Wal-mart sniper rifle--spend the money of the uninitiated

[Lonestar.45]

I think you'll be happy with a Remington 700 or a Winchester 70. They're both quality, and they'll both do what you want them to do. It'll be up to you to decide which one fits you best.

As for caliber, if you are going to do much paper shooting, I would NOT go higher than .308, or 30-06. Anything more is punishing on the bench and not nearly as enjoyable to shoot. At least in my opinion. And it may cause you to develop bad habits. Sure, you can do it, but you won't enjoy shooting 50 rds from that .300 win mag from the bench in one sitting, that much I can assure you. It's more expensive to shoot the larger magnums as well. .308 and 30-06 will do everything you want it to do, and take game elk sized and smaller with no problems. If it were me? I'd go Remington 700 ADL in .308, get a decent scope, and pick up a bunch of rounds and start shooting!

 

[Fred Fuller]

At the risk of seeming provocative, I'm going to try this one more time. Anyone who wants to dismiss it as semantics, feel free. If I didn't think it was important, I'd save the electrons.

Sniper rifles are ISSUED. Not bought. You can buy hunting rifles. You can buy target rifles. You can buy varmint rifles. You can build or have built any configuration of rifle you want, but it will not be a sniper rifle. It will be a hunting rifle, or a target rifle, or a varmint rifle.

Why?

Because unless you are in the armed forces or a law enforcement officer, and are trained and designated for the job, you aren't a sniper.

You might be a hunter, or a target shooter. You could be a soldier or a Marine or a deputy or a police officer, and still not be a sniper. But there is a certain legitimacy to the term 'sniper' that should be accorded, even though the term is often wildly abused by the media.

Claiming the title for yourself or your WalMart rifle is not a wise thing to do IMO. Not because it might make 'legitimate' snipers jealous, but because of how it makes you sound to others.

YMMV of course, First Amendment and all that...

lpl/nc

 

[SUE ROVR]

I did not say "I" was a sniper, only that I wanted a "sniper" rifle.

History tells me that in vietnam snipers used Winchester 70s and Remington 700s two weapons both available at Wal-mart and which I can buy. Would it matter if I bought an ex-MOD one or one at Wal-mart? I don't think so. If I buy a mosin nagant does it cease to be a sniper rifle because it is no longer in military service?

Does it become a "sniper" rifle when given to a government employee, but a hunting rifle otherwise? Or by a British guy shotting small, rare birds, well you may say so--first amendment and all, but I say the rifle is the same you call it the same.

To me, the same things that make a rifle useful to shoot people at long range are the same things that make it useful to shoot deer or paper at long range, but a mere hunting rifle, does not imply the same use. A mossberg 500 could be a hunting rifle (well hunting gun). A varmit gun implies a smaller caliber, ie a mini-14. A target rifle implies a weapon without a practical purpose.

So yes, belabor the point if you must, I think common language and parlance is on the side of my the more liberal use of the word. Certainly the people here knew what I was asking about.

Now if I could ask one more question, could someone tell me what the difference between the various versions of the winchester 70 and remington 700. Not comparing the two, but comparing the difference among the models.

I am not opposed to pay more for a higher end 700 or 70 but I would like to know what I am buying.