Suggestions/Help Choosing First Bolt Action Rifle

[bigian]

The past few weekends Ive got out shooting with my buddy and his Savage .308 w/ McMillan Stock similar to, if not the exact same as this one...

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=287508

Now that I've built my first AR I'd like to move on to another project and I'm pretty hooked on long range target shooting

I searched and either I didn't use the right terms, Im oblivious or this hasn't been discussed much. All I know is that the longer the barrel the better long range accuracy which is what Im looking for.

Ive seen the Remington 700 mentioned a few times as a great entry level rifle as well as the Remington 5r as a little more intermediate option.

Looking at the Rem 700's on Buds Gun Shop, of the options this one has the longest barrel

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/3/products_id/41046

Are there any others I should be looking into?

Any other vendors websites I should look at?

What is the difference between a 'bolt' and a 'bolt action' rifle?

Any info. is appreciated.

Obviously Ill need a scope to go on this rifle but Ill research that after I get the rifle, one thing at a time

[terry4130]

I just picked up a Rm 700 SPS Varmit in .308 on Calguns. I love it and highly recomend a 700. The Rem 5R is a Rem 700, just a different model. Lots of the Rem 700 models can have 26" barrels, it depends all on the model. I believe the SPS Varmit has the 26" and the SPS Tactical has a 20", and other models follow a similar pattern (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I've heard different things about barrel lengths. I think its something to the effect of after 20 inches it adds about 50 fps per inch (agian someone correct me if this is wrong). Again I am very pleased with the SPS and all I plan on changing in the near future is the stock. I'm sure others will have better input.

Jarrod

[Rob454]

Do you like the savage your buddy has? You can get a base model 110 and build it up as time and money allows

[Fjold]

The longer barrel doesn't necessarily give you more accuracy at long range as much as it gives you more velocity. A lot of guns/loads are marginal in keeping the bullet above Mach 1 at 1,000 yards. If your bullet goes subsonic on its way to the target it will become unstable and lose accuracy.

"Bolt" is just shorthand for "Bolt Action".

When you are looking for a long range gun for competition, you want to get the "Varmint weight" or "Target weight" barrel also.

[Jarhead]

http://texasbrigadearmory.com/m40a1.htm

[NavDoc]

Do you like the savage your buddy has? You can get a base model 110 and build it up as time and money allows

+1
Savage offers accurate rifles at prices that are hard to beat.

[Bongos]

Savage offers accurate rifles at prices that are hard to beat.

But outside of adding your specific scope, you really can't upgrade. Hard to beat in price initially, but once you are in the game, you will soon realize you will want at least a Rem 700. THe Rem 700, you can upgrade just like the AR; different barrels, bases, stocks, etc.. all kinds of differenct configs as well as plentifle riflesmith to true your actions, etc... with the Savage only a handful of options.

Having owned the AR, you know the difference from a plain Jane $600 AR and a $3000 one, same thing with the bolt gun but keep in mind, this is not a "Lego" type gun like the AR where a lot of DIY can be done, the "bolt" rifles has a lot more to it., this is why Rem 700 can go for as low as $500 and as high +$2000... but at least give you a strong bases for you to upgrade...

[bigian]

"Bolt" is just shorthand for "Bolt Action".

The reason I asked is Buds has either as an option when searching for specific rifles.

I'd like to go with a .223 just because that's what my AR uses (and they're cheaper) but what is the difference in range between a .223 and a .308 in this application?

Ive noticed guys in the selling forum selling their 308 rifles due to the cost of ammo. I know reloading is a solution but I don't have time for that at this point.

Thanks for the replies so far...

[RawImpact]

308 unlocks 600-1000 yards
223 you can go up to 1000, but we're talking hot reloads at that point

IMO get a different caliber than your AR. You already have a rifle that you can shoot with money in mind. Get a big boy now, 30-06

[NavDoc]

But outside of adding your specific scope, you really can't upgrade. Hard to beat in price initially, but once you are in the game, you will soon realize you will want at least a Rem 700. THe Rem 700, you can upgrade just like the AR; different barrels, bases, stocks, etc.. all kinds of differenct configs as well as plentifle riflesmith to true your actions, etc... with the Savage only a handful of options....

Are you serious? You can't be serious. You do know how a Savage is put together, right? You can swap out the barrel on a Savage in your garage with hand tools. Try that on a Remington 700.

I'm not going to get into a "Remington vs. Savage" debate, but don't spread FUD when it comes to "options and upgrades" on Savage rifles. If you don't know much about Savage rifles, say so, but telling someone "outside of adding your specific scope, you really can't upgrade" is simply not true.

[bodger]

I just bought a Tikka T3 Hunter in .270.
I'm hooked. I don't know about upgrades and add-ons, but this is one sweet shooter for under $700.

Slapped a Bushnell Elite on it and dead centered an apricot on a fence post at 100 yards within the first four shots.

[bigian]

Are you serious? You can't be serious. You do know how a Savage is put together, right? You can swap out the barrel on a Savage in your garage with hand tools. Try that on a Remington 700.

I'm not going to get into a "Remington vs. Savage" debate, but don't spread FUD when it comes to "options and upgrades" on Savage rifles. If you don't know much about Savage rifles, say so, but telling someone "outside of adding your specific scope, you really can't upgrade" is simply not true.

Please, lets not get into a debate about different brands.

Im just hoping to learn the ins and outs of the bolt action platform as well as suggestions as to what rifle is the best for the money....

[faterikcartman]

I don't think the assumption about the longer the barrel the better the long range accuracy is correct.

[Fjold]

But outside of adding your specific scope, you really can't upgrade. Hard to beat in price initially, but once you are in the game, you will soon realize you will want at least a Rem 700. THe Rem 700, you can upgrade just like the AR; different barrels, bases, stocks, etc.. all kinds of differenct configs as well as plentifle riflesmith to true your actions, etc... with the Savage only a handful of options.

Having owned the AR, you know the difference from a plain Jane $600 AR and a $3000 one, same thing with the bolt gun but keep in mind, this is not a "Lego" type gun like the AR where a lot of DIY can be done, the "bolt" rifles has a lot more to it., this is why Rem 700 can go for as low as $500 and as high +$2000... but at least give you a strong bases for you to upgrade...

This gun has a stock Savage action and bolt body, everything else, (trigger, recoil lug, barrel, bolthead, bolt knob, magazine follower, stock, etc) is aftermarket

This one has a stock Savage action, bolt and barrel but just about everything else is after market.

I can get 20 different aftermarket stocks, three different aftermarket triggers, two different aftermarket bottom metal/ detachable magazine sets, barrels, recoil lugs, half a dozen different bolt knobs, magazines, etc.

About the only thing that you can't get for the Savage is knock off action.

[NavDoc]

Please, lets not get into a debate about different brands.

Im just hoping to learn the ins and outs of the bolt action platform as well as suggestions as to what rifle is the best for the money....

Who's debating? I'm trying to enlighten the misinformed...

As Fjold has demonstrated above, upgrading a Savage rifle is not impossible, as some would have you believe. And "what rifle is the best for the money" comes down to how much money you have and what kind of shooting you are planning to do.

FWIW...Six weeks ago, my friend was in your shoes. He had shot several of my rifles and wanted to get into "long range" shooting. For him, that translated into a bolt action, heavy-barreled .308, and shooting targets out to 300yds.
We discussed Surgeon rifles, Georgia Precision, AI, the Remington 700 series, 5r and 40X, Savage, Howa, Tikka, and others. After much conversation and rifle handling, he decided on a Remington 700 PSS. One sweet rifle. For his needs, it will serve him well. Could he get the same accuracy for less money? Yes. But, he was not interested in the most "bang for the buck".