Need some ideas for a start up sniper project

[ObsceneJesster]

Hey guys. As some of you may know I am a self proclaimed prepper and over the past 10 years I've been trying to build up a nice little arsenal. The one piece to the puzzle I don't have is a long range bolt action rifle that I could use to reach out and touch something. I'll list what I need in the rifle below starting with the most important.


The fallowing is what I would like in the ammunition/caliber.

1. Must be a common round but not to common like 223 and 308. Basically I'm looking for a round that is still common to see sitting on the shelves during this current ammo shortage.

2. Ammo cheap enough that I can stock up on without breaking the bank.

3. Ammo light enough to the point where I can carry a couple hundred rounds.


The fallowing is what I would like in the Rifle itself.

1. Cost is the biggest factor. I want something that is decent but I want a basic model that I can slowly build up over the course of a couple months to a year.

2. Weight is the next most important factor. I want something with a synthetic stock for this reason.

3. My last need in the rifle would be having the capability of using a detachable magazine unless you guys recommend loading rounds one by one without a mag.


Thank you for those who take the time to recommend me a rifle.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[highorder]

Several of your desires are contradictory.

Do you own any centerfire rifles now?

 

[Derek Zeanah]

I'd start by getting training. Have someone teach you to shoot at long ranges. Learn what role the different tools play. Shoot with some different cartridges to learn what advantages you're giving up by sticking with .223 or .308. Consider reloading, and have enough components on-hand to load 5,000 rounds if you want to.

This is something where "feel" matters a whole lot, and where you'll likely have some strong preferences. Hands-on time can make a big difference, and you might learn enough to change your priorities.

 

[Sam1911]

Any decent hunting rifle in .243, 7mm, .270, etc., etc., etc. will do exactly what you want. Probably a good idea to picture what this would be actually used for. (No...REALLY. Not picking off hoards of Blue Helmets from 800 yards.)

No ammo is cheap right now. Learn to reload and then they're all about the same.

Detachable mag is irrelevant. Light weight might be nice, depending again on exactly what you'll really use this for. Stalking game? Walking long distances over rough ground? Sitting in a blind for hours on end? Plenty of synthetic stocked rifles out there with hunter-weight barrels. Weatherby, Savage, Ruger, T/C, etc., etc. all make such if you're into a brand new rifle. Otherwise, there are millions of great guns out there on the used racks.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

For a common, relatively inexpensive cartridge chambering, with decent power, that's not .223 or .308, and that's still light, I'd go with either .243, .25-06, 7mm-08, or .270. There are others that are in the same "class," but that are more expensive, like the .260. The .243, of course, has the least power of them all, but is the lightest, the cheapest, and has the least recoil (which for me, at least is important in longer range precision). The .270 reaches the furthest with the most power, but is the heaviest (I think... maybe 7-08 is heavier), and has the most recoil to deal with. It'll basically be a trade-off.

As for rifle, there are tons that will fit what you're looking for! The basic rifles--Ruger American, Marlin X7, Remmy 770, and Savage Axis--can be bought new for $275 to $375. However, I wouldn't really consider them up to the task that you're wanting to do. They may be, but I'm not sure if it's worth the risk. For $350 to $450, you can find something used like a Savage 10/110, Savage 11/111, Remington 700, Weatherby Vanguard, Thompson Venture, or perhaps even a Tikka. Otherwise, these would be $450 to $600 new. I'd personally go with the best deal I could find on a used one in this group.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I'd start by getting training.

No ammo is cheap right now. Learn to reload and then they're all about the same.

Detachable mag is irrelevant.

Light weight might be nice, depending again on exactly what you'll really use this for

+4 LOL

Caliber choice and rifle preference are relatively unimportant compared to training/learning how to shoot that far, reloading, etc. Perhaps you already know, but I'm thinking not (or else you'd already have a rifle for that job). That's fine, but it can be a frustrating task without the training to do so. The rifles that I mentioned are all just basic hunting rifles.

As for light weight vs. not, most "long-range shooters" use heavy rifles because they don't typically use them for "field work." They're for bench shooting. If you're planning on walking/stalking/running around with this thing, then yes you'd want as light as possible; but remember that long-range shooters don't typically use those "light as possible" rifles for actually shooting targets long-range (600-1000 yards).

 

[Fryerpower]

Precision Rifle, not a sniper rifle.

Try reading up at www.snipershide.com
Click on forums.

You can lurk with no issues, but you will need to join to search (I think).

Jim

 

[Derek Zeanah]

Try reading up at www.snipershide.com
Click on forums.

You can lurk with no issues, but you will need to join to search (I think).

Nope nope nopenopenope.

They're running vBulletin as of yesterday which is good, but you'll go broke if you spend much time there.

 

[Fryerpower]

Nope nope nopenopenope.

They're running vBulletin as of yesterday which is good, but you'll go broke if you spend much time there.

I'm a little confused. I'm assuming the nope is about not getting advice from that site. I'm also assuming that you are recommending not listening to them because they are deep pocket purists that spend a fortune on their equipment.

Once you get past the money issue the principles are the same. There is a log of good information over there. I learned a lot by reading there. That said, I am not going to go out and spend $3,000 or MUCH MUCH more like those guys do.

That does not mean that they don't have good information to share.

Jim

 

[Geno]

In my non-expert opinion, what you should be looking at is a varmint rifle, not a "sniper" rifle. If you know any people who varmint hunt, they will be a very good source of information before making a purchase. Perhaps most important, you can get some actual trigger time on various varmint rifles, to see what "fits". Regardless, I'll address your requests in order, as best as I can, as a non-expert, but with 30+ years of varmint shooting:

Ammunition/Caliber:
1. Common round, not 223 and 308, still common on the shelves during ammo shortage.
I see considerable .22-250 Rem, .243 Win, 270 Win, .30-06 Sprg and .300 Win Mag.

2. Ammo cheap enough that I can stock up on without breaking the bank.
Seriously, it isn't going to be easy. As others have said, reload is the best option.

3. Ammo light enough to the point where I can carry a couple hundred rounds.
Any ammo over a .223/5.56mm, in 200 rounds is going to have some considerable weight.

The Rifle:
1. Cost, and can be enhanced.
The sky is the limit. The rifle is the least expensive factor. Once you start adding an after-market stock, trigger, M1913 rail, picatinny rings, and of course the scope itself, scope lens covers, then bipod, sling, etc. There will be 2 to 3 times the cost of the rifle itself.

2. Weight, want synthetic:
I would get synthetic from the get-go. Why have to expend an additional $249 to $799 after buying the rifle?

3. Detachable magazine:
Why? Other than my Springfield M1As, and my Mossberg MVP, all of my rifles have internal mag wells.

In closing, my best training has been hanging out with fellow varmint hunters. For my purposes, I actually like a heavy rifle. Your preference may vary once you start shooting it. There are several manufacturers who are turning out excellent rifles, at decent prices. Look to Winchester's entry levels, also Weatherby, Savage, Mossberg, Reington's little "Tactical" rifle and their Varmint rifle are a lot of rifle for not a lot of money

If I had to select one rifle and cartridge on your criteria for a varmint rifle, I would look to a .243 Win in a Winchester, Vanguard or other similar-priced rifle. For me, I went with a dual-purpose rifle: deer hunting and varmint hunting capability.

Geno

 

[snakeman]

Get a Howa in 243 win. Get the detachable magazine they make for it and put a good scope on it. DONE and it will likely cost under a grand.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

I'm a little confused. I'm assuming the nope is about not getting advice from that site. I'm also assuming that you are recommending not listening to them because they are deep pocket purists that spend a fortune on their equipment.

Well, the problem is you've got a bunch of dedicated long-range shooters there, many of whom are constantly churning through equipment.

There's good advice there, but as someone who's got like 2 posts there but has spent in excess of $8,000 on stuff found there (with more to go from a vendor I found there), I'm just saying this: for the sake of your pocketbook, avoid the temptation. That is all.

 

[Sam1911]

3. Ammo light enough to the point where I can carry a couple hundred rounds.

Yeah...that.

Egads, why? You're going somewhere away from your vehicle that you will need to shoot over 100 rounds from a bolt-action rifle? Heck, a US soldier only carries 200-300, generally, and that only 5.56mm (again, usually).

A prairie-dog plinker might go through 100 in a sitting, maybe more, but they can do fine with .204, .222, .223, .22-250, etc., and most of them don't hike a mile to do it.

 

[Kachok]

Only rifle ammo on the shelves at Wally world are 30-06, 30-30, and 270, none of which is popular with the wannabe sniper crowd, though the 30-06 and 270 can in fact be suitable performers, just limited on factory match ammo. Of course if you could reload ammo shortages would not be a problem, I keep enough components on hand for about 1,000rds for each rifle just in case crap like this happens.

 

[Sam1911]

Of course if you could reload ammo shortages would not be a problem,

Weeeell, no. Reloading components are still pretty scarce, too. All the primers a lot of companies are making are going into loaded ammo right now to try to meet that demand. Bullets, powder...lots of scarcity.

Like anything else, you could "hoard" it waiting for the bad times.

 

[Centurian22]

Check out the first few videos in TiborasaurusRex's Sniper 101 you tube series. It walks you though caliber, rifle and optic selection. This will get you started:

http://youtu.be/pwG-D0HjCBQ

Good luck.

 

[jerkface11]

Mossberg ATR.

 

[JShirley]

.30-06 is about as common, caliber-wise, as it gets. It's useful for a lot, uses .308 bullets, and has a slight velocity/range advantage over .308.

 

[jerkface11]

He wants to carry a couple hundred rounds. That doesn't scream .30-06 to me.

 

[taliv]

many sniper matches around the country require 150-200 rounds and require carrying all your ammo for the duration of the match, which can be 2-3 days and several miles. and yes, i take a 17lb rifle+suppressor when I compete.

honestly, it's not that difficult

 

[Sam1911]

That's something else I was thinking about...the guys who actually ARE snipers, don't go in for lightweight rifles, and they carry them a LONG ways.

 

[Kachok]

I could carry a couple hundred 30-06, not light at all, but there is no sniper grade cartridge that is really that light.

 

[Fryerpower]

There's good advice there, but as someone who's got like 2 posts there but has spent in excess of $8,000 on stuff found there (with more to go from a vendor I found there), I'm just saying this: for the sake of your pocketbook, avoid the temptation. That it all.

Made me smile!
-Jim

 

[jerkface11]

There's good advice there

Avoid their handloading section unless you like superstition.

 

[ObsceneJesster]

Get a Howa in 243 win. Get the detachable magazine they make for it and put a good scope on it. DONE and it will likely cost under a grand.

Thank you. You not only met every need I had but you recommended something I really like and has just been added to the top of my list. A local B&M actually has one in stock but I am going to try and find a used on online first. The Howa/Hogue 1500 w/detachable mag is exactly what I'm looking for. The only decision I have now is whether or not I want it in Black or Green. My local B&M has the Black one but I'm kind of liking the green.

Thank you again.