Suggestions on a good shootin .308?

[ChrisMG]

I'm a little leery of going deer hunting with my S&W .223, so I've been tossing around the idea of getting a good straight shooting .308 rifle. I've got a budget of around $1500 (just for the rifle, will get glass later), and was taking a hard look at the Savage 12 F/TR. The only thing I really don't like about the Savage is that it's single shot, no magazine. I've been researching other rifles like FN or STEYR but don't know if they can shoot as good as the Savage. Detachable magazines would be a major plus I would think.

I don't plan on hunting beasties at 1000 yards, but I would like to be able to tag paper at that range as I get better with the rifle.

Basically just looking for some opinions on what to look for, barrel twist, picatinny rail for scope, etc. etc.

 

[aspade]

I can't imagine a better deer gun than a four foot long, 15 pound 308.

 

[ChrisMG]

You have a point there.

 

[inherentical]

I'm headed over to Scheel's later to take a look for the same thing. I was there not long ago and handled a Remington in .308 that I thought would make a damn fine hunting rifle. I can't for the life of me remember the exact model number, though.

 

[atblis]

My suggestion

Go semi custom
Used Remington Sendero $600ish
Jewel Trigger $200ish
Krieger Barrel $600ish (maybe less). Other good barrels out there as well

Or
a Steyr SSG would be sweet. Steyr's double set trigger is divine. Has detacheable mags, but they are hard to get and expensive. Very classy rifle.


Or
CDNN has Tikka tacticals.

Or
I'd be tempted to look for a Tikka Master Sporter.
http://www.snipercentral.com/sporter.htm

Or
just get a varmint model Savage, Tikka, Remington, etc. and get a really nice piece of glass for it.

You don't need a long barrel for 308. 20"-24" would be fine. 308 doesn't loose much velocity going down to a 20" barrel.

Twist depends on what bullets you want to shoot. If you like a particular bullet, call that company up and ask them what twist usually shoots it best.