Another I need a .308 thread

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valnar

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Other than older .30 caliber rifles, like my Mosin, or intermediate rounds, like the 7.62x39, I don't own anything modern or harder hitting than pistol rounds. (Well, I do have my M38 Swedish Mauser, but I don't want to scope it.)

I want to buy a single .308 rifle. Accuracy is important, as well as the ability to reach out and touch someone. It will mostly be used for fun and target practice. I am totally torn on whether to get a classic bolt-action or a modern semi. And if I choose the semi route, which one? AR10, M1A, Saiga, etc?

I will want it accurate and scoped. Price limit without optics is $1100. My other requirement is easy to strip and clean....or in regards to a semi-auto, at least relatively easy to strip and clean.
 
Well you said you want accuracy, but what does that mean. If you are talking about shooting sub-moa out to long range then their are no semis you can buy in your price range. Even the sporting semis like a BAR have problems getting to sub-moa, and the M1A and Saiga have no chance in that price range. Now if you are talking about hitting an 8" pie plate as being accurate then any of then will do the job.

Assuming you want real accuracy then you need to go to a bolt rifle, I'll admit I do like the Savage for a low cost accurate rifle. A Savage F-TR in .308 would fit your limit as would a number of their target grade rifles in other calibers. These usually give sub-MOA accuracy out to 600 yards or more, and often quite a bit better. The 6 and 6.5MM cartirdges are generally winning the long range competitions now (600-1000 yards) due to a combination of moderate recoil and high ballistic coefficient of the bullets available.

One other advantage to the Savage is that it's very easy to do home gunsmithing on later if you want to upgrade it. Changing cartridges/barrels is so simple even a ham fisted mechanical moron like me can do it.
 
It sounds like a M1A would be a perfect fit. I think they start at about $1350 NIB though. They are definitely accurate rifles. You'll see stock and modified ones at rifle matches and the updated military version (of the M14) are being used in combat.
 
You can get an AR-10 for about $1100 if you want to get on a waiting list. I have a remington that shoots about 1-1.5 MOA all day
I have a Browning BAR Longtrac that shoots sub MOA with factory ammo, I would guess the shorttrac would be as accurate. It is the same action as the FN FAR without all the taticool. FN FARs are going for $999 at CDNN and they are supposed to be submoa.
If you were to step up to a long action you could get a Benelli R1 and if you wanted to save a few bucks you could go Remington 7400 or 750.

If you choose the bolt action route the world is your oyster in that price range. For the money a Weatherby Vanguard S2 will give you the best features. A Tikka T3 is on my wish list right now as well.
 
Some excellent recommendations. Thank you.

How are the BAR and FN FAR's on takedown and cleaning?
 
the newer BAR come apart without tools. the connecting rods can be a little fussy if you strip it all the way but all it really needs is a wipe with oil. They dont foul out too bad if you use good ammo. I put 60 rounds through mine and it looked like new when I field stripped it.
 
I was torn between another 700 and an R25, i know a guy that has an r25 with 200 rounds through it, he wanted $750 for it. I called and just missed it, one of my other friends bought it. So I went with a 700 SPS Tactical AAC-SD. I did not want extravagent, so I topped it with a Vortex Viper HS 4-16 with the BDC reticle and a 20 MOA cant rail. But my saying is a person can NEVER have too many firearms much less .308's. So let me know what ya get and how it ranges.
 
I've had 2 dpms 308's and both were solid, accurate guns. However, I sold them for a RRA Predator with a muzzle brake installed. The trigger is soooo much nicer on the Rock River and I like their ambi bolt release design and mag release. Both DPMS and RRA make excellent rifles. The RRA is a little pricier but sometimes you can find them used for a grand or so. Mine can make 5 shot groups where the bullets touch each other at 100yds using Winchester Super-X 150 gr. I also owned a Savage 10 FCP-K in 308 and I recommend it too. You might check out a Remington 700 SPS Varmint and their 5r. Both are in my sights as future toys;-) Good luck! There are a lot of great options out there!
 
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I too purchased a DPMS Panther in the TAC20. It will also shoot 1 to 1.5" 100 yard groups all day long from a bipod (no rear rest) with various types of ammo. Cost was about $1,000. It is heavy and not portable as much as the bolt guns. I think the .308 is a great choice.
 
Savage bolt gun is the way to go and you will still have enough left over for a nice scope. I have recently purchased two bolt guns thru Buds both Savage a 114 American Classic in .300 WIN MAG which sold me on them and just received an Axis in .223 that is shooting rings around my 700 SPS Varmit .223. Funny thing is I bought it to let some new hunters use and abuse but I think it will be duplicated cause I'm keepin this one for me. I think it has more to do with the fit of the Axis than the quality of the 700 as the Rem is a fine gun as well.
T
 
Unfortunately, $1,000 is not a lot of money for a firearm nowadays.

Given your budget, a Remington 700 Police would be higher quality than a low end semiauto.

The Remington 700 Police is a good value at under $1,000 and capable of sub MOA accuracy. The barrel is free floated and the HS Precision stock has a full length aluminum bedding block. Note that I said the "Police" model. Remington sells a bunch of different models.

Nice thing about a Remington 700 is you can start with a serviceable rifle and make upgrades little by little over a period of years.

New stock, trigger job, new barrel, blue print the action, new bolt handle, and so on. You can fully customize your 700 and there's no shortage of aftermarket parts and gunsmiths to work on it.

Shoot an inexpensive rifle for awhile to figure out what you like and don't like and then customize it into your dream rifle.
 
I would say DSA STG 58 (FAL) for a Semi auto. It is around $1000. Mine is accurate and you can scope it. I would say it is as accurate as a bone stock M1A. In your price range, however; you may have to wait to put glass on it unless you go REALLY cheap. Of course, it will not be as accurate as a bolt gun.
 
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A tactical/target bolt gun in 308 is what you want. Even then you have to decide if you want a full blown long, heavy barreld rig or something more compact like the Remington LTR.

The LTR from Remington is a good choice, Savage makes some good options as do many others. I chose a 20" barreled FN PBR and replaced the crappy Hogue stock with aftermarket. I'm happy with my choice, but all have their advantages and disadvantages.
 
If you want a great shooter out of the box, Tikka's are great quality. The barrels are superb for factory barrels, and the triggers are adjustable. You really can't go wrong. I would personally choose a Tikka over a savage or Remington unless I was planning to add another few hundred/thousand $$$s into it down the road.

If you haven't heard of Tikka before, they are a branch of Beretta.
 
As always, needs and wants change constantly. Maybe I'll end up with two .308's now!....not sure yet. I'm one of those "I want one of everything" people, or at least until there is no threat of losing our 2A rights hanging over our head.

Maybe I can get the long-range-accurate-scoped itch scratched with a nice bolt .308, and the rapid-fire-high-capacity-battle-rifle need filled with an M1A. Of course, a nice AR-10 could satisfy both. Decisions...
 
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