Shooting at 1200 Yards and 1760 Yards (1 Mile) with Bryan Litz
Ultra-Long-Range Shooting by Bryan Litz
We recently did some extended long range shooting with several rifles at a “secret range” where we could shoot out to one mile. I teamed up with Paul Philips, a highly successful National and International F-TR shooter with several National records. We started out shooting a Sako TRG-42 at 1200 yards. This is the same rifle I shot in Wyoming last year at distances out to 2400 yards. This rifle shoots the new Berger 300gr Hybrids, at 2700 fps. We were pleased to find that the Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x56mm scope has plenty of elevation to get to 1200 yards with this bullet, especially when mounted on a Near Mfg. +45 MOA rail. The drop from a 100-yard zero to 1200 yards was predicted to be 34.75 MOA. The size of that 5-shot group was nothing to brag about (1.5 MOA), but what I found satisfying is that the group center was exactly centered for vertical on the target. That means the calculated .418 G7 BC and all of the other variables that went into this trajectory prediction were spot on.
New .30-Cal Tactical Bullets
Next, we shot the LaRue 7.62 OBR rifle at 1200 yards. This rifle produced a 5-shot group of 9.7″ (.85 MOA) with off-the-shelf Applied Ballistics Tactical ammo loaded with .30-cal 175gr Berger Tactical bullets. These bullets only have a muzzle velocity of 2572 fps from this short barrel, which means that in our conditions they were subsonic past 1000 yards, running 1080 fps at 1200 yard. Going subsonic didn’t prevent the 175gr bullets from shooting a sub-MOA group.
However, I was a little disappointed that the group center was 9″ high (0.8 MOA) compared to the predicted trajectory (657″ drop from a 100-yard zero). Note this 9″ error in predicted drop could be produced by small variances. The 9″ shift could be explained by a 14 fps error in muzzle velocity, or a 2% error in bullet BC, or a 5-yard error in range measurement.
For our final test, I shot Berger’s newest Tactical bullet; the .30-caliber 230gr OTM projectile. This bullet has a tested G7 BC of .368, and a G1 BC of .719. Now this isn’t my most accurate rifle and I haven’t had an opportunity to really work up a good load. As a result, I shot an unimpressive 20″ group (1.8 MOA). But the predicted drop was only off by 2″ (less than 1 click) based on the BC’s listed above.
Shooting .338 Lapua Magnums at One Mile
After shooting at 1200, we lobbed some bullets on an 8’x8′ target at 1760 yards (1 mile). At this range, the TRG-42 put the 300gr Bergers on target with four of five shots in 1/2 MOA with a flyer to make the total group 21″. At this range my group center was 18.5″ (1.1 MOA) higher than predicted. Paul Philips* shot his custom .338 Lapua Magnum rifle. This is a Dave Tooley-built Tac-338 with 30″ Brux barrel, Stiller action, McMillan A-5 stock, and Nightforce NXS 12-42×56. Paul shot at the same target and was able to hold between 1/2 and 1 MOA groups with the same 300gr Berger Hybrid bullets. Paul’s group centers were also about 1 MOA higher than predicted. This small error in prediction isn’t very troubling though, as we’re not entirely confident in the range measurement. As 1760 yards (one mile) is too far for a direct laser rangefinder measurement, the distance was determined with a combination of GPS and Google maps. At that distance, a range error of just 15 yards (out of 1760) could cause the percieved 1 MOA error in predicted drop. So, if the target were really at 1745 yards, instead of 1760 yards, it would explain why we were hitting 1 MOA high. Alternatively, if BC error were the reason for hitting high, it would suggest the G7 BC for the .338-cal 300gr Berger Hybrid is .427, as opposed to the currently advertised .418; a 2% difference.
The Joy of Ultra-Long-Range Shooting
For me, the thrill of shooting these extreme long ranges isn’t just about the group sizes, but the accuracy with which the trajectory can be predicted. The shooter who understands ballistics and inputs the right variables should be able to center a 1.5 MOA group well past 1000 yards. He can be more effective, on targets at extreme ranges, than someone who can shoot an 0.5 MOA group but can’t keep it centered. Of course the most impressive of all is the shooter who can combine precision with accuracy and center the 0.5 MOA group at extreme distances!
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Tags: ballistics, Berger, Bryan Litz, Larue OBR, Mile, Sako TRG 42
Thanks for the info Bryan. I see the twist rate on the LaRue is only 1/11.25 and the recommended twist for the 230’s is 1/10. Was that the rifle you were using for the 230’s? If so, do you think stability issue could have contributed to the “poor” accuracy at 1200 yards? Also, any other info on data for the 230 load you were using (OAL, muzzle velocity and barrel length, powder, etc.) would be much appreciated.
Paul,
I was shooting my ‘Applied Ballistics Tactical ammo’ for .308, which is loaded with the Berger 175 grain OTM bullet. This is very well stabilized in the 1:11.25″ twist LaRue.
The 230 OTM’s were shot from a .300 Win Mag with a 1:10″ twist. The rifle has a terrible trigger, and is very difficult to shoot well. My load for the 230’s in the 300 Win Mag was 74 grains of H1000 which gets just over 2900 fps in a 30″ barrel. Bullets are seated about 0.020″ off the lands. Being hybrids, they are relatively insensitive to seating depth.
I want to do some more work with this rifle so I can give the bullets more of a fair shot.
-Bryan
Thanks again. I know these were developed for the XM2010 but I’m going to give them a whirl in my 308 with some RL17.
Let us know how they do!
What is barrel lenght on the 308
What is your Applied Ballistics Tactical ammo load?
My LaRue OBR (.308) is a 20″ barrel. I’m not disclosing the powder charge for this load, but it’s on Lapua brass and uses Berger 175 OTM bullets:
http://www.appliedballisticsllc.com/TacticalAmmo.html
What ballistic program were you using? I have the one you developed to work with the Texas Instrument calculator. Would like to find another to use.
Currently I’m using Shooter for android:
http://shooter.kndy.net/
http://www.accurateshooter.com/gear-reviews/shooter-ballistics-app-for-adroid-os/
i just tested some Berger 230s in my Armalite AR30 with douglas 26″ heavy..
so far .5moa at 300yds with 79grs of
ramshot magnum..2860fps with no pressure signs!!
going for one mile later this month..will post results
TR
4/27/12 5 shots at one mile with
BERGER 230gr match .308 in .300 win mag!!
79 grns of Ramshot Magnum/ Hornady match brass,Fed.Rem 9 1/2s.
3.610 oal…
14″ teel plate!! Way to go BERGER!!!!!
Armalite AR30 with Douglas 26″ Heavy
1-10
Leupold 6.5-20x MK4 TMR
Thunder Valley Precision Range
Ohio
Sorry,couple of typos..
Rem..9 1/2s as well as Fed 215s
14″steel plate
Velocity was 2850
TR
when Bullets are seated about 0.020″ off the lands or 0.015″ or 0.01″ I can realoding with same grains of powder or I need less than reloading charts for preasure or when kiss the lands don’t preassure up, thank you Mike
Hi Brian,
I’m planning a 300 win mag build with a 26″ barrel and I would like to optimize this rifle system for the Berger 230gr.
I see that the 230 gr otm details on the Berger site recommends a 10 twist barrel. The Berger ballistic calc appears to stabilize better with a 8 or 9 twist.
What are your thoughts on a 300 win mag with a 26″ barrel and a 1:9 twist.
-Frank
You may already have your rifle Frank.
I personally like the 1:10. It handles the 230s fine,and gives great results with everything to 190s and inbetween.
Hi. I’m curious Brian or anyone else who could answer, is it possible to make slightly heavier, higher bc bullets optimized for 300 norma mag? Brian stated the 230 berger was optimized for the 300 win mag so I’d think a 245 or 255 would be possible. Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks!
Hi. I’m wondering if Brian or anyone else with more knowledge than I could answer a question for me. Is it possible to make heavier bullets (245-255 grain) optimized for the 300 norma mag? Brian stated the 230 berger was optimized for the 300 win mag I think so just curious. I’d imagine a bullet like this could have close to .800 bc with less recoil than the 338s. 338s are too much for me. All thoughts are welcome. Thanks!