shorty Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Before I begin I would like to state that I am probably after the impossible, and this topic may have been done to death before. I have just acquired a new piece of land to shoot over and wil be shooting crows and foxes. I already own 6 rifles so this is probably more of an excuse for another instead of a sensible question. Most of the shots will be taken in between 200 and 600 yards however the wind is the problem, gusting between 15-30mph at a firing point but a lot of rises and undulating ground in between. If nothing else then it will be interesting to see other peoples opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tackb Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 No calibre can beat the wind , learn to read the wind where your shooting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elliott Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Sounds like the land I shoot over! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6.5 shooter Posted March 29, 2016 Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 Are you limited by youre firearms branch to calibre limit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbal Posted March 29, 2016 Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 Just as an initial scene setter,and to follow tackb's point: even the better 6.5s (x47,CM,260rem) drift around 30 inches in a tem mph wind at 600y.....so up to 90 inches if it reaches 30mph,as you suggest. Even a good-very good-wind reader over reasonably level ground will do very well indeed to read steady wind to an accuracy of say 2mph over 600yards,so the resulting wind error alone error will be 6 inches minimum,and worse if the ground is uneven,with eddying and irregular wind effects,.. with a three inch crow,that's a miss,mostly. 200 yards of course is much less prone to such error. Ball park drifts for 20 mph at 400y: 243/similar 6mms 32 inches;223 34 inches-both with the better BC bullets (heavy ones)-getting a tough call too...another 100fps won't make much impression either. And remember a crow is maybe 3 inches wide-that takes very precise rifle/ammo even in lo/no wind conditions at distance.....and at 600y a 1/2 moa rifle will miss regularly....half thatdistance is such wind/terrain is challenge enough? Clearly some cartridges as above,increase chances a bit more than others,but 30 mph wind/600y suggests stay home and reload for better days? gbal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akeld Posted March 29, 2016 Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 Is moving your shooting position so the wind is less problem not an option Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shorty Posted March 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2016 Just as an initial scene setter,and to follow tackb's point: even the better 6.5s (x47,CM,260rem) drift around 30 inches in a tem mph wind at 600y.....so up to 90 inches if it reaches 30mph,as you suggest. Even a good-very good-wind reader over reasonably level ground will do very well indeed to read steady wind to an accuracy of say 2mph over 600yards,so the resulting wind error alone error will be 6 inches minimum,and worse if the ground is uneven,with eddying and irregular wind effects,.. with a three inch crow,that's a miss,mostly. 200 yards of course is much less prone to such error. Ball park drifts for 20 mph at 400y: 243/similar 6mms 32 inches;223 34 inches-both with the better BC bullets (heavy ones)-getting a tough call too...another 100fps won't make much impression either. And remember a crow is maybe 3 inches wide-that takes very precise rifle/ammo even in lo/no wind conditions at distance.....and at 600y a 1/2 moa rifle will miss regularly....half thatdistance is such wind/terrain is challenge enough? Clearly some cartridges as above,increase chances a bit more than others,but 30 mph wind/600y suggests stay home and reload for better days? gbal Thank you for that in depth reply gbal, I am currently having a .260 and 6mm br built and it is more me fantasizing than anything else. I am also under no illusions as to what a rifle will shoot when in the field and that a "0.1 shooter" under the best circumstances is very rarely the same in windy cold and wet situation. I am shooting a .223 1 in 8 twist at the moment and a 7mm wsm, so I shall be picking the days carefully and calling the wind with even more scrutiny. Shorty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cock grouse Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Is moving your shooting position so the wind is less problem not an option Your crows must be tame if they give you time to find the ideal shooting position? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grum87 Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Read the wind and accept it for what it is. No matter the calibre you're going to have misses, a crow is a relatively small target to hit in a gale..... Picking a calibre with a high BC and zipling along at a decent speed will help, i use a .260. Ive missed more long crows than Ive hit, but Id like to think ive learnt a thing or two along the way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VarmLR Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Get closer. Few rifles in high winds will give you the confidence at 600 yds. Still conditions, that's another matter. I'd stick with your .223 and use 69 or 70gr bullets. It's what I use for crow and I've no problems out to 300 yds dropping them. Beyond that, the wind is the biggest factor. Lots of gong practice needed for 600yds but can you reliably, every time, hit a 2 or 3 inch gong at 600yds? Few can. Getting closer seems the obvious answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akeld Posted March 30, 2016 Report Share Posted March 30, 2016 Your crows must be tame if they give you time to find the ideal shooting position? From 200-600 yards movement won't be a major problem, if setting up for the day its possible to plan ahead and be in an optimum position Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meles meles Posted March 31, 2016 Report Share Posted March 31, 2016 Failing that, an 81 mm mortar with HE/Frag is worthy of consideration. Smoothbore, so maybe you only need a shotgun certificate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchking Posted April 4, 2016 Report Share Posted April 4, 2016 I have good results with a 8 twist .22.250 shooting 75gr Amax at 3350 fps. Lots of first shot kills at 500 plus.As said nothing cheats the wind but the .22.250 is easy to load for with no case forming.And the lapua brass is superb. I also shoot a 6.5x47 but prefer the .22.250 to be honest. Regards Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted April 5, 2016 Report Share Posted April 5, 2016 I also shoot a 6.5x47 but prefer the .22.250 to be honest. Regards Sean Thats interesting Sean, can I ask the reasons? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchking Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 Thats interesting Sean, can I ask the reasons? Less recoil, Less powder,More suitable bullets,More brass, Quieter,Just as accurate.And out to 600 yards doesn't give up much against the 6.5 And i just like it. Cheers Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banus02 Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 any c/f will do ,just bait the area you want to shoot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon6ppc Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 the wind is an all time pain in the ass in my eyes,for crows i some times go for fast lighter bullets that explode better with less chance of ricochets,but then they blow all over the place,i have a few center fire rifles to and I think if you just shoot one and get more used to that certain bullet half helps,ive had a lot of cals in my life but I do always go back to my 6ppc and for crows use a 55 grain blitzking which I can send almost the same speed as a 22.250 with bench rest accuracy out to 400 yards and more on calm days,, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elio Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 We have a 624 yard swinging target set up and have found we always have to set temp . Into our strelock too , was hitting target every time during the day but missing it at dusk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swagger Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 .284 win does a good job! A lot of recoil and powder though. Not very economical but rather satisfying! Atb, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbal Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 We have a 624 yard swinging target set up and have found we always have to set temp . Into our strelock too , was hitting target every time during the day but missing it at dusk Temp will have a (small) effect at distance on very small targets..... ...are you using a crow sized target at 624 yards ( which might mean more than 3 inches more drop,or thereabouts?) g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grum87 Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 .284 win does a good job! A lot of recoil and powder though. Not very economical but rather satisfying! Atb, Joe And my pals tell me my 260 is overkill on the crows You're right though. It is mighty satisfying. It still tickles me that some just roll over with hardly a mark, and others look like you've hit them with a tactical nuke...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lambsey Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 Any..I hate crows!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggersqueezer Posted April 23, 2016 Report Share Posted April 23, 2016 go with the 6mmbr and a few sneaky wind flags,ideally on a bearing like benchrest flags.even out to 600 the flags make all the difference with hit rates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elio Posted April 23, 2016 Report Share Posted April 23, 2016 Temp will have a (small) effect at distance on very small targets..... ...are you using a crow sized target at 624 yards ( which might mean more than 3 inches more drop,or thereabouts?) g It's an "h" beam about 8 inches long swinging on a chain..gives a good thud back about a second or 2 after it's been hit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbal Posted April 23, 2016 Report Share Posted April 23, 2016 Elio,thanks....my question on size wasn't too well put-H bar is variously measured/sized etc -width/flange depth/beam not typically in inches or metric directly......clearly not designed for our convenience...!! What I meant simply was,what size target presents to the shooter...something like "8 incheshigh x 3 inches wide" (ie crow size-ish). I doubt that plausible UK temperature drop alone would result in enough extra drop for a miss-but maybe you could see bullet splash...in the gloom... roamin' in the gloamin' of course is not an exact science... :-) g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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