I'm new to long range shooting. Rifle help, please.

[UKWildcatFan]

I'm interested in a new bolt gun to try my skills at long range shooting. For me that's 300-400 yards. My budget will probably be around $1,000. I understand good glass is important, but let's first start on the rifle. what new rifles out there are good for beginners? I load and cast. I'm assuming .308 is the most used caliber in benchrest shooting? I'm in the investigative phase, so any info is appreciated.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Are you reloading? Or buying factory ammo? Is your budget $1000 for rifle only or are you wanting rifle and scope for $1000.

 

[UKWildcatFan]

I cast and reload. $1,000 just for the rifle.

 

[Walkalong]

6PPC dominates Benchrest.

.308 is still very popular with the long range crowd.

There are a number of good options out there.

 

[farmerboy78]

Savage in 6.5 Creedmoor

 

[UKWildcatFan]

It'll be in .308 Winchester. I've recently reduced calibers and I don't want to add one now.

 

[NWcityguy2]

For 300-400 yards, .223 is a great choice. It will be more economical and have less recoil than .308. I'd also suggest an AR over a bolt action for your intended purposes. The AR will offer features, options and user customization levels that are unheard of compared to bolt actions, even the most common ones like the Remington or Savage. You could also build it yourself, have exactly what you want and be way, way under your $1000 limit.

However, if bolt action is it and that is what you want, you could do very well with a Savage in a .308 with and Accutrigger and Accustock. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/.../14431/Savage+17826+11111+FCNS+4+1+308WIN+22"

Once again, everything is a trade off. You can get a rifle that can far outpace either the 223 or the 308, but it won't be doing it for less money or recoil. The biggest thing when it comes to getting good at shooting is focusing on yourself until you look around and have trouble finding people better than yourself.

I'm assuming .308 is the most used caliber in benchrest shooting?

308 is a very popular caliber among hobby shooters and non-pure accuracy competitions because of how many factory ammunition options there are. For many calibers, anything other that hunting ammunition (or FMJ) gets very expensive.

 

[Gtscotty]

I'd also take a look at the Tikka CTR, mine is in . 308, and I've been quite pleased with it. Should run you mid $800s for the blued version and $900s for the stainless version.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

For 300-400 yards, .223 is a great choice. It will be more economical and have less recoil than .308. I'd also suggest an AR over a bolt action for your intended purposes. The AR will offer features, options and user customization levels that are unheard of compared to bolt actions, even the most common ones like the Remington or Savage. You could also build it yourself, have exactly what you want and be way, way under your $1000 limit.

However, if bolt action is it and that is what you want, you could do very well with a Savage in a .308 with and Accutrigger and Accustock. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/.../14431/Savage+17826+11111+FCNS+4+1+308WIN+22"

Once again, everything is a trade off. You can get a rifle that can far outpace either the 223 or the 308, but it won't be doing it for less money or recoil. The biggest thing when it comes to getting good at shooting is focusing on yourself until you look around and have trouble finding people better than yourself.



308 is a very popular caliber among hobby shooters and non-pure accuracy competitions because of how many factory ammunition options there are. For many calibers, anything other that hunting ammunition (or FMJ) gets very expensive.

You AR guys never stop. Must be nice to have the whole world settled on one gun. The OP said BOLT.

 

[dh1633pm]

I shoot local F-Class at 300 yards. Most use 223 these days. I am about the only one using 308. I shoot my Remington 700 Milspec with a KRG stock and Vortex glass. Most shoot better than me. But I am close. The opportunity it gives, is to make me a better shooter. I am getting better at judging the wind (shoot where it is very windy) and holding steady. Out of possible 150 I get in the low 140's and group at about six inches give or take a few. It takes me an hour to get there and an hour to get home. My skills have gone up a bunch by taking the time to try.

 

[jmr40]

One of these in 308 or 6.5 Creedmore. I have one in 308 that is a tack driver. Even with the shorter barrel it won't be a handicap until you get to 600-700 yards. I'm seriously considering one in 6.5. They are only about $400, spend the rest on better glass and loading supplies.

http://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/models.html

If you can squeeze a little over $1000 into your budget get this.

http://ruger.com/micros/rpr/models.html

 

[Sav .250]

There is a lot you can also do on your own. Plenty of information on the net concerning
long range shooting.

Self educating sticks with you a lot longer .

 

[Bart B.]

I'd get a Savage rifle in 6mm/24 caliber as the .308 is not all that popular in short range benchrest, but it would do OK. A single-shot or internal box magazine, not a detachable magazine.

A medium-low priced scope will let you shoot bullets just as accurate and precise as the most expensive one on this planet. There's some good ones under $500. A fixed power one will function more precisely than a variable. Weaver T24, for example:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/12...djustable-objective-1-8-moa-dot-reticle-matte

 

[NWcityguy2]

You AR guys never stop. Must be nice to have the whole world settled on one gun. The OP said BOLT.

That is why I gave my opinion on both.

 

[d2wing]

My choice would be Tikka or Remington. For strictly bench shooting A would look at the Remington's. Off the shelf Savages can be very good. But if not you have nowhere to go. Remington has a stronger action and faster lock time. All kinds up aftermarket upgrades and custom work can be done to them if you want. It depends on your goals and how far you want to go.

 

[Jenrick]

Howa sells their 1500 with a scope for under $800 out the door most places. I got mine in .308 with a 4x16. It will stack rounds on top of each other for far longer than I find interesting. It will easily reach out to 800-900 meters, if you can shoot it and call the wind. IPSC sized steel targets are a gimmee out to 300-400. Hold center and pull the trigger.

-Jenrick

 

[The Big D]

For a .308 medium-long range rifle, I'd look for the following things:

- a bolt rifle
- good bases (including 20MOA down) available for scope mounting
- relatively heavy
- heavy/bull profile barrel between 16-22 inches (.308 is efficient with short barrels)
- free float stock with either pillar + skim bedding or an internal bedding block system
- 1 in 10" twist rate, certainly no higher than 1 in 11.25"
- a detachable box magazines are nice but not required

The action you choose is up to you.

The Ruger precision rifle will be about in your price range once the newness wears off, but right now they're a couple hundred more. That's one option.

A Remington .308 5R is an option with a great stock but a bit over your price range. The 16.5" short barrel version of the Remington SPS tactical is in your price range. The longer 20" version has a slow twist rate and I wouldn't recommend it.

The Savage 10 FCP with the Accustock is in your price range. I hate their bolt feel, but the accuracy is consistently good.

I really love the action of the FN SPR, but it's a little too expensive and the twist rate is too slow.

 

[Walkalong]

Too slow for what? Mine shoots 168s great. Haven't tried the 175s yet.

 

[stoky]

1 in 12" twist works well with Palma bullets. Many of the match rifles are built with 1 in 13" barrels.
Maybe not salient for 300 to 400yds.

 

[The Big D]

Too slow for what? Mine shoots 168s great. Haven't tried the 175s yet.

Generally speaking to meet military stability standards (ie. cold temps, low altitude and long shots will not make your bullet unstable) in .308 you want 1 in 11.25 twist for the SMK 168s and 1 in 10 twist for the SMK 175s.

Berger bullets can be somewhat worse. To meet the same level of stability, you'd need 10.5 twist on the Berger hybrid 168s.

The degree to which one is willing to tolerate bullet finickiness, stability under only some atmospheric conditions, and/or a propensity to destabilize down range due to drag is a personal choice I guess. But if it's me paying money for the rifle/barrel I would not buy a .308 with less than a 1 in 11.25 twist barrel for long range use. OP asked for opinions, and there it is...

 

[Walkalong]

Thanks.