Looking to get into long range

[LynnJr]

If you don't reload yet skip the custom builds for now.
To take advantage of a custom build you really need to reload with a few exceptions.
A long time ago before standards/regulations where the norm all the manufacturers built off if a set of prints and interpretation of the drawings was left to them to decipher.
With the more modern guns manufacturers realized they could sell more guns if they actually shot better than what was currently on the market.
What happened next was a few decided to release cartridges that were designed around accuracy and to not release anything but what actually worked.
I won't get into who designed the cartridges because benchrest shooters have a bad reputation on tactical type forums.

By releasing drawings today and by limiting the ammunition choices you essentially up with a very good shooting factory rifle.
In the past your 30-06 would shoot 58 grain saboted bullets to 250 grain Sierra matchkings(no longer available) and to do this with any kind of accuracy you needed a gunsmith to chamber your barrel with the proper reamer and to use a barrel with the proper twist.
Some of the chamberings mentioned above are factory attempts to correct the one size fits all mentality of the past that produced 1.5 moa rifles.
Most of the chamberings available today and from the past can shoot exceptionally well if your willing to stick to one brand of ammo and have the rifle built around that particular ammo.
Most who have that concept figured out already reload and regularly have barrels swapped out so it's a moot point for most.
Good Luck with whatever you choose!!!

[scotty99]

[Dave Hoback]

Uhhh... Why is it whenever someone talks about shooting “long range”, people start with the “Ya gotta do this”, or “Ya have that!”?? Ya DON’T “Gotta Do” anything but have a decent rig in a capable caliber. Will reloading MAXIMIZE a custom built rifle? Of course! But reloading will maximize ANY rifle you get off the shelf as well! Is it possible some people simply enjoy shooting long range...JUST TO DO IT?? I think so. I don’t compete. Have in the past, but not for a long time. Don’t even shoot much anymore, ever since I was disabled I don’t drive. But I love firearms period! I love being involved with them, talking about them, and most of all, working on & BUILDING them! And shooting, when I can.

Who is enforcing these “rules” that say you MUST spend X amount of $$, or take classes in order to shoot long range??

I’ve spent very little money in training courses. But over 20 years I’ve done pistol competition, shot long range, been an instructor, and STILL reload, Gunsmith & build firearms now...with one arm/hand! I’ve never had a lot of money. Have to watch what I spend. Can’t afford the BEST glass, or Thousands of $$ in equip, but does that mean I don’t enjoy doing it? On the contrary, I think it’s more of a passion to me than many of the people who CAN afford all the goodies.

Don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to be able to afford a Schmidt & Bender PMII on the Best of the Best I could build. I would LOVE to attend these shooting clinics hosted by Rex Tibor, in Texas, New Mexaco, South Carolina, Montana, etc. And I say GOOD DEAL and congratulate to those who can afford it. Fact is I, and many others like me, can’t. Just don’t come into these public threads telling people they CAN’T shoot certain criteria, UNLESS they GET, or DO this or that! Obviously, things which may be far outside their budget. We all have our own personal budgets. But to think an inflated budget and “goodies” somehow mean you enjoy this lifestyle more is just flat out wrong. In fact, to anyone with those thoughts...I think the passion, the driving force in being an enthusiast, a “gun nut”, completely escapes the person lost in their dollars & cents!

As always...just my take. Other’s results may vary.

[longrange1]

did you even bother to read what the OP posted as his budget? obviously not by your rambling post......let me make this clear for you...the OPs budget for his build is UP TO $6000 so why would he by a cheap factory rifle or a POS scope to put on it.

[gpark09]

Let me share my wish list plan. As soon as I'm done paying off the credit card balance on last couple of projects, I may be pursuing following project.

For the action, I am planning with the Impact Precision action in 6.5 CM.

If any one ask me why 6.5 CM, because of availability. I try not to chase the fancy caliber just to be different to stand out. I want the caliber that will deliver and also easy of access like reloading if not easy to find on the shelves.

As far as the action concerns, Impact action has proven its quality and most of all, the Impact Precision also sells the barrel chambered to prefit their action. Which means you can buy it as barreled action and for future rebarrel, you don't need to pay the smith for the chambering. That's a huge saving down the road.

For the stock, I was considering either MPA chassis or AI chassis, depends on the funds availability at the time. I guess the stock choice is mostly up to the shooters.

For the glass, I was very interested in Khales K525i 5-25x56 with SKMR3. If I can't get any sort of a deal under $3K, I may be shop for Steiner M7Xi 4-28x56 with TRMR3 around $2.8K range. I love the top quality glasses, but I don't think I want to pay anywhere over $3K.

Your budget fits pretty much what I'm planning. You can do something like that, in custom. Don't really need to copy it off. It was for your reference.

You won't regret it, really.

[wolfmann]

I have heard good things about the Howa chassis rifles.
Old guy here would go with 300 win mag

[sigstroker]

Take a look at Masterpiece Arms. It's a "mass produced custom" in that they are constantly building and shipping to distributors and gun shops, but use high quality custom parts. I think the action they use now is the Curtis Custom Axiom, a 3 lug Remington footprint action with a 60 degree bolt lift. Left-handed available. The msrp of $3200-ish is not bad considering those actions are $1100 and the chassis are around $900. For another $1200 you get barrel, trigger, assembly, and Cerakoting. Even better you can sometimes find them at various gunshops for less.

[ar15barrels]

Where do you live?

[Whiterabbit]

well, 37 responses so you are pretty well covered, but let me try a different line than the others here.

With 4-6k to spend,

Why WOULDN'T you buy the very excellent Ruger precision rifle in 308 for 1k, put on some excellent glass of whatever brand and feature you want for 1500-2500, buy 1k rounds of match grade ammo, outfit yourself with the basics like bipod, chrono, rings, rear bag, etc, all sourced based on recommendations from www.precisionrifleblog.com under "what the pros use", and GO SHOOT? And still have a couple kilobucks left over to re-outfit and further-outfit as you shoot through your 1k ammo as you learn what you really need, like, and want?

By the end you'll know what you want and like, be swimming in ammo, have a ton of trigger time, have met like minded people at the range who have more experience than you, and have something you put mileage on, rather than be the porche up on blocks in the garage that you are proud of but never drove?

The question is, why wouldn't you do that? What single decision is wrong there? Why not focus entirely and intensely on what gets you out in the field, pulling the trigger? What's more important, the numbers and letters after the "Porche 911", or the track time itself? Go get on the track!

[smoothy8500]

"Porche 911"? Go get on the track!

Is that a Brazilian sportscar?

[Whiterabbit]

Is that a Brazilian sportscar?

[Whiterabbit]

And yes, AMG, that is an Algerian Machine Gun.

[ar15barrels]

well, 37 responses so you are pretty well covered, but let me try a different line than the others here.

With 4-6k to spend,

Why WOULDN'T you buy the very excellent Ruger precision rifle in 308 for 1k, put on some excellent glass of whatever brand and feature you want for 1500-2500, buy 1k rounds of match grade ammo, outfit yourself with the basics like bipod, chrono, rings, rear bag, etc, all sourced based on recommendations from www.precisionrifleblog.com under "what the pros use", and GO SHOOT? And still have a couple kilobucks left over to re-outfit and further-outfit as you shoot through your 1k ammo as you learn what you really need, like, and want?

By the end you'll know what you want and like, be swimming in ammo, have a ton of trigger time, have met like minded people at the range who have more experience than you, and have something you put mileage on, rather than be the porche up on blocks in the garage that you are proud of but never drove?

The question is, why wouldn't you do that? What single decision is wrong there? Why not focus entirely and intensely on what gets you out in the field, pulling the trigger? What's more important, the numbers and letters after the "Porche 911", or the track time itself? Go get on the track!

This Forum is now overrun with people who don't even care to actually help the OP.
Notice how the first two posts are to tell him he needs something "better" that's actually NOT better for his needs?
The herd mentality brought on by the millennials is making the "old pros" get drowned out.
How is a newbie to know who to even listen to?
I mean, they certainly would not want to listen to someone who ran a precision rifle matches or taught precision rifle classes or people who shot precision rifle matches if those opinions do not match the herd...
Everybody is looking for the easy easy way out.
Nobody wants to actually LEARN anymore.
Just go buy a porche 911 and post pictures on Instagram.
Who wants to actually use it so much that you have to replace tires?

[smoothy8500]

Sorry, that's what I meant....I'll remember to insert the smiley-face next time.

[LynnJr]

This Forum is now overrun with people who don't even care to actually help the OP.
Notice how the first two posts are to tell him he needs something "better" that's actually NOT better for his needs?
The herd mentality brought on by the millennials is making the "old pros" get drowned out.
How is a newbie to know who to even listen to?
I mean, they certainly would not want to listen to someone who ran a precision rifle matches or taught precision rifle classes or people who shot precision rifle matches if those opinions do not match the herd...
Everybody is looking for the easy easy way out.
Nobody wants to actually LEARN anymore.
Just go buy a porche 911 and post pictures on Instagram.
Who wants to actually use it so much that you have to replace tires?

Randall
Go visit the sniper hides forum. There are world-class shooters there using a screen name getting told they know nothing about shooting, reloading or how to do gunsmithing despite all those trophies and plaques.