I would like to find a good rifle that can go 500 yards in .308. My budget is around $300 so I have been looking at the Stevens model 200. Is that a good choice or does anyone know of a better one. I have read that it is better than the Savage Axis, which is supposed to be a cheaper version. Thanks for your help.
Good 500 yard .308 rifle
- Thread starter JakeBZ
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unwise11
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So you're going to just shoot the gun at the target without a scope?
Mounts? 20-30 bucks, Rings, 15-60 bucks...Scope? at least 150 bucks for a Nikon prostaff..
Saving up a bit will help you, but a Stevens 200 will be your best bet for a cheap rifle.
Mounts? 20-30 bucks, Rings, 15-60 bucks...Scope? at least 150 bucks for a Nikon prostaff..
Saving up a bit will help you, but a Stevens 200 will be your best bet for a cheap rifle.
I would reccomend a Savage Edge or Axis scoped combo for your budget.
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/70970
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/70970
kalashnikov74
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I own a stevens m200, great rifle out to 500 yds on torso targets. However it isn't much good past that.
The Stevens 200 should be a good rifle, considering your price range. The ones I've seen shot as well as the shooter was capable. The beauty of the Savage is that it has a nice upgrade path. It is essentially a Savage without the Accutrigger, so putting a new barrel on it will be pretty easy, when you're ready.
06
Member
Most any 30 cal will outshoot the trigger puller at any range. My 77 Ruger will easily hit a torso sized target at 500 if I do my part and it is a light weight barrel deer hunter. Gave my son my 700 and it would shoot smaller groups out there. He shoots with his sniper buds with it and does well. Prior to that he was using hunter grade rifles at 500. Develop good shooting habits and skills and you will master your rifles abilities. Practice practice practice. I used to burn hundreds of rounds weekly and every time almost I would learn something.
unwise11
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If this is going to be a target shooting rifle a heavy barrel will help alot, I would advise saving until you can afford a Howa M-1500 or a Remington 700 SPS Tactical.
230therapy
Member
Get a used Winchester Model 70...or any standard hunting rifle. If you have a decent hunting rifle sitting in the closet, just use that. A buddy of mine put a PFI scope on his (caliber was 30-06) and had no trouble hitting at 1,000 yards. You certainly do not need a $4,000 precision rifle. The money is better spent on a decent scope with BDC, some Federal Gold Medal Match ammunition and a training course. Only consider a high end rifle when you have the skill to use it properly. Otherwise, you're just spending money to have "the best" with no way to take advantage of its performance.
You don't need a heavy barrel, tactical anything, synthetic stock, or bedding. What you do need is something that will group reasonably well...preferably one inch or less at 100 yards (doesn't mean it will group equivalently at longer distances, but it's a good rule of thumb). A good trigger helps. It does need a scope mount and sling. A bipod is nice, but you can shoot off a backpack instead. Make or buy a sand sock. Then get to work.
Once you train up, shooting steel will be easy at 500 yards. The challenge will be to get the smallest groups possible...but hitting steel will get boring. Then you'll get into reloading precision ammunition, which is another fun hobby.
Most of all...just have fun. Go to the range and find some NRA long range shooters. Ask questions...they'll talk your ear off. Take notes, buy some books, and so forth.
You don't need a heavy barrel, tactical anything, synthetic stock, or bedding. What you do need is something that will group reasonably well...preferably one inch or less at 100 yards (doesn't mean it will group equivalently at longer distances, but it's a good rule of thumb). A good trigger helps. It does need a scope mount and sling. A bipod is nice, but you can shoot off a backpack instead. Make or buy a sand sock. Then get to work.
Once you train up, shooting steel will be easy at 500 yards. The challenge will be to get the smallest groups possible...but hitting steel will get boring. Then you'll get into reloading precision ammunition, which is another fun hobby.
Most of all...just have fun. Go to the range and find some NRA long range shooters. Ask questions...they'll talk your ear off. Take notes, buy some books, and so forth.
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Geckgo
Member
We talking sub MOA and shooting five hundred yard pie-plates or we talking silouettes?
You don't NEED a heavy barrel to shoot that range and, yes, you can upgrade the Stevens later if you decide you want one. Also if you're going to be using the rifle as a field gun at all, it might be nice not be packing the weight of a heavy barrel.
Best advice seen on a gun board.
The weak link of any rifle is the shooter. Today almost anything off the shelf will shoot 1MOA with good ammo. Most people don't have the skill to take advantage of minute improvements. Those that do generally get their equipment and ammo supplied by Uncle.
LubeckTech
Member
I would watch Gunbroker, Auction Arms or Guns America for a Savage 110 with AccuTrigger and original scope in the $350 - $400 range. That is a little more than you want to spend but is probably the most bang for the buck IMHO. These rifles were usually sold with a Simmons scope which is adequate but not great - It would get you started. I have one in 30-06 and love it.
I have been seeing the Howa rifles at great prices - how are they??
I have been seeing the Howa rifles at great prices - how are they??
mljdeckard
Member
I would cruise the pawn shops, and look for pretty much any lightly used bolt rifle. My preference is Remington 700s, but for 500 yards, anything will work.
Hangingrock
Member
I can’t afford cheap nor an unlimited budget so there for I compromise. The problem with compromising is at some point if I make too many compromises I’m compromised.
I’m not of the opinion that you can’t procure an accurate rifle at the stipulated price but I’m also of the opinion that its better to wait until one’s budget is less constraining. As an example if I bought $1500.00 optics I wouldn’t be acquiring a rifle for a long-long-long time.
If it were I and it is not my budget for the rifle and optics (not buying used) would be at or under the $1000.00. I believe in that price range you’ll have an acceptable rifle and optics package.
You can’t buy competence but al least your rifle and optics combination should not be problematic.
I’m not of the opinion that you can’t procure an accurate rifle at the stipulated price but I’m also of the opinion that its better to wait until one’s budget is less constraining. As an example if I bought $1500.00 optics I wouldn’t be acquiring a rifle for a long-long-long time.
If it were I and it is not my budget for the rifle and optics (not buying used) would be at or under the $1000.00. I believe in that price range you’ll have an acceptable rifle and optics package.
You can’t buy competence but al least your rifle and optics combination should not be problematic.
unwise11
Member
Howas are excellent rifles, my (M-1500 Medium barrel .308) will shoot sub MOA to 300 yards and I'd bet further but 300 is the farthest I've shot it, I love that rifle, I'd reccomend it over the Stevens any day, for about 500 bucks you get a solid rifle with a Hogue stock that fully floats the barrel and most of them shoot sub MOA.
Geckgo, I will be shooting silhouettes and round targets and eventually be going out to 700 or more yards. I would like to achieve the best MOA possible and from what I have read, here and elsewhere, the shooter has a lot to do with it. I am trying to practice as much as possible but I need some basic training in long range shooting.
unwise11
Member
If you want a long range rig save your money instead of getting something that you will not be satisfied with. Trust me, I know that you think the Stevens will fair well, but that sporter barrel will need cooling, ALOT, and it would be so much easier to save a couple hundred more for a Heavy barreled Savage, Remington, or Howa.
You can rebarrel the Savage/Stevens 200 in under 20 minutes and it requires tools that will cost you around $100. You can get a prefit Savage barrel for roughly $300...and those barrels will out shoot the factory Savage barrels. Down the line if/when the OP wants to or has the extra funds to upgrade. The factory sporter contour barrel from Savage/Stevens should be fine til the OP can master his rifle.
Howas are nice, but that Hogue stock isn't the best...issue with Howa and Tikka is that they use metric threads...many gun smiths don't work with metric threads if you want to swap barrels.
Howas are nice, but that Hogue stock isn't the best...issue with Howa and Tikka is that they use metric threads...many gun smiths don't work with metric threads if you want to swap barrels.
unwise11
Member
OK, So the Hogue stock on my Howa that allows the gun to shoot .75" groups at 100 yards with factory ammo isn't the best.. but it works..
As far as the Metric threads, I'm not concerned about rebarreling a Howa, and if you get the Heavy barreled model right off the bat you won't need it, and if you're going to talk about the Hogue stock, how about telling us about the cheapo piece of plastic on the Stevens?
As far as the Metric threads, I'm not concerned about rebarreling a Howa, and if you get the Heavy barreled model right off the bat you won't need it, and if you're going to talk about the Hogue stock, how about telling us about the cheapo piece of plastic on the Stevens?
I'm a big subscriber to 'buy once, cry once'. It'll be cheaper to save up some more money, buy the good gear once and be done with it. And for your goals I'm proposing maybe $150 more in a rifle, and then another $450ish in a scope.
But if that's all the budget you can muster, as already suggested, look for something lightly used to get you started. A LOT of used firearms are in perfect condition for a good deal.
Good luck and have fun!
But if that's all the budget you can muster, as already suggested, look for something lightly used to get you started. A LOT of used firearms are in perfect condition for a good deal.
Good luck and have fun!
Absolutely. The Remington 700 SPS will run you $500-$550 unless you can find one used, and not many people will sell one once they've got it. Mine will put 3 rounds into less than 2 1/2 inches regularly of a sandbag rest at 400 yards!!! The only things I added were a good set of rings, a Nikon scope, and a magazine extension that lets me load 7 rounds. The trigger, out of the box, is absolutely the sweetest thing ever created that doesn't have boobs.
John
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