A whole pile of questions regarding upcoming long range rifle purchase

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Mumbles_45

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So it's new rifle time, at least it will be around November, and I'm having lots of trouble making a final decision, so any advice/information/past experiences/suggestions or recomendations are welcome.

I want a long range rifle, probably .308 because I can afford it and it won't wear barrels out too quickly, but thats about as far as I've come. I've looked at the AR-10(T), the DPMS panther - specifically one with an A3 upper reciever and a free floated 24" stainless bbl from rguns.com, Savage 10FPs, 12s and Remington 700s.

Has anyone used www.rguns.com?

Any thoughts on the AR-10(T) vs. the DPMS Panther? If I get an AR I want
it to have a dust cover and forward assist.

I know the Savage stock on the 10FP and 12 series is garbage, so I want either the H-S precision stock or the McMillan one. I hear McMillan can take a while to arrive, is that true? Is it that much better than the H-S one? I've got no experience with McMillan and my only experience with H-S is the M-24. I hear a lot of bad noise about the Savage Accu-trigger, whats the story behind that, does it really suck or is it just other brand loyalists causing trouble?

Maybe I'm just being stupid but I can't find the M-24 package on Remington's site anymore. Probably more than I want to spend anyway. Actually I can't find any of Remington's tactical rifles, except for that mutant 7615 or whatever its called, the thing that looks like a bunch of AR and 870 parts got jumbled together.

I seem to remember DSArms making a bolt gun a while back but I couldn't find it last time I looked (about a month ago). Does anyone have anything to say about them?

How long should I plan to wait for a rifle if I order one? I'll only be home a couple weeks.

I guess thats about it. Sorry for the randomness and the rambling.
 
Some answers, in no particular order.

My recollection is that the Panther has no dust cover or assist.

For the Savage, another option is the Bell & Carlson tactical stock. It's drop in. McMillan has a 6 month backlog last time I checked. The Savage trigger is easy to freplace with a good after-market model.

Have you considered an FN SPR as an alternative to the Remington 700? It comes with a McMillan stock and 20MOA NEAR mfg picatinny rail and is guaranteed to shoot 1 MOA. Just drop on a scope and go shoot. Around $1500 from Tanner Sports or CDNN. I've seen them for $1300 on Gunbroker.

Or drop a 700 LTR into an AI AICS and have something really cool.

Tod
 
I have not shot the FN but I handled one at my favorite shop. It looks to be an extremely well built rifle. The integrated rail was a nice feature.
 
I've owned a couple of SPRs and an PBR XP. It's a Winchester model 70 classic action - controlled feed and the whole bit. The SPR is starting to get a reputation as a great 'turn key' tactical rifle. There's not much to do to it, except perhaps to bed it and drop a scope and rings on it. For those of us who love the classic Model 70, it is a great rifle and an extremely good deal.

Here's a typical deal:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=78813682

More info:

http://www.fnhusa.com/products/firearms/family.asp?fid=FNF006&gid=FNG005
 
Have you considered an FN SPR as an alternative to the Remington 700? It comes with a McMillan stock and 20MOA NEAR mfg picatinny rail and is guaranteed to shoot 1 MOA.
Click to expand...

+1. By the time you go and buy a McMillan stock and 20MOA picatinny, you've got as much or more money into another rifle. Most of them seem to shoot .75MOA with factory target ammo, and mine shoots sub .5MOA with handloads.

Don
 
Well I'm sold on the FN SPR. Now I just need to coordinate one arriving at a gun shop near me in November.
 
I own a Savage 10FP -LE2 in .308 win. The larger bolt knob on the Savage is a distinctly nice feature that is costly and or annoying to acquire for the Remingtons. The FN rifle that's been mentioned earlier is a commercial Mauser action and from what I've heard, the accuracy is lackluster considering the price. The Choate varmint stock for the Savage's is a stock item at Midway and runs roughly 170.00. The Accutrigger is not perfect. The pull is very light, very adjustable, and has no creep. The downside is that the lower settings will result in a decocked bolt if you work the action too quickly. Even with the setting higher, the pull is still half the NIB Remington spec. Sure you can buy aftermarket triggers for the Remingtons, Winchesters, and Mausers (FN) but why pay more? For the money spent on the replacement trigger you could be much closer to a McMillan stock which is also available for the Savage.
 
I just sold a savage varmint rifle with a FANTASTIC adjustable trigger. the 12V series rifles have a better accutrigger than the cheaper models
 
A lackluster 5 shot group of about 3/8" at 100 yards out of an FN SPR.

Don

target2004a.jpg
 
What do you meen by a long range rifle? A gun that shoots a long way or do you want this for long range competition? Because they are totally different animals. If you are looking for a target gun the best way to start out is with a good used gun or build one. If you are looking for something to shoot watermelons at a long way off then just about anything will do.
 
There are a lot of factors to weigh in, What range of distances are you going to shoot at. Paper punching, varminting, big game, or any other intended uses? Semi or bolt? Budget, likes and dislikes of rifles you have fired. If you fired an M24 in the service, and are looking for a civilian equivalent for stationary target work and willing to pay for a good setup, then you will have different needs than a pronghorn hunter on a tight budget.

308 is a versatile cartridge that is good for most sub elk size game, and a good paper puncher out to about 800yds.

.223 is cheaper, and in many ways a better target round under 600yds than 308, good for varmints, and available in nearly everything

300 win mag, a true long range tack driver good to 1000yds

338 Remmy UM hard on the shoulder and wallet, but solid at 1500 yards and will flatten any big beasty North america has to offer.

some fine choices in rifles mentioned earlier, the tikka T3 varmint is a fine 223/22-250/308 for around $750, the CZ 550 varmint is very nice, the 750 is awesome, and the springfield M1A M21 and M25 are the envy of most auto loading gunnies.

A suitable optic has nearly as much to do with long range shooting as the rifle, and will enhance or limit you and your rifles abilities, normally the formula $1 per yard will put you in the right neighborhood with simmons, bushnell, sightron, leupold, Zeiss and Swarovski being good choices depending on application.
 
Mumbles,

Talk to Ray Tanner at Tanners sports. He usually has the best deals on the FN rifles. You can also have you deal check CDNN. You have the option of either the 4 round detachable magazine, or the 5 round intengral. My preference is for the latter, since no hi cap mags are available. YMMV

There are usually a bunck of SPRs on Gunbroker. The basic models have the McMillan A3 stock. The two main versions are the SPR A1 with a 24 inch barrel and the A1a with a 20 inche barrel. I have seen both versions with and without fluting.

It's a great rifle.
 
Here is the 10FP w/ McM stock the cheapest I have found them thats shipped for under $800 with A3, with no waiting, base and rings for $200ish depending on your liking. So, now you are $300 under the cheapest quoted FN SPR, with rings. Accuracy should be about the same.
Just food for thought.
 
I'll give Tanner Sports a call when I get the chance. I want to avoid gunbroker if I can, mostly because I've never used it before.

alucard, I guess I would say I'm looking for something equivalent to an M24, and I probably won't be shooting much but paper at known distances, maybe steel and car parts if I visit friends in NM or find somewhere to do the same kind of shooting in WA or PA. I don't want the ultimate wazoo benchrest rifle though, I want something practical I can take camping and hunt with if I want. I thought about 300 Win Mag and 300 WSM, but I decided it was more than I need and more money more frequently. As far as optics, I have a homeless Super Sniper lying around that I plan to use until I can afford something fancier (I have two hobbies, and I've been neglecting my Jeep a lot).
 
The difference between 308 and 300WM is not as much as many think. If you really want to go long range, 338 Lapua is the thing. You can get the SPR in 300 WM, BTW. But it is more expensive for LR target shooting.

Shoot the 308 with 155 Lapua Scenars and you can got to 1K easily and shoot all day without taking a beating.
 
+1 for DPMS Panther Arms! I have a DPMS .223rem 20" bull barreled AR-15 that is a target shooting dream and a varmints worst nightmare! Have only taken shots out to +-350yrds with it. At the Range 100yrds 3/4" to 1/2" groups are the norm with sub .5" when I get it all right...it's me not the rifle!

ARBULL20.gif
 
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Savage 10FP

You are right the Savage 10FP stock is trash, but the rifle shoots great for a stock rifle. I put a choate stock on mine and it feels great. can't beat it for right around 700.00 in it.
 
Long range.... go .338 LPM either a t-3 in that caliber or preferably a TRG 42. Wonderful weapon...
If you can affoard it an AI...
 
Afy, 338 is more than I can afford right now, and the TRG and AI are way more than I can afford. I'm trying to keep the cost under $1500.

Zak Smith, I have read your articles, very informative, thank you.

Thanks for the Remington link Deer Hunter.
 
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