Getting started

9854 Views 18 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Scopes, Oct 8, 2004

Bluka987

Discussion Starter · Oct 4, 2004

Hey everyone,
I have always loved shooting long range, and recently I have been looking into getting into the sport. I have been saving my moneyfor quite some time now, and i am thinking about investing it into somthing ive wanted for a long time-Sako TRG-42 338 lapua magnum-with a US optics sn-9 10-42 80mm Ultra Hi- Res scope, now thats a lot of money to be spending on a gun just for recreational use,not to mention the cost of .338 lapua ammunition, So i was wondering, I live in central florida as of right now, but may soon be moving back to south florida, and i was wondering if anyone knew, or if there was a way i can find out if there are any clubs, or long range shooting ranges or competion long range shooting, or things of that nature in either of these areas. I am only 18 years old, but i would really like to get serious into this. I mean I can find people that have property for me to shoot on where i can shoot 600-1000 yards, but i want to go somwhere where i can learn and improve my shooting skills. any help you guys can give me would be very appreciated

oh, and how do you guys like my Rifle/scope combo?

Thanks Bluka987

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

Jeff_850

· #2 · Oct 4, 2004

like you said .338 is a lot of money
so is a Sako TRG-42 w/ a USO scope
a .308 is running out of steam at 1000y, a .300 Wm can make it with authaurity, .338 is overkill at that range because of the cost

mele

· #3 · Oct 4, 2004

Jeff_850 has a good point. If you are not going to go past 1000y, then the .338 Lapua is overkill and over priced. You can even get your desired rifle (TRG-42) in .300 WinMag, and the ammo expense will be less than half that of Lapua Mag. Of course, if money is no object, then don't worry about it! Besides that, great rifle, great scope.

Unfortunately, I do not know the Florida area to be able to help you out there.

MEL

Bluka987

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 4, 2004

well, I know thats the rifle i am going to get, i never said i wouldn't shoot any farther than 1000yds. I already know how powerful the rifle is and how expensive it is, i am just in love with this rifle, and no one could talk me out of getting it. I just want to be sure i can learn to use it, and maybe get started in some kind of long distance shooting, and would like to know if there are anyplaces in florida that i can go to do that. I hope i am making sense.
thanks for your help
bluka987

Jeff_850

· #5 · Oct 4, 2004

if you want to get that rifle in that caliber we really cant stop you

i would reccomend say a .308 or somethin for all the times you are at 600y if you shoot a lot and dont handload
a 2nd gun in a smaller caliber that is less expensive would be a hell of a lot chepaer over time than firing a .338 when you dont need it

Bluka987

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 5, 2004

Well, sorry, but my gun is not in debate here, im just wondering if anyone knows of any places in florida that i can shoot at, and maybe learn more about it. I own more than one gun also, i own a few shotguns a .308, .270, and a few .22s, just none of them are a tactital type gun like this, i just want to go all out on a gun ive always wanted. So if you don't like the rifle-scope combo for some reason, you can let me know, but i have already said i know how powerful the rifle is, and i know how much it will cost.Maybe im a stupid kid, but for some reason, a gun like that just gives that sense of power, to send a 225gr peice of metal down field 1500yds and still have enough knock down power to kill a moose.

Scopes

· #7 · Oct 5, 2004

Bluka,
You say your gun is not in debate here yet in your original post, you ask how everyone likes your gun/scope combo? You don't ask for someone's opinion then get upset when they give it to you. If you want to go out and get a $3000.00 gun and a $4000.00 scope, by all means ,do it if that is what you want. This is america and you can.
People aren't trying to tell you what to do, they are trying to give you advice; advice that has come from experience. I live in Florida and you can count on one hand how many places you can shoot over 600 yds in the entire state.
.338 is expensive to shoot, an expense that is not necessary. If you want to powertrip by having, as you put it, "a gun like that just gives that sense of power..." then get the .338. Just don't complain or try to sell the rifle when it cost you $1+ per shot.
If you want power, and have money to burn, why don't you buy a Barrett .50? How about sending that much lead down range for 2000+ yds.
Knowing what you want is one thing, listening to people who are trying to help you and get you started in the right direction is another.
So buy what you want and shoot what you want but check the attitude at the door. Everyone is here to help and advise, not puff up and get defensive.
One last thing concerning my worthless opinion. If you took that same amount of money bought SC1 and a US Optics ST-10 by the time you spent the remaining balance on ammo and range time, you could probably out shoot a majority of people you'll ever meet.
You're only 18, you have years to buy ALL of the guns you want. Why blow your load right now? Then what are you going to look forward to?
Of course if you really want the feeling, join the Marine Corps and become an 8541. Or if you really have the sac, join the navy and try to make it through BUD/s. They will PAY you to play with a Barrett .50 all day long
Good luck in your purchase and shooting.

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Bluka987

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 6, 2004

All i was asking in my original post was "how do you like the rifle scope combo" I sort of new i shouldn't have put that there because instead of people saying "yeah, thats a great combo", or "No, i wouldn't put that scope on that gun" I get "well you don't really need that much power" or "thats a really expensive gun". and you are way out of line for saying I have an attitude, I have showed way less attitude and just plain out rudeness then you have showed me (scopes). I appreciate everyones opinion, but i just didn't want everyone to try to talk me out of getting a gun. I asked how do you like my gun as a side note, not as the subject of the the post. I was by no means getting "upset". think about what you are saying, I have researched the gun and the scope i want to buy, i know how much they cost, i know how much the ammo is, "If you want to go out and get a $3000.00 gun and a $4000.00 scope, by all means ,do it if that is what you want." I already told you thats what im doing, are you giving me permition? "Just don't complain or try to sell the rifle when it cost you $1+ per shot. " why would i know how much it costs, didn't i already say i did? I don't want to buy a .50BMG because of the weight of the gun, they are very bulky, people say how great of a gun the .338 is because its more accurate than the .50 and about the closest thing to it (balistics wise).

I hope this made some sense, I do value everyones opinion, but you only need to go so far with it
thanks
bluka

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Jeff_850

· #9 · Oct 6, 2004

Bluka,
no one is trying to be rude to you here
we were just giving our opinions and trying to help

Scatch Maroo

· #10 · Oct 6, 2004

Bluka987 said:
I don't want to buy a .50BMG because of the weight of the gun, they are very bulky, people say how great of a gun the .338 is because its more accurate than the .50 and about the closest thing to it (balistics wise).

I've heard of a specific caliber in .408 something which is supposed to completely out-perform the .50 post-2000 yards. I know nothing about it, or even the full name of the cartridge... but if you're still interested in something with as much power + better accuracy than a .50, the .408 might be something to investigate. Like I said, I know nothing about it... but it sounded cool when others were talking about it.

Scatch Maroo

mele

· #11 · Oct 6, 2004

If you would like an opinion about the rifle/scope combo.

Before buying the scope, I would check to be sure that the 80mm objective is not going to cause problems with ring height and cheek height. Just make sure that the ajustable cheek piece on the TRG-42 has enough travel to get your eye in line with the scope. (the 80mm objective means your centerline for the scope is twice as high as a normal scope).

Besides that, USO is excellent as is the TRG-42. I might recommend a few other scopes (from USO or others) but you seem set on this particular one.

MEL

FLEA

· #12 · Oct 6, 2004

Scatch Maroo said:
I've heard of a specific caliber in .408 something which is supposed to completely out-perform the .50 post-2000 yards. I know nothing about it, or even the full name of the cartridge... but if you're still interested in something with as much power + better accuracy than a .50, the .408 might be something to investigate. Like I said, I know nothing about it... but it sounded cool when others were talking about it.

Its a .408 Cheyenne Tactical
http://www.cheyennetactical.com/index2.htm
Its best of both worlds, 50 BMG range and 338 Lapua Accuracy. My only problem is the only company chambering them currently is EDM arms and I have never been a fan of the windrunner models.

As to the original post and what do I think of that set up. I think its over kill but hey its your money and your choice. I see people people all the time with $10,000.00 rifles that can't shoot them to save thier lives. Getting your math down past 1,000 yards definatly takes skill and can be very frustrating if that is your first attempt.

My recommendation has always been to start with the basics and build up when you know what you really want. You don't know what your perfect scope is until you have one and find things you don't like about it. Same thing for reticule......and stock.....and bipod....barrell....trigger.

The choice is yours, just thought I would put in my .02cents.

Jeff_850

· #13 · Oct 6, 2004

Scatch:
the .408 Chey Tac was not tested against .50 BMG ammo that the company made which happend to provide better ballistics
funny how they dont test thier .408 with their .50 BMG

saw a .408 Chey Tac at the range for $18000 and someone actually bought it!!!
no idea what ammo costs for it, probably more than the $3-3.50/round that you pay for .338 Lapua match ammo

FLEA

· #14 · Oct 7, 2004

Jeff_850 said:
Scatch:
the .408 Chey Tac was not tested against .50 BMG ammo that the company made which happend to provide better ballistics
funny how they dont test thier .408 with their .50 BMG

The simple answer to this is it wasn't a fair test so why try. It easy to get better results from match 50 bmg ammo when you are shooting it out of mc bros rifles and other top quality 50's. No manuafaturers have made a top quality 408 yet. At the time they only had the edm windrunner (take down model) They still need a good company to step up to the plate so it wouldn't make sense to show any negative results.

Plus with 50 bmg's being banned in California (who knows where next) maybe some good rifle makers will give it a shot.

Scopes

· #15 · Oct 7, 2004

Bluka,
I wasn't trying to be rude, or give you an attitude.
I'm not perfect and don't claim to be.
As Jeff_850 pointed out we're are trying to help and giving opinions. I am opinionated. In your third post I felt you were getting defensive and called you on it. If you were not, my bad. However that being said, I felt you could have approached your question differently, that's all. For example if you would have wrote something like "I'm building a .338 with this scope, where in Florida can I shoot over 1K". Then someone, probably me, would have came back with an answer.
Like I said before, spend your money any way you want. That is not sarcasm, I am serious. My point was, and I think everyone will agree, if you want to obtain a certain goal of shooting 1K+ yds., your means are overkill and there are better ways of doing it.
Here's an example of what I was trying to convey.
I need a company car. I can afford, and want, a Porsche 997. Is that the best decision I can make? Probably not. But if that is what I want, and I can afford it, that is what I'm going to get. Even though most of my friends, and people I know with experience, will try and talk me out of it. But that is what I want and I'm going to get it. Now I want to know where I can drive it to have fun.
OK, get your gun. It's a nice set up and I don't know anyone who would argue better than me that USO scopes are the best.
As far as the gun goes, get the .338, enjoy it.
BTW, I am not giving you "permission" or trying to imply that with my approval it's OK. I'm saying go for it if that is what you want, you know the details, and you can do it. I'm saying kick a$$ and take names if that is what you want to do.
As far as Florida ranges that go to 1K + yardages. No joy north of Orlando unless you find a farmer or something. That may be your only option.

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Bluka987

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 7, 2004

Scopes
Hey man, the last thing i wanted was to get into some stupid argument, i guess i could have worded my question differently, but all that aside. I know a few people here that i could go to a field and shoot as far as i wanted, i was just checking to see if there were any ranges, cause thats what i would rather. I think the range i usually go to in sabastian is building a 600yd range, so i can at least get it sighted in there. Thanks for everyones advice i really appreciate it. and Mel the reason i want to get the 80mm scope is because with such a high magnification (42x) i think a bigger objective would give more light transfer, and a bigger field of view, am i right in these assumption?
again thanks for all your help, and any more advice would help

Jeff_850

· #17 · Oct 7, 2004

yea your scope will give a huge field of view on the lower power
and be 100% clear and damn near 100% light transfer which is also dependant on the quality of the glass and the coatings and trust me USO has no shortage of quality!!! quite possibly the best scopes
can anyone tell me how much this massive scope would weigh?
anyone give a picture of it? heh

mele

· #18 · Oct 7, 2004

Yes, the 80mm will give better light gathering at the high mag, but that is only relative to what a 40mm would do at 42x. The exit pupil, even with 80mm is going to be very small cranked up at 42x, and light gathering and field of view is still going to be poor. Nothing against the quality of the scope, its just physics. The 80mm (or 88mm) at 42x will have half of the light gathering as a 10x with 40mm. (provided the tube diameter and optical quality is the same). Of course, you can always crank the magnification down during low light, and that will help a lot. You will have the same light gathering as a 10x 40mm at 20x with a 80mm.

MEL

Scopes

· #19 · Oct 8, 2004

Bluka,
We're all straight.
Mele is dead on with the physics problems with that big of an objective.
Just something to consider.

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