..practice, practice, practice.
I have a question for the gun club: I’m looking for a good semi-auto rifle of the 7.62/.308 variety. Something I could use to reach out and touch something out to 800m or so. Any recommendations? I was looking at the mini-30, but I’ve read some reviews which suggest it is not the most accurate.
That is the consensus. Besides, the mini chambers the AH\SKS round, no 800 yard round. Semi .308 rifles cost money and are relatively heavy. You can buy junk that skirts one of those two, but don't. M1A or high end AR-10 rifles come to mind for good equipment.
Me, I have a .308 tactical bolt rifle. And two ARs to defend the bolt rifles position. Either you need one well placed shot, or you need a squad...
There’s a kid up the road from me who kills coffee cans with his M-1 and handloads at that distance. Of course, he can read wind changes before they happen.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2104697/posts
Your post is a little confusing. Do you want a rifle that fires 7.62 X 39 or 7.62 X 51[.308]?
Sorry, I noticed you want something for 800 meters. You’re looking for the 7.62 X 51[.308] caliber. Go to the link and see Armalite’s AR-10. There’s also Springfield Armory’s M1A but that needs a lot of care and maintenance.
For someone who is new at this, you might be better getting a good decent hunting rifle with a heavy barrel such as a Remington 700 in .308. You will spend as much on the scope as the rifle if not more.
You won’t be able to hit anything with a Mini30 beyond 400 yards. The design doesn’t allow it.
I don't know about the 800m thing, but Saiga (Russian) has a model in .308.
The semi-auto M-14, known as the M-1A, IIRC, can do that distance if you can.
Since you're presumably located in California, there are legal restrictions in that state on the magazines for some rifles that might otherwise serve you well.
One that is apparantly still legal there, for now at least, is the M1 Garand, which you can obtain from this source for at little as $495.00"