target rifle in 7.62/.308

[flexible]

Hi everyone; I'm interested in a 7.62/.308 target rifle for 300 to 600 yard shooting. I am seriously interested in the Precision Firearms 'Terminus' bolt action series.
Has anyone shot one or heard about it?
Also what scopes would you recommend.
thanks
flexible

 

[dh1633pm]

Interesting rifle. I went with a factory rifle, the 700 Milspec. Consider it money well spent. I used a Vortex Viper, but asking around here which scope to use will yield as many answers as post. All good ones for sure, there are many good scopes out there.

 

[jmr40]

If I had a good 308, and I do, I'd most likely keep it. But if buying new in 2017 I'd be buying 6.5 Creedmoor. As good as the 308 can be, the 6.5 does everything better. The difference isn't earth shattering, but it is enough to give the 6.5 a real edge.

 

[GRIZ22]

For the msrp of the Terminus you could buy two Savages. I have a Savage Precision Carbine and Scout in 7.62 NATO. They both shoot MOA with just about any NATO spec ammo. I'm sure I could shrink this with premium ammo or a reload.

I don't know how good a shooter you are. There are too many people who can't hit a refrigerator box at 100 yards and think spending more money will make them a better shooter.

Might not be as sexy but either would do the job the Terminus could.

JMO

 

[someguy2800]

From there website

"We expect these rifles to shoot under 1 MOA out of the box. Close to .7 is expected"

I don't know if they mean with factory ammo but honestly for that price I would be real disappointed if I bought one of those and it only shot .7 moa. In my experience most varmint model savages will shoot better than that. If I wanted a prebuilt rifle I would get a Savage LRP.

If it were me I would get a savage dual port target action, a stock from savage shooters supply, and a shilen barrel and put it together

http://www.sharpshootersupply.com/

http://northlandshooterssupply.com/match-grade-barrels-2/shilen-savage/

https://www.savagearms.com/firearms/actions/target/

 

[Newtosavage]

For the money, you're not going to beat the model 12 Savage that Cabelas is selling right now for $419. I handled one yesterday and it's a beast of a rifle with a very heavy barrel and heavy stiff stock. Reviews show it's a tack driver. Comes in .223 and .308 and a few other calibers. If I wanted a range gun, that's what I would get in a minute.

 

[FL-NC]

I've heard nothing but good about the Ruger Precision Rifle. My 2 friends who got them (both Army snipers) say its an excellent value for the $.

 

[Sunray]

"...don't know if they mean with factory ammo but..." Exactly which factory ammo would matter too. I wouldn't believe any accuracy guarantee from anybody, personally. There's always a qualifier.
What's your budget? Those Precision Firearms 'Terminus' rifles start at $1500 with no sights.

 

[salt&battery]

For the msrp of the Terminus you could buy two Savages. I have a Savage Precision Carbine and Scout in 7.62 NATO. They both shoot MOA with just about any NATO spec ammo. I'm sure I could shrink this with premium ammo or a reload.

I don't know how good a shooter you are. There are too many people who can't hit a refrigerator box at 100 yards and think spending more money will make them a better shooter.

Might not be as sexy but either would do the job the Terminus could.

JMO

if your rifles shoot that good with ball ammo you will get 1/2 groups with reloads using standard hunting bullets

 

[salt&battery]

From there website

"We expect these rifles to shoot under 1 MOA out of the box. Close to .7 is expected"

I don't know if they mean with factory ammo but honestly for that price I would be real disappointed if I bought one of those and it only shot .7 moa. In my experience most varmint model savages will shoot better than that. If I wanted a prebuilt rifle I would get a Savage LRP.

If it were me I would get a savage dual port target action, a stock from savage shooters supply, and a shilen barrel and put it together

http://www.sharpshootersupply.com/

http://northlandshooterssupply.com/match-grade-barrels-2/shilen-savage/

https://www.savagearms.com/firearms/actions/target/

you would spend a pile of money have a great rifle that will shoot almost the same as the savage rifle at cabelas for $419

 

[someguy2800]

you would spend a pile of money have a great rifle that will shoot almost the same as the savage rifle at cabelas for $419

But I would have what I want. That combo should be able to do .3 moa with good handloads. The 12FV is a great deal for what it is.

 

[GRIZ22]

But I would have what I want. That combo should be able to do .3 moa with good handloads. The 12FV is a great deal for what it is.

If that's what you want them just go buy it.

We have all paid more for something not based on performance but because that's what we wanted.

I just got my Savage Scout. I'm still pretty much getting used to the rifle and shooting MOA with milspec ammo. Thats with a Burris Scout scope which is not really an expensive piece of glass.

Accuracy is about repeatability under a certain set of conditions. I shot a Ballantine group at 50 yards with my Colt Commander using my reloads about 35 years ago. I've never done anywhere near that again. Combination of skill and mostly dumb luck.

.3" repeatable groups is getting into benchrest territory. Just saying.

I would buy the Savage and spend what I save over the Terminus toward better glass. If the Terminus is what you want, just buy it.

 

[someguy2800]

.3" repeatable groups is getting into benchrest territory. Just saying.

Exactly! He said he wanted a target rifle right? So why not buy a gun meant to be a target rifle?

 

[JO JO]

Savage has some good rebates going on the model 10 has a $100 dollars mail in rebate, shop around look at factory websites many deals and rebates going on , leaves more money for good glass

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

my Ruger Precision rifle in .308 is zeroed at 300 yards, I kill hogs and coyotes daily at these ranges without compensation, I did add a muzzle brake to this Gen 1 rifle....it is the real deal.

 

[z7]

Tikka t3x CTR or if you can afford it, Tac a1
http://www.tikka.fi/en-us/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-tac-a1

Tikka rifles are very accurate, many ctr's are 1/2 moa rifles if yoy can drive them

The tac a1 is the same setup with the added bonus of a chassis.

Or buy what you want, shoot the barrel out, kill all the paper and steel targets, and rebarrel if

 

[flexible]

Hi Everyone; and thanks for all the quick and informative responses. Looks like I'm shopping for a Savage 12 FV in .308, this will leave lots of money for a good scope - probably Burris, Leopold or Vortex.
thanks again
flexible

 

[webrx]

I picked the savage 10 ba stealth over the Ruger precision rifle. During break in at 100 I shot multiple groups below .7 with factory ammo, a couple below .5

It seems easy to get this rifle to shoot nice small groups.

I wanted a dedicated long range/target precision rifle so I bought mine in 6.5 but the stealth and ruger can both be gotten in 308 if one wanted.

d

 

[Bart B.]

What accuracy level do you want at 600 yards; the group size all fired shots can go into? 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 inches?

Will you be handloading ammo?

Put your money into the rifle. Several medium priced scopes will do good enough; a Weaver T24 for example. A $500 for a scope and mounts on a $1500 rifle will produce better results (accuracy, precision) than the reverse thereof.

 

[webrx]

On a side note, and I am hoping the experts will chime in with their opinions, for a dedicated target rifle, some would rather have/use a fixed power scope over a variable power.

Primarily because for the same money you can get a more rugged scope with more accurate turret adjustment. If you are going to shoot targets from 300 to 600, you need to be able to adjust your turrets, and it needs to be repeatable, Kentucky windage is not going to cut it. If you just want to walk it onto steel using KW, then, there is any number of scopes that can be used.

d

 

[Berger.Fan222]

A lot depends on budget and aesthetic preferences. I used to be a Rem 700 fan until about 2000 when their accuracy tanked. Tried a Rem 700 5R Milspec in 2010 or so that was just awful. Went to Savage and have had a string of accurate rifles at cost effective prices.

 

[salt&battery]

On a side note, and I am hoping the experts will chime in with their opinions, for a dedicated target rifle, some would rather have/use a fixed power scope over a variable power.

Primarily because for the same money you can get a more rugged scope with more accurate turret adjustment. If you are going to shoot targets from 300 to 600, you need to be able to adjust your turrets, and it needs to be repeatable, Kentucky windage is not going to cut it. If you just want to walk it onto steel using KW, then, there is any number of scopes that can be used.

d

one of the best fixed power scope for the money is the SS line from SWAFA

 

[Bart B.]

All variable power scopes have a small amount of reticle slop because of the mechanical tolerances in the two sliding erector/zoom lenses in the inner lens tube. The best may well have 1/8 MOA error. Keeping the power locked at one extreme eliminates most of that slop. Some variables have over 1 MOA slop. It'll shift from recoil changing where the two lenses come to rest for each shot.

Put an optical collimator in the barrel, adjust the scope to zero on it, then zoom across the power range. Watch the reticle make a small irregular figure 8 loop about the collimator reference.

Fixed power scopes don't have this issue.

 

[salt&battery]

All variable power scopes have a small amount of reticle slop because of the mechanical tolerances in the two sliding erector/zoom lenses in the inner lens tube. The best may well have 1/8 MOA error. Keeping the power locked at one extreme eliminates most of that slop. Some variables have over 1 MOA slop. It'll shift from recoil changing where the two lenses come to rest for each shot.

Put an optical collimator in the barrel, adjust the scope to zero on it, then zoom across the power range. Watch the reticle make a small irregular figure 8 loop about the collimator reference.

Fixed power scopes don't have this issue.

Imagine that MOA of error in a variable scope at 800-100yds

 

[eastbank]

these two rem 700 heavy barreled rifles in .308 and .223 are sub moa rifle with my reloads. the best three shot with the .223 at 300 yards was .400, but i have not been able to do it again. normal 300 yards three shot groups for both rifles from a bench rest have been 3/4 to 1inch when i,m up to it. eastbank.