If i just ran them over they would just slither off the road into the woods. The dual wheels just tore them up. I logged one place over the winter and had to get out before spring because of the place had wall to wall copperheads. BigBill

I had those super swampers on the dualies 950-16.5 35" tall and narrow. They look like dirtbike tires with the big knobbies. Make those snakes road pizza's!!!!

S.S. · « **Reply #14 on:** February 04, 2004, 08:57:42 AM »

"South Georgia Speed Breakers"

Thats what we used to call the rattle snakes as they would cross the
Highways down around the Florida line!
That old "SUPER SONIC" Chevy I used to drive felt like it left
the road a couple of times when we would hit one of those snakes.

Its more fun shootin' at em though!

Combat Diver · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2004, 07:11:30 AM »

There's a unknown distance range at Ft Campbell that iron maidens scattered throughout for the snipers to estimate range and engage. The farthest one is at 600m and closest one 150m. Would fire from the seated position and fire my pre WWII K98 with Eygptian ball and ring steel with the iron sights.

Next range over is the known distance range with firing lines out to 600yds (older range). Would go to the 600yd line with either M16A2 or M4A1 and put 2 out of 3 rounds onto the 18" bulls with iron sights and using standard issue M855 or one time M193.

His lordship. · « **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2004, 08:25:49 AM »

I occasionally hear of tight groups, such as RB Roosen with his Swiss rifle at 137 yards, going into a silver dollar sized area. I have always felt that my eyes were good at distance, but without a scope, I cannot do a grouping like that with dove tail or aperture sights on any of my best rifles using the ideal ammo that I use.

I have had some groups with my Enfield MK. 4 and Swedish Mauser that are around 1.5 to 2 inches, and my recently purchased Yugo Mauser and Russian Mosin Nagant are showing strong potential for good results, but nothing that would fit under a coin. What trick do you use to do that?

RaySendero · « **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2004, 01:32:43 PM »

We have a head and shoulders metal silhoutte on the 500 yard berm at our range. I see 7x57, 8x57 and .303s easily hitting it from the bench. Also hitting it some off-hand.

Veteran Marine · « **Reply #18 on:** August 04, 2012, 08:35:19 AM »

OK I am new but I really dont get it . I was in the Corps 13 years and on the Marine Corps Rifle and Pistol team Pacific Division 3 years and people talk like 4 and 5 hundred yards with some really nice scope is a great feat . The Minimum long range we were required to shoot from was 500 meters and we had to drop most of those in the in the black ,, We used a standard 5.56 and standard iron sights . Only when I got to the rifle team were we issued rifles with match sights and and special target ammo , and, the receiver rattled so I stuck the brass piece from a stripper clip where the upper and lower receiver met to tighten it up a bit and reduce the rattling . Not sure if it was legal or not but no one ever called me on it and it was obvious . After the first year on the team I never again missed a shot from the 500 and 65% to 75% were in the V ring . Then they closed the road that we would then have to shoot over and we shot from the 800 Meter line and you know what ,,,, I still hit alot of black with only 4 more clicks up . ,, the problem now was I shot on the wrong target several times .. You see at that range and only iron sights you have to read the target number and it is 8 feet tall but still hard to read . You know target 43 looks alot like target 48 and so on .. Now,, give me a rifle with a scope like Leopold veri-X IV and my 1903 springfield and I think I could hit a target out to about 2000 meters and I am sure I could out to 1500 .
I am good but not that good . Many a man bested me .

Hodr · « **Reply #19 on:** August 04, 2012, 12:43:55 PM »

Like the Marine right before me,
I shot 3rd Army rifle team and used an M14, I guess that is milsurp now. Standard sights and shot to 600 meteres. Hit a head and shoulders with regularity and same with bull target and some of the time in the V. The guys that were really good put almost all in the V though they had a semi with a small machine shop that traveled with them in support. Now I shoot 100 yds, not meteres, I'm just stubborn and don't like scopes. If it ain't that close I don't take the shot.
Hodr

Reverend Recoil · « **Reply #20 on:** August 04, 2012, 05:19:34 PM »

Every December our high power rifle group at the club shoots an annual Pearl Harbor Match. This is an across the course match (200, 300, & 600yd) with WWII era rifles. It's a lot of fun and can be challenging and frustrating. We get mostly M1903-A3 Springfields and M1 rifles. The Springfields and M1 are the most competitive because they have the best sights and usually the best barrels. We get a few Mausers, Lee-Enfields, and others. Last year I shot it with my Swiss K31 carbine. My 200 & 300yd loads were with 135 Sierra Match Kings. My 600yd loads were with Hornady 180gr BTSP hunting bullets. The K31 will put all your shots in the black at 200 & 300yd if you do your part but it is not so precise at 600yd. With no sight windage adjustment I had to hold off of the target. On a windy day it can be tough to keep your shots in the seven-ring or sometimes the five-ring..
These old rifles can shoot well. I have read of several accounts of WWI soldier's fear of getting their head shot off by looking over the top of a trench with an opposing trench 600 to 800m away.

shot1 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 05, 2012, 10:38:22 AM »

Most fun I have ever had shooting long range with military rifles was at a friends personal range that was an old coal strip mine in Wise VA. A bunch of us guys loaded up and drove the 100 miles and had enough ammo and guns to start our own war. The most fun was shooting at a rock with a 3 foot top to bottom white circle painted on it. I can't remember the exact yardage but it was between 850 and 900 yards. Some of us had load up a bunch of tracer ammo for our M1 Garnads and Springfields. We would fire 2 or 3 shots and watch the effect of the wind on the tracer which would burn out a little over 700 yards then use Kentucky windage and have at it. We could hit that circle more times than not like this. I had my super accurate Finn B barrel M/N with me and I would watch someone shoot a tracer to see the wind and then shoot it prone and hit the circle most of the time. I really learned how to shoot long range with a 03A3 Springfield as a 13 to 17 year old kid. It was the first high power rifle I got. I had a cousin that was in the national guard and he would bring me a 250 round can of black tip AP ammo every month when he went to guard. That rifle liked that ammo and would really shoot. I became very deadly with that rifle on ground hogs and rabbits out in the pasture fields around where I lived. I got to where I could about hit one as far as I could see it. I became use to the yardages things were at and knew were to set the sights and holds. Those AP rounds would just drill a hole in a rabbit and still leave a good meal.

surehuntsalot · « **Reply #22 on:** August 07, 2012, 12:50:57 PM »

7pt white tail buck at around 170yds with my 7x57 Mauser
white tail doe at 155yds with my 303 Enfield