Over 500 Yards on a budget

[ZWCoffindaffer]

Is it possible to put together a rifle good for punching paper at 500-1000 yards on a budget? I know its nothing to spend thousands on a rifle, but it seems there are quite a few viable options out there under that.

Ruger has the American Predator 6.5 CM for under $600

They also have the 6.5 CM m77 Target for $850ish

Savage and T/C have offerings in .338 for under $600.


It just seems with so many guns on the market, surely some of them are good for extended ranges out the box if you put good glass on top. ANy suggestions?

 

[Newtosavage]

In factory loads, I'm not real sure it is, but if you handload, then yes.

I'd start with either the Ruger American in 6.5 CM or one of the heavy barrel Savage offerings.

I have an off-the-shelf Savage model 11 in .308 with the sporter barrel (tapered but not what I'd call "thin") and the cheap plastic stock, and with handloads I'm shooting 1/2 MOA out to 300 yards routinely. The scope I have on it is an inexpensive Sightron SI 4-12 AO with the HHR reticle, a superb scope for both hunting and target shooting IMO.

Personally, I'd look at the Savage tactical rifles that are being offered by Cabelas well under $700, with the accutrigger and accustock, then put some good bases and rings and as much glass as you can afford on it, shoot in the barrel and develop some hand loads. Then I think you'd have what you want.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

A Savage bolt action with a bull barrel is always a great choice for budget accuracy.

 

[ZWCoffindaffer]

I do handload so thats always a large help with rifle accuracy. My hunting rifle, a T/C Venture 7mm RM shoots sub-moa at 300 yards with a recipe I concocted with nosler bullets.

I am leaning on the Ruger American Predator being that the barrel is threaded and a muzzle brake could be a nice addition without spending loads of money.

As far as glass, I have a soft spot for leupold, so probably a VX-3.

That would make it around a $1000 set-up.

 

[Sunray]

"...offerings in .338..." A .338 anything is not necessary nor likely possible to shoot regularly on a limited budget. Any heavy barrel .308 will do nicely. If your budget is really low, think Savage Axis Heavy Barrel. A 10/110 FCP HS Precision if your wallet is a bit bigger. A 12 F/TR if it's bigger than that.
Do not discount buying used either.
"...American Predator..." Relatively light weight hunting rifle with a thin barrel.
"...M77 Target..." That'd do nicely. MSRP's $1139.00 though.
Anyway, 1,000 yards is more about the ammo and being able to read the wind and mirage.

 

[Newtosavage]

FWIW, I traded in my Leupold VX-2 for a Sightron SI (their budget line) and have zero regrets. It's a lot more scope than that VX-2 was. You have to spend about $400 in Leupold for what you can get in a $200 Sightron scope.

 

[ford8nr]

Ruger Precision Rifle
The gun was designed for distance shooting and at $900-1000 it's the best deal going... From reports I've heard.

 

[ZWCoffindaffer]

The m77 laminate target gun with 28" barrel is around $850 at mission essential here locally. I had it in my hand last week.. And by limited budget I just meant without spending thousands on a target rifle. The price of ammunition doesn't bother me since I reload. I just didn't want to dump $2500 on a target rifle

 

[jmr40]

If you can afford the Ruger Precision rifle at around $1000, if not get the Predator.

 

[redneck2]

If you go to YouTube look for The Military Channel. Tim has a video on a budget 1,000 yard rifle. Explains everything.

 

[Bart B.]

What accuracy at 1000 yards do you want?

In other words, what's the most you're willing to let bullets miss your point of aim? Your accuracy limit is twice your miss distance.

The most accurate match rifles keep all shots inside 5 to 6 inches at a thousand fired in free recoil (not held and aimed by humans, but resting on bags) on calm days with good reloads.

 

[CB900F]

ZW;

You can shoot 500+ yards with anything, even a .22 long rifle. The cost of a Ruger 10/22 is about $230.00 these days. The kicker is: What's your personal accuracy requirement? Furthermore, as that accuracy requirement changes, so will the budget.

If it were me, and I wanted a reasonable chance of staying satisfied for a while, I'd sure take a look at the Tikka Super Varmint in 6.5 Swede.

900F

 

[ZGunner]

I'm perfectly happy with my RPR in 6.5 Creedmoor. With a 10x SWFA its consistant as it gets at 500 on steel. But the same can be said for my Tikka Tactical .308 and Savage Precision Carbine .308. If you're thinking about longer range I would opt for a longer barrel than those.

I'm a Creedmoor convert, its been very easy to load for. There are some good choices in the 6.5 realm and it doesn't require Magnum powder loads to produce good results downrange.

The Tikka Super Varmint makes my mouth water just thinking about it (I'm sort of a Tikka fan boy).

 

[agtman]

Is it possible to put together a rifle good for punching paper at 500-1000 yards on a budget? I know its nothing to spend thousands on a rifle, but it seems there are quite a few viable options out there under that.* * *

For pushing past the "Rifleman's Quartermile," i.e., 500-yds, in any sort of satisfying way, avoid defaulting to the every-gun-rag's-favorite-Johnny-come-lately junk.

Spend twice the cash you thought you might and get a custom rig built for your needs, like a GAP .308 bolt gun. It will out shoot most everything past 500-yds and then some.

If you want a similar hyper-accurate custom set-up in a AR-10/SR-25 gas gun, then check out LaRue Tactical's 7.62 OBRs.

Yep, a lot of wannabes wanna get there, but most can't hit the broad side of a warehouse to save their life past 300-yds.

Lack of hard practice = lack of marksmanship skills. Worse, buying mediocre equipment + lack of skill only aggravates the accrual of poor results.

Poor results, in turn, mean (1) you'll never date supermodels, and (2) you'll never be the Most Interesting Man In The World.

Just sayin' ....

 

[ZWCoffindaffer]

If there is any such thing as natural talent for shooting I have it. I've shot my whole life but don't spend hours upon hours on the range. I'm really not one to toot my own horn but I can hit a 12" steel plate at 300 yds with my Marlin 22 lr on a clear day. I made two different deer kill shots at a measured 390 yds this hunting season with my hunting rig

Now, that being said I've become interested in stretching it out further than that to a range I'm not familiar with and seeing if I'm capable of it with the right gun ammunition and practice.

I really appreciate all the advice you guys have given so far on gun options. I'm not a huge fan of the tactical looking rigs but the ruger precision seems to have some sweet features

 

[captain awesome]

Ruger Precision Rifle
The gun was designed for distance shooting and at $900-1000 it's the best deal going... From reports I've heard.

Where in the world are you finding them for that much?

 

[witchhunter]

I think you need to decide how accurate of a rifle that you will settle for. 500 yards isn't that far for a good shot with a rifle to hit a 12" gong. Almost any centerfire is capable of that. Most western deer rifles will do it every shot. A little wind and mirage.....a whole new game. Buy once and cry once, get a solid set-up. There is so much more to long range shooting than trigger control and breathing.

 

[Bobson]

If you go to YouTube look for The Military Channel. Tim has a video on a budget 1,000 yard rifle. Explains everything.

There's not much to explain.

1. Buy a roughly $500 Savage rifle. Leave it bone stock.
2. Buy a roughly $500 scope. Mount it.
3. Shoot at 1000 yards. Smile.

It's not gonna be Mission Impossible to find a budget setup capable of meeting your goals, and just about any common hunting caliber will do the job: 243, 7-08, 308, 25-06, 270, 30-06... Take your pick. You don't need to spend $900 on a "precision rifle" in 6.5 Magic.

 

[ZWCoffindaffer]

This is a whole other subject, but what is the standard for accuracy at extended distance? I wouldn't expect to be able to cut holes at 500 yds, but I would want to keep it moa or better. What would be a good group at 500 yds?

 

[taliv]

If there is any such thing as natural talent for shooting I have it. I've shot my whole life but don't spend hours upon hours on the range. I'm really not one to toot my own horn but I can hit a 12" steel plate at 300 yds with my Marlin 22 lr on a clear day. I made two different deer kill shots at a measured 390 yds this hunting season with my hunting rig

read up on the Civilian Marksmanship Program and the national matches at camp perry, or look at the Appleseed course of fire to get an idea of what others consider a standard for accurate marksmanship with a rifle.

for comparison, the national match course, fired with a service rifle (iron sight AR15 or M14/garand/springfield) is
10 rounds, standing, unsupported, in 10 minutes. target is 3" X ring, 6" 10 ring at 200 yards.
10 rounds, standing to sitting, with a sling, in 60 seconds. same target.
10 rounds, standing to prone, with a sling, in 70 seconds, at 300 yards
20 rounds, prone, with a sling, in 20 minutes. target is 6" X ring, 12" 10 ring at 600 yards.

nobody is a natural talent. if you want to be competitive, you will spend hours upon hours on the range or dry firing in your basement.
1000 yard matches are shot at a 10" X ring if you are using a sling, and 5" X ring if you are using a bipod or rest.

 

[Newtosavage]

"nobody is a natural talent?"

I've taught shooting sports for decades (archery) and I beg to differ. But you are correct that hours upon hours of dedicated practice are what separate the talented ones at the top.

 

[d2wing]

I am also a Tikka fan. MOA guarantee form the factory. High quality and accuracy at a reasonable price.

 

[Bart B.]

Rifles that shoot under an inch at 100 yards with a few shots to meet a factory guarantee seldom shoot under 10 inches at 500 nor 30 inches at 1000 yards. Group size in MOA isn't linear past the first 100 yards. It increases up to 20% for each additional hundred yards.

 

[d2wing]

Interesting Bart. I have not heard that but I agree that shot dispersion happens. Do you have any articles or links about it? I think it varies by ammo, velocity, b.c. And mass. I suppose this is where stability comes in. I would be interested in a study of this. 20 percent sounds high. Can you elaborate?

 

[d2wing]

By my math 20% every 100 yards means by 900 yards the bullet is coming back at the shooter. I would pay to see that.