Need recommendation: 300yd .308

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bigalexe

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I am in the process of making "the list." After spending too much time looking at guns I don't actually want I decided I should complete the collection before I get more semi-useful toys. Again this is a long-term goal list so I'm not buying these guns tomorrow, it's what I want to save for and buy down the road when I can.

This thread is for what would be a long-range precision rifle in .308 or 7.62x51. I chose that caliber because I shot an FN SPR in that caliber and did rather well at 100 yards for never touching the gun or even a .308 before. I think going any bigger would just be unnecessary strain on my shoulders.

Right now my obvious choices are:
FN SPR
Remington 700
Cheytac (this is a dream)

What I want it to do is make very small groups, very far away, very consistently. Bolt-Action is preferred. This is not a woods gun for me and will probably have a bi-pod so if it weighs 25 pounds I don't care. It will most likely end up with a muzzle brake on it to.

So what guns would you guys recommend for the job.
 
Have you thought about other calibers? Do you/will you reload by the time this comes to fruition?

Any reason Savage isn't on that list?
 
I said .308 just because I've shot it. Going bigger I think is just too much since the .308 was at the upper limit of my tolerance. I've shot 30-30 out of a lever gun, I don't know the ballistics on it though and if it can out-range the .308. The longest rifle range in my county is 600 yards so I'd like to be able to reach out that far eventually. Being in Michigan this isn't for actual hunting because most areas have terrain or vegetation that limits you to 200 yards or less. I am fascinated by precision.

In reference to Savage... because I hadn't thought of them! My MkII works great so it makes sense.

I know enough people that reload we'll just say yes to reloading... I need to put that on a bumper sticker. Recycle: Say YES to reloading!
 
i honestly think any quality 308 is capable of good groups at 300 yards. that's not a long range for that caliber.
 
I said .308 just because I've shot it. Going bigger I think is just too much since the .308 was at the upper limit of my tolerance.
Click to expand...

Well, since this is kind of fantasy (which I fully approve of :)) there are other options available.

The .260 Remington cartridge is gaining favor with many long-range shooters for the simple reason that it slings the long, slim, high-BC 6.5mm bullets at respectable velocity. It duplicates or beats the .300 Winchester Magnum's trajectory with less recoil than .308.
Click to expand...

Taken from Zak Smith's article - link here. He has a lot of good info in his articles, IMO.
 
Any factory rifle is going to shoot better than 95% of the users shooting them. So as far as which rifle, just depends on what you get straigt from the factory vs what you want to end up with in the end or what accessories you are going to want to add for the type of shooting you intend.

It thew me when you said long range shooting and 300yds in the same sentence. I shoot my .22 200yds so 300yds for a .308 is nothing.. 600yds is nothing. When I think long range, I think beyond 1000yds. The 308 can get to 1000yds as can the smaller .223 with the right bullets and barrel twist. I would recommend either of these calibers for a factory rifle for someone who does not reload. If you reload, look at the .260 offerings.

Overall recommendations would be to spend less on the gun and use the extra money on a high quality optics. You can upgrade the gun with better stock down the line and the trigger if it is not up to snuff.
 
Tim is right on I think with offering a better caliber - since plunge is right about 300 meters isnt long range for .308. My FAL's iron sights don't even start until 200 meters.
 
.308's range is definitely greater than 300 yards, hehe, I did a double take when I read the title

You're missing an obvious rifle maker. Accuracy International. For people who can't afford the full AI rifle, you can get the AICS stock upgrade for the Remington 700.

If money is of no concern and you want all day accuracy...god that AI AX is sick
 
I would call GA Precision and tell them what you want to do, then listen very carefully to their recommendation. Be prepared to spend $3K, then $2K more on optics. Remember this is the least expensive part, shooting several thousand reloads to become proficient enough to regularly match the inherent accuracy of the rifle will cost a small fortune.

Or if that doesn't work buy a Savage 10 series and get started shooting groups at distance, then sell it when you've saved enough to buy the GAP or whatever you want at that point. This way you get to practice while saving.
 
since your specific on caliber, as you experienced already with the spr and did rather well for the first time,l i think this is a good choice. i have the tsr xp in .308 which is cheaper than the spr, and these fine rifles can really shoot right outa the box.
 
Ok I guess I should say that price isn't a factor too much because the goal is that I buy a gun that is COMPLETE. I've already bought guns that were "mostly there" with the intention of buying that extra optic or stock upgrade "later." Well that Later sometimes never comes and now I have 1 gun sitting in the cabinet without the gear I want on it, and another one that isn't really what I wanted and I should have saved the money to buy what I had originally intended.

-Short version: I want to be shooting the same rifle with the same gear 20 years after I buy it and still be happy with it.

So yes I am thinking something like A.I. and buying the right scope at the same time.

Caliber is flexible, like I said I just mentioned .308 because it's something I'm relatively familiar with and seemed more than capable of doing what I wanted. I didn't know that it can be easily used over 1000 yards.

**At least I learned this at the age of 23 with only 3 guns and not at age 40 after acquiring 15 guns.
 
I think .308 is a great caliber. It's accurate and easy to load for. You can expect at least 5000 rounds through the barrel before you have to start thinking about having the chamber set back and re-cut or getting a new barrel and there is a large selection of components to choose from.

I do like the AICS stuff, but it just doesn't suit me. I really wanted to like it and was going to get one of their stocks. After having had the opportunity to check one out, I decided not to get one. It isn't for everyone.

If I were going to get a new .308 and cost was no object, I'd be looking at getting a BAT action, Krieger straight or heavy varmint profile barrel, McMillan stock, Jewell trigger and a Badger bottom metal. I'd give it all to my smith and sit back and wait. While I was waiting, I'd order up a nice 20MOA rail (I like the Nightforce rail) and rings and get a Schmidt and Bender PMII scope to put on top of it. Figure something around $7K altogether. If you don't want to go that high, go with a Remington 700 action and a Nightforce scope, it's what I did.
 
Take a drive to see one of the IBS long range matches, there are plenty of rifles and varied opinions but you will get to see what long range accuracy can be and then make a better decision, good luck.
 
Remington:
M700 Police
M700 Tactical
M700 Varmint

Winchester
M70 Stealth

The Kimber:
M84 Light Police Tactical

Of those I listed above, I would suggest the M700 Police or the M70 Stealth. Don't overlook the Weatherby Vanguard or the various Savages.

Geno
 
if you want a rifle you will still be happy with 20 yrs later,

GAP, templar, manners stock (T4A if you like regular stocks, T5A if you like thumbhole), TBAC suppressor

it's not cheap, and unless you get it used, you won't have it any time soon, but it will be something you'll still be using 20 years later.

start with a 308. if you are still using it 20 years from now, you will have rebarreled it many times, and each time will be an opportunity to upgrade from 308 to 260. but learn on the 308 first.
 
700 is a very nice gun. And a smaller cal. that can go past 300 yrds. is the 243. I have shot 300 yrds with one. And it was awesome and very very accurate. Give it a try!
 
Jeff56 said:
A Savage 12 F/TR sounds perfect for what you describe. Those rifles have been winning competitions against custom rifles at 1000 yards. Yes that's custom rifles. So I'd say that's a complete rifle. It's a heavy duty model for sure. Around 11-12 lb.s or so. It has a 30" bull barrel that is fully floated, a target action and trigger, and a stock built for long range shooting. It will almost certainly shoot .5 MOA at 300 yards or better. My 12 LRPV (26" barrel and H-S Precision stock) will shoot 2" groups at a quarter mile. IMO Savage is making the best off the rack rifles made right now. Not all of them are as great as the target action models but all of them shoot great. The F/TR will set you back at least $1000 new and probably more like $1100-$1150. Some people actually prefer the shorter barreled LRPV models but they don't make them in .308 any more. They did at one time so maybe you might find a used one. The shorter barrel makes them less front end heavy.

Seriously I don't think there are any stock rifles that can touch the accuracy of a Savage with a target action today. Every company lets some bad examples out the door at times but most everyone loves their upper level Savages and the cheaper ones too for that matter.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking about a Savage 10FP Mcmillan .308 or 12 F-Class 6.5mm. After seeing a few Savages shoot recently, they are very impressive. And Now that they offer nice stocks they look like really nice rifles.

It's just a matter of whether I want to do bench or F-class, or tactical type shooting at closer ranges. I think I'm starting to lean back towards a more practical 10FP with a bipod instead of a F-Class with a very expensive mechanical rest. (That's probally further than I want to go)

Do you know id a 10FP can be rebarrelled to 6mmbr or 6.5-284 Norma? That would be a nice round to go up to once I cut my teeth with a cheaper .308 setup.

I am also anxious about Magpuls DVD.
 
In the end, there is no shortage of accurate rifles. It's the driver that makes all of the difference.
 
Any .308 will be fine at 300 Yards.

The caliber is capable of much further than that, and I in fact practice to use my .308 out to 500 Yards on deer sized game. The .308 will reach out further than I am capable, on paper. After 500 Yards however I want something with more power as wind drift, ballistic coefficients, and the earth's rotation starts to be a factor. BTW: my .308 is one of those Ruger Gunsite Scout models with a 5 Round magazine.

BikerRN
 
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My opinion, take the rifles you have and finish them, then shoot them. Why spend bunches on a tricked ut rifle if you don't setup the guns you have. Most any centerfire rifle will work for punching paper up to 300 yards. By the way what other guns do you have, they might be a good starting place?
 
The Marlin X7VH is another option. THeir bolt guns are made in a factory in Kentucky and from what I've heard, haven't been plagued with the problems the lever actions from New York are having.

Features to keep in mind:
Adjustable trigger
target crown
pillar bedded
synthetic stock
molded in elevated comb
fluted bolt
heavy barrel

The X7 series with a normal barrel is typically subMOA out of the box. The heavier barrel of the X7VH should be even more accurate.
 
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