About 25 years ago, Jim Carmichael wrote an article about Jarrett Rifles. He titled it "Baron of the Beanfield" and that one article did two things; first, he introduced long range rifle hunting with proper equipment and practice. Secondly, he directed people to me for the equipment and the "how-to" information. Back then, the holy grail distance wise was 400 yards. It stayed there until we started increasing cartridge horsepower and hunters need longer shooting rifles for specific animals.

Through the years the sheep hunting fraternity has had the greatest need for a long shooting rifle. As more and more people have pursued the big Marco Polos and Argolos, they've become spookier and have to be taken at greater distances. Up to a few years ago we had them covered at 600 yards with the 300 Jarrett using 165 gr. and 180 gr. bullets, and many were taken at even greater distances.

We heard sheep hunters saying they needed a legitimate 800 yard rifle, and that became a whole new project. We love a challenge, so we code named that project "Long Ranger." We started with our tri-lock receiver but a different model. When the distance is beyond 600 yards, sectional densities in a bullet above 500 are needed, requiring bullet weights from 190 gr. to 200 gr. A longer range bullet with more weight is needed for accuracy and energy levels to kill animals at 800 yards. The bullets therefore would have to be seated out of the case so far that a repeater was not possible. No one makes a receiver that long so we created a solid bottom, single shot tri-lock. The rifle would have to be a single shot.

At this point, we decided to offer the Long Ranger in two models, a heavy barrel target model and a hunting version. Other changes were also necessary. Barrel twist was an issue. We tooled up to make an 8 and 9 twist 30 caliber barrel. We decided to use our 300 Jarrett case in the beginning so we had a special reamer made with a long throat for longer bullets. Our first test rifle was the heavy version to gather some load data and see accuracy potential at 800 yards. After testing, we settled on tech 9 twist barrel. The rifle shot extremely well with velocities at 3100 feet per second using a 200 gr. bullet. We were getting 4 inch, 3 shot groups at 800 yards from a sandbag rest. The heavy version featured our full heavy varmint taper barrel at 27 inches with a muzzle brake. It was in a marksman varmint stock with Talley rings and bases, and a jewel trigger with safety set at 6 ounces. The whole rig weights about 12 pounds with a big target scope. It comes with a load development, 20 loaded rounds and a ballistics print out. The Long Ranger comes with our traditional finish or all the metal parts (stainless) can be highly polished and the stock painted a bright color or choose our traditional textured finish. If long range shooting is your thing, the marksman version of tech Long Ranger will really turn some heads at the range.

The second model of the Long Ranger is technologically the same concept but in a rifle light enough to hunt with and carry. It also carries a single shot tri-lock action but the metal has been removed in some areas to lighten tech rifle. A 4 taper Jarrett barrel at 26 inches is used with a muzzle brake. The stock can be your choice but the Kevlar/fiberglass stock we use on our Ridge Walker is a good option. Another good choice is our Wind-Walker stock since it's also a single shot rifle and no floor plate is used. This rifle will weigh in around 8 pounds with a variable 1 inch scope. We do the load development and supply 20 test rounds.

Both the heavy version and light version are set up for one cartridge, the Jarrett 300 (long throat). The Long Ranger was unveiled at the 2008 SCI show in Reno, NV, and the interest and sales have been good ever since! Join the 800 yard club with the Long Ranger.