Looking to get a bolt action 308. Need Help!

[alexisjohnson]

Hey Guys,

I'm looking to get a bolt action of the 308 variety and i was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions. I'm primarily focusing on the rem 700 series because it seems offhand to have a lot of options for customization.

I have a few questions though:

1. What is the best 700 i could purchase for around 1k (give or take). I'm primarily looking for accuracy and the weight is secondary for me. It won't be a hunting gun but more of an accuracy based platform.
2. Should i even be only looking at the 700's or are there other options which are better?
3. Once purchased, what should i get to make it more accurate and in what order should i get them?
4. How accurate would this gun be (approximately)?


Thanks Guys!

[teflondog]

While I like the Remington 700, I would personally get a Tikka T3 if I were shopping for a bolt .308 rifle. Every one that I've shot was a sub MOA gun right out of the box without any modifications. I've shot a few Remington 700s that needed glass bedding or barrel swap before shooting sub MOA.

If you're looking for the most precision, the first upgrade I'd do is replace the stock with one that fits you best. A trigger upgrade would come next.

[CouchOperator]

Milspec 5r for out of the box. I also recommend sticking with the 700 because everyone and their mother know how to true and rebarrel a 700 action, i.e. I recommend Spartan Rifles up in San Jose.

[ExtremeX]

Hey Guys,

I'm looking to get a bolt action of the 308 variety and i was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions. I'm primarily focusing on the rem 700 series because it seems offhand to have a lot of options for customization.

I have a few questions though:

1. What is the best 700 i could purchase for around 1k (give or take). I'm primarily looking for accuracy and the weight is secondary for me. It won't be a hunting gun but more of an accuracy based platform.
2. Should i even be only looking at the 700's or are there other options which are better?
3. Once purchased, what should i get to make it more accurate and in what order should i get them?
4. How accurate would this gun be (approximately)?


Thanks Guys!

1. The stainless steel 5R model.
2. Doesnt really matter, they are all about the same at the core of it all. If you want better, you pretty much need to have a gunsmith chamber a quality barrel blank and any receiver truing, and or start with a custom action.
3. Ammo, Optic, Trigger, Stock for the purpose of ergonomics. Beyond the bolt-on items its action work.
4. Depends on the ammo... but a good load should yield 1/3 to 1/2 MOA on average on a factory barreled action.

The absolute biggest improvement in terms of accuracy and performance for me have all come from ammo. If you dont reload, expect to spend $0.80 to $1.20 per shot for match ammo. Otherwise dont expect anything miraculous regarding accuracy... The mil-spec or plinking ammo most people feed though their semi-autos would yield about the same result out of a bolt action too.

[Len]

I have owned several 700 series rifles, all heavy barrels with McRees and XLR chassis, all were very accurate.
I have owned an Accuracy International MKIII that was also extremely accurate, expensive and very heavy.
I ended up with, for me anyway, the ultimate out of the box rifle I have ever owned, the Tikka T3 CTR.
There is a good after market support for the T3, chassis are available also.
If you want to play Lego rifles the 700 is a great platform but notice that a lot of people talk about re-barreling a 700, why would you re-barrel a new rifle??
Do some reading and you will come to the same conclusion that I did.
Out of the box, its the T3 is the one.

[thegamettt]

I have a 5r, its pretty sweet out of the box. Changed stock and trigger and have not looked back. Make sure you don't go cheap on glass. It'll probably cost more than the rifle.

[Junkie]

This is in the wrong section, you'll probably get better feedback in manually operated.

[RandyD]

I have owned at least 6 Remington 700's, they were accurate rifles. My last bolt action purchase was a Stiller Predator action, and the quality of the Stiller action exceeds what Remington produces. The Stiller Predator action is a Remington 700 clone, that is CNC milled and the action requires no additional work. From there you can pick a trigger, stock and barrel of your choice and quality. I went with a Jewell trigger, a McMillan stock and a Krieger barrel. I could not be happier with my choices.

[Tere_Hanges]

Rem 700 all the way. Tikkas are great too. But get the Remy. Anything else and you will still want the 700.

Your $1K budget is way off. You can get a brand new 700 for $500.

I got a R700 SPS tactical 20" heavy barrel a couple of years ago at Sportsmans Warehouse for $400. That is their everyday price. I've put probably around 400 rounds through it and absolutely love it.

It shoots subMOA all day long with a "cheap" $150 Vortex Crossfire II, EGW rail, Burris zee rings, and Tula steel cased ammo. I KID YOU NOT. I would like to upgrade the trigger and stock eventually but the thing is more accurate than I am already out of the box. SubMOA is the gold standard for accuracy.

I had a Tikka T3 lite in .3006. Just as accurate as the R700. I sold it cause I wanted to switch to .308win. Also had the Weatherby Vanguard but sold that cause I still wanted a Remington. You will not regret getting a 700.

As far as entry level "budget" rifles go, here is my order of preference:
Remington 700 SPS
Tikka T3 Lite
Weatherby Vanguard
Savage 111

[Rickmcu]

Do yourself a favor and don't get a 308. It's an out dated round that's not very good anymore. You'd be much much better off with a 6mm or 6.5mm round.

[socal147]

Do yourself a favor and don't get a 308. It's an out dated round that's not very good anymore.

[Rickmcu]

Thanks for telling me everything I already knew.... and exactly my point. Designed in 1952. Old and out dated.

[milotrain]

Do yourself a favor and don't get a 308. It's an out dated round that's not very good anymore. You'd be much much better off with a 6mm or 6.5mm round.

This is the least informed statement I've read today.

[Tere_Hanges]

Do yourself a favor and don't get a 308. It's an out dated round that's not very good anymore. You'd be much much better off with a 6mm or 6.5mm round.

Hahahahahaha! You almost had me. Excellent sarcastic post.

The origin of 6.5mm rounds is even older, circa 1891. Think 6.5x55 swedish. LOL.

You're whining about tech from the '50s and then promoting tech from the 1800s.

You shouldnt get hung up on when a round was developed but rather focus on the merits of its performance. The .308win isnt going anywhere.

6.5 rounds have excellent ballistics but the .308win is so common and widely available not to mention more than adequate for a variety of uses. It simply is the best ALL PURPOSE rifle cartridge ever designed.

[Redeyedrider]

I've heard the Ruger Scout is a nice .308. I have ZERO experience, but it would be nice to view a thread that compares it to the 700 .308.