Recommend me a rifle.

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Kyoki

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I've just acquired an Australian category B firearms licence which allows me my choice of the following.

a muzzle-loading firearm;
a single shot centre fire rifle;
a double barrel centre fire rifle;
a repeating centre fire rifle;
a break action shotgun and rifle combination.

I'm basically looking for a bolt action rifle that I could use for target shooting out to 600 metres (~660 yards). It'd be nice if it could also drop a feral pig, but that's not essential.

My budget is fairly flexible. I'm not in a hurry, I don't mind saving for an extra couple of weeks. On the other hand, I'd rather not have to sell any body parts to get it, so nothing ridiculous please (much as I'd like a .338, I can't see it happening for a few years).

I've previously fired a couple of .22 and .303 rifles, a couple of flintlocks and an automatic shotgun (relatives in a more firearms friendly nation). This would be the first firearm that I would personally own. I'd eventually like to step up in skill and equipment until I can hit a target past a kilometre. I figure 600m is a good starting goal. I've occasionally been out on pig hunting trips to a friend's rural property, and it'd be nice to use my own gear next time. I can always use one of the farm's rifles, so that's a secondary consideration.

Thanks in advance for your advice.
 
600M is a long way. 100M would be a good starting goal. Work it up from there...

What rifles are available to you? Anything you want that fits the criteria?
 
The main appeal of 600m is its difficulty. The more difficult my goals, the faster I progress. I do my best work when I've been thrown into the deep end.

The rifle that I seemed to "click" with was an bolt action of unknown manufacture, chambered in .303 British. It just feels right against your shoulder. The downside is the friend of mine who owns it feels pretty much the same way about it so I can't see him selling it to me. I also don't know how it would fare at long distance. I've never tried shooting it at anything particularly far off.

I've hit a (slowly) moving rabbit with that rifle at about 90m. It might have been a better idea to use a .22 (the mess). I haven't shot much, but I do seem to have something of an aptitude for it.
 
What rifles are available to you?
Click to expand...
A search on this forum for Remington Model 700 and Savage Model 10 (also Model 12?) will yield a lot of info on these highly regarded precision rifles. Both come in a variety of centerfire calibers and barrel/stock combinations, with the cheaper versions of each starting (I think) at around US$500. Prices go well over US $1,000 for some versions. In the right hands both are capable of 600 meter shots, and with some calibers/targets also make shots at 1,000 meters. As mentioned above starting at 100 yards would be a good idea, and both these rifles will allow you to grow into longer ranges as you pick up skill. There are also many after markets parts (at least in the US) particularly for the Remington, so you can get a cheaper model to start and upgrade (better stock, etc) later.

If you are considering “used”, I’m thinking Lee-Enfield SMLEs are reasonably available where you are, and can do everything listed in the original post.

There are certainly cheaper bolt rifles out there than the 3 listed above that may or may not be as good or better. But it is hard to go wrong with these 3 choices.
 
If you have reliable access to .303 then a good condition Lee-Enfield #4 with a bright bore would be a good choice.

In .308/7.62 there are any number of good bolt action rifles, some possible suggestions would be (assuming you can get them in Australia)

Remington 700
Tikka T3
CZ 550
Sako 85
Savage 10
 
Thanks for the suggestions fellas. I'll be looking into them and see what I can come up with.

Just for information purposes, I can import anything that complies with my permit. So any bolt action is fine... providing it isn't firing .50 BMG (specifically). A Sako TRG in .338 Lapua is perfectly legal, just way too expensive (for now).
 
Kyoki,

Welcome to THR!

How easy is it to get a rimfire? Your permit doesn't mention it, wouldn't want to use up a permit on a .22. 600 meters is way out there and a rimfire is a great way to practice on the cheap. Teaches Kentucky windage, too. Hundreds and hundreds of rounds downrange is the best way to learn, I shudder at the cost of getting really good just using .308. A hundred rounds a day of .22 for several days and the improvement is impressive.

The next gun show I go to I'll look at a Savage 10 myself. Or a Tikka but they seem to get more mixed reviews on build quality.

I think the mil-surps are great fun and I would like a cherry Lee-Enfield although I need another caliber like I need a hole in the head.

Are you looking to shoot iron sights ala 500 meter human sized targets or bullseye targets using glass?

I'm supposing you don't have Texas-style gun shows to find and fondle guns. I'd find out exactly what type of rifle your friend has & measure the stock dimensions. Look at the shape of the stock behind & under the receiver where your face & hand goes. If you gotta import one, you'll want a good fit.

If your friend's rifle is unknown manufacturer, take a pic or describe any markings on the receiver. This is a great forum to get guns identified. I've sent in pics of 2 pieces and instant, authoritative answers came back the same day.

Good luck and good shooting!
 
Remington Model 700 in .308 with Picatinny rail sight-mounting system.

You will also need to budget a healthy amount of cash for the optic sights.
Optics can easily cost as much as the rifle, especially if you want optics that will be functional from point-blank to 600 metres.

Unless you handload, match-grade ammo for .303 is not available. Any off-the-shelf ammo or surplus .303 ammo is going to be very disappointing at long range. Stick with a caliber that is associated with modern rifles designed to readily accept a proper optic sight. Somebody will argue this point as to the .303 within three posts I'm sure. I'm equally sure you will be disappointed sooner rather than later if you choose some old .303 over a modern .308.
 
Thanks for the welcome.

I can get rimfires without issue. My licence allows me category A weapons too. It might be an idea to put a couple of (many) boxes through a .22. I could purchase a .22 relatively cheaply, or I could just use one at my friend's property (it's a small but profitable beef cattle farm with a lot of unused land).

Cat. A weapons include:
a miniature cannon under 120 cm in barrel length that is a black powder and muzzle loading cannon, depicting a scale model of an historical artillery piece or naval gun;
an air rifle;
a blank-fire firearm at least 75 cm in length;
a rimfire rifle (other than a self-loading rimfire rifle);
a single or double barrel shotgun;
a powerhead.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2eo2kb
That's a link to the definitions of various weapon categories in my state. My licence allows me Cat. A and B. I gave recreational shooting on my friend's property as my "genuine reason" for owning a firearm. If I'd put down that I was going to be working there, then I'd have been able to get Cat. C too.
 
If money is an issue, a Savage model 10 or 110 would be a good choice. Or practically the same gun but minus the Accutrigger and the better stock, the Stevens Model 200 would be a good one for a budget. But if money really isn't the issue, go for the Remington Model 700. My first centerfire rifle was a Model 700 chambered in .270 Win. Excellent gun, but not the best for long shots. A .308 would be the better long range weapon without the recoil of a magnum rifle.
 
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