Target Rifle on a budget

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LUCKYDAWG13

LUCKYDAWG13

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I would like to get a bolt action rifle Just for target shooting 100 yards out to 600 yards paper and steel I do reload what would you suggest for rifle and Caliber
I was thinking either savage or ruger Maybe 6 mm or 308
 
Haven't owned one, but it is rare - based on the testimonials of MANY people - to get an out of the box Savage 110 that won't shoot extremely well with some load or another. If you handload I'm sure you could make one work.

Decades ago they were considered a sort of ugly duckling among the big factory makers. But even back then comments usually ran along the lines of "........ But boy does it shoot!"
 
Savage has some good rifles and it looks like grab a gun has some Savage 10-FCP-SR rifles for under $600 which might be a good gun to start with.

Caliber wise, I'd probably recommend .308 or maybe 6.5 Creedmoor. I'm not sure there's enough ballistic advantage to either if you're within 600 yards to say that one is definitely the right choice (someone correct me if I'm wrong) but they will both be good cartridges inside of 600. If you go further I would lean to the 6.5 Creedmoor, but the .308 is still a good cartridge out to 1000.

If you're already set to reload .308, that might make a new gun in .308 a better choice.
 
I would look into the Rem 700 ADL Varmintor. You can find them under $450 and even as low as $350 during the right time of year. For a budget rifle it is great. It has the bull barrel and comes in 308 or 223. I have it in 223 and it is a super fun and accurate rifle. Will continue to upgrade it over time but shoots great now. Very cheap to shoot and can take it out to 600 on steel. The 308 would give you more range and still be pretty cheap. Also has many options to customize with changing out stock and trigger. Find a decent scope and you would be set for a cheap range gun.
 
Take a look at Tikka T3ctr. Not a target rifle, but would probably make a fine rifle for shooting targets. I don't have one, just basing this on many reviews I've read on them.
 
See this thread also: Sorry for this partial post, tried to do it from my phone. See post #18 for the full link!

ballistically-superior-to-308-win-but.823924/

Russellc
 
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If you are really on a budget look at the Ruger American Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor or .308. There are some videos on Youtuube with people shooting out to 1,000 yards with them. $370ish. If you want to spend more the next in line would be the Savage 10FCP-SR or a Remington 700 Tactical. The Tikka CTR gets recommended almost every time this topic comes up. Depending on what you consider "budget" the Ruger Precision Rifle at around $1200 is very good as well
 
Any heavy barreled 'varmint' rifle will do. Which one really doesn't make a lot of difference. Since you're already loading for .243 and .30-06, that will be the least expensive. Think 168 grain match bullets and IMR4064 for an '06(including the M1. Don't ignore it as a target rifle either. Rather shoot mine than any of my other rifles. M1's are just like that.). And 107 grain match bullets with IMR4350 for the .243. Mind you, your budget is what will determine what you can have. It'll decide if you can use match grade bullets too. Pricey things. Regular hunting bullets will do just as well for shooting because it's fun though.
Do not discount buying a used rifle. Takes a lot abuse to damage a modern commercial hunting rifle. Early yet for used varmint rifles to be in shops. Very early for used hunting rifles that can also be target rifles.
 
Dunno if there is such a thing as a budget one, but I'd try to get something in 6br. Virtually zero recoil, easy on barrels. Ultra accurate. Gazillions of bullets available good to 1,000 yards.
 
Watch out for brass prices. Some of these specialty bench rest cartridges are very expensive for brass and dies.

What level of accuracy are you looking for? If your looking to be able to shoot say a 10" steel plate at 600 yards a factory savage varmint gun in a more common caliber will do just fine. I have a savage model 12 bvss that I just put my third barrel on and it is quite the rifle.
 
As others have said, Savage has a great reputation for bang-for-the-buck accuracy. On a tight budget, that's probably what I would do. While .308 is classic, I'd opt for a 6.5--Creedmoor, 6.5x55, or .260 Remington. While the recoil of a .308 is not bad, why beat yourself up for targets. I might even consider a .243. Put some money into a good scope. I like the fixed power SWFA Super Sniper scopes with MOA reticles for a target gun; several different power options in the $300 price range.
 
I picked up a Savage Model 10GY in .308 for three hundred dollars a while back.
No pix :(, but it had a 22" barrel w silly compensater and a short LOP mediocre wood stock with a recoil pad.
Then came a rendition of Matt Bracken's Urban Guerilla Rifle:
bracken savage.png
It was pretty handy sized and packable, but the weight was less than optimal. The ergonomics were good and hits to 600yds were relatively easy.
Some Duracoat and barley pop later:
camo savage.JPG
My next idea was a switch barrel .260 or 6.5mm Creedmore for a switch barrel, when I ran into a deal on a new 26" .308 take off barrel from a 12FV:
IMG_0292.JPG
& a scope that cost about as much as the rest of the setup :eek:
I can get three inch groups at 500yds with it. I'm still working with it. Serra's software said 2600 fps with a 168gr SMK in front of 41.5gr of IMR4084, purportedly with a 26" Savage barrel. After several sessions of my shots going high, I finally got around to chronoing the loads. Got an average velocity of 2727 fps. :confused:
Loads of 155gr Palmas were only about 50 fps faster with VV N140 than the manual said.
I have high hopes for this low buck "build". It's still a switch barrel.........in theory, although that's not as easy as some would lead you to believe. :scrutiny:
 
Everready73 said:
If you are really on a budget look at the Ruger American Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor or .308. There are some videos on Youtuube with people shooting out to 1,000 yards with them. $370ish. If you want to spend more the next in line would be the Savage 10FCP-SR or a Remington 700 Tactical. The Tikka CTR gets recommended almost every time this topic comes up. Depending on what you consider "budget" the Ruger Precision Rifle at around $1200 is very good as well
Click to expand...
I gotta go with Everready. I have had the first three listed and all three worked very well. The Tikka and the Precision really aren't budget rifles, but they are good. Of all the rifles that I have owned,though, my pick for your purposes would be a Bergara B-14 Synthetic in 6.5 Creedmoor. Not a budget gun but it is a lot of gun for the money. Put a good piece of glass on it and 600 yards is not a big deal.
 
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