Looking at 308 Bolt actions

[Bentnail63]

So I have been looking at purchasing a 308 Bolt action Rifle. I want to use it to fire my own loads and at distance of 100 plus yards and towards if I wish to shoot in competition (maybe). I am on a budget kinda of so not wanting to go over the top. Looking at barrel length longer than 20 inches like in 24inches or longer.



So I have prepared a spreadsheet with my likes and these are my likes but not sure which...I own the Ruger American Standard GEN2 in 223 and enjoy shooting it.



Ruger American Predator GEN2 with the 22 inch barrel

Ruger M77 Hawkeye Long Range Target with 26 inch barrel



Remington 700 ADL with 24 inch barrel

Remington 700 SPS with 24 inch barrel



Savage 110 Tactical with 24 inch barrel

Savage 110 Predator with 24 inch barrel



I like the M77 but not ever shot one or nor no anyone that has one, so looking for input on it as well as the others. Tikka's are out of my range as well as Sako's too. I tend to lean towards the Ruger since I already have a Ruger in 223 and it shoots nicely at 100 yards plus. But also the Remington 700 with their R5 barrels are standing there in their own and are looking great.



Looking for input....

Thank you

 

[JmacD]

I was looking at some of these exact ones, and I happened into a Howa 1500 with a 26” barrel. I put a Boyd’s at one stock on it as opposed to the one that was on it, but that thing will shoot.

 

[Lefty38-55]

Every Savage heavy barrel I’ve had has been 1 MOA or better with Fed GMM ammo. Good handloads improves that, as well as reloading using the Dan Newbury ‘Optimal Charge Weight’ (OCW) method of load development.

This is my current LH model 10 Sav308 @ 200Y, shot prone off bipods for 10-shots, using a 168-grn Sierra HPBTM bullet, Varget powder, as an OCW loading.

I was ‘coached’ to shoot this good that day, as part of a class and the Instructor says the L to R dispersion was my shoulder pressure caused. Still, the load and rifle will shoot!

 

[dh1633pm]

I can assist with your choice. You'll need one large hat. Write down each of your choices on a piece of paper. Fold and put them in the hat. Find someone to reach into the hat and grab one piece of paper. Open the paper and read your choice. You will have made an excellent one.

I own a Savage LRP, it shoots fantastic. A Remington MilSpec with 5R, it also shoots like a dream. Lastly I have a Ruger Hawkeye and GSR. Not too shabby. The Savage is full up stock. The Remingtons and the Ruger's have trigger replacements. All shoot very well.

Its a hard choice to make. Attempt at humor aside, you have some good rifles on your list. It might just come down to fit and the feel. The question of how it handles. Otherwise, get out the hat.

 

[br549arkie]

Take a good long look at a Howa 1500.

 

[Bentnail63]

I am looking at the Howa 1500 Hogue Rifle. Nice rig but I am curious about the Hera H7 rig also? Not alot information from their site concerning it versus the Hogue Rifle. So?

 

[mingo]

I have the Savage 110 tactical with 24" barrel. It shoots less than 1" groups at 100 yards.
I also picked up a 5 round mag for hunting. Very accurate gun.

 

[dieselchief]

my poor mans bolt gun is a 700 adl with a 6 to 18 leupold. target knobs. the ruger predator shoots decent also. hate to admit it but the traditional bolt guns such as the 70, 77 and 700 feed so much better in my mind i cant get along with much else for very long.

 

[Show Me]

Poor man, not really.
Steven's .308 , surplus old school accustock , surplus fluted heavy .308 savage barrel. 6X24 Vortex diamondback , feeds cartridges one after another. Now that's poor.

my poor mans bolt gun is a 700 adl with a 6 to 18 leupold. target knobs. the ruger predator shoots decent also. hate to admit it but the traditional bolt guns such as the 70, 77 and 700 feed so much better in my mind i cant get along with much else for very long.

 

[someguy2800]

Go look at some rifles and take home the one that whispers sweet nothings in your ear. Spec sheets and spread sheets simply cannot tell you how a rifle is going to feel in your hands.

 

[JmacD]

I was looking at some of these exact ones, and I happened into a Howa 1500 with a 26” barrel. I put a Boyd’s at one stock on it as opposed to the one that was on it, but that thing will shoot.

Take a good long look at a Howa 1500.

I am looking at the Howa 1500 Hogue Rifle. Nice rig but I am curious about the Hera H7 rig also? Not alot information from their site concerning it versus the Hogue Rifle. So?

That’s the model I was trying to think of.
Here is a 6 shot group from mine. The upper right was cold bore.
The “flyer” on the left was a buggered up tip I wanted to “see what would happen”.

 

[George Dickel]

I recommend Remington or one based the Remington 700 action. There is so much more aftermarket for that rifle than most others. I've had Stevens, Ruger, Savage and Remington centerfire rifles and at this point in time I have a Rem 700 and a Savage 110. I prefer the 700 over the 110 and will be selling the Savage.

 

[tdbmd]

I have had good luck with most any Savage. Otherwise I would suggest Tikka as the easy button

 

[Charlie98]

I’ve got a Savage 10TAC… the tactical cheapo rifle Cabelas sold some years ago, with a 24” barrel. Yes… ‘it shoots better than I can shoot it.’ I bought a used scope for it, and we’re still on our honeymoon 4 years later… it’s a great gun.

My brother bought a Ruger American… some sort of tactical version in a Magpul stock and threaded barrel. Even with i’ts ‘short’ 20” barrel, it’s a shooter as well.

 

[Legionnaire]

I'll ask. How set are you on the .308?

 

[Varminterror]

What kind of competition do you have in mind?

I wouldn’t touch the Remingtons with a 10 ft pole, and the others may not fit or even be allowed in various formats of competition, so identifying which competition type is pretty critical.

 

[Bentnail63]

Legionnaire, I am not like set in concrete for 308. I have a lr-308 semi with a stainless steel 22 inch heavy on it. But not a fan of semi for precision shooting. I say this and catch some dislike about that comment. I am set for dies in 308 but I am open for ideas otherwise?

 

[horsey300]

Legionnaire, I am not like set in concrete for 308. I have a lr-308 semi with a stainless steel 22 inch heavy on it. But not a fan of semi for precision shooting. I say this and catch some dislike about that comment. I am set for dies in 308 but I am open for ideas otherwise?

6mm and 6.5mm might suit your purposes better

 

[jmorris]

So I have been looking at purchasing a 308 Bolt action Rifle. I want to use it to fire my own loads and at distance of 100 plus yards and towards if I wish to shoot in competition (maybe). I am on a budget kinda of so not wanting to go over the top.

Savage makes rifles that shoot small for the money. Any of the gun games I have been successful at, I have built firearms just for them.

 

[Charlie98]

and towards if I wish to shoot in competition (maybe). I am on a budget kinda of so not wanting to go over the top.

My thoughts... and I understand you are getting good advise from the other posters... is, buy a nice, economical rifle and some GOOD glass... and just learn how to shoot. Having never really sat down behind a capable bolt gun, let alone a capable scope, showed me I had a lot to learn. Right now, I'm happy... learning how to shoot, learning the ins and outs of loading for a rifle that can show you the difference in your handloads, learning how to dope a scope. It's all good.

Competition rifles... the kind some of these guys are talking about... are not cheap, nor is shooting them. Once you learn your rifle, and you are still interested in competition, THEN you can make a better decision on which direction you want to go, and how you wish to get there.

6mm and 6.5mm might suit your purposes better

I would tend to agree... if you only intention is to shoot paper and such. I picked the .308 (Savage) because I was already tooled up for it, and I was familiar with loading for it... there's that 'budget' thing, again. However, having shot a friend's 6.5 Creedmoor, side-by-side with my Savage, I realized something like the 6.5CM is easier to shoot, easier to shoot well, and easier to shoot in the long-term. There is a tiny cost differential between the .308 and a 6mm'ish cartridge... so don't look for huge savings there, but it's something to consider.

 

[JmacD]

…learn your rifle, and you are still interested in competition, THEN you can make a better decision on which direction you want to go, and how you wish to get there.

I’d call that very sound advice…

 

[Legionnaire]

.308 is a fine cartridge with a long history. However, for shooting targets, there are "better" options. I shot .308 for years, both for hunting and targets, but I'm much happier since switching to lighter cartridges. The easy button is 6.5 Creedmoor, which is supported widely and offers a good balance of efficiency and barrel life while retaining the energy to be an effective hunting cartridge if that's important to you. Sounds like you reload, so that gives you even more options.

I've been shooting .260 Remington and .260 Ackley Improved since getting out of .30 calibers altogether. If I was starting over, I'd start with a 6.5 Creedmoor. I'd give a close look to the 6mm Creedmoor and the 6mm ARC as well.

And welcome to THR

 

[Bentnail63]

Yeah I was up late lasts night reading post here and as well as 3 other forums. I find it interesting to read for other opinions and most of you state it is what feels good in your hands and is within your Budget also. As Friends have said pre-chinese virus prices were different but since I have a budget to continue on this hobby format. I dont hunt (at least yet, althought my neighbor does and has asked if I would like to) I did a competition shoot last year to see how bad I am really in the shooting, grins. I take those as learning experiences and not for competition side of it. Money well spent to shoot and LEARN....and grasp how bad I am really. I can sit back and laugh at myself now.

Alot out there on the forums say to bite the bullet and buy a Tikka rifle and I see their point but then again, I enjoy the aspect of this as to learn and gain the knowledge that alot of you have from understanding what makes the components of the rifle work and what can be done to improve that one or other parts to make it shoot. I dont want to buy a lemon but then again, buy into a entry level rifle is where I am at. My first AR was a simple GLFA rifle and since I have made changes to it to suit my needs. If my budget allowed for those 3K and larger then I would be processing for those.

The remington 700 5R Milspecs I have shot a long time ago and really enjoyed shooting it when I did, but I have had access to high in military equipment from various friends and got to shoot some high end rifles, MBR's are still a favorite. I cant afford them but wow they were nice. That is a reason I look at the Remington. The ruger is due to I bought a American Standard GEN2 in 223 and I really am enjoying building the loads for it and shooting it. Quality glass is huge upgrade to any rifle as I started with it using a "Amazon Special" that was given to me and moved from it to Vortex 1-8x24 Strike Force (Not thrilled with the glass since it is more for a AR platform but price I couldnt pass it up).

So now considering the 6.5CM due to same caliber sizing as a 308 but from reading is somewhat softer on the recoil and made more for distance. But i wonder being it is a popular, like all the cool kids are using, that the prices for rifles in 6.5CM will be more than the 308. So I will wade thru and read more and enjoy the feedback I get from the Forums and those that have great input.

Continue on and thank you

 

[johnmcl]

You do have a nice list going there. My own positive experience is with a Rem 700 5R. The gun shoots several bullet weights well, and positively sings with 175 HPBT. I had it modified to take AI magazines. You can find it elsewhere, but here are the specs.
Model: M700SS 5R Milspec
Barrel Length : 24 Inches
Caliber : .308 Winchester
Weight :9 Pounds
Twist Rate : 11.25
Capacity : 4
Stock : HS Precision PSV74

 

[jmorris]

.... I enjoy the aspect of this as to learn and gain the knowledge that alot of you have from understanding what makes the components of the rifle work and what can be done to improve that one or other parts to make it shoot. I dont want to buy a lemon but then again, buy into a entry level rifle is where I am at.

This is 5 shots from 300 yards with a $299 (after rebate) Savage 112 using Winchester 55 gn fmj.



This is 5 using 68gn JHP's from the same distance.



^ Thats not easy to beat in that dollar range, on a new rifle.