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Not even a little. My goal really is to become proficient out to 300 yards or so from field positions using open or aperture sights. I cut my teeth on a peep sight and over the years my skills there have become rusty. Also, I'm kinda of the opinion that things like use of iron sights and shooting from field positions are a dying art that I'd like to be one tiny part of preserving. Plus, punching paper through a scope off sandbags gets ultra-boring in a hurry.
The reason for the .308 over the .223, is I want to stay in the practice of dealing with an recoil.
I agree everyone should learn how to shoot with sights and be able to connect without to much trouble with a torso size target up to 500 meters/yards.
Personally for me I would choose a threaded barrel so you could integrate a very light front post with a small brake or front bleeding comp.
A single baffle shorty will be perfect and will bleed to the sides and up so you do not pickup dust when shooting prone. Some come tapped like AI but they
are expensive so one could tap it yourself and leave the barrel completely untouched. In the back a decent diopter system is hard to beat.
For me I would like a system that you could alternate sights and a glass with a mount that can assure return to zero.
For a low budget check out the savage 10fp for under 600. Cabelas has one the 10T with 24" barrel that used to land well below 450 after rebate.
These are the ones with the accustock that is not a super dooper chasis but it is a huge leap forward vs. the tupperware everybody else sells in
the budget rifles. These 10Ts and the FPs have been reviewed in many forums and sold like donuts and folks have reported very decent accuracy
out of the box. There is also the predator line (not the XP though) that has the accustock but a tad more money and not really anything different.
I think the nice about the fp tactical is that it comes threaded and you have a 20 inches if you like it to be compact. I think 21 or 22 would be the ideal
size but I would not mess with the barrel and get the threaded if it has to be 20 ok.
If I had a few more dollars I would seriously consdier the bergara B14 HMR in 308. It is a remington 700 action the way it should be made and with
features other aftermarket R700 actions costing x3 more. It leaves the SPS in the dust in terms of quality and features.
But a Savage will serve well with the package out of the box. Another great one is the hog hunter that comes with the sights and it lands you in
450 and can start shooting althoug at some point you want to put a couple of hundred dollars to toss away the factory tupperware stock for
one with some aluminum bedding. B&C makes the medalist that is possibly the best value on that class. I think this is not necessary right away
but at some point you might want to make the rifle as consistent as it can be and factory stocks are not good for that. But if you are serious
about good practices from day one and I woudl get a nice stock/chassis and get into the good habits. This way you can fit the rifle to your
complexity and style and make it comfortable and ready to drive.
There are so many formulas that you head might spin but like the 308 logic I would choose between the most popular actions on the planet
like the savage 10, r700 or a mauser type but those are going to be more money and no need.
Popular stuff might be boring but assures endless service and aftermarket support. Same with the service ammo and 308 that if not found in ammo during a crisis one
can always find components to reload and make it work.
Simple is good. Less is more in the end.
edit: I meant 10fpc.. otherwise check the 10T from cabelas. I just warn about the 24" barrel that makes it a heavier rifle. nothing bad but IMO different and in my case I like to compensate with some weight in the back to balance the rifle. Then it becomes more a heavy tactical rifle than a more compact handy one.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...roducts_id/97912/Savage+10FCP-SR+308+20"+10RD
Hog hunter... this will need a mount in the back because those sights are not setup for long shots but at least the front one is ready. This would need more research. There are adapters for a mount and sights in the back.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...4/products_id/78093/Savage+11+HOG+HNTR+308+TB
This is the bergara. Another workhorse in R700 blueprint. Hard to beat value too...
http://www.bergarausa.com/bergara_b-14_series_hmr_hunting_and_match_rifle.php
Good luck.