Range rifle suggestions?

[TomReloaded]

I want a new range rifle. Im pretty happy with my grendel, so I think I'll go with 6.5 CM now. But it seems most rifles are available in 6.5CM, so options seem like plenty.

It needs to shoot under 1 inch at 100 with hand loads and decent bullets. This seems like a pretty low bar that most guns can achieve. The more accurate the better, but at best I'll be shooting off a table with some bags, casually with friends. Its getting a 3-9x scope and its fun to try to ding a 12" gong at 500.

I have stones, files, and tools. I want a factory trigger that gets to 3ish pounds. I got my cheapo savage axis down to 2.3 pounds and 100% drop safe using the stock trigger. So something with a workable trigger would be good, as long as its doable at home. The more work I can do on it at home, the better. I did like barrel swapping at home with savages.

Instead of the usual recommendations, is there rifles I should *not* get and avoid? Is there a type of action that is not user-friendly and cant be serviced or modified at home by the average diy gunsmith?

[RNE228]

I really likes the 6.5-284 I used for Wyoming deer hunt last fall. That's a really nice cartridge that has proven to be very accurate. My buddies rifle was Douglas air gauge barrel on a Brazilian Mauser action, with a Leopold scope. That rifle had been shot out to 1000 yards and was very accurate(There's a nice 10000 yard range in N. Wyoming).

https://ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/6-5-284-norma-best-short-action-cartridge/

[sigstroker]

Look at the "$500 rifle" thread, Lots of suggestions there.

How far are you going to shoot? If 500 is the max, might as well get a .223. Powder and bullets will be cheaper. I would get a Savage with an Accu-trigger, and don't mess with it. The Accu-trigger that came in my Axis was 3.5-ish iirc? That's without adjusting it. If you want lighter than that, the Savage 12FV comes with a "varmint" version that's 2 pounds out of the box. If you were local I would sell you my .223 Axis cheap.

[TomReloaded]

Honestly, 223 will do it just fine for the kind of target shooting im doing. Thats what I've been shooting for a few years, actually on a axis. I loved my axis! Being realistic, 500 yards is the max with 350 being the most common. Our outdoor range has targets at 110yd and gongs out at 350-375. We can setup somewhere around 500ish, but usually dont.

Just kinda done with 223 for now. On the rare occasion I get to hunt, 223 either cuts it REALLY close, or its its plain not cutting it. Ammo cost is real so I ditched 6.5 for my AR's and went back to 223 on that platform... but for bolt guns, plugging off maybe 500 rounds a year is not a huge deal. Plus I like the bigger boom Even going to grendel in my other bolt gun, I picked up about 700 ft lb. Thats easily the difference between wounding and dead on the spot. I dont mind paying a little more for that. Since 6.5 got so popular lately, the nice 123gr bullets arent crazy anymore.

But anyway, I was more looking for "dont get a ____, they're impossible to work on at home!". I'm really tempted to just go with the 12FV since its a hell of a deal and I already know the savage platform. I wouldnt mind changing it up just for the sake of changing it up, but not if it means I'm stuck with a gun that I cant work on myself.

[kevins750]

kind of impossible for us to know what level of skill you have in gunsmithing.
I think most of the over the counter rifles made now are very capable of sub-moa 3 shot and 5 shot moa at 100yds out of the box.

for me a" bench only" gun means, heavy barrel, heavy rifle and high mag scope.
front mechanical rest and rabbit ear bag. at only 350yds you wouldn't really need a fast twist or heavy for caliber bullets, I would do a slow twist 308 with flat base bullets at 350yds. i have become quite the fan of the 308.

OH, and buy a savage..

[JackEllis]

If you're interested in what brands others like...

I have two Tikkas (.243 and .223) and a Howa 1500 with a varmint barrel. all are good shooters. All have adjustable triggers. The Howa is a bit less expensive than the others. I bought those two brands because they seemed to be good out-of-the-box shooters.

I have a Savage in .22lr that's also a pretty good shooter for the price.

[Preston-CLB]

N-D7100-1952-Web.jpg

Savage Model 10 Trophy Hunter XP, .223, 22" barrel,1:9 twist w/Leupold 4.5-14x40mm, Leupold rings. Trigger was 2.8 lbs out of the box. (I cloned out the trigger safety). Very accurate for a factory rifle, and not too heavy.

Mine came with the Nikon 3-9x40 mm, but I got a good deal on the Leupold.

The rifle also comes in 22.250, .243, and .308. MSRP is $729.

https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=19714

-P

[RNE228]

Are you tied to something new?Over the years I've seen barely shot Varmint weight rifles with decent scopes at the LGS. My son got a Rem 700 7mag for good price; looked like it didn't have more than a box of ammo thru it.

[sigstroker]

Honestly, 223 will do it just fine for the kind of target shooting im doing. Thats what I've been shooting for a few years, actually on a axis. I loved my axis! Being realistic, 500 yards is the max with 350 being the most common. Our outdoor range has targets at 110yd and gongs out at 350-375. We can setup somewhere around 500ish, but usually dont.

Just kinda done with 223 for now. On the rare occasion I get to hunt, 223 either cuts it REALLY close, or its its plain not cutting it. Ammo cost is real so I ditched 6.5 for my AR's and went back to 223 on that platform... but for bolt guns, plugging off maybe 500 rounds a year is not a huge deal. Plus I like the bigger boom Even going to grendel in my other bolt gun, I picked up about 700 ft lb. Thats easily the difference between wounding and dead on the spot. I dont mind paying a little more for that. Since 6.5 got so popular lately, the nice 123gr bullets arent crazy anymore.

But anyway, I was more looking for "dont get a ____, they're impossible to work on at home!". I'm really tempted to just go with the 12FV since its a hell of a deal and I already know the savage platform. I wouldnt mind changing it up just for the sake of changing it up, but not if it means I'm stuck with a gun that I cant work on myself.

Ha, I have a 12FV in 6.5 CM. Really, there are only 3 things I don't like about it. The bolt lift is heavy and not very smooth, the comb on the stock is low, and the magazine is blind. For bench shooting I would just single load it, so the magazine is not an issue. The comb thing is subjective, so other people might not mind at all, and you can always add on a cheek piece, especially if you like to tinker. There are kits with roller balls to smooth out the bolt lift, and you want to tinker on it, so...

[scotty99]

Ruger makes the American Predator now with a brake, in a Magpul Hunter stock, and feeding from AR308 mags. Street price is about $675. Fits your listed needs quite well.


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[FishnHunt]

6.5 CM is or was designed for accuracy so I’d roll with that.
Ammo is available and can be found cheap.
It’s my new favorite rifle (tikka) and caliber.
Imo, For range gun, at least 10x minimum. Maybe more More like 3-12 or 4-16 just in case you decide you want to take it hunting

[TomReloaded]

I've settled on a howa 1500 with the hogue stock and heavy barrel. Its priced well, guaranteed sub moa, and it looks like its tinker-able. Thanks everyone.

[vinconco]

My Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 CM will hit a 4 inch swinger target @ 450 yards with boring regularity using S&B 140 gr match loads. We bought the ammo for under $15. / box
My handloads do better... but not much.

Check out this 300 yard group with Remington 140 gr Core Lok's This stuff was $11.50 / box