What rifles to choose from?

[ScottG1911]

I need some ideas of a rifle good to 1000 yards. I want to stay under $1000 if possible. I am also debating a 308 and 300 win mag cartridge ( figuring 308 is cheaper BUT 300 win mag has better performance) The main rifles i've gotten to know are the Remington 700P, Savage 10FP LE2B, and FN Patrol rifle. Anymore rifle ideas could be a help. Thanks

 

[jpwilly]

308 is constantly choosen because you get a lot more barrel life and the 308 is consistant. The Savage would get my money.

 

[SpeedAKL]

$1000 for gun only or for gun + optics and bipod?

Savage's law enforcement models are consistently excellent accuracy-wise. Get one of the upgraded stocks and you'll be set.

 

[ScottG1911]

Gun only

 

[glockman19]

The Remington 700 is a great gun and comes in so many variants & calibers you can't go wrong. I have a 700 CDL in .30-06 with a Bushnell 3200 3x9x40 scope that consistantly groups well for me out to 550-600 yards.

 

[ScottG1911]

yeah i'm looking for a gun that will reach out to 1000 yards and maybe more. the 300 win mag is looking good for me I think. So I'm going to need a rifle designed to reach out there.

 

[SpeedAKL]

The only thing to keep in mind with the .300 Win Mag is that it has a good bit more recoil than .308, .30-06, etc. Adding a muzzle brake can reduce it.

 

[esmith]

If shooting to 1000 yards then you not only want accuracy but you are going to want high BC as well. The .308 has one of the best varieties of bullet types and sectional densities. Since the 308 is used often for those distances i advise sticking with it.

If you are handloading you may as well go with the 300 win mag as you can pin point the best load for your purpose. Plus the win mag is a faster cartridge which lessens the time gravity can put an effect on it. Therefore it will be flatter and move less.

 

[rjohnson4405]

I was thinking about posting the same thing so thanks to the original poster! I was looking at a Savage LE model as well, but was having trouble with the 300 WSM vs 308. Is 300 WSM different/better than 300 Winchester Magnum? How hard does the 300 actually kick? Compared to a slug out of a shotgun?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bartkowski]

A remington 700 in .308 seems like a winner to me. The 300 win mag is nice to have for longer ranges, but I wouldn't like the recoil during lots of target shooting, and the barrel life will be terrible with it too.

And as far as a WSM or regular win mag, they both do pretty much the same thing unless you handload, then the old win mag is more powerful, and faster. And a 300 will kick less than all the slugs I have shot, but unless you have a muzzle break target shooting isn't that fun.

 

[eldon519]

To hit things consistently at that range, you're gonna need to practice. The .300 Win Mag is gonna be harder on your shoulder, harder on your barrel, and harder on your wallet. If none of that concerns you, then I'd say go for the .300 WM. If you think these factors may realistically cut into your practice time, you might want consider whether or not the performance gains the .300 offers outweigh the accompanying disadvantages.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Check out the CZ line of 550 rifles. Also Savage.

 

[esmith]

If you are shooting at that range odds are you won't be shooting with it that much. So barrel life isn't as big of a concern as it would be if you were plinking with another rifle. Also you are most likely going to have a muzzle brake on it since its going to kick a whole lot without one.

I would still go with 308 for less money, more variety in bullet choice, and better life.

 

[Bartkowski]

If you are shooting at that range odds are you won't be shooting with it that much.

I would think that if this is going to be a dedicated range gun, he will shoot it quite a bit, and maybe do competition, where you shot a lot.

More info on type of shooting could help others, but I still say .308

more variety in bullet choice

If you are comparing the .308 to a 300 magnum, bullets are the same diameter, and therefore same selection.

 

[esmith]

If you are comparing the .308 to a 300 magnum, bullets are the same diameter, and therefore same selection.

This is if handloading. .308 is about ten years older and much more common therefore more ammunition companies will make a variety of bullet choices to match specific needs. Both cartridges have long range cartridges taylor made to them, however cost will be much higher for 300 win mag not only because its more materials but also because there isn't as much supply for long range shooting with it compared to 308.

I would think that if this is going to be a dedicated range gun, he will shoot it quite a bit, and maybe do competition, where you shot a lot.

Shooting 1000 yards isn't easy to do, and when someone is steady it takes a while to reach it.

 

[dakotasin]

1000 yard shooting... most chamberings can do it, some just do it easier than others. if you aren't handloading, then the cost of ammo is a non-issue because match ammo for either chambering is expensive.

recoil is a non-issue as well, since you will be wanting a heavy barrel, and you'll want a good recoil pad w/ either chambering. by the time you get a big leupold, nightforce, or us optics scope on, a steel 20 moa rail and steel high rings, you are going to have a 14 pound rifle. throw another pound on for the harris bipod, and all of a sudden, recoil is minimized. in a sporter rifle w/ a poor recoil pad either one is a kicker.

so... rifle... remington 700 vls is a good way to get into long range shooting cheap. the laminated stock is very stable and inletted well.

and then, chambering options... the 6.5 mm bullets (so, cartridges like the 264 win mag, 260, 6.5x284, etc) will have much higher bc's than anything 30 cal. ditto 7mm (7 rem mag, 7-08, 7 rum, 284 win, 280 rem, etc). i really like the 7-08 and 6.5x284 for 1000 yard target shooting better than my 308.

if i were new at 1000 yard targets, i'd start from scratch w/ a remington 700 variant in 7-08, 260, or 308 - in that order. if i already had 1000 yard experience but wanted a factory available gun, it would be a cooper in 6.5x284.

 

[Bartkowski]

Shooting 1000 yards isn't easy to do, and when someone is steady it takes a while to reach it.

Therefore, lots of practice is needed.

And age doesn't have to much to do with popularity, and cost of a cartridge, once a certain age is reached. If age did have so much to do with it than the 45-70 would be one of the cheapest things to shoot.

But still we agree that the .308 is the better choice.

 

[esmith]

And age doesn't have to much to do with popularity, and cost of a cartridge

I never said age means something is more popular, however it can effect its popularity. When a cartridge such as the 308 is developed early and is discovered as a sound and good cartridge more time aids gun makers into noticing and chambering their guns with it. This is where the term 'tried and true' comes into play.

 

[Bartkowski]

Don't talk like I don't understand where tried and true comes in or what it means.

.308 is about ten years older and much more common therefore more ammunition companies will make a variety of bullet choices to match specific needs.

Said in post 18 that age does affect popularity, and in post 15 that it is older and more common so there is more variety of ammo made for it. Implying that age has the ability to make something more popular.

And I believe that 40 or so years is enough time to have discovered the .300 win mag so I do not believe that the reason it is more expensive is because it was made ten or so years after the .308.

 

[esmith]

I said it can affect, not that it always does. Because the 308 is older, ammo and gun manufacturers have had time to test what bullets and loads work better for the 308 in different designs of guns. 300 win mag has had a lot of time as well but 10 years can present a difference.

And I believe that 40 or so years is enough time to have discovered the .300 win mag so I do not believe that the reason it is more expensive is because it was made ten or so years after the .308.

You misunderstood what i originally said. 300 win mag is going to be more expensive because it uses more materials obviously but there will be an additional cost beyond that because .308 is more common therefore ammunition makers are competing against one another for lower prices. Because 300 win mag is less common makers do not compete as much, therefore theres less supply meaning they can sell it for more and get away with it. The buyer just doesn't see this additional cost because they dismiss the higher price because they think more materials makes it more expensive (which it does).

In the end they both work for long range. Im still sticking with 308.

 

[Bartkowski]

Well I changed my mind, I'd get something between the two, the real tried and true cartridge, the .30-06.

 

[.45Guy]

the real tried and true cartridge, the .30-06.

Bravo! Load the '06 to .308 pressures and then say they are equal! Case capacity does count for something.

 

[esmith]

Out of the two suggested .308. The 30 06 will give you the best commerical bullet selection and case capacity. Agreed Steve.

 

[ScottG1911]

Well it looks like the 308 is the winner, SO which rifle would be best.
Remington 700 Police, FN SPR, or savage 10fp le2b

 

[nitestocker]

i would go savage and then you can still afford a Leupold scope and a Harris bipod and go 300 and start reloading