Best budget long range sniper rifle?

[a1fabweld]

A1FabWeld
How is a Remington 700 barreled in 300 win mag 300 WSM or 6.5X284 A CUSTOM RIFLE OR EXOTIC CARTRIDGE???????????????????????
More 1000 yard matches have been won with these cartridges than you have ever attended.LOLROFLMAO

OK Carlos, whatever you say.

[smittty]

Smitty,
Maybe you can enlighten us or just give us a good laugh by posting YOUR personal definition of "sniper rifle"?

No need to define it.

You specifically pick on the term "sniper rifle" and you say your concerned with public opinion.

Do you you own military pattern camouflage clothing?
Do you own a "tactical vest"?
Do you you own a "tactical holster"?
Do you own a "tactical shotgun"?
Do you own a "tactical weapon light"?
The list goes on....

If I research your past posts will I find you using these descriptions? No, I'm not going to go thru your past posts so relax.

I just think you're an idiot for picking on someone for using a term that's used universally by the manufacturers, dealers and their advertising companies.

[Pthfndr]

OK Carlos, whatever you say.

You are obviously late to the party.

Lynnjr is, and has been, a long time competitor in 1000 yard Bench Rest competition. In that particular arena there is no question he has expertise and knowledge.

We may not always agree on methods of doing things (opinions and all that), but the facts of what has been done with what equipment are hard to argue with.

All too often people's opinions of what is "best" are biased by the type of shooting/competition they participate in. Everyone here has been guilty of that at some point.

[SDgarrick]

OP to get back on topic, here's what i did over the summer when I was in your shoes:
1) settle on a bullet you want to shoot, then a cartridge to send it. I chose 30-06 because I am a reloader, it is a very flexible cartridge, I can download it to 308 or load it warm for more fps.
I also began casting heavy boolits and with light charges have been getting excellent results to 300 yard, which makes for cheap practice.

2) determine what your practical use will be. for me it was a close-medium range gun for 50-600 yards (for now) but also hunting, so it had to be light enough to carry, so i got a sporter barrel. others will disagree on barrel choice. btw I have no problem ringing steel at 600 yards, but I'm not getting in extended fire fights, so a thin bbl hasn't shown me any negatives.
3) find a good deal on either a remington or a savage., because those 2 will offer the most options in the future. I went savage because i got the rifle for under $300. I can switch out the stock, trigger and BBL at my leisure and when I can afford. Also check out stevens 200 (made by savage), if you like to do upgrades yourself, you essentially get a rifle for the cost of an action.

4) find something that you just plain like, because at the end of the day that's all that matters. there's alot of good choices out there so go with what moves you.

[GoatLovin]

There's no need to attack anyone over the term. Just explain it.

Are you a sniper? No. Then you don't have a sniper rifle. That's it.

Enjoy whatever you get. I suggest something that shoots a cheaper cartridge while you learn the proper technique.

[TMB 1]

OP to get back on topic, here's what i did over the summer when I was in your shoes:
1) settle on a bullet you want to shoot, then a cartridge to send it. I chose 30-06 because I am a reloader, it is a very flexible cartridge, I can download it to 308 or load it warm for more fps.
I also began casting heavy boolits and with light charges have been getting excellent results to 300 yard, which makes for cheap practice.

2) determine what your practical use will be. for me it was a close-medium range gun for 50-600 yards (for now) but also hunting, so it had to be light enough to carry, so i got a sporter barrel. others will disagree on barrel choice. btw I have no problem ringing steel at 600 yards, but I'm not getting in extended fire fights, so a thin bbl hasn't shown me any negatives.
3) find a good deal on either a remington or a savage., because those 2 will offer the most options in the future. I went savage because i got the rifle for under $300. I can switch out the stock, trigger and BBL at my leisure and when I can afford. Also check out stevens 200 (made by savage), if you like to do upgrades yourself, you essentially get a rifle for the cost of an action.

4) find something that you just plain like, because at the end of the day that's all that matters. there's alot of good choices out there so go with what moves you.

I agree with this^
Plus also check out Savage/Stevens 111 if you want detachable magazine.

[russ69]

It's just a question.... Should I use long range rifle instead?

I'm a target shooter, I use the term heavy barreled rifle but everyone here knew what you meant.

Remington 700 SPS tactical.

I think a 20 inch barrel in 308 is hurting long range performance. The 308 needs all the help it can get at the 1000 yard line.

I'm considering getting the 30-06 version of the Remington... what do you guys think?

It's hard to say anything bad about a 30-06. A bit dated but still a decent performer.

....you can get factory ammo for 6BR,300 WSM,30-06,280,300 Win Mag,300 Weatherby,6.5x284 or several others that leave the 308 in there dust.

Other than the 6BR, I'm not too keen on recommending the big boomers to new shooters. The 30-06 might be an exception only because it's not too far from a 308, that most new shooter think they need to start with.

[SoCal Gunner]

I think a 20 inch barrel in 308 is hurting long range performance. The 308 needs all the help it can get at the 1000 yard line.

What length barrel do you recommend?

[HUTCH 7.62]

What length barrel do you recommend?

25"

.... though my FAL with a 21 " is good to 800yrds

[russ69]

What length barrel do you recommend?

You might be asking the wrong person. If I was stuck with a 308, I would use what the Palma guys were using. You won't find a factory barrel in that length. But you are just looking for a good factory gun in 308, just get a Remington HB varmint gun, I think those are 26 inches long. The extra weight and length wont hurt you.

[a1fabweld]

You are obviously late to the party.

Lynnjr is, and has been, a long time competitor in 1000 yard Bench Rest competition. In that particular arena there is no question he has expertise and knowledge.

We may not always agree on methods of doing things (opinions and all that), but the facts of what has been done with what equipment are hard to argue with.

All too often people's opinions of what is "best" are biased by the type of shooting/competition they participate in. Everyone here has been guilty of that at some point.

Here we go. As for this guy you're defending discounting the 308 to the level he did makes it sound as though he doesn't know what he's talking about. Lots of guys shoot the 308 and shoot it well. Maybe its ballistics are not as hot as a 284 or whatever, but its a great round to learn on. The op asked for "Best sniper rifle". With that said, do you think the OP has any experience in this arena? Enough experience to be able to justify anything more than an off the shelf rifle? Gimme a break.

[LynnJr]

A1FabWeld
No here we don't go again.

The OP wanted the best budget longrange sniper rifle.

You are here saying that is the 308 and I am here saying it isn't.

Yes the 308 wins many many 1000 yard competitions each year WERE IT'S USE IS REQUIRED BY RULE.

In the other 1000 yard disciplines it is basically extinct because it is ballistically inferior to many more modern cartridges.

If it was the best it would be used but it isn't.

Jerry Tierney lives at the Sacramento range and shoots a 308 as well as just about anybody but when the rules allow it he leaves the 308 at home and shoots his 280 or 284.

[HUTCH 7.62]

A long action 700 might be a better choice for the OP. As the action can be used for a wider range of calibers in the future

[Pthfndr]

Here we go. As for this guy you're defending ......

I wasn't defending him, I was pointing out where his opinion is derived from since you appeared not know who he is. His opinion is worth no more than yours. Just as yours is worth no more than his. They're just opinions.

I know more than a few people who are supremely qualified on the subject of long range shooting who might recommend nothing more than an AR15 in service rifle configuration with iron sight to learn how to shoot long range. Doesn't mean that would fit the OP's purpose though.

The OP asked about 2 specific platforms. Lynnjr said why he would do something different. That's all.

But, the OP in this thread, like so many other similar threads, does not provide near enough information for people to give really good answers.

What is his current level of shooting experience?
What is his budget for the rifle?
What is his budget for optics, rings, base?
What is his budget for improvements (stock, barrel, trigger, etc)?
Does he have money to burn?
Is he planning on competing, or just casual shooting?
Does he currently, or plan to, reload?
How many rounds a year does he expect to shoot?
How much time does he expect to spend actually shooting beyond a few hundred yards?

One of the benefits of the growing popularity of tactical/practical/sniper bolt rifles and associated types of competitions is that manufacturers of both factory rifles and loaded ammunition are growing and becoming more readily available.

A factory rifle offers the general benefit over a custom rifle of a quick purchase for less $$. Nothing more.

AR15barrels put together a great thread on the CAPRC forum about the relative costs and benefits of various types of rifles, that IMO is must read for anyone looking to get into practical long range shooting (vs. specialized sports such as Palma, Bench Rest, High Power).

http://www.caprc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=35

He also put together a good thread about choosing a cartridge http://www.caprc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=34
Again, with the same caveats.

With the limited information the OP has given, between the Rem 700 and Savage, I would go with the Rem 700 because there is no arguing that it has more aftermarket support than the Savage should he want to customize it in the future. After market for support for Savage is growing, but still is not close to the Rem line. It does offer the ease of user barrel replacement with out the services of a gun smith.

For a cartridge, assuming he doesn't hand load and won't go broke buying factory loaded ammunition, then I would recommend a .308 SOLELY due to the availability of factory loaded match grade ammo, and the very long barrel life.

A 30-06 does everything the .308 does, and is capable of much more, but requires a long action, and there is little to nothing in the way of readily available match grade ammo for shooting long range. But, if one could only have one rifle to use for any and all purposes, doesn't hand load, and is not concerned with bench rest or near bench rest, or competitive accuracy, then the 30-06 is probably the best all around cartridge.

[a1fabweld]

A1FabWeld
No here we don't go again.

The OP wanted the best budget longrange sniper rifle.

You are here saying that is the 308 and I am here saying it isn't.

Yes the 308 wins many many 1000 yard competitions each year WERE IT'S USE IS REQUIRED BY RULE.

In the other 1000 yard disciplines it is basically extinct because it is ballistically inferior to many more modern cartridges.

If it was the best it would be used but it isn't.

Jerry Tierney lives at the Sacramento range and shoots a 308 as well as just about anybody but when the rules allow it he leaves the 308 at home and shoots his 280 or 284.

I never said the 308 was the best long range rifle in existence as you may think I said. You fabricated that. I implied that for a new shooter coming into long range shooting, the 308 has many advantages over other, more accurate calibers. If money was no object, he could have GAP build him a 338 Lapua and he could spend $7-10 per round for factory match ammo while learning nothing about reading wind nor any of the basic fundamentals of shooting long range. For a guy starting with nothing, and more than likely doesn't know how to reload nor has reloading equipment, it makes sense to get into a caliber such as the 308 which there's an abundance of factory match ammo and factory rifles to choose from. Nobody knows, including himself, if long range is something he's going to enjoy? He might take it out once and decide to go back to plinking cans with his AR? That's what I'm saying. If a guy told me he wanted to start drag racing, I wouldn't advise him to buy a top fuel dragster for his first car. Same goes for this.

The rifle you specd out for him costs over $1100 just for the basic components. Now he has to pay someone to build it, buy reloading equipment, learn how to develop a successful load, all before he fires his first shot. Doesn't make sense to me for a newb.