Anyone want to recommend a rifle package?

[rino451]

I lucked into $1,600 cash and want to spend it on my first bolt rifle. Anyone want to recommend a rifle, scope, smithing, and accessory package that's around $1,600?

So far I'm torn between an FN PBR XP and CZ 550 Varmint Kelvar in .308. I'm not geeked on the CZ's magazines where you have to rock them in place, but I have not actually tried one. (Does the FN aka pre '64 Win do the same?).

I have no idea about glass. I'd like something mil dot, but other than that, I have no clue regarding fixed vs. variable, etc.

 

[.41Dave]

What kind of shooting do you plan on doing with the rifle?

 

[rino451]

Precision rifle classes, some hunting, and lots of paper punching I'm sure. I favor the traditional stocks but don't mind a bipod.

 

[rangerruck]

you do not rock cz mags into place, I have two of them. cz makes a complete rifle package right now, and you could hardly do better. it is called the cz UHR i think, and it is the rifle with a scope mated to it, matched to your caliber and various weight bullets. it is about 1000 bucks, and it is a very fine system, with guaranteed moa accuracy. I think with the 300 win mag or RUM calibers, it is even guaranteed moa out to 1000 meters, which is an unbelievable guarantee.
I would check that out first. next I would look through a big savage catalog, and put something together, and special order it.

 

[browningguy]

Go to http://www.cdnninvestments.com and downlad the fiirearms catalog. They did have the AR-30 bolt action in .308 for around $1000. That would be an excellent rifle for benching. Although if forced to choose between the two you mentioned I'd probably go with the FN, although to be honest I haven't shot that model.

For glass anything from a fixed 10 to a 4-16 or 6-20 variable would work. I really am becoming enamoured of the Burris FFII's with the mildot, I've got several of my hunting rifles scoped with these in 3-9.

 

[.41Dave]

With $1600 burning a hole in my pockets, I'd go with a used Savage rifle (whichever model you prefer) in .308, a Zeiss Conquest or Bushnell Elite 4200 3-9x40 scope, and the Mid-range rifle course at Thunder Ranch.

 

[rino451]

cz makes a complete rifle package right now, and you could hardly do better. it is called the cz UHR i think, and it is the rifle with a scope mated to it, matched to your caliber and various weight bullets. it is about 1000 bucks,

$3,000. Looked at them but way to rich for my blood. Regarding the CZ mags, that's good to know. The HS stock on the CZ has a full alum. bedding block vs. pillars on the FN. I looked at the Savage and their stocks. None of the furniture that they come with appeals to me. I'd end up buying and bedding another stock making Savage not that great of a deal. I do like their BVSS if only it weren't SS.

I was probably going to go to Tiger Valley for now just because it's close to home.

 

[Davo]

Savage 10fp w/hs presicion stock, SWFA Super Sniper in 10x or 16x, TPS rings and 20 MOA base, Savage Shooters truing package. For 1600 that leaves enough to get a reloading setup or an aftermarket barrel.

 

[WYO]

I would buy a good scope like a Leupold VX III 2.5-8x36 for $400. You can use it with any rifle. Then, buy a high quality "no frills" rifle like a Remington 700, Winchester 70, Savage, Tikka, Ruger, etc. in a standard caliber like .308 or .30-06, and learn to shoot. (Buy dual dovetail rings and mounts for the gun if it doesn't come with rings like the Ruger.) Save the rest of the money. After you shoot a while you may decide you want something different. You then can sell your starter rifle and put the money you recover plus all the other money on your "perfect" rifle. You may also decide that you already have your perfect rifle and a few hundred dollars left over.

 

[hossdaniels]

How bout a sako or a kimber in .308 with a nice vx-3 or vx-5?
edit. for $1600 go for custom whatever you want!

 

[kieran]

the PBR looks like a good starting place, though being a less 'popular' rifle package, there'll be less in the way of aftermarket parts and accessories. this may or may not be a consideration for you.

i have a valdada 10x on top of my 'long distance' rifle. it has the MP8 reticle design, which is a bit different from mil dots, but a similar idea, just laid out differently. its a good scope. 4" of eye relief too, which is just lovely.

 

[Simple Man]

I agree with WYO. Start off with a great piece of glass and a good rifle and save a little money. The CZ 550's are really nice guns and that set trigger is great for target shooting or even hunting. All of my CZ's were very accurate out of the box and needed just a little tweaking of the trigger to suit my taste. I recently picked up my first Tikka T3 and man is it a sweet rifle. It doesn't have the set trigger like the CZ but the standard trigger in the Tikka feels better to me than the CZ's. The Tikka and the CZ both have fully adjustable triggers are are easy to adjust. It's one smooth trigger! I would have a tough time choosing between a CZ or a Tikka if it were me making this choice.:banghead:

 

[rino451]

Just like a previous poster said, I'd like to buy a package that I can leave alone until I figure out what I really need/want. Looking for bang-for-buck. That said, I've heard that the FN is probably the more accurate rifle but more expensive than the CZ and Rem. 700. Assuming that the action is of sound design and well built, the CZ appears to have the best stock of the bunch out of the box and at just over $700 is hard to ignore.

I think I'm going with the CZ. Wish the Varmint Kevlar came in .30-06...

 

[DrKyle1]

Another option is to look for a higher quality slightly used stick & glass...

 

[rino451]

Thought of that, but I'm not qualified to know what's seen better days. I'm also a city bum how doesn't have the friends with experience so I'm going at this alone for now. I did see a used GAP rifle not long ago but it was $1000 more than I have to spend.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Tikka stainless T3----pick your stock---lam/syn/wood----Ziess Conquest 3x9x40----throw the supplied scope rings away and get some decent mounts.

Then you'll have $500-$600 left over for a nice pistol OR all the ammo and accessories you can handle for the T3.---a nice hard case(airline grade)---a few hundred rounds of ammo---bipod----sling and maybe a rangefinder or something like that.