Most accurate .308 rifle

[TonyAngel]

You could build an inexpensive version of this and come in at around $1000, not including the Scope and mount, but it wouldn't be an over the counter proposition.


I just put this together the night before last.

What I mean by an inexpensive version is that you don't need a $300 stock and $200 trigger group or $60 flash hider. All else is pretty much run of the mill except for the barrel, which is a Douglass match barrel turned by Compass Lake and coated by Superior Barrels.

 

[Skylerbone]

The simple fact remains that there are far too many variables to be accounted for to make a solid suggestion. A descent scope, mounts and rings can run a hole through $1k without apology. We still don't know if that's your total budget or rifle only budget.

If this is your first forray in to long range shooting, don't expect 1/4" groups at 400 yards or even 100. Ultimately you will determine how accurate the rifle is. Some people can purchase better accuracy to a point but some will never shoot one hole. There's a reason Bob Villa hired Norm Abrahms to work on those Old Houses and why Jerry Jones doesn't QB the Cowboys.

We all realize you'd like some leads so I would suggest posting a list of your needs. Is weight a consideration? What position do you plan to shoot from most of the time? Are you recoil sensitive? Are you 6' 10" and need a custom stock? Do you know a good gun smith who can work on your rifle or do you need an out of the box solution?

My father has had rifles built that were simply impractical for their intended purpose and were unfortunately sold at considerable loss. He cannot mount a scope to save his life or bed an action but he can still outshoot me every day of the week with trifocals. No one wants to make a wrong selection for you or see you waste money needlessly. Nearly all of us will be brand centric (I like Remington) so it's hard to be objective.

Going to a match to see what others can do may not be your best sollution. I once met a guy at my local gun club who had chopped and recrowned his rifle 7 times.

Make the list, let us know, maybe we'll get you in the ballpark.

 

[Robert Wilson]

A few manufacturers offer accuracy guarantees. Weatherby, for example, guarantees that many of their rifles will make 1.5" groups at 100 yards with their ammo. This does not set the internet commandos on fire but will get the job done in the field every time.

Beyond that sort of thing, the only factory rifles I am aware of that are very consistently accurate are those from Browning, with the BOSS system. They don't get a whole lot of press - possibly because they're both funny looking and extremely un-tactical - but they really do shoot.

And after that, well, you've gotten really good advice from the folks telling you it's a crap shoot. Savage has a good - and deserved - reputation for accuracy, but I've had some real dogs from Savage. Same story with Remington: I had a 700 that was a consistent 7 MOA rifle with factory ammunition, and the factory wasn't willing to do a thing about it. But I've also had Savages and Remingtons that were sub MOA with just about anything you fed through them. You can listen to glowing praise for either or both all day long, but the rifle you end up with isn't going to know any of that and may still be a dog regardless of what some guy on the internet told you.

Frankly, I think the best approach may simply be to buy three of whatever you're looking for, test fire all of them, keep the best and sell the other two. That's probably the least expensive way to guarantee an accurate rifle.

 

[atlanticfire]

Savage F/TR

 

[spook22]

List

My list of things i will need is

Rifle
Scope
Rings
Bi pod

I would like to keep this setup at or around $1,000

 

[Skylerbone]

http://swfa.com/Vortex-6-24x50-Crossfire-Rifle-Scope-P43585.aspx
Add this to one of these: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/445/products_id/80593. That leaves you about $150 for a set of steel rings and bases, Burris makes relatively inexpensive ones, just avoid aluminum. Buy a Caldwell 6-9" bipod and you're at $1000. Best I can do without specifics (don't know if you're a lefty or need a longer stock, etc.)

You might look in to a used Rem. 700 or a Savage and a good aftermarket stock which can help with shooting comfort and felt recoil.

Best of luck.

 

[unwise11]

there is no such thing. get a remington or savage or howa. you learn to use it

 

[mljdeckard]

Rifles have come a long way in 20 years. It used to be that MOA rifles were rare and difficult to get. Not so anymore. If your range is out to 400 yards, Probably just about ANY brand-name bolt rifle in .308 will do the job.

And remember, the best rifle you can buy won't do much good if you aren't doing your part. I tell people, you need to get a .22, and practice until you can do less than two inches at 100 yards with open sights until you are bored. THEN you can start looking at longer ranges and heavier rifles. .22 is a LOT cheaper to learn the fundamentals with than centerfire calibers.

If it was me, I would cruise the pawn shops. (Particularly in this economy,) They are full of rifles that guys bought wanting to do the sniper thing, realized it was actually hard work and a lot of practice, let the rifle sit in the closet for two years, and then their wife made them get rid of it.

 

[unwise11]

true true, i wanted to get into the sniper thing, so i bought a howa m1500 standard with hougue stock, and am buying a bell and carlson stock asap.
then a new scope, i already have 630 dollars into it with the expensive bipod i got, and over 100 dollars in match ammo ect, and then i have 60 dollar sand bags, i still need a nice mat, and case. then i'll be at about 1000 so, it does add up, you dont need just the rifle, you realize that when you try to shoot without rear support, and not having good ammo for good groupings, so yes, a nice nice rifle will do you well, but when i have the 1000 into my rifle and setup ect, it will most likely shoot better than the stock remington or savage.

 

[mljdeckard]

I've been hunting with a Howa 1500 for 20 years. The difference is negligible.

 

[unwise11]

you mean yours is really good?
cause i think mine is amazing for me. cause im still learning high power.

 

[mljdeckard]

My .270 shoots about 2" at 100 yards with pretty much any ammo.

 

[unwise11]

List

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My list of things i will need is

Rifle
Scope
Rings
Bi pod

I would like to keep this setup at or around $1,000

howa m1500 .308 no scope, about 550-600 dollars.
nice swiveling bipod-about 80 dollars.
good scope- 200-400 dollars. for your budget.
ammo typically 20 a box or over for good stuff.
your already at 1000, and have a good setup at that route
savage 10fp-1000 with no scope, and your out, things add up quick.

 

[WNTFW]

Spook22,
You can get going for a $1000. Some of the suggestions here are way past $1k. What you may have to do is be diligent and patient. Find used items when possible. Find a local forum and doing some horse trading may work. Bedding a stock & action can be a DIY project. It will make you appreciate how the guys that do it for a living only charge what they do.
A decent factory rifle with scope can be done for under $1K. It may not be the ultimate, but a good start. If you get into handloading that would be a wise way to shoot more. A lot can be done by working on your position, cheek weld and the like at home with out shooting live ammo. Figuring out how to adjust your scope for reticle focus and adjusting out paralax are things that need to be done no matter how much you spend.
As a friend from car racing says "you can't beat the system". Meaning you will still put time and effort and money out to achieve a goal. The ratio of time/effot/money may change, but cost always add up.
I found a good route was getting a pre-owned rem700. My first scope & bipod were hand me downs. Modded the SPS Varmint stock myself. Traded range pickup brass for scope & mounts. Mueller scope, Burris Extreme rings, EGW base are a good combo on a budget. After that is was handloads and trying to figure out how to shoot it.
I would take range time over equipment upgrades at this time.

 

[Skylerbone]

It's ok to trust us, we're all "snipers" here!

Seriously, my last post lists a 6-24x Vortex scope (which so many go gaga over here) for $100. The Tikka heavy barrel .308Win is selling for $736 and gives you a solid 8 lb. rifle with elevated cheek piece on a synthetic stock. Burris Xtreme Tactical 2-piece bases run $18 and and Burris rings are $35. The Caldwell bipod is $37.

736 + 100 + 18 + 35 + 37 = $926, add $100 to swap the Tikka for a 700P heavy barrel and you're only $26 over budget. I've suggested it before, have a garage sale next weekend and you'll likely have another $200 to buy ammo with. To be honest I'd skip the bipod and get a solid front rest/ rear bag combo for bench work. Bipods are helpful in the field but aren't the pinnacle of solid platform work.

 

[blackops]

Good luck on the less than $1,000 thing.

haha That's what I'm saying!

 

[jpwilly]

My under $1K build looks like this: Savage 10 w/Choate Tactical Stock $649+tax (Cabela's exclusive), Caldwell 6-9 pivot bipod $49, Weaver Bases $10 Weaver Steel Rings $20, Centerpoint 4-16x40mm IR Mildot Scope (optics are good enough to 14x I usually have it at 10x)



Shot this first day out with it while breaking in an trying out some different ammo 100yrds (have it dialed in a bit more now with 175gr SMK pills) :

 

[coloradokevin]

Opinions on this subject will vary quite a bit, and you can find a number of decent bolt guns for under $1,000. I personally just bought a Tikka T3 Scout CTR (Compact Tactical Rifle). This rifle sold for $829, and they guarantee that their rifles will shoot MOA at 100 yards. If you aren't familiar with the company, Tikka is made by Sako (in Finland), and essentially amounts to a budget line of Sako rifles. The triggers are nice, and the bolt is simply butter smooth.

I have to admit that I haven't shot mine yet (still glass shopping), but I know a guy who has the same brand with the light barrel (a $600 gun), and he is getting 3/8ths inch 100 yard groups out of his rifle, with proper handloads!

 

[JDGray]

Skylerbone, is that you in the pic?

 

[smartshot]

remington 700 mountain rifle or remington model 7; either one would be a great investment for less than $1000.00 in 308 caliber.

 

[Skylerbone]

No JD, that is NOT ME. (It's my twin brother)