Rifle Scopes Silly question: Best target for 600 yards, 18x?

[Glennp]

Hey guys, new to the boards. I hope this is a somewhat correct section for this post. Here it goes...

I have a remington 700 SPS varmint in .308, with an HS precision stock on it and a buschnell 6-18x40 scope mounted on a 20MOA picatinny rail. I usually shoot at a 1" red diamond at 100 yards and Im finally about to take it out to 600 yards at a friends range. This will be my first time shooting at 600 yards.
Aside from not being able to get official 600 yard targets around here, I think that a 36" black circle will be a bit overkill with my scope. I need to make my targets via spraypaint and a stencil, so im wondering what size/color would be optimal for a 18x scope, and an 8x scope(on another rifle). Im thinking 10" for the 18x, and 18" for the 8x scope? I prefer red at 100 yards, will it be good to use red at 600? Or at that distance is that a bad idea?

Sorry for the long winded question.
Oh, one last one!
What kind of accuracy is my rifle capable of at 600 yards with hornday TAP .308 168grn ballistic tips?

Thanks!!!!

 

[deadly0311]

Re: Silly question: Best target for 600 yards, 18x?

when spraying your targets either make it black or if you want to use red, spray it black and then red over it so it contrasts. As to the target size, make em challenging and to your liking. maybe 12 inches by 12 inches square. You should get decent accuracy out of that ammo. It all depends on the shooter not the gun once you start going out there

 

[Glennp]

Re: Silly question: Best target for 600 yards, 18x?

Are you saying spray red directly over the black, or make a red square inside of a black square? Also, you suggest 12x12", thats for 18x magnification? Thanks!

 

[deadly0311]

Re: Silly question: Best target for 600 yards, 18x?

Yeah im suggesting spraying red over black for contrast. Its completely up to you as to how big you want to make the aiming point. If you want to challenge yourself make a 8 inch dot, its all completely up to you

 

[Ratbert]

Re: Silly question: Best target for 600 yards, 18x?

Regardless of what magnification you use, a 6" circle @ 600yds will appear the same size as a 1" circle @ 100yds (at the same magnification.) There will be more mirage and less resolution @ 600 yds, so the circle probably won't appear as crisp and easy to see, but it will be the same size.

An 8" dot should make a relatively comfortable aiming point @ whatever magnification you use for those 1" dots @ 100yds, but then make the target twice that in size until you're comfortably hitting the 8" dot every time or you'll just be wondering where your shots went all the time. Depending on your ability and what the wind is like where you shoot, 1.3MOA @ 600yds (8") should not be a problem for most SPS 308's.

Is this for steel or paper? If it's steel then I'd recommend white and/or other bright colors so that you can easily see the splash from impact. If you are shooting at black the splash will just disappear into the paint.

 

[Graham]

Re: Silly question: Best target for 600 yards, 18x?

Circles are OK for cold-bore shots, but they don't provide an accurate aiming point.

Use the same 100 yard sight-in targets (with one red diamond in the center and one smaller one in each corner).

At 200 and 300 yards you can aim more precisely at the bottom or top tip of the diamonds instead of the center of them.

Then, at 600, at 12-15x, the center of the big square is a good aiming point as the smaller squares help bracket the reticle. If you use 20x and above you can aim for the smaller squares themselves.

Staple the target to a cardboard IPSC target as a backer. That way you have extra room if you're off the paper to start. Once you are dialed-in, you and your rifle should be able to print 6-10" groups no problem, assuming mild wind. That will use about half to all of the paper of the 100 yard target.

Errors magnify geometrically with distance, so remember: straight back on the trigger or your horizontal spread will increase dramatically.