Budget PRS setup

[IronLad]

Im trying to set myself with a "best value rifle for build" setup for longer ranger targets at in 308. It will my first time shooting anything that far out but Id like to have the rifle be duo purpose; for when I decide to go hunting, and for a longer range bolt setup

Would like to note I do note shoot amazing but this being something I can have as I keep practicing.

Ive considered: Tikka t3 and t3x (little overbudget), Ruger American 308, Howa 1500, and remington 700 (sps, explained later)

My requirements for this would be
-about $500 or so starting off
-a heavy barrel
-a hunter style/traditional rifle grip stock (not a fan of the mdt type stuff, although aics mag/removable magazines would definitely be nice but not required)
-good aftermarket support
-not needed but heard a 60? is considered better?

It would be my first setup for a bolt action for target shooting/plinking outside my usual Savage MKII 22 FV setup for plinking.

Ive considered the brownwells howa 1500 action aswell as it meets the budget (recently learned people build their prs rifles based off of actions). Albeit slightly over budget, and not having a stock.

In my word vomit you can tell I am a novice at this but been wanting to have more fun and open my skill set, so any suggestions in all the details you can provice would be great

[whatmeworry]

For true PRS your low end budget should be around $2k to $3k. (Look at Masterpiece Arms). The serious PRS guys start their budget builds at the $5k level.

A scope alone can start at $3k

[IronLad]

For true PRS your low end budget should be around $2k to $3k. (Look at Masterpiece Arms). The serious PRS guys start their budget builds at the $5k level.

A scope alone can start at $3k

Im a dingus so let me re explain. Im wanting to try longer range shooting than prs (my mind: precision rifle shooting being shooting at further ranges) vs competitive. With 2-3k, Im guessing I might as well not even bother then

[smoothy8500]

I figured you meant stepping into some sort of "precision shooting" and not necessarily PRS. There really isn't one rifle type that can do all (hunting, PRS, benchrest, varmint, etc). Yes, some people do engage in one or the other with something that kind of works as a cross-over.

[cz74]

I have the Remington 700 SPS Tactical with the 20-inch heavy barrel. The factory hogue stock is junk so replace it as soon as you get the rifle. I got a Boyds "varmint" style stock, you can use their configurator tool on their site https://www.boydsgunstocks.com/at-one

Barrel is threaded, so I got Area 419 muzzle brake. The Boyds stock butt does not have much padding, so I got a limb saver. Enjoy!

[smoothy8500]

The Rem 700 is a good entry level choice. Decent price and generally have a good barrel. Plenty of aftermarket support.

[Tommy Gun]

Grab a Tikka if it can be found a good price. 700 should be a back up. I'd say 700 has a ton more aftermarket and barrel options.

Don't fall for the pay to win mindset with shooting. Unless you are trying to do 1 moa at 1k yds, your action/barrel and ammo are the most important thing for rifle shooting. You can buy a decent long range scope for 1k on sale. Granted I haven't gone past 600 yds, my Burris XTR II 5x25 does just fine. Zero stop, tactile scope adjustment, good eye box all for 1k on sale 6 years ago.

I own a 6.5 Creed RPR with the Burris scope.

Also own a MDT chassis'd Tikka Ultralight with fluted barrel (previously an ultralight). With a $600 Athlon Tac scope. Does just fine, again out to 600 yds.

Just realize you will have to spend above your precieved budget but reason to spend 3 to 4k for your set up. Plan on 1500 to 2k basically because of the scope. You also need to reload to get the true potential of the rifle, which is more costs associated to your budget. RPR can take AICS. Not sure on stock Tikkas, I doubt it. Tikka aftermarket is going to cost you more than the 700 FYI.

[sigstroker]

Dang, I typed out a nice long post last night, but then they decided to do maintenance and it got wiped out.

OP, .308 is not what you want. It struggles to reach 1000 yards, and at max range, a rifle is never as consistent as you would like. If you're going with a bolt gun, there's no good reason for a .308. Do 6.5 Creedmoor at least. Less recoil, and about the same ammo cost as .308, and will fly a few hundreds yards farther at least.

Take a look at the Savage 110 Tactical or Desert Tactical. Fluted and heavier than hunting barrel, a decent stock that's adjustable for cheek height and length of pull, a better than average trigger, aftermarket support second only to the Remington 700, blueprinted action, pic rail included, and uses AICS magazines, about $700. They have it in 6.5 creedmoor, and the one I got, 6.5 PRC. It's like a 6.5 creedmoor magnum, with a couple hundred yards more usable range. If you're not expecting to shoot over a mile, you can also look at 6mm Creedmoor for less recoil but shorter barrel life.

For a no frills shooter with great bones, go to Bass Pro/Cabelas and get a Savage 12FV. Ordinary, but fairly stiff hunting style stock, blind magazine, a stout 26" barrel(longer barrels give you more velocity), a pretty darn good 2 pound trigger, available in 6.5 creed, for $470. Easily upgradeable to a chassis in the future.

edit: I re-read your OP. What is the "60" you mentioned?

If you don't want a "MDT" (chassis) the Tactical I mentioned above has a lot of the features you'd want a chassis for. However, it does not have the barrel of the 12FV. If you get an ordinary rifle and upgrade to a nice barrel, that alone would cost as much as the whole 12FV. The thing about Savages in the low cost range, they aren't polished nor do they feel as nice as a Tikka, but the bullets won't care.

WRT scopes, before you go out and spend 2 or 3 grand, get an Arken (or something similar) for 400-500 bucks first.

BTW, forget Howas, the aftermarket support for precision shooting is weak. They have a square action, which makes for a more difficult and expensive to make chassis/stock.

[Hairball]

In a discussion such as this, specifics matter. Instead of working this from the firing line out, look at it from the other perspective. You stated you want to shoot "longer range targets" so what distance are you talking about? You mentioned using the rifle to also hunt so, what type of game are you planning on hunting with this rifle? One rifle for two different tasks will create compromises.

It appears as though you are looking for a budget rifle, so the term PRS is not really needed in this discussion because a budget of around 500 is not going to do it for even the most basic setup if you go down that road. Yes, you can source a rifle and optic that is within a very strict budget, but it will be less than ideal. At this point and with the need for a lot of fundamentals training, it will work until you get the basics down of shooting a larger caliber and by then, maybe you have a budget to upgrade, or you may decide that the time and expense is not something you want to become invested in.

[sigstroker]

In a discussion such as this, specifics matter. Instead of working this from the firing line out, look at it from the other perspective. You stated you want to shoot "longer range targets" so what distance are you talking about? You mentioned using the rifle to also hunt so, what type of game are you planning on hunting with this rifle? One rifle for two different tasks will create compromises.

It appears as though you are looking for a budget rifle, so the term PRS is not really needed in this discussion because a budget of around 500 is not going to do it for even the most basic setup if you go down that road. Yes, you can source a rifle and optic that is within a very strict budget, but it will be less than ideal. At this point and with the need for a lot of fundamentals training, it will work until you get the basics down of shooting a larger caliber and by then, maybe you have a budget to upgrade, or you may decide that the time and expense is not something you want to become invested in.

500 might be a bit short, but the Savage 110 Tactical I mentioned can be found for mid 600's. I missed that he might want to hunt with it. The barrel is not a heavy varmint like the 12FV, but it's heavier than hunting weight. The rifle weighs 8.8 pounds, more than optimum for carrying, but not too bad. He'll appreciate the extra weight in the barrel at the range. It otherwise doesn't need anything to hunt or start precision shooting besides a scope.

[tigerpan]

For true PRS your low end budget should be around $2k to $3k. (Look at Masterpiece Arms). The serious PRS guys start their budget builds at the $5k level.

A scope alone can start at $3k

my tikka t3 308 with cheap vortex scope outbox will shoot submoa. within 600 yard, no point to spend over 2k from the beginning.
my custom build 300win will shoot less than half moa. but i never find place to shoot over 1k yard

[IronLad]

I figured you meant stepping into some sort of "precision shooting" and not necessarily PRS. There really isn't one rifle type that can do all (hunting, PRS, benchrest, varmint, etc). Yes, some people do engage in one or the other with something that kind of works as a cross-over.

if figured, if that was the case then i suppose just for benchrest/sandbag shooting then, I hoped for a jack of all trades, master of none sorta setup but I suppose that is too hopeful

[IronLad]

Dang, I typed out a nice long post last night, but then they decided to do maintenance and it got wiped out.

OP, .308 is not what you want. It struggles to reach 1000 yards, and at max range, a rifle is never as consistent as you would like. If you're going with a bolt gun, there's no good reason for a .308. Do 6.5 Creedmoor at least. Less recoil, and about the same ammo cost as .308, and will fly a few hundreds yards farther at least.

Take a look at the Savage 110 Tactical or Desert Tactical. Fluted and heavier than hunting barrel, a decent stock that's adjustable for cheek height and length of pull, a better than average trigger, aftermarket support second only to the Remington 700, blueprinted action, pic rail included, and uses AICS magazines, about $700. They have it in 6.5 creedmoor, and the one I got, 6.5 PRC. It's like a 6.5 creedmoor magnum, with a couple hundred yards more usable range. If you're not expecting to shoot over a mile, you can also look at 6mm Creedmoor for less recoil but shorter barrel life.

For a no frills shooter with great bones, go to Bass Pro/Cabelas and get a Savage 12FV. Ordinary, but fairly stiff hunting style stock, blind magazine, a stout 26" barrel(longer barrels give you more velocity), a pretty darn good 2 pound trigger, available in 6.5 creed, for $470. Easily upgradeable to a chassis in the future.

edit: I re-read your OP. What is the "60" you mentioned?

If you don't want a "MDT" (chassis) the Tactical I mentioned above has a lot of the features you'd want a chassis for. However, it does not have the barrel of the 12FV. If you get an ordinary rifle and upgrade to a nice barrel, that alone would cost as much as the whole 12FV. The thing about Savages in the low cost range, they aren't polished nor do they feel as nice as a Tikka, but the bullets won't care.

WRT scopes, before you go out and spend 2 or 3 grand, get an Arken (or something similar) for 400-500 bucks first.

BTW, forget Howas, the aftermarket support for precision shooting is weak. They have a square action, which makes for a more difficult and expensive to make chassis/stock.

60 degree bolt, as howas have a 90 degree bolt and supposedly 60 is optimal for shooting with gloves or avoiding knuckling the rear of the scope if you fumble the bolt action and grab with more than is needed

[IronLad]

Dang, I typed out a nice long post last night, but then they decided to do maintenance and it got wiped out.

OP, .308 is not what you want. It struggles to reach 1000 yards, and at max range, a rifle is never as consistent as you would like. If you're going with a bolt gun, there's no good reason for a .308. Do 6.5 Creedmoor at least. Less recoil, and about the same ammo cost as .308, and will fly a few hundreds yards farther at least.

Take a look at the Savage 110 Tactical or Desert Tactical. Fluted and heavier than hunting barrel, a decent stock that's adjustable for cheek height and length of pull, a better than average trigger, aftermarket support second only to the Remington 700, blueprinted action, pic rail included, and uses AICS magazines, about $700. They have it in 6.5 creedmoor, and the one I got, 6.5 PRC. It's like a 6.5 creedmoor magnum, with a couple hundred yards more usable range. If you're not expecting to shoot over a mile, you can also look at 6mm Creedmoor for less recoil but shorter barrel life.

For a no frills shooter with great bones, go to Bass Pro/Cabelas and get a Savage 12FV. Ordinary, but fairly stiff hunting style stock, blind magazine, a stout 26" barrel(longer barrels give you more velocity), a pretty darn good 2 pound trigger, available in 6.5 creed, for $470. Easily upgradeable to a chassis in the future.

edit: I re-read your OP. What is the "60" you mentioned?

If you don't want a "MDT" (chassis) the Tactical I mentioned above has a lot of the features you'd want a chassis for. However, it does not have the barrel of the 12FV. If you get an ordinary rifle and upgrade to a nice barrel, that alone would cost as much as the whole 12FV. The thing about Savages in the low cost range, they aren't polished nor do they feel as nice as a Tikka, but the bullets won't care.

WRT scopes, before you go out and spend 2 or 3 grand, get an Arken (or something similar) for 400-500 bucks first.

BTW, forget Howas, the aftermarket support for precision shooting is weak. They have a square action, which makes for a more difficult and expensive to make chassis/stock.

I hoped for 308 as It seems for a while 6.5 creedmore was more expensive and less common than 308 and it's abundance. Im not sure if Id do above or somehow manage to do 1000 yard shots (on public land the max I could find was about between 600 and 800).

I wouldnt oppose 6.5 but figured 308 was a good common ground. I figured as well as a "cheat" if I could get a rifle good at both, master of neither but I see thats impossible as a heavy barrel would probably be bad for trekking long distances with. Is 308 that poor to recommend to a novice for ranged shooting?

Also regarding that desert tactical and savage 110, what does it mean by "blue printed? Ive seen lots of terms like trued and "squared" without understanding. You could see Im new enough to it that Id pick the Remington 700 (sps/adl,etc) than just immediately go for a tikka like I imagine most would.

For now I practice and work myself up with my savage mkii fv 22lr to learn and expand upon

[IronLad]

The Rem 700 is a good entry level choice. Decent price and generally have a good barrel. Plenty of aftermarket support.

reason why I chose it. Ive heard of good and bad things. The only one standing out being that it needing a new trigger pretty much as a factor to consider, and that apparently barrels are not prethread? You must send your receiver and barrel to a gunsmith to get it threaded to fit your receivers threads

But the aftermarket support is near infinite for the r700